Rex Hudler

I really feel sorry for Mike Davis. There is no question he is a good man and he really makes a connection with his players. I just think he was thrust into a situation he was not ready for. I would imagine the past few years have been hell on him. IU fans right now are worse than they have ever been and it is getting quite personal. I can't see any way he survives this season and remains at IU. But I wish the guy well. I do hope he gets another job somewhere else at some point and has success. Davis: "I didn't quit"

For the record, it sickens me that there is talk of 5 Valley teams possibly getting into the NCAA Tournament and Evansville is not even in the same stratosphere as those teams. It's sad to see a very strong and historied program so far down. I think Coach Merfield has found that basketball in Indiana is not like Hampton. Evansville is a very difficult place to win at as a coach, but it has been proven it can be done.

I can't see five Valley teams getting in. There are too many games left plus the tournament. At least one of those teams will weed themselves out.

I'd love to see Duke and Gonzaga play. I'd love to see Redick and Morrison light it up, going back and forth. Both of those guys just find ways to get the ball in the hole and are damned impressive in doing so. Also, I know I will get fried for this, but I enjoyed Vitale tonight. He was much more subdued tonight than when he broadcasts an ACC or Big Ten game. He left a lot of his schtick at home and I thought he was good. `

It's not just at IU. I'm sure Purdue fans aren't too damned happy with what is going on there. Rule basketball in Indiana and you rule the state.

To add to what aboz said earlier about basketball being king in Indiana.... The coaching situation/fan satisfaction situation is bad at IU. To further illustrate how fans view basketball in this state, here are a few excerpts from a column in the Evansville Courier about the AD at the University of Evansville flirting with Long Beach State for the same position. The article basically stated that the AD would remain at Evansville and would not pursue LB State. Here are the readers responses to the article:

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 12, 2006 -> 02:11 AM) I still can't stand Gonzaga and their dumb fans. Go cardinal, time for the zags to play someone in the top 200 rpi. Why are their fans dumb? Looks like a pretty damned good atmosphere there to me.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 12, 2006 -> 01:47 AM) I don't see it changing much. However, apparently Andy Katz was on ESPN a few minutes ago. He said he talked to Davis, and there's no way he's resigning. We'll see. I still find it impossible for him to be able to show his face in Assembly Hall after being sick or "sick" when all these rumors are flying. It's funny reading the open forum on Peegs right now. A lot of those people are 10x worse with how they view Davis, compared to how WSI views the Cubs. Try checking out the forums at firemikedavis.com. Man some of those guys are way the hell out there. I can understand not liking losing, but some of those guys are off their rocker!

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 12, 2006 -> 01:33 AM) Rex can attest to this. Vaden's really hasn't looked good at all this year. He's really become the new Bracey, except he doesn't take 50 shots a game. He doesn't really go into the paint with that much success. He's either completely on or completely off. That's why I was surprised you thought he had a good game today, I wasn't all that pleased with his performance. Vaden is very talented, but I think he plays out of control too often. I think he feels he has to make things happen and pushes things in heavy traffic at the wrong times. I do think they should set him up to post up inside and draw plays for him. If they did that and he let the game come to him rather than freestyling when things aren't going exactly as planned, he could be an all-conference type player. He is an excellent passer and rebounder to boot.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 11, 2006 -> 10:57 PM) And DJ will be the real tell tale about the rest of the team. I think his decision will ultimately determine how many stay or don't. That could be true. I just know it easy to think "if they fire my coach, then I will leave". But once the reality hits that they can't follow him to another school (not often is that possible) and they will have to sit out a year if they transfer the mindset changes a bit. Once a new coach is named, he will have a chance to bring the players back into the mindset of staying. The rapport the new coach builds will make a huge difference in deciding what happens. Some of the Illini fans can chime in here, but weren't there rampant rumors of players leaving when Self left? At least a few key players? And that wasn't even a firing of the head coach.

Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt again today. At least I have that to make me happy. Evansville goes to Drake tonight. Could Evansville actually get another league win and one one the road? Nah, probably not.

Ya think??? They're up 20!

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Feb 11, 2006 -> 06:37 PM) Best name I've heard. Jay Wright. Hopefully for IU fans, that will happen after this year. I'm sure they'll name an interim coach and then clean house after the year. Worst thing for them will be DJ White transferring, Vaden possibly as well. But it won't take long to turn things around there, even if those guys do leave. I really don't think DJ White will transfer. When faced with the reality of sitting out almost two full seasons, and talking to a new coach, I think he will find his best course of action is to stay. Even if he just does it to get his game to a level to jump to the NBA after one season. Sitting out another season doesn't help him. Aboz, give me som background on Jay Wright. I don't know much about him.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 11, 2006 -> 04:28 PM) I honestly don't think Pearl found his dream job, he is a midwestern boy. I agree with that, but I don't see him jumping ship from Tennessee after only one year. Timing isn't right for that.

