JuiceCruz16

Headed to West Lafayette tonight to catch the Buckeye Boilermaker matchup. Glad Turner is back, but hope Purdue can get the victory, while E'twaun plays well.

How is Big Mac, Bonds, Canseco etc. any different then Rose, Schmidt, Bench, etc. and EVERY MLB team who liberally gave illegal amphetamines in humongous amounts to improve performance throughout baseball. It has been part of the game for a LONG TIME, the modern "boost" just worked better. So, now these guys are cheating scumbags and those guys were great examples of playing the game right? C'MON MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jan 11, 2010 -> 03:46 PM) Better get rid of all the amphetamine users in there too. Thank You!!! I totally agree! They cheated in the exact same way, Their illegal performance enhanceing drug of choice just did not work as well during their time. They damn sure used and abused them all they could though. Take all the cheats out and you lose almost all your hall of famers from the 70's on. Not just the "roiders".

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 11, 2010 -> 11:19 AM) Bah looks like Leur broke his wrist against Purdue. Should be interesting how Wisconsin responds. That is just a terrible loss for Wisky it will be tough to overcome, but with the slowdown big 10 style it may be easier to deal with grinding out some wins.

I see Duke and Coach K. swung and missed again on their target. Roscoe Smith picked UCONN over Duke & G'town. He was their guy to replace Barnes after UNC got him, losing Smith really compounds missing on Barnes!

Graves and Drew shot it really well in the second half for my Tarheels last night. If they can get some consistant outside shooting the Heels can still be a tough squad to beat come tournament time. Dex & Drew are looking like they are becoming more comfortable attacking from the point and running more (especially Dex on the break). Still a lot of growing to do, but I'm encouraged with the possibility of the guard play to improve enough to help out Easy Ed and the rest of the front line. Playing at Clemson next looks like a very tough matchup for the young guards dealing with the Clemson pressure though. We will see if they continue to improve.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 10:39 AM) I was at the game, it was pretty ugly on both ends from what I saw. JJ is difference for Purdue. Unfortunately for them, they have no depth after him. If he gets in foul trouble, I can't see the guards carrying them past a good, well coached team. I was impressed with Minnesota's Johnson as well. JJ has been in foul trouble in a few big games already, like Tenneseee. It is a weak front line other then Johnson, but Moore/Hummel are good enough to be capable of getting them past stretches in a game without JJ. They really miss Lew Jack as a primary ball handler though to create a little from the point and maybe push a few fastbreaks. They are playing that typical ugly Big 10 style games heavy on bumps and defensive contact though that is for sure.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 01:15 PM) Pre All-Star break: .237/.360/.464 (.824) Post All-Star break: .263/.384/.540 (.924) But why should we look at facts when we can pull our opinions out of thin air? His numbers with the Yankees were at least in line with his Oakland numbers, if not better. If you want to argue whether he was a good player in Oakland, then that's another debate, but he did bounce back with the Yankees and he was very good. His 3.5 WAR would have ranked 1st amongst our offensive players and 2nd overall behind Floyd. I stand corrected on his nice start, I seem to recall a quick first month of the season sticking out in my mind. Yes, his stats fell back to Oakland form ( the wind tunnel in new Yankee Stadium was helpful), where he did not impress me either! You can keep that crap. He was a butcher in the outfield for the Yanks, as a fill in guy he is ok, but he seemed to think he is more then that with the Sox, so once again gladly the Yanks can have him.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 12:51 PM) I think trying to account for every possible scenario is an impossible and therefore pointless exercise. Of course it would be ideal to have a .300+ hitter at the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, a runner on 2nd and in a tie game. If you're setting your team up every day to account for that situation, however, you're going to lose out in the long run. If I'm a GM, I'm filling my team with players who are going to make outs at the lowest rate while bringing some power to picture. Why? Because OPS and wOBA are much better run predictors than batting average is. Sure, in the situation that you listed, Jack Cust would be a far from ideal man to have up at the plate, but that one specific situation will only account for a tiny portion of your PA's over the course of a season. The more effective way of scoring runs is by not making outs and hitting for power, and if that comes with a bundle of strikeouts then so be it. As for Swisher, surely his bounce back with the Yanks proves that he simply had a down year with the Sox. His lack of production is in no way, shape or form a predictor of what would happen to Cust if Kenny were to acquire him. Nick Swisher was not very good for the Yankees either. He had a good start, and pretty much sucked ass from there on out. The Yanks can have him if that is his bounceback year!

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 08:30 PM) I can't believe that pollsters had this UNC team ranked in the top 10. They just aren't that good. Absolutely no senior leadership or toughness, and questionable guard play all-around. Next year will be much better if Ed Davis sticks around like he should. Yep, they are awful young, with no real scoring from the perimeter. Ginyard and Graves being out adds to that problem. They can be dangerous by tourney time if they get healthy. First bad loss, well, the 'Cuse got 'em pretty good (#6). They were outplayed by Kentucky and Texas (#2 and #3), but went down to the final minutes on the road with both of them.

I got some last second free tickets to drive down and catch the Purdue/West Virginia game Saturday. Purdue really throttled W. Virginia defensivly, and Mackey arena was rockin'! I was impressed with the atmosphere. Tuesday with Minnesota in town should be a stern test for the Golden Gophers in Mackey. I will be back down there for the Ohio State game next Tuesday to cheer on E'twaun and the rest of the Boilers.

How about my old confrence the MAC beating up on the Valley! Ohio beats up on Illinois State by 18! My old school, Ball State did beat the hapless Indiana State Sycamores, as well, even though the REAL Cardinals down in Muncie aren't much this year.

