Rex Hudler

Badger, I agree with farm. Playing in Indy is an advantage for IU, but not an essential home game. I do think the advantage will grow the deeper they go (losing teams tickets ending up in IU fans' hands). I hope we will it and hope you prove me wrong. That said, I am not a big fan of conference tournaments, especially these bigger conferences. I just don't think these games mean squat. They are playing for seeding in the tournament and yes, I guess there are a handful of teams playing for an automatic bid. I'd prefer a full round robin conference schedule with an element worked into the schedule of having games with only one day of rest at least two or three times a season. This would help emulate the turnaround in the NCAA Tournament. If they played the round robin schedule it would mean four more game, which would give those teams on the bubble the same opportunity to make up ground. JMHO

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 4, 2012 -> 08:10 PM) Ugh MTSU lost tonight, some good mids got taken out today. No good. No way Middle Tennessee St gets an at-large, no way!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 4, 2012 -> 05:14 PM) "We better beat f***ing Purdue". Ask and ye shall receive!

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 3, 2012 -> 06:47 PM) Breathe, Rex. Easier for me to say when I know my school had no shot at anything. At that point Evansville's chances of winning today were long gone. The guy just irritated the crap out of me.

Who is the guy doing color on the TV broadcast? He's freakin terrible. 1. He had the OT game between Evansville and Creighton 2/21, last night's game and today's games and he has said the same things over and over and over. 2. I feel like I am listening to a MVC commercial rather than a game. I know its a conference championship game, but all I hear and see with graphics is how good McDermott is and how good Creighton is compared to everyone else. Say it once and move on, geez. 3. Not once has he mentioned that the two teams played a 3rd time and Evansville won at home. Maybe I'm just irritated that Evansville is getting their asss kicked, but he was irritating me last night too, so I think its him, not me.

I don't typically complain about referees, but the two technicals Creighton has gotten for "hanging onto the rim" after dunks have been pure BS. Neither have been borderline. I sure as hell hope they don't call it that way in the NCAA Tournament because Zeller and Oladipo will get one every time they dunk!

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 3, 2012 -> 04:31 PM) Cats. I'd love for both to happen but if I had to choose 1 I'll take NU over UE or the Red Birds. I understand, however I am going to treat you as hostile anit-Evansville for the next two hours. I'm done with you until after the Evansville is eliminated or heading to the dance!

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 3, 2012 -> 03:52 PM) Northwestern. Who do you root for now? Northwestern or the Valley to get 3 teams in?

My longshot is halfway home. Go Aces!!!

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 3, 2012 -> 03:10 PM) Thank Tebow that the Racers won, don't need any bid stealers. Row who's bid are you looking to protect?

Would love to see an Illinois State - Evansville final. Not likely to happen, but it would certainly make the bubble teams squirm, especially with Murray State struggling the moment.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 1, 2012 -> 11:08 AM) I saw an All Valley Karate Tournament where the previous years winner got a bye to the finals of the next year. Was that in Karate Kid II or Karate Kid VIII?

Did anyone notice the set up for the Horizon League tournament? I was checking it tonight to see what Butler's road back to the big dance was and noticed a different bracket than I've ever seen. The #1 and #2 seeds - Valpo and Cleveland St get byes all the way to the semifinals (3rd round). They have seeds 3 thru 10 play opening round games and the four winners play each other Friday night. The winners of those two games advance to the semis against the 1 and 2 seeds. It works out that the top two seeds have to win two games to win the tournament and everyone from three down would have to win four. I've never seen a tournament stacked like that to favor the top teams. The other wrinkle is that Valpo is the host. But if they lose in the semifinals on Saturday, the finals take place at the home of the highest remaining seed on Tuesday. Again, maybe small conferences do things differently, but I've never seen the tournament location move depending on who won.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 29, 2012 -> 09:51 AM) Rex, Just so you know the best Indiana can do is the 5 seed. When Wisconsin won yesterday they clinched at worst the 4 seed (due to tie breaker with Indiana) and at best the 3 seed (due to various tie breakers, but it requires Michigan to lose both of their remaining games.) If you were talking NCAA tournament, not Big10, then disregard the above. Not really excited for the tournament because a 4/5 @ Indiana doesnt really appeal at all to me. I know that the Big10 is going to bring the tournament back to Chicago in the future, I just dislike it being mainly in Indiana. Id have no problem with a rotation, that included most Big 10 states, but dont like the fact Indiana is getting such an advantage. (I also dislike it in football, but because Indiana is less relevant its not as much of an immediate concern.) I was definitely talking about the NCAA Tournament. I do think your pereception of the tournament in Indiana being an advantage is off. I didn't go back and look at yearly results, but my recollection doesn't have IU doing very well in the Big Ten tournament anywhere, let alone in Indy. I would love for it to become an advantage if we get to the semis or finals, but IU's history in the tournament, I don't believe, will prove IU has much of an advantage. I'll be happy to be proven wrong this year, however.

