Boogua

Eaton with a leadoff bunt single. I like this guy.

Danks pitches out of a bases loaded jam. Ks 2

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 07:52 PM) Mutombo scored more PPG in one season than Russell did in his entire career. He averaged 12 more rebounds per game than Mutombo. He was a five time MVP. In terms of modern day dominance out of a big man, only Shaq rates in this neighborhood. That comp is a joke. The problem with Russell is that he was extremely limited on offense. People point to the era being different, but there should be no reason for him to shoot like 41% from the field and average 15 PPG when a guy like wilt was averaging twice that on much better efficiency. Russell could be an absolutely dominant defensive player with more upside on offense than Mutombo (with modern training and such). I think his absolute ceiling is maybe on par with a guy like Dwight with better passing. That would be if he maxed out all the amenities at his disposal in today's era.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 10:18G had AM) This was a down year in the Big Ten. MSU was hurt all season. Indiana sucked. OSU sucked. They had a shot this year if they had won 3-4 more games. They could be a tournament team next year. I'm just saying I don't think they'll be better without question. They still have some major issues to overcome. And hoping that transfers pan out didn't really work this year, so it might not next year. If they aren't better, with the number of returning players (5 being freshmen) Groce will be gone. Also, Cosby and starks are power conference transfers. Cosby had good games against final four teams like Louisville and Syracuse last year

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 09:57 AM) The biggest mistake this season was continuing to keep Nunn and Hill on the bench. Make that change 4-5 weeks earlier and this is a tournament team or at least a bubble team. They don't lose those games against NW, Purdue, OSU, etc. Glad he finally realized his mistake and made the change though. I was concerned he would be a stubborn "these are my guys" type coach like Weber was. My main concern going forward is how well he can coach basic basketball skills. It's a little unfair to him and the coaching staff because he did inherit a lot of the veterans on the team, but i've never seen a team miss more open layups/bunnies near the basket. I've never see a dumber team (bad shot selection, terrible passing, unforced turnovers, etc.). These are things that are pretty basic to basketball and don't require a ton of stars next to your name. And that's why they've lost. You can overcome being a bad offensive team (OSU is awful but still wins bad games). They've beaten themselves too many times, and that happened last year as well. It's also a little upsetting that no one except the freshman really made much of a leap this year. Abrams is the same player as last year. Bertrand regressed. Egwu maybe improved more on defense, stopped fouling as much, and found a jumpshot, but he still doesn't fit into the offense at all except to set picks. Ekey was a bust as a transfer unfortunately. And Rice. Well, on the one hand he carried the team for a while. And then he completely disappeared, which was the main reason they lost those early games. I don't have much faith in him to be all that great considering he still makes terrible decisions. Add him to the top of the list next to Bertrand as one of the dumber players on the team. I think the future looks bright with Nunn and Hill as some decent cornerstones. Black looks like a legit recruit. But with guys like Abrams and Rice still on the roster, they'll be limited. I hope next year Crosby/Starks can really shoot. If not, I can't see them being a tourney team. So put Nunn and Hill in 4 to 5 weeks earlier and it's a tournament team this year, but it isn't a tournament team next year with everyone back except Ekey (the bust) and Bertrand (who I think is even worse than Ekey). Weird. Also, everything indicates that both Cosby and starks are very good shooters. Especially Cosby who did it in the big East.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 09:08 AM) at what point do you guys think you will have a true read on Groce? End of year 3? I think so. If the Illini don't make the tournament next year, for whatever reason, it will be hard to defend him. I don't think that will be an issue though. The pattern we've seen thus far is good out of conference, hits a rough patch mid season, and then hits stride late in the season. Last night sucked, but the Illini had just beaten teams like Minnesota and MSU on the road.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 07:20 AM) I didn't say it was hard to understand. We we played awful and we're not prepared in the least bit. It was a historically bad loss. Inexcusable. It seems like you're making the loss out to be more than it is. What's the difference between losing by 15 points and 30 points? A blowout is a blowout. It was a historically bad loss in terms of point differential, but so what? Losses to teams like miami (ohio), tennessee state, UIC (in chicago), and bradley over the years were worse in my opionion. The program is still headed in the right direction. The only difference between this time today and this time yesterday is that the crazy hope of sneaking into the tournament is gone, outside of winning the BTT.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 08:50 PM) Inexcusable to lose like that. Hope we can still make the nit When a team shoots ~70% from 3 on 20+ attempts it usually means its a blowout.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) Trap game tonight. Lol.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 09:59 PM) 25 in the 3rd. 61 total. A little over a month after giving up 62 to Melo. The bobcats... What's weird is that they're not even that bad this year.

