Random B1G Chatter - Season Long Thread

• wildcats20

  

  Laley23;1087307 wrote:Tom Crean and Indiana reach 20 wins with the win over Northwestern tonight. Currently sit at 20-6
  
  Already an EIGHT game increase from last season. Most of any school in a Power Six Conference (I think next is 5 or 6). If it wasnt for Haith and Mizzou, I think Crean would be the run-a-way favorite for NCOY. Still will be in the running.
  
  They have:
  -@ Iowa
  -NCC (only gimme)
  -@ Minny
  -MSU
  -Purdue
  
  To end the year, plus B1G Tourney. I think 25 wins is in reach (before NCAAs), but it will take at least 1, probably 2 tourney wins to get there. If they get to 25 heck even 23 or 24 wins a #3 seed is well within reach.
  
  I, along with most IU fans, were hoping to be playing in the Play-In game(s), but realistically saw about a .500 record and the NIT. This has been such a fun year, when looking back at those predictions. Incredible really.

  North Carolina Christian?
• Laley23

  

  wildcats20;1087748 wrote:North Carolina Christian?

  North Carolina Central. Probably just as bad though.
• wildcats20

  

  Laley23;1087759 wrote:North Carolina Central. Probably just as bad though.

  
  That's what I meant. Yeah they are bad.
• Tiger2003

  

  Well looks like MSU will take down Wisconsin up 14 with about 11 to go.
• vball10set

  Doesn't surprise me about Byrd--he looks like a dick
  
  http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7586637/purdue-dismisses-kelsey-barlow-suspends-dj-byrd-following-bar-incident
  

  INDIANAPOLIS -- Purdue kicked guard Kelsey Barlow off the team Friday and suspended swingman D.J. Byrd for a pivotal late-season game following an early-morning incident at a bar.

• Laley23

  

  Purdue is really setting the Barlow for big Ten standards. Pretty much just flipping the Byrd to the rest if us.
• vball10set

  Laley23;1089446 wrote:Purdue is really setting the Barlow for big Ten standards. Pretty much just flipping the Byrd to the rest if us.

  lol..ok Laley, gotta' rep you for originality
• Laley23

  

  I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I legitimately feel bad for Bruce Weber. Illini have quit on him. I read on twitter Nebraska went on a 40-2 run? Surely that was a mistype, but I'm sure it was a huge run regardless. They are down 30 to Nebraska. Pathetic.
• reclegend22

  

  Weber does appear to be a likable guy, but he and his family can start packing now.
  
  There are some whispers throughout Duke Nation that Blue Devil associate head coach Chris Collins might be an Illinois target in the off-season. It would make sense if Illinois were going to go the assistant coach route and not find an already proven head man. Collins is a product of Northbook, Illinois, and has a lot of ties to the state. