whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 24, 2011 -> 10:25 AM) Dont fool yourself Brian, its going to be Lusk(who also interviewed for NIU) Yeah I think there is a pretty good chance Lusk goes to SIU after next year. I am absolutely thrilled with the Montgomery hiring, think we did well there. We have access to Chicagoland players, a great arena/facilities, and a winnable league in the MAC (and more specifically, the MAC West, our crappy division). Honestly, the setup is better for our basketball program than our football program, and our football program is pretty good. I think getting a guy like Montgomery at least shows I'm not crazy to think the basketball program here has a good bit of potential. The program is a mess right now, but the tools are there to win with the right coach. I think Montgomery will have the program in a good place in a few years.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 24, 2011 -> 10:25 PM) How does Butler do it? This team is almost completely devoid of talent. Ehh I wouldn't go that far. They have enough talent to be a one and done, 8 to 11 seed type team. But overall, they're doing this because Brad Stevens is an absolute freaking genius, and an incredible tournament situation coach. I didn't think they had the talent to beat Wisconsin tonight, but Butler was just relentless on defense until they stopped playing a little too early. Florida has better players than Butler, but so did Wisconsin, Pitt, and Old Dominion. So who the heck knows what'll happen Saturday. If Butler can manage to make the Final Four two years in a row....I don't even know what to say. I didn't think it was possible for a Horizon League team to do such a thing. For them to even have gone this far after last year is something. Brad Stevens is in the position now to be VERY picky with where he goes. He should just laugh and hang up if places like Tennessee or Missouri call him, and wait for a legit superpower, top 5 or 10 program to call with a Brinks truck full of money. Because that will eventually happen. Although what the heck, he's a local boy, he seems very happy, seems like a pretty simple guy...maybe he wants to say. I mean, a Title Game and (at least) Elite 8 appearance in back to back years? Butler isn't a superpower, but they aren't far away from it right now. And they've passed Xavier and Gonzaga for best non-BCS program in America. And you can't say he couldn't win a National Title there after how close they were last year. Although I complimented Butler....this is another Wisconsin loss against a lower seed when the bracket set up well for them. They've done it far too often. And I think it's hard to argue with the idea that BYU beats Florida with Brandon Davies on the floor. Unfortunate. I still don't fully buy what Florida is selling, and I wouldn't be shocked if Butler beats them at all.

Was wrong about San Diego State, but not surprised to see Duke go down. I figured the Texas/Arizona winner would give them major issues, but wow Arizona was amazing tonight. Arizona/UConn should be an awesome game.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Mar 23, 2011 -> 12:03 AM) Lakers vs Suns was probably GOTY right there. Anyone else see Steve Nash's pass in second overtime when he was double teamed and falling? The one where he got away with a brutal travel? In all seriousness, it was a great pass though. And also in all seriousness, Vince Carter looks done.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Mar 21, 2011 -> 04:05 PM) I wouldn't be so sure. A lot of the thinking around here is that the penalties will be reduced b/c we got rid of Pearl. Loss of a couple scholarships over the next few years and maybe a year postseason ban or something. I can live with that. The main violation was Pearl lying to the NCAA. What he lied about was a secondary violation. Now that Pearl is gone, I don't think the secondary violation he committed is going to result in "hefty" sanctions. Firing Pearl will probably reduce whatever sanctions they get. But they could still get hefty ones from the NCAA, although you could also be right. It's hard to predict what the NCAA will do, which is part of why Pearl is gone in the first place. Also, looks like Mike Anderson played the system perfectly. Let the information get out that you may leave for Arkansas, freak out your current school who likes you in Mizzou, get more years and more paper on your deal at said school. http://www.stltoday.com/sports/article_285...127992bc8b.html

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Mar 20, 2011 -> 10:02 PM) The shots didn't fall for Illinois tonight. That game was there for the taking. Ehh I think the shots weren't falling in large part due to Kansas' defense. The Illini weaknesses were on full display in that game (Mike and Mike getting destroyed inside because they're both as soft as interior players come, the teams inability to beat anybody of relevance if McCamey isn't scoring, inability to draw fouls and get to the line regularly, etc). I actually give them credit because the effort was there, but Kansas is just a much better team. The issue isn't Illinois losing to a team like that as much as it is they shouldn't have been a 9 seed having to play such a team in the round of 32. It's okay though, I hope the seniors are proud. They left a legacy of absolutely nothing except lack of leadership, effort, accomplishment, and a bunch of empty numbers. In the long run, the younger guys on this team may be better off without them. Heck, they may be better off without Richmond too.