I'm starting to wonder where Sam goes in the draft, if he even gets drafted. He had an awful combine. He needs to improve his numbers quite a bit during his pro day or he might be looked at as an undrafted FA special teams type guy.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 09:37 AM) What do you mean? Matthews is a higher level guy that we still aren't landing. We are also allergic to PGs, still, and I don't think that changes barring a miracle turnaround with Brunson. I think the response is straight forward. We brought him in to recruit at a higher level then what we had been seeing here. He hasn't done that yet. Hope he turns it around. Isn't a bit early to say this? Are you just basing this off of recruiting rankings? If so, the Weber classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011 were pretty good on paper, but ended up being trash for the most part. Nunn looks legit, Tate looks like he'll be serviceable, Hill looks good, and we have no clue if Black can be an instant impact guy. He's also recruited transfers that should help the program immediately. The guy is in his second season.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) He's recruiting like Bruce Weber at the end with similar issues with balance. I believe we should expect better than that. How does missing out on a wing, on a team loaded with wings, prompt a response like this? In his first year he recruited every position. He was a last second change of heart from recruiting his impact PG in 2014 as well as 2 bigs that fit different roles. He's already recruited one of the better shooters in the state for 2015 and has gotten a top 50 player from Simeon. Complaining that the guy has missed out on Cliff Alexander and Charles Matthews to KU and UK is a bit nuts. Especially considering the dumpster fire he inherited.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) That's partly an unrealistic expectation, I know. But at some point he needs to get a guy, not just be in the top 3 or 5. The program needs a program changer or this will be a 5 year rebuild. Leron Black was a pretty big get. There's also no way this is a 5 year rebuild unless Groce strikes out on every PG in the next few years and Tate is the only PG on the roster. The team next year will be a tournament team. If not, a rebuild will likely be happening under someone other than Groce.

Sounds like Calipari was at St. Rita today. Looks done.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 09:13 PM) Or Marquette but who knows. I wonder if Marquette offered Dom to get a package type deal. Just a theory, but the mother did say she was proud of her "sons" in her tweet. Shrugs

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 09:06 PM) Wow, that's early but when the top programs offer there is nothing more to do in your recruiting. Get it out of the way. Yeah, looks like it might be UK.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Feb 24, 2014 -> 11:40 AM) Aaron Donald ran a 4.68 with a 10 yard split that was just .03 slower than Clowneys. Dude backed up what you see in his ridiculous highlight videos....If the Bears don't bring back Melton, and Donald is there, that's my pick. He also dominated a lot of the senior bowl practices and drills from what I heard. I'd be all for that pick.

Solid start for Lebron. Westbrook coming back for this game pretty much spelled disaster for OKC. Their offense looks so out of sync.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 20, 2014 -> 10:00 AM) Think you guys are severely overrating this Heat team. But Lebron.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 17, 2014 -> 05:10 PM) Sorry but Larry Bird isn't one of the 4 best players ever. Why apologize for expressing your opinion?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 06:37 PM) Sam was the best defensive player in the SEC and projected as a 3rd round pick. How is that marginal? I'd love him on the Bears with our defensive woes and his motor. 3rd to 5th. He could have easily gone later too depending on the combine and other factors. People are trying to make him look like a better prospect than he is to try to blame his draft position on him being gay. It's ridiculous.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 01:36 PM) LOL The not being able to play in the NFL wouldn't be an issue. The gay thing obviously would, but it wouldn't drop a guy to being undrafted. That's what I meant.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 15, 2014 -> 11:04 AM) Yep. Pro sports where you can be a rapist, criminal, dog killer, or just generally a piece of s*** human being and that is all ok if you help us win but god forbid you be gay. If Sam is good enough to be in the NFL he'll be in the NFL. Let's not forget a guy like Vontaze Burfict even went undrafted because of possible issues. Are Sam's issues warranted because he's gay? No, but it could make for a lot of tension in a locker room as well as a media circus that will surround the team. Those are the issues. It is what it is. If it was 1st round talent that announced he was gay this wouldn't be an issue.

The worst part of the deadspin article was the Asian trainer part. I honestly don't think the players knew the extent that Martin was being broken down. Most people can roll with the punches and it even seemed like Martin could when he would respond to degrading text messages with, "Martin: Ah yes I missed being demeaned by you boys lol… Can't wait for this weekend" I've probably heard that type of humor exchanged between friends at every stage of my life. To that extent? Probably not, but nothing in that article was all that uncommon to me. I feel like Incognito thought he could say the N word because he was using it jokingly. The guy's two main associates were apparently Mike Pouncey and John Jerry.