I believe IU is almost a lock for a 4 seed. Beat Purdue and or Penn St in the Big Ten tourney and we should be good there. Beat Purdue and find our way to the tournament finals in Indy and a 3 seed is not out of the question. Lose to Purdue and a quick out in Indy and a 5 is possible. Keep in mind they did beat NC State in a true road game as well as Evansville. Neither are close to the level as the teams they beat at home, but NC State is a bubble team and Evansville did have some nice wins in the Valley after a tough start. They also beat Notre Dame easily on a neutral court, albeit when ND was struggling. The Purdue win on the road didn't hurt either. That said, yes they are a much different team in Assembly Hall. I look forward to seeing who they draw in the first round. The matchup is key, but if they keep playing well I think a Sweet Sixteen spot is attainable. From that point on, it would be gravy. If they land in Nashville, I'll be there. Louisville, more than likely. A sweet sixteen spot in Atlanta would be quite groovy and while it is far fetched, if they land in the Final Four, you can bet your ass I'll be in New Orleans!!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 29, 2012 -> 07:50 AM) SPN Stats & Info ‏ @ESPNStatsInfo Indiana is the 4th team in past 10 years with 3 wins over AP Top-5 teams. Last time Hoosiers did that they won the national title. The last time the Hoosiers did that they finished undefeated - the last team to do so. Great season, but far different teams. LOL

Nice 1st half for the Hoosiers! The thing I love about this team is it is just that. They are unselfish and 7-8 guys can do big time damage in any one game or half. Sadly, I thought they were doing a great job on Green and all of a sudden he is into double digits. He's hit some big shots to keep them close.

Not much action in this thread so not sure if it is read or ignored anymore.... Michigan is off to a hot start for 2013 football recruiting. Eleven months from signing day they have 13 verball commitments, 11 of which are in the top 199 of Rivals Top 250. Only Texas A & M has gotten off to as hot of a start. Brady Hoke's staff is doing a great job of identifying kids from Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, getting them on campus early (often multiple times) and building enough excitement to make them want to commit. The future continues to look bright.

Does anyone follow Purdue? What was the deal with Barlow? It seems as he has been a problem for a long time, not just this past time he got in trouble. Dan Dakich commented on today's IU game that he knew the family. He said his father was great and mother was a very nice woman then hesitated and said that he felt sorry for the parents and that it was evident Barlow had to be let go and probably should have been let go before the season. He didn't say anything specifically negative about the kid, but the message was received loud and clear.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 26, 2012 -> 02:37 PM) The loss from that list was just sad. It was sad in terms of how they played, but I really didn't expect them to win both @ Iowa and @ Minnesota. IU's margin for error is still pretty small and road wins are still tough to get. With 7 games left I was looking for a 5-2 finish. Right now we're 4-1 with two tough home games left. I'd love to hold serve in these last two. Either way, I think we're looking at a quarterfinal game in Indy against Wisky. I'd love to get to the semis in Indy and see how much of a home court environment it could become. IU seems to be a near lock for a four seed in the tournament, barring losing their next three or winning their next four. March is much more fun when the Hoosiers are involved! If only we can Evansville firing on all cylinders next year. They have most of their team back including Colt Ryan so I think they have to be better. Ryan Sawville has impressed in the 2nd half as well and should only get better as an inside presence.

Real nice win by the Hoosiers @ Minny today. I don't care how much they've been struggling. To go into Minnesota and completely control the game is what IU needed right now. There really wasn't anything to complain about. It wasn't perfect, but it was a balanced effort and both Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls appeared to find missing parts of their games. Now back to Bloomington for a showdown against Michigan State. Best case scenario IU could get to a #3 seed in the tournament, though a 4 seed is more likely. Not bad after a 12-20 and 3-15 season a year ago! Should be a great atmosphere Tuesday night.

Paging Christian Watford.... Has anyone seen Christian Watford??

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 25, 2012 -> 08:21 PM) In all honesty the winner of UE-MSU can give CU some problems in the semis. And I wouldn't be shocked if after InSU is done spanking us if they play a nailbiter with the Shocks. Evansville beat Creighton and took them to OT at their place so they can beat them. Then again, reality may set in for both teams and it may end up a 12 point Bluejay victory. Then again, beating Missouri State the third time will be no easy task. As much as I love the Aces, I think they caught a break with the seeding tiebreaker. No one can convince me they are the 3rd best team in the Valley. What I do like about this team is they never quit and have a lot of heart.

I made one error in my prediction for the MVC seedings the other day. Missouri State finished ahead of Drake in 6th, where I had them reversed. That means Evansville will have to play Missouri State back to back and beat them for a 3rd time to move on. Considering both games went to OT, that will be a tall order. MVC Tourney Bracket

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 25, 2012 -> 06:07 PM) I'm missing something. Ref called charge on Purdue and counted the basket. Didn't that happen to Illinois a few weeks ago? WTF Not sure what your question is... If the ball leaves the offensive player's hand before the contact was made, the basket counts. Most of the time it happens after or simultaneously with contact and is waved off. Either can be a correct call. Despite losing tonight at home, I have been impressed with Michigan this year. I think they are a solid team and have played well as a team, surpassing most expectations. How they do in the tourney will have much to do with the draw, but they have certainly surprised me this year. Purdue winning tonight gives me pause on the rest of Indiana's season. We are @ Minny tomorrow, host Mich St Tuesday and host Purdue next weekend. None of those three will be easy. I'd love to see a sweep, but am really hoping for 2 out of three.