No surprise here, but Tennessee has fired Bruce Pearl. I wish them luck in finding a new coach considering hefty sanctions are headed their way.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 20, 2011 -> 08:46 AM) See I think you could and should call the first one. Pitt had a chance to catch the ball and at least get an attempt at the basket from just over half court. It's not likely it goes in, but it's a chance. On the second one, there was a 0% chance his effort was going anywhere near the rim. It's not like he had time to dribble, or was trying to pass that up quickly. He felt a hand on him and just flailed the ball hoping a ref would see a foul, and it worked. Honestly even if Illinois won in that fashion I'd be happy they won but I'd kind of have this weird feeling that we got away with one and should still be playing. I mostly agree with you, but I think they have to both be called. The one against Butler stopped a better chance at the rim, and was an obvious call. The call against Pittsburgh was less obvious, but it was a clear foul and did stop Howard from getting a heavy, even if it was going to be an 85 foot heave. I think it would be inconsistent to call one and not the other, even if the plays were different. But I can see why some disagree. I just think they were both clearly fouls and had to be called as such. This region had an interesting dynamic all along in that it was the easiest region, but Pittsburgh is pretty clearly the worst #1 seed. Wasn't shocked to see them out so soon since they usually do that. Not smart by me at all to pick them to go to the Final Four.

Texas had the raw talent to beat Duke without a doubt, but Rick Barnes is just a terrible game coach. Arizona has some talent too and I like Sean Miller, but it'll be a lot tougher for them to get Duke. Need Williams to go off, or Duke to get a comfortable lead and go into the prevent way too early.

Couldn't be less surprised at what happened to Purdue, never bought what they were selling. Needed Robbie Hummel, and even then, I'm not sure how much noise they'd have made in the tournament. Not sure why he was crying on the bench either, he'll be back next year to play with a roster vastly inferior to the one they have this year!

Illinois has 14 losses to UConn's 9 (out of conference games also count), and also has Kemba Walker. They also have quite a few more quality wins than Illinois, and I'm not sure how anybody watches those two teams and doesn't conclude UConn is a much better team.

Would rather have Sale close, but this was a win/win decision IMO so no big deal.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 19, 2011 -> 09:14 PM) CBS seems to think Anderson's gone. A LOT of people do. Haven't seen the "smoking gun" to show he definitely is though.

Pullen was great all night. But when the money was on the table, he couldn't make all 3 free throws. Sad way for his career to end. Impressive win for Wisconsin with Taylor playing so poorly. First to 40 wins when they play Butler. Could this be Bo Ryan's time to finally make the Final Four? Does Jimmer have a shot? Could Butler do it again? Florida is the best seed, but I still do not buy them at all to be quite honest. I hope Butler wins the region because that'd be such a great story, and BYU to the Final Four without one of their best players and with Jimmer would be something. But I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's Bo Ryan's time. They are actually scoring points, and the bracket just looks great for them.

I don't know how anybody could say Illinois is underrated. They underachieved all season, and the fact that a 9-9 in conference, 14 loss overall team made the tournament comfortably shows they're certainly not underrated.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Mar 19, 2011 -> 06:34 PM) San Diego State survives. Ugly game. Feeling terrible about having them in the Final Four, although Pitt probably killed my bracket today anyways since I had them there.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 18, 2011 -> 02:56 PM) Sorry to bash your beloved mid-major teams, but ODU and Butler were both very mediocre this year. ODU had 4 good wins with 2-3 bad losses. Butler went 15-5 in an ok Horizon League and their only win over a tourney team is Florida State. I guess in Butler's case it's fair that they got a higher seed after getting screwed in the past, but that's not an 8 seed resume to me. Good call! Maybe if Butler makes the Final Four for the second straight year (which they very well could in this region), you'll finally admit his "beloved mid-major teams" can actually be good sometimes. Or I guess maybe if BYU makes it for that matter since they're a Mountain West team.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2011 -> 04:26 PM) Michigan was the first team in NCAA history to win a tourney game without hitting a single FT> I know it just happened, but I think that's an unbreakable record. Somebody will win an NCAA Tournament game without making a free throw again one day, but winning by 30 without making a free throw? That margin will not be broken. Arizona/Texas will be a VERY fun game in my opinion. If Texas can get their crap together, they can give Duke a heavy challenge. Heck, Michigan can give them a game if they play that well again tomorrow. But I am doubtful of that. I also hope the new Tennessee coach enjoys being on probation for a few years.

