IlliniKrush

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 10:04 PM) I laughed when I heard Boeheim's comments. I knew exactly what he was talking about. What many people do is look at numbers and tie a direct correlation to a players importance to a team. While individual performance is important in the makeup of a team, there is no I in team and never will be. Players can affect a team's performance both on and off the court in ways casual fans can never see. I recall a comment I made to a good friend of mine while in college. I was at Evansville in the late 80's and Mark Jewell, who was a Indiana Mr. Basketball transferred to UE from Iowa after George Raveling left. Mark and I became great friends. One day I made a comment about a player, Larry Brand, who was from Wheaton, IL. I said something to the effect that Larry only played a few minutes a game and rarely scored so he was in effect wasted roster space. Mark jumped my ass and quickly told me I was wrong. He emphatically stated that Larry was one of the team veterans and he was one of the guys that kept the team focused and on track. Even though his contributions rarely ever showed up in a box score, Larry was basically the team disciplinarian and also a great influence on the young guys, both on and off the court. Put very simply, Larry knew what TEAM meant and he was able to help the team in ways a box score could never reflect. I ate my words real quick that day. Later, I became good friends with Larry as well and as I hung around these guys more and more, I learned what Mark meant. Mark was the one putting up the numbers in games, yet not only did he look at Larry as a leader, he deferred to him knowing what Larry meant to the team. There is no doubt in my mind that Larry meant at least 5-10 wins a year to those teams. In 1989, UE beat Gary Payton and Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament and were within one point of eventual runner-up Seton Hall with 5 minutes left in their 2nd round game. They were not the same Evansville residing at the bottom of the Valley today. Reminds me of Jerrance Howard for the Illini 2 years ago.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 08:52 PM) So -- Marquette vs. Georgetown tomorrow. I know Marquette beat them (at the Bradley Center) just a few weeks ago, but it's gonna be a little nerve-racking sitting in school and only going by a text message here and there. I know that Marquette, more or less, as their place in the tourney anywhere from a five to an eight seed, but it'd still be nice to see them grab a win and get a shot at U-Conn (?). --------------------------- Seven minutes in, Louisville still hasn't scored. Oh don't worry, i'll text you plenty in the 2nd half if it's close. Relax

Make it 9. 16-0.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) Haha not bad. I can't find the link for it, but there was a cool poster type thing they did for the Sports page of the IDS on Monday, after the Michigan game, w/ a similar theme. It was a Wanted poster, kind of like the old western ones. It had his "victims" from the season, from Sheldon Williams, Dials, Brown, etc. Brian Randle

QUOTE(MarlinFan84 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 11:45 AM) It's been my experience that BCS teams dont want to play teams from the valley...you really think someone wants to go into the SIU Arena, or Qwest Center, or Carver Arena, or the UNI Dome...places where the home team almost always comes out on top? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is an issue. You have to look at what a BCS school has to gain. That's why you'll see some of these things be a home and home or better yet a home, home, and neutral agreement, like the one that Ill/SIU should have starting next year.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 11:27 AM) Go away Krush, you're not wanted here. You don't want us rooting SIU? Alright.

from Doyles Dribbles on cbs.sportsline:

This is posted in the main thread.

Thanks for Bruce. Spit on that...

You're a joke

Found this pretty funny:

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 6, 2006 -> 11:47 PM) See Indiana in 2002..... Everything depends on matchups, how a team plays on a particular day and a little luck. Indiana pounded Utah in the first round, then seemingly got a break having to face UNC-Wilmington in the 2nd (although I am not so sure USC was that good). Then they beat Duke, the # 1 seed and then got another break by getting Kent State in the Elite 8 after they had beaten OK St, Alabama and Pitt. They beat Oklahoma pretty good in the Final Four before finally losing to Maryland. As a 5th seed, only the blindest IU fan thought they had a chance to do what they did. So there is always a chance to survive and often times, that chance depends on what others in your own bracket do as well. So true, so true...good points. It only takes 4 W's to get to a final four, that's not many. Anything can (and has) happen. This tournament should be awesome because of how "down" college basketball is this year.

