Rex Hudler

Have a nice little trip planned to start the season. Driving to Shreveport to catch the Texas A&M - La Tech game on Thursday night and then to Dallas Friday to catch Alabama - Michigan on Saturday. Is summer almost over yet?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 9, 2012 -> 02:15 PM) Burke changed his mind and is now coming back to Michigan. Alot of good PG's within the conference. I love it. The Big Ten is going to be so damned good, I can't wait to be right there in the thick of it competing with the best. That's what makes college basketball great. Now let's get Watford to join Burke and Thomas.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 9, 2012 -> 11:11 AM) He basically did a Kelvin Sampson and so did their womens coach. They also paid scouts, convinced AAU coaches to lie to the NCAA among other infractions. FTM comes with a pretty harsh penalty at times, definitely scholarship reductions and MAYBE vacating wins. I heard Sampson held a recruiting seminar a couple of years ago. I believe Drew sat in the front row! I can't personally verify it, but it has been reported at least amongst IU circles, that one of his assistants told Hanner Perea's coach (by voicemail or text) that if Perea chose IU he would never see IU's campus because he had enough info to get him deported out of the country. Of course, if he went to Baylor, all would be just fine. Stay Classy Waco

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 5, 2012 -> 02:18 PM) The problem is if you make it three years more kids will jump out of high school. I'd much rather see players leave college early than leave from high school and flame out worse. I have no problem with the one and dones. There's only a handful of them every year. They're too small of a minority to make a big deal out of it. I wouldn't. I'd rather them go straight there than just play one year. If a bunch leave and flame out, perhaps it would slow down the process. Maybe the NBA would be a bit more disciplined and not draft kids until they've proven something. Blowing millions on kids who bust might just do the trick. The problem with the one and dones is twofold. Once basketball season is over there is nothing keeping these kids in class. I know college sports is littered with corporate and tv money, but if the kids are rent a students who only go to class for one semester, at what point is it no longer college sports? The second thing is depth. When 80% of the NBA draft consists of frosh and sophs, there is no depth in college basketball. If a kid is a top tier player, I can understand leaving. But when solid players are jumping and then not getting drafted or getting drafted late and either not making a team or becoming bit players its a problem for the college game. Maybe they can change the college letter of intent to force kids who leave early to repay their scholarship money given? That won't solve anything, but it might make some of the fringe kids at least think twice.

Has anyone heard anything about Watford? Isn't the deadline to decide Tuesday? I love the fact IU is getting so much attention, but I agree with Rock that in most years I'd prefer to be around 4-6 to start the year. After all we've gone through, I'm good with the spotlight. That said, I would warn that while IU will be loaded I think there will be growing pains. It would not be smart to underestimate the contributions from the current senior class. Aside from Verdell Jones III, they didn't give much production on the floor. But I believe they had a major impact in terms of leadership and drive. They stuck it out through Coach Crean's first four years and I think they had a major impact on this team coming together as they did. They could have easily folded after the losses to Minnies and Nebraska. Fortunately Sheehey and Oladipo are reported gym rats and Zeller doesn't seem like one to rest on his laurels. If the new kids come in hungry and push the veterans, the adjustment shouldn't be major.

Will somebody please explain to me the allure of setting things on fire (couches?) and turning over cars when your team wins someething big? I have never understood this. It's right up there with putting anchovies on pizza. Who the hell does these kinds of things and WHY? Note: I double posted because I thought the Final Four thread might be dead.

Will somebody please explain to me the allure of setting things on fire (couches?) and turning over cars when your team wins someething big? I have never understood this. It's right up there with putting anchovies on pizza. Who the hell does these kinds of things and WHY?

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 11:26 PM) They had the top 2 freshman in the country and they were they're two best players down the stretch. And both are gone. And I wouldn't doubt it at all if Teague left too. But I guess I worded it poorly. The rule was stupid before Kentucky won. Should be able to leave out of HS or forced to stay 2 years in college like the MLB. Baseball is 3 years, but your point is the same. I agree with you, I don't like the rule. Football is 3 years as well, fwiw.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 09:45 PM) If it wasn't before, the 1-and-done NCAA rule is now officially a joke. How many on UK will be one and done? 2? 3? Lamb and Jones were sophs, Miller a senior. I can't see Teague being ready. Wiltjer isn't going anyhwhere. I'm not defending Calipari and Kentucky, but does two one and done's make it a joke?