I don't see any legit shot at Dunn, but for those saying they would pass on him, IF he is avaliable because of his K's, well, I couldn't disagree more. He would be a perfect DH addition after the Pierre pickup. I wonder how Vlad's back and other health concerns are, but I would think he is Kenny's target for DH at this point.

Pierre is a true professional and will play hard and bring some speed to the top of the order. Better baserunner and base stealer then Pods. Better dee in left field, and for half the money. I like the move, although it is not a jump for joy type move.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 09:48 AM) It's pretty crazy the hype he's getting right now. He's all over ESPN's main page after a 25 point, 7 turnovers, 2 assists, 1 rebound game. He plays very well at the end of games, but goodness, 14 turnovers by yourself in two games is absurd. Where is the hype for Greg Monroe at Georgetown? Monroe is 3 months younger than Wall and is putting up big numbers. Wall's upside is just incredible! He was a beast coming in. Roy williiams and others have said he is the best high school point since Jason Kidd. Roy passed mainly because he had handlers and he was a SURE 1 and done. He wanted to be a Tarheel, I think the 1 year would be fine with me seeing him run the show this year, but not sure if anything shady with his handelers. If so I'm glad he did not offer. But, damn, Wall is a special type player!!!

Crisp brings much more to the table then Pods. Now his health, as others have stated is the only problem with the comparision. Pods does not have a good history of staying healthy either though. If it's between Crisp or Pods, give me Co Co!

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 4, 2009 -> 12:34 PM) I think the 02(?) SIU team would have competed for a major title too (whatever year Weber took them to the sweet 16). Throw a team like Davidson from last year or george mason in a weak major conference and I could see them winning. But that was my point. Obvioulsy 95% of the time it's not going to happen, but every few years there's a good mid major that could compete. And I don't think the road games matter that much. The ultimate winner of the conference more often than not loses those tough road games anyway. Davidson was dangerous, but NO WAY they would have been a serious contender for a ACC title. Not a chance AT BEST they would have been middle of the pack, which should not get the NCAA bids according to some being around a .500 team in conference play.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 4, 2009 -> 11:14 AM) The Valley favorite beat an ISU team that was picked for 8th in the league by 3. I agree, that is the difference. Not that they beat them by 3, but on how it is perceived as a nice win or a big win against a power conference opponent. If they were in the big 12 or were a big 10/ACC/ Big East team that win does not cause a ripple for bragin' rights as a strong team, it would do very little for there tournament resume. The Valley team would now be playing another two games against (Oklahoma State, Kansas State for example) within the week. Now win two out of three of those in your avarage week of conference play and then you might start to talk about being a contender or at least a factor in the Big 12 race.

I'm not a big ten guy, but c'mon the Valley is NOWHERE near the big 10. They are a solid mid major conference, but night in night out playing the step up in competition every game I doubt any team would finish in the top 5-6 in the Big 10 if it played in it, let alone have two or three teams that would compete for the confrence title. The Valley might have won 2 games tops in a Valley/ACC challenge. Maybe 2 tops. Top to bottom night in night out playing in the ACC, BIG 10, Big East, Big 12, etc. is just a totally different animal them playing in the Valley or the MAC. etc. I have more respect for 6th/7th in a typical major confrence season then 2nd or 3rd in a typical mid major confrence season in most years. Just a much tougher road to go through night in and night out.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 3, 2009 -> 08:28 PM) Because having a good year in a mediocre conference with a mediocre schedule doesnt prepare a team for a tourney like a team in a good conference with a tough schedule. If the school is qualified, they'll get in. I agree totally. Finishing in the middle of the pack in the ACC or Big East, etc. is more deserving then 2nd or 3rd in a mid major in most cases. Hey I went to a MAC school ( Ball State) that has had sucess in the tourney, but c'mon most times the champ let alone the runner up would not be in the upper half of the major confrences. Play in an inferior confrence you better win it. I would suggest giving the bid to the regular season champ not confrence tourney champ for mid majors. Oh, but that would bring less money to the mid major!

Marcus Ginyard's "tweet" is getting some attention. He "tweeted" Big Ten can have the challenge. When Duke loses, we all win! That a boy Marcus! lol

Very happy to see the Boilermakers led by E'twaun Moore droping another 22 points play a solid second half to pull away from Wake. I like the talent on Wake, but Guadio (spelling) seems to be lost in meshing that talent. Love Ish Smith 's quickness with the athhleticism to run the court if he can get them all on the same page. Anyway Purdue looks like a seasoned team, that should be tough to deal with in the Big 11, even with the loss of Lew Jack.

Great job by the Heels last night. Back to back games where Drew looks confident, which can bode well if he becomes solid at running the show, with theit solid front line. He has begun to knock down three's as well, but still need others to step up in that area. Damn, the Heels just own Michigan State though. Even going back to romping them in the final four during the glorious Felton/May/McCants title year. Still don't see them going on the road to beat Kentucky or Texas yet, but who knows. They need to develop some killer instinct too, let Ohio State creep back in after dominating as well.

Maybe, finally the year for the big 11 to beat the ACC. Even with a Purdue & Mich. St. win tonight over perenial ACC upper echelon teams like Wake and UNC, which I think should happen. I'm going to predict ACC 6 Big 11 5

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 12:00 PM) Duke's recruiting is spiraling down the toilet. About a month ago all signs looked good for Duke adding Harrison Barnes, Beal, Rivers, and Irving. Now they might just have to settle for Irving. Roscoe Smith should be making his decision any day now as well. Seems like UCONN, G'town, and Duke. He was Coach K's backup plan for Barnes, if they can salvage him they won't be too upset.