NCAA Basketball Tournament forecasting

[FirstTimer]

Yeah, its the usual Illini team. By the time idiots like McCamey, Tisdale, and Davis become seniors, you just can't wait for them to graduate. Those three guys are so lethargic! I love Tisdale getting his shot blocked twice in succession by one of Purdue's guards. What a puss.



At least Richmond and Paul appear to have some explosion to their game, and it looks like Leonard might be able to pack on some muscle. I like Richardson, too.

Bill Cole blows too. He was a really good post player in HS that Weber turned into a shitty wing player.

This Tisdale blocks were a definite :obama: moment. He looked like he could have cared less, and still kept going to the basket weakly the rest of the game. Between him and Nick Smith I don't know who I hate more.

The future looks nice for Illinois but they need one of those guys to step up and take a strong leadership role. IMO Richmond has the make up to do it.

[Archer]

I always hate looking back at early season wins like UNC because what does it really mean now? Does anyone in their right mind think Illinois could beat UNC tomorrow? Its misleading.

Half of Illinois's "big wins" this year came over mid majors before the New Year. That's craptastic.

I agree with you but the Selection Panel generally still respects these wins when seeding the teams.

For what it's worth, I think Illini is probably going to get beat in round one of the tourney.

[Senser81]

Bill Cole blows too. He was a really good post player in HS that Weber turned into a shitty wing player.

I feel bad for Cole, because Weber asks him to do too much. He is a pretty good defender, can hit an occassional 3, and has some height. Weber has him guard the opposing team's best player, has him shoot a ton of 3's on some nights, and, for reasons still unknown, has him constantly handling the basketball at halfcourt. Purdue got a couple easy steals off Cole that led to huge dunks...but why was Cole always getting the basketball at midcourt?

[FirstTimer]

For what it's worth, I think Illini is probably going to get beat in round one of the tourney.

Oh hell yes.

I feel bad for Cole, because Weber asks him to do too much. He is a pretty good defender, can hit an occassional 3, and has some height. Weber has him guard the opposing team's best player, has him shoot a ton of 3's on some nights, and, for reasons still unknown, has him constantly handling the basketball at halfcourt. Purdue got a couple easy steals off Cole that led to huge dunks...but why was Cole always getting the basketball at midcourt?

I remember seeing Cole play in HS a lot and thinking that if he could get to Illinois and bulk up he could be a really nice mid post player for them. He's always had a nice shot and had the frame to put on some weight.

Weber gets a hold of him and turns him into a floaty wing player who chucks threes. He's got some nice length to be a good defender but he lacks the foot speed to compete in the matchups Weber gives him.

Cole always gets screwed into handling the ball. It's amazing. From the looks of it last night Weber is already starting to try and move on to screwing Head into handling the ball when he shouldn't be. The game was obviously too big for him last night yet Weber kept giving him the ball and matching him up on Purdue's best ball handler. I think in another year or two Head will develop into a really solid guard but he's not ready yet and for whatever reason Weber ignores it.

For as worthless and gutless Tisdale is it would have been nice to see them develop Cole so him and Davis were the starting post players.


The leadership void on this team is unreal. I think some guys would step up but McCamey would shoot them down, not because he's truly a leader, but because if someone else became a leader it would be a shot as his ego and hurt him. I'm hoping Paul or Richmond step up next year and take charge of the team. Paul seems like the more vocal and emotional leader of the two and with everything Richmond can do on the floor and the way he handles the team at times I think he could end up being a great floor general.

[Senser81]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvPvBTIwkAM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvPvBTIwkAM[/ame]

Danny Ferry's 58 point game against Miami

[jeffx]

Really? I can see them as a 4.

All that said, SJU scares me come March. They have that Michigan State feel where they will probably do the opposite of what I project them to do in the tourney.

If they win the Big East, yes, they're definitely a 4.

[Bear Pand]

I guess I took you as saying stall mode as saying Illinois got a lead then sat on it. They were down most of the second half IIRC. I've never seen such a veteren team play with so little leadership. Tisdale is soft and appears to not care. McCamey isn't a great leader and seems to be all about himself. Mike Davis seems to be gutless even though he's the best player on the team.

I'm more looking forward to what Paul Richmond Leonard and Richardson can do in the next few seasons. Crandell Head is an interesting player but Weber seems to throw him to the wolves a lot.

Why did Illinois completely abandon the offense they were running early in the game? They kept getting really easy baskets and were shooting over 80%.

I guess it was the combo of McCamey picking up his second foul and Purdue making adjustments on D about midway through the first. It was tied at half time and then it was pretty much a wrap cause Purdue doesn't lose at home.

[Rudi]

Well BYU is done.

[FirstTimer]

Why did Illinois completely abandon the offense they were running early in the game? They kept getting really easy baskets and were shooting over 80%.

I guess it was the combo of McCamey picking up his second foul and Purdue making adjustments on D about midway through the first. It was tied at half time and then it was pretty much a wrap cause Purdue doesn't lose at home.

No idea why they left it. I'd say McCamey leaving hurt but he provides no leadership and the entire team is soft. I think Illinois expected Purdue to give up a bit when they got down big. When Prudue answered with that run Illinois nuts shrank up(as usual) and it was over. It had less to do with McCamey IMO and more to do with the seniors as a whole.

[Archer]

Well BYU is done.

That's what happens when you lose your only post player/shot blocker.

Davies was the only thing that made BYU different from last years team. Now it's just Jimmer, Emery and a bunch of white three-point shooters.

[Senser81]

Davies booted for having sex!

Thought that was funny.

I watched the UNC-FSU game last night. Hard to draw any conclusions...both teams had good moments and bad moments. I think UNC might make some noise in the NCAA Tournament, but I think its doubtful and they still have Roy Williams as their coach. I don't know what to think of FSU, either. Both teams seemed very streaky.

[jeffx]

Davies booted for having sex!

Thought that was funny.

I did a double-take when I saw that. Not having sex is part of the honor code - WTF? How did they find out?

Unless you're a devout Mormon, why would anyone go to BYU? And I want to know how a hellraiser like Jim McMahon didn't get kicked off the team.

[godspeed]

What a difference a week makes.

Last week V Tech was feeling really good after beating Duke. Since they have lost twice, and looked awful in the process losing on senior night to BC and today to Clemson. My take is BC should get in over V Tech, and now Clemson jumped V Tech with that win. V Tech is in some serious trouble.

Michigan beating Michigan St should put Michigan in the tourney. Michigan jumps Michigan St with the series sweep. Seems like Michigan State now is in some trouble.

[godspeed]

Add Washington to the bubble list and in trouble list.

Losers of 2 of their last 3, and BOTH at home where they were double digit favorites. And it's how they looked in those losses, which were pretty bad.

They capped it off tonight by making only ONE FG in a 12 minute final stretch. That's right. And it was a dunk. That was it. All their points came from the free throw line. A ton of ill advised bricks, and out of control drives to the hoop. They made a jumper at the 11:30 mark of the 2nd half, and then a dunk. In between that was 12 badly missed shots. Washington got two layups late when the game was out of reach.

Baylor is done too, but I think we already knew that. All that talent, and Drew can't finish at least at .500 in league play?? Come on.

[NAHSTE]

I did a double-take when I saw that. Not having sex is part of the honor code - WTF? How did they find out?

Unless you're a devout Mormon, why would anyone go to BYU? And I want to know how a hellraiser like Jim McMahon didn't get kicked off the team.

Speculation from a former BYU athlete is that a more devout teammate snitched on him.