Yeah, the Sox released him according to recent reports.

Just basic carpet burns and bruises.. But there was that major charley horse which provided some good laughter.

The cool thing about women in the South is they LOVE football. Super Bowl Sunday includes women. Hell, every Saturday from late August to January, includes women.

Yeah, 11-5 will win the conference title. More than likely more than one team will share the crown with that record.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 9, 2006 -> 01:43 AM) I can't believe I used to defend Davis. This season can't end soon enough. I'm ready to close the book on him. Watching us play of late, is like looking into the sun. Right there with ya greasy..... this team looks good for 5 minutes and then takes s***ty shots, makes stupid fouls and throws passes at each others feet. It's like they forget how to play basketball every 5 minutes.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 04:02 PM) Another new starting lineup. Calloway will get another shot at starting, after sparking the offense during a comeback that fell short on Saturday. Kline will be coming off the bench now too. PG-Calloway SG-Strickland SF-Wilmont PF-Vaden C-Killingsworth I have an exam, the same time this game starts. I'm pretty pissed about that. Hopefully I'll be able to see the second half, or at the very least, the end of the game. Indiana HAS to get a road win tonight; there's not going to ever be a better opportunity to get a W at Wisconsin. Be glad. IU f***in blows!

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 7, 2006 -> 12:19 AM) Well the Hawks got two straight on the road. First in Evanston against a team that has had our number and than Saturday (ESPN HD...WOOT) at IU. I'm pumped Iowa is getting more TV time this year. Iowa will not win Saturday at IU. Better pin your hopes to Evanston. And here's to hoping IU can add one more home loss to Wisconsin this week. I'm not holding my breath, but this is probably the best time to have to go there. It seems like they are a different team after losing to players to academics.

What's this parody you guys speak of?? Did I miss a Weird Al Yankovic reference or are you talking about PARITY??

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 5, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) I guess the rest of Indiana's finally got me buying into the fire Davis kool-aid or something; you know I've been pretty supportive over the years. You're right though. I really feel like we'd be top 5, if DJ was here. Now we're probably out of the top 25. I do hope the players stay, regardless of what happens. I really like what we got, and the talents certainly there. However, with what they've been coached, they don't know what to do with it, when Killingsworth is not in, and that's scary. You're right. Unfortunately, Sean Kline just can't give us anything. And Ben Allen is more of a 3 than a 4 or 5. I am going to be curious to see how Allen develops because I don't see him being quick enough to play on a wing. He's going to have to develop down low, which will mean gaining a lot of strength. To be honest I am not sure if I want Davis to stay or not. All I really want is for IU to freakin win. But I don't want to be Kentucky and want to fire the coach everytime they lose two games in a row or lose one game they aren't supposed to.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 5, 2006 -> 04:17 PM) That would allow Darrell "Slim Shady" Arthur to go to Kansas. I still see Bruce Pearl coaching IU next year. I don't see Bruce Pearl being a fit at IU. Even if they wanted him, I think he would have a hard time getting out of his contract at Tennessee after only one year. Especially after making such progress this year. They have 24,000+ seats and an unlimited budget if he can win. I think he is there for a good while.

Greasy, I could definitely see that happening, but let's not give up just yet. Wisconsin is struggling a bit right now so maybe this is a good time for IU to get their first decent road win. I still see an 11-5 or 10-6 finish in the Big Ten and a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney. I really see this team as being one that could have been a Final Four contender with DJ White. Now, I see them as a Sweet 16 contender, but no real surety of getting there. Right now, my guess is they go down in the 2nd round. Whether that will be enough to save Davis or not, I don't know. All that said, if they do fire Davis, let's not be so sure there will be a mass exodus of players. Remember many guys on Illinois team wanted to or considered leaving after Bill Self left. The key is who the next coach would be and if he can sell the players on staying. I don't see DJ White leaving. He isn't ready for the NBA and I don't see him sitting out a 2nd consecutive year. Vaden is a possibility, but being an Indiana kid, I would think there is a decent chance a new coach could talk him into staying. If they keep Kerry Rupp around, I think Ben Allen stays. The mindset always seems to be "I'll leave if they fire MY coach" but then when faced with the reality of sitting their asses on the bench for a year, things often change quickly. What players say/think now, may not be what becomes their ultimate decision.