Re the Wolvies, we have a team that seems better suited for the ACC-quick, very talented but finesse oriented. The smash mouth style of football that once typified B10 football is alive and well in B10 basketball. The Hoosiers killed us on the boards yesterday and our lack of physicality was also evident in our games with the Buckeyes, Sparty, and Bucky.
hmmm maybe the source of the outburst by Crean is that Meyer recruits Indiana for Michigan. They must cross paths often in the pursuit of top talent in Indiana.
You might be right, Terry. Crean described the dust up as a "professional misunderstanding". A newsstation in Louisville dicussed the object of the misunderstanding: There are other articles that indicate that Michigan, via Meyer, was not trying to flip Blackmon but that B was at the game on his own accord to join his buddies. So whether Meyer was or was not trying to poach Blackmon might be the "professional misunderstanding". Or... M was trying to poach him and that Crean's apology was generated by a desire to deflect media attention away from a private turf war that went public and viral across the internet.
Looks like the B!G TEN Tournament is a sellout for the first time in its history.. Standing room only tickets will go on sale today. Prices are $15.00 for the opening rounds and increment prices up to $40.00 for the semi and final.
Don, as deep and competitive a tournament as I can ever remember. Case in point, M is ranked 6th in the most recent AP poll and is seeded 5th in the conference tourney! :shock: It is anybody's game....we are coming in on a 5 game win streak and playing as well as any.
Interesting...made me think. I don't condone negative recruiting and hope my coaches don't participate in it...particularly if it isn't truthful. But for some of these kids, the above is actually quite true and probably in their best interests to consider it. I think of a guy like AJ Hammons at Purdue...he has a great deal of talent and potential but he has a long way to go and absolutely needs to play...lots! If he had gone to Indiana (I don't even know if they recruited him) he would have sat out his entire freshman and possibly sophomore years behind Cody Zeller. He is slowly improving now, and as a bonus it seems like Sandi Marcius has improved his game immensely in this, his Junior year, possibly by getting to practice against Hammons. The other day on a Big Ten broadcast Dan Dakich (who I like a lot...despite his roots. ) mentioned that guys like Hammons grow up playing against much smaller HS kids and never have the chance to work much against guys with the size and talent that they have. That is one thing that enabled Cody Zeller to come in to college as good as he is...he grew up playing with brothers as big and good as he is...and had to bang and hustle against them.
I like him as well....I know he is not popular with many but I enjoy his frankness and find him to be as insightful and informative on some of the games nuances as any in the business....not afraid to call out anybody.
Stu, I like Painter and have confidence that his young team will grow into a competitive force next season, even without D.J. Byrd. As an aside, I wonder about the impact of Byrd's senior leadership, whether it was positive. . Hammonds will continue to get better and be a key to the team's success. Like you, I also like Dakich. He's straightforward, knowledgeable, and entertaining. He has a local radio show on the ESPN station which is quite popular. He really likes Purdue's chances in the B10 tournament. Anyone with a brain can recognize that the Louisville commentary is bullcrap. Unlike football, there is a very limited number of scholarships available. Crean has filled IU's spots with top rate talent from inside and outside the state. I'm familiar with the kids from Indiana going to Michigan and MSU. The only can't-miss kid among them is Gary Harris, who everyone wanted, including Crean, Painter, and Brey. One of the two kids mentioned in the article going to Michigan is from the same school as Harris. He is a good player and an excellent college recruit, but he's not the can't-miss kid that Harris is. The other from Ft. Wayne, Austin Hatch, is a compelling story (for another time) but he's not a can't-miss kid. IU has filled its recruiting classes with excellent talent. They're doing just fine.
Stu, Purdue is playing and performing much better in March. I think they are very capable of upsetting someone. I just hope it isn't us!
The gauntlet......imagine if you're Wisky.....in order to win the conference title, the likely path is that you have to beat 3 teams, all in the top ten in the nation, in 3 consecutive games, in 3 consecutive days......just in time to get ready for the NCAA tournament. Brutal.....AND with the added prospect of in all likelihood having to shake hands after one of the games with Crean?! :wink:
Today is the beginning of the B1G TEN Tournament. Three games on tap this afternoon and early evening. Should be an interesting four day tournament!
First game will be very competitive.....Illinois -v- Minny. Both very deserving of the NCAA at #8 and 9 seeds. Minny has wins over IU, Sparty, Wisky, FSU and SC out of conference. Ill has wins over IU, stomped my Buckeyes, out of conference win AT #1 Gonzaga and Butler among others. Both these teams are capable of beating anybody, anywhere....obviously, they have been there and done that......
Buckeye T, It seems the Illini go as Brandon Paul goes. He did the same thing to us at Champaign when they whipped us by 20 points. Strange game as the Gophers had 15 more boards and the Illini only shot 32% from the field.
Nebraska nips Purdue 57-55 much to my surprise. We will face the Cornhuskers tomorrow in the quarter finals.
And just how much was that Mr. Don..... :twisted: It's gotta be that new stadium they're building... :!:
Congrats AJ. Was pretty ugly. 3/10 from free throw line in last few minutes. Story of our season. These kids need a lot of maturation by next year. Nice win for Cornhuskers who hung in there at the finish.
Neb BB team has not wasted practice time making Harlem Shake video...just worried about getting better not Dancing with the Stars!!!