whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 30, 2011 -> 10:46 PM) Oh boy, here we go. I'm not jumping on the "let him go" bandwagon though. Lol, I am! Also: Note: it's Twitter, so take it with a grain of salt.

So, is Matt Painter using Missouri to get more money from Purdue, or is he jumping off the smoldering from bad recruiting the last 4 classes ship in West Lafayette before it turns into an all out fire?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 06:43 PM) Again, unless you are a cheating piece of s***, it is impossible to rebuild a program from zero scholarship players to a Big Ten contender overnight. It has to happen a part at a time. Big Ten wins: 1, 4, 3. Overall wins: 6, 10, 12. Lost at least 20 games all 3 years, finished 11th in the Big Ten twice with a T-9th in there. Not seeing much improvement...

QUOTE (knightni @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 06:15 PM) Hey, what do you know... I might win the Yahoo league even though my National Champion lost in round one. this might be the perfect summary of how messed up the brackets are this year.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 06:28 PM) Haters ... We smell your fear! I just want to know when mighty Indiana basketball was reduced to waiting for high school juniors to arrive, and began giving coaches 4, 5, 6 years to prove their worth. I know Kelvin Sampson left a mess, but Crean is taking an awfully long time to "fix" it. I still want to see him doing something of relevance without Dwyane Wade.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 06:27 PM) No problem with the Calipari remark...Calhoun doesn't deserve to be mentioned anywhere near him. I won't even totally argue that in the sense Calipari is on his own planet in cheating. But Calhoun is without question also a very significant cheater, and to have both of these guys in this game sucks. Cheating does pay.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 06:21 PM) LMAO. That's a ridiculous statement. I would LOVE to hear an explanation as to why. Because I don't think it exists. Calipari is worse than Calhoun obviously, but they're both very scummy.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 05:52 PM) Missouri has apparently contacted Painter. This would be a shock hire. One that I'm not even sure I'd like. Still probably not likely. If Martin believed the Purdue job would open he probably would have waited for that. I'm holding out hope for Shaka. With the way Painter has recruited at Purdue the last few years, and losing Johnson and Moore.....I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got out while the getting is still good.

LOL i'm in 2nd, 1 point out of first in the soxtalk yahoo group (21 brackets were filled out there), I'm in the 91st percentile nationally, and this is easily the worst bracket I've ever done. What a crazy tournament.

Cuonzo Martin is a very good hire considering the risk factor with going to Tennessee right now IMO.

One national semifinal is two of the biggest cheaters in the sport with Calhoun and Calipari. The other is a bracketbuster game in April. Fascinating bit of contrast between two games on the same night with the same thing on the line.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 03:41 PM) I don't think I've ever wanted a group to fail more than Indiana's 2012 class. The program is such a joke right now that the fanbase is drooling over high school juniors. Give me a break IU. Crean should be thankful. If the fanbase wasn't swooning over 16 year olds, they'd actually realize he should be on the hot seat.

It was a refreshing change watching well played games in this regional (outside of the UNC/Marquette bloodbath).

Six (now seven) posts on page 4, and not a single one is an out of breath fathom telling us why the Cubs will win the World Series this year? Fathom, I have to admit this kind of lets me down.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 02:51 PM) Could this have possibly gone any better for the NCAA? A play-in team to the Final Four in the very first year they tried this format. When they see the TV ratings for Butler/VCU.....they'll realize it could have gone better. A lot better. You're right that it does seem to validate the first four format though, and for that I'm sure they're pleased. The TV ratings for the Final should be good though. Butler/Duke had good ratings last year IIRC, and regardless of what happens from here on out, we know it'll be a traditional superpower vs. mid-major Final again this year. Butler/VCU is an amazing story and will be fun, but it's only possible because the top teams suck. I can't get over Butler being in the Final 4, they're not even in the same ballpark as a team as they were last year. An easy bracket and winning experience does wonders though. VCU is even more amazing considering they had to win 5 games, all against BCS teams from different leagues. Plus, they don't have Butler's winning experience.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Mar 26, 2011 -> 05:47 PM) Sullinger isn't Elton Brand, he was a better athlete with freakishly long arms. He made a difference as a shot-blocker, something Sullinger won't do. He MAY be Sean May, but people are throwing that around like it's more of a stigma than it should be. He had injury problems early in his career, and between microfracture surgery in 2007 and conditioning issues he never really had a chance. Before he got hurt his second year, he was averaging 12-7 in only 24 MPG while shooting 50% from the floor. I still see no real reason he can't be Carlos Boozer. They have a similar build and Carlos isn't exactly explosive nor particularly quick. Being a fat ass basketball player has a tendency to lead to injury problems. Wouldn't shock me at all if Sullinger has them just like May has. Back on topic though, I think this game should be a great one. UNC down 7 and Henson with 3 fouls already though.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Mar 27, 2011 -> 02:53 PM) Probably one of their easiest opponents of their tourney run... not saying VCU will win just you can argue Butler is the 2nd worse opponent they faced so far. Well VCU IS the easiest team Butler has faced so far, so I can turn that argument right around on you. The fact that VCU, who quite frankly does not belong in this tournament, can win 5 games (first team ever obviously) in the tournament and get to the Final Four just shows you how weak this field is. What VCU has done is amazing, but that's the truth. VCU didn't even gather to watch the selection show! As does a team that finished 9th in the Big East getting to the Final Four shows. As does a Butler team who is nowhere near as good as they were last year getting to the Final Four shows. Not only are there not any great teams, there aren't any really good teams either. Shaka Smart has to be happy though, he's going to make at least 5 times more money next year. And Brad Stevens looks like (and probably is) a genius for getting Butler to two Final Fours in a row. Also, Bill Self now 1-5 in the elite 8. You can't take the national title away, but my goodness his teams play tight in the tournament. ESPECIALLY against inferior opponents.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 26, 2011 -> 08:34 AM) I think it is a good idea for Sullinger to stay, especially with the uncertainty of the CBA, to stay in school for another year. There is a very good chance, more so than even the NFL, that there will be games lost next season in the NBA. He'd be crazy to stay in school if he's a top 5 pick with his type of game. He's not like a Derrick Williams or Kyrie Irving where most people look at him and see a really good NBA player, so it's possible scouts sour on his game the longer he's in school. CBA uncertainty exists, but if you go and are a top 5 pick, you're going to get paid quite well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 26, 2011 -> 10:44 AM) There's no guaranteed money if there is no CBA agreement. I am going to make the radical prediction that 1st round picks will still get guaranteed contracts in the new CBA. There may not be an NBA season next year though, which is obviously a wild card.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 26, 2011 -> 04:47 AM) Total bulls***, but you are entitled to your opinion if if its slightly haterish. OSU is not a fraud in any sense of the word, they started 4 probable NBA players and just had the worst shooting night of the season. William Buford went 2 or 16, something he never does, and they missed countless layups and open shots. OSU has played better defensive teams throughout the season and just had a letdown game after two of the most dominant games of the tournament. I'm sure you think a tournament loss like that all of a sudden makes up what a team has accomplished the entire season, and thats fine, but thats just not the case. There probably hasnt been a "great" team by anyones standards since Florida repeated as champs, but this one one of the best OSU teams i have ever seen and that includes a team that went to the national title game. They were one of the most if not the most complete team in the country. with Sullinger, Buford and Thomas all saying they are coming back after the game, I feel pretty good about next year anyway when they can make a run at another conference title and still be considered "not that good." How about this: admit your team, which lost in the sweet 16 in one of the worst years in recent college basketball history for top teams/in general, wasn't nearly as good as you thought it was. Because the fact is, that's what actually happened. You dominated a Big 10 which had 5 teams lose in the first weekend of the tournament, and zero make the elite 8. Ohio State was a fraud, as was the entire Big 10. You can explain all you want about their season, but top teams are judged on what they do in the tournament. I'm not being a hater considering the facts are on my side. And we'll see about Sullinger and Buford. Thomas coming back makes sense, but Sullinger is an idiot if he passes up being a top 5 pick to return and risk more NBA scouts realizing he's Sean May part 2. I'm not sure exactly what Buford's status is. I think he's a late 1st round type guy, and it'd make sense for him to come back if he can't get a first round promise from somebody. If he does get information that says he'd be a first round pick and comes back though, he risks losing that guaranteed contract as a 1st rounder. I think he's a classic guy who'd be smart to test the waters.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 25, 2011 -> 11:26 PM) Sullinger already coming out and saying that he's staying in school for next year. Lets see if that lasts... Yeah that'd be awfully stupid. I assume it was a heat of the momemt comment after a hard loss.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Mar 25, 2011 -> 11:24 PM) Totally agreed, I think everyone knew OSU's bracket was loaded and Pitt's bracket stunk. You had the same think last year with Duke getting a cakewalk as the 3rd #1 seed. They really need to try to balance these more, I don't know how you can justify sticking OSU with UNC, Syracuse and Kentucky while Pitt gets Florida, BYU and Wisconsin. Yeah. Realistically, Ohio State waltzes to the Final Four if they get Pitt's bracket. And as the top overall seed, they should have.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 25, 2011 -> 10:57 PM) That UConn team was really talented but they were really vulnerable too. I love what VCU has done but I really can't see them getting by this KU team, hope I'm wrong. Just something of note too: VCU has beaten a team from the Pac 10, Big 10, Big East and ACC so far this tournament, obviously they're facing a team from the Big 12 in Kansas and if they can somehow pull that off, they could possibly play a team from the SEC in the final four. So in theory, it's possible for them to beat a team from each of the power 6 conferences on route to the National Title game. Kinda Crazy. Yeah I can't see VCU beating Kansas. You're right about that UConn team, and I thought going into this tournament that Ohio State and Duke were the fatally flawed superpowers that would go down. But who knows, can't rule out anything in a one game scenario. I read Shaka Smart made 325 grand this year as VCU coach. Think he's getting a raise? Haha. Such a young guy too, I think he's actually a year younger than Brad Stevens from Butler. On a side note, most people said the right side of the bracket was immensly weaker than the left side going into the dance, and boy that really shows up now, even WITH Ohio State and Duke gone on the left and Kansas alive on the right. The tournament committee did a terrible job balancing the bracket/regions.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 25, 2011 -> 10:00 PM) Took their worst game of the season for uk to win. f***ing shame, this team was one of the best. Not going to laugh at you since that's a hard loss to swallow, but no. They were a fraud that a good team could beat if they played them properly, and Kentucky did the trick. I've noticed quite a few people were with me and had this happening too, so I really can't call it a shocker. People were trying to make good teams like Duke and Ohio State into great teams when they just were not. They were good but very beatable teams, and now, not surprisingly at all, both are gone. I thought Kansas was the best team in this tournament going in, but really, they're flawed too. Everybody is. Fortunately for Kansas, the road to the title game was paved, so they should be there. The other side of the bracket should be a blast though with four evenly matched teams left.

Hmm two mid-majors in the elite 8. VCU, on paper, should get absolutely spanked by Kansas. But heck, George Mason was an 11 seed from the CAA and they shocked mighty UConn. For VCU to win 4 games to get to the elite 8 is rather amazing though, I thought it'd be a long time before we saw a play-in game team in the elite 8. I don't think Butler is a Cinderella at all, but VCU certainly is.