I guess there is a small amount of satisfaction that IU gave them their toughest game of the tournament, scores notwithstanding.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 09:30 PM) Right now Kansas needs to know who the worst UK ft shooters are to foul smart. Kentucky hit 35-37 FT's against IU. Not a strategy that works against them. Memphis 2008 they are not.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 05:41 AM) weird things happen on Bourbon St Bourbon Street is such a great place! The atmosphere for the Sugar Bowl was perfect. Michigan and VA Tech fans had no animosity toward each other so everybody was all about drinking and having fun. It was easy to get into good conversations with those wearing the other team's colors. It probably didn't hurt that there weren't too many locals there with it being sandwiched between New Year's Eve and the Nat. Championship game. But it was still one helluva time. The only bad thing about Bourbon Street is the full week of recovery your body needs when returning home.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 1, 2012 -> 12:51 AM) Did you watch the Final Four game? What part of stating that he is a very good player are you not getting? Yes I saw the game. I have seen him play many times this year. He is very good. I don't dispute that, nor have I from the beginning.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 02:56 PM) Isaac would be the best RB on the team as a freshmen. He'd start in front of anyone else Hoke brings in. I'd love to see that play out! Especially as we add OL quality and depth.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 04:12 PM) I say it every year, but what would it take to get Nantz off the Final Four broadcasts? Give me Verne and Raftery 24/7 over him. Zzzzzz Verne is a much better basketball announcer than football. I want him off SEC football broadcasts quickly!

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 04:08 PM) I see where Rex is coming from, but like him, the only time I only ever watched Davis was against Iowa State, and he was the third or fourth most impressive player that night behind White, Teague and Miller. I guess I should clarify further. I'm not sure I have a better candidate for POY either. IMO there wasn't a clear cut candidate this year. Again, not a knock on Davis or others, just none wowed me to the point I would toss their name up as a clear cut favorite. All showed great flashes and are great players.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 29, 2012 -> 06:45 AM) Ty Issac from Joliet Catholic is considering Michigan. Holy crap. Kid is a beast. Doesn't belong in high school football. Looks to be a Michigan/USC battle. Seems to be a UM lean right now. Michigan also got a commit from Deveon Smith a RB and #3 player in Ohio (per allen trieu and bill clark on scout). Isaac says that won't matter, but we'll see for sure. He's visited Michigan at least 3x. Hoping he pops for Michigan at the spring game when he visits next. If not, he'll be on summer watch. If it drags on to the beginning of football season, anything can happen. Never heard of a kid rushing for 500+ yards in a state championship game and losing!

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 01:50 PM) Yeah I was going to say Pullen shouldn't be bitter over that. He did more at K State than he was going to anywhere else. They let him take a starring role because they had no other choice and it worked for both parties. If he went to Illinois he probably wouldn't have done as well. You can't tell an athlete that. They all think they are starters and better than anyone else. Reality is a very rare trait for athletes whether AA baseball players, a HS star/college recruit or whatever. They always think they are better than they really are.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 01:17 PM) Louisville +9 and OSU - 2.5? I don't gamble much anymore so you should probably take my advice and bet the opposite. My gut tells me to take Louisville, but my head says don't bet against Kentucky. IU gave Kentucky a helluva game and still won by 12. In the other game, I like OSU to win. If I were to bet it, I'd take the Buckeyes.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 30, 2012 -> 08:40 PM) At least you are consistent with your team as well. Personally, I choose to ignore the whole "vacated" wins thing, since it turns out the games actually happened. Plus, the NCAA is just horribly run and it's not a question of which schools cheat, it's a question of which schools get caught cheating. Which schools cheat?

I know my opinion is different than most. I just don't see a POY type player. I see a great player and an elite defensive player. He just doesn't strike me as the best in the game. Maybe my opinion is colored too much by his struggles against IU. He rebounded well, had a few blocked shots, but didn't score much. I've seen him score in other games, but I just don't think I'd have voted for him to be the best.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 30, 2012 -> 10:23 AM) ESPN Stats & Info ‏ @ESPNStatsInfo Kentucky's Anthony Davis joins Kevin Durant (2006-07) as only the second player ever to win the AP Player of the Year award as a freshman I'm biased, but I'm trying to be fair and reasonable. Davis is a very good player and a great defensive presence, but I just didn't see POY type performances. I saw more than the two games against IU, but those two games stick out to me. He was good, but not POY good. Personally, I think Kidd-Gilchrist is a better player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 29, 2012 -> 06:46 AM) Any idea how easily moveable those tickets are if you enter, get them, and can't go? There are secondary market options like Stubhub, the NCAA market, etc. Or you can wait until it is closer and roll the dice you can find someone from a team that is going. Chances are the seats won't be great. I'm sending off for two. Bad part is they get your money without you knowing if you get tickets until August.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 05:57 PM) How f-ing hard do you think it is to shoot in that place? I would airball every shot. Next year is in Atlanta. Ticket lottery is open now, btw. http://www.ncaa.com/mbbtickets

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 08:23 PM) Yogi Ferrell looking studly in the McD's game. I can see him being the type of player that may only put up 8-12 points in the Big Ten season, but he'll also average 10 assists/game. Missed the game. Recording the replay at 1am. Glad he played well.