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Mar 19, 2011 -> 08:46 AM) As much as I've ragged on Illinois this year, they are extremely underrated. I'll bet that hardly anyone realizes that Pomeroy has them at 16th in the country and Sagarin has them at 19th. I'm not saying they will, because they are choke artists, but Illinois can beat Kansas. I don't think anybody doubts Illinois has the ability to beat Kansas. The question is, will they put on the performance necessary to do so. I say no, because I don't think they can do what they did yesterday twice in three days, and I think a performance like they put on for the first 35 minutes yesterday is what it'll take to beat Kansas. However, I did not think Illinois was even capable of playing a game like they did yesterday once with the lack of heart I had seen all year before yesterday. Maybe they figured something out, and if they did, they'll be a tough out for the Jayhawks.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Mar 16, 2011 -> 02:13 PM) Rose doesn't have a point at all. Just because Hill was given more than Rose had Hill is automatically a b**** for taking advantage of what he had? What is Hill supposed to do? Sit around at home and wallow in his parents' money? Jalen Rose came off as a total prick in that documentary. There's a reason why he was the most used interview. He was a controversial asshole the entire time. My point is this: everybody is sucking Hill's dick for the "amazing" editorial he wrote and is giving him credit for being a success. Doesn't Rose get credit for being a success coming from vastly more difficult circumstances? And Grant Hill comes across as a prick Duke elitist in that editorial too. I'm not sure why nobody is pointing that out. Does he make vaild points? Absolutely. Did he win every game he played in college against the fab 5? Of course. But he come across as an asshole in that piece. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 16, 2011 -> 02:08 PM) This reminds me of the Elton Brand e-mail exchange a few years back. Indeed.

People hate Dukies, moreso than anything else, for being elitist snobs. Hill writing a piece like that in that form will do nothing to help that. Everybody seems to be jumping on Grant Hill's back here, but doesn't Jalen Rose get credit for being succesful too? And he wasn't exactly born into circumstances that anybody could do well in like Grant Hill was. I think both sides have a point in this debate. Being black and two parents and getting an education like Grant Hill is not a bad thing at all. But the success Jalen Rose has had coming from tougher circumstances can't be ignored either, and the fact is a LOT of people (black and white) feel the way about Duke that Jalen Rose did/does.

My friends and I thought Marian Hossa was doing a portion of "The Kaner Shuffle" after both of his goals last night.

That lawsuit is ridiculous. I don't see how the ref wins, unless the writer legitimately just made that entire exchange up. And I don't see what on earth his motivation to do that would be. Also, who said Kevin Love sucks?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 10:25 PM) Can't teach length and athleticism which SDSU has, they also happen to have my favorite player in college basketball in Kawhi Leonard, so they got that going for them . Top 4 seeds all have a legit shot at winning this region imo. I actually like Texas and Arizona a lot. But they both got tricky first round games which I could see them losing, so I was afraid to pick either to go very far.

I'm not a big Louisville or Vandy fan, and think KU has a walk to the elite 8. They're my champion though, so I have to say that. This is probably the 2nd softest region IMO, although the bottom half of the bracket is at least respectable. I think Georgetown/Notre Dame could be a fun sweet 16 Big East showdown. Notre Dame is the biggest potential challenge to Kansas in this region IMO due to their experience and style flexibility. Purdue, if they were to prove me wrong and get to the elite 8, could be a modest threat too though with two great players like Johnson and Moore. If they get hot, you never know.