I'm with Steve, let's get the hair and beard going. My favorite part is when Jason talks about our left-hand bullpen tryout guys and uses the word "crap" about 5 times...he also uses "garbage" and "junk" later on. Not that it's not true, but he just kept going on, lol.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 6, 2006 -> 11:42 PM) We should have the podcast set up by our next show, worse case the 3rd one. At that point people will be able to subscribe to it and than auto download it to the ipod's. Plus we'll always have this version. I definately got a little long and loopy at times, but looking forward to doing more shows. Oh and when Iowa wins it all, I'm gonna slam each and every Illinois fan on this site. Can't wait

Gotta love listening to the smooth sounds of Jason. Honestly, this is pretty easy to listen to, good stuff. Podcast of this stuff would be clutch.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 6, 2006 -> 10:32 PM) Defense is key and Iowa and Illiniois defend as good as any team in the country. I think Iowa goes out real quick or they stick around for a while. Illinois will be there. They are battle tested and play exceptional defense. They also have good athletes. OSU relies on that outside shot and they haven't exactly been running away with things. They go down in the sweet 16. Depending on the draw, but I think they will. Damn, pass the Illinois kool-aid This illinois team is all over the map, like i've said all year. They have the potential to reach the final four. They also have the potential to lose in the 2nd round. A lot of it depends on Dee's shooting...but foul trouble, and whether pruitt/randle/mcbride contribute is a huge one. On all 5 cylinders, we are damn good. One one cylinder, we'll lose in the 2nd round. Let's just hope the senior leadership comes through and they get some help from at least one of the other three starters each game.

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Mar 6, 2006 -> 09:56 PM) When will the NHL ever learn?? :headshake :headshake :headshake Bertuzzi gets about 30 games for ending Steve Moore's career, and now this? I'm not a fan of hockey, but this is ridiculus. Some guy who drills a player with literally, the intent to kill, gets off with only a 30 game suspension. BULLs***. To compare this to the Bertuzzi incident is ignorant, this wasn't intentional, and yes that's a huge difference. I saw the play, it was a boarding call, but it wasn't on purpose. It happens. It sucks, but it happens.

Zags down 13 with 14 left.

I'm in

DJ Gallo:

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 11:55 PM) Well, you've been on the other side of me in just about every issue lately; it's not a surprise to expect more disagreement. MSU's non-conference is their merit this year, but that's really it with their team. The committee places a lot of value on how you play in February and March, and you'd figure that would bring them down a little bit. That's why I feel that MSU and IU are close to even in that aspect, as we are rising and they're falling. Nothing more, nothing less. Next time, I'll say "as deserving, if not more" just for you and the masses, as it's more what I've intended. It's not a surprise to expect disagreement when i actually disagree with your post. Furthermore, i haven't commented on much of what you've said lately, so i don't know what you are talking about. I disagreed with a statement you made, the numbers showed i had a reason to disagree, that's about it.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 09:49 PM) To me, the Valley is simple. They get 5, with Creighton being the odd man out due to the first game loss in St. Louis and the injuries (and it's a known fact that the committee picks through bubble teams based on how healthy they are). That's exactly what Lunardi and Co. had on gamenight just now. They determined that there are 7 at-large spots left (wichita st was one of them) and MVC filled 3 of those 7.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 11:25 PM) It's good to have you jump over everything I say still. As I said, Michigan State really doesn't blow Indiana away in anything except Non-Conf. SOS 1-50 51-100 101-200 201+ Non Conference L10 RD/NT Rnk Team Conf W-L RPI SOS Rk W-L W-L W-L W-L W-L RPI SOS W-L W-L 16 Michigan St. B10 19-10 .6108 .5951 7 8-8 1-2 5-0 5-0 11-2 17 83 5-5 7-8 34 Indiana B10 17-10 .5954 .5802 19 6-7 2-1 4-2 5-0 8-3 66 104 5-5 7-7 It's good to have you start fights still - i guess i can't read and respond to a post of yours now? All i argued was that MSU was "more in" than IU, which i think the numbers show.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 11:16 PM) I expected someone to read that wrong.. However, Michigan State is just such an on and off team, and without their non-conference, they'd be closer to the bubble, if their name wasn't Michigan State. They were a huge disappointment in conference. I read it exactly how you typed it out. Comparing their resumes, regardless of name...i would say MSU is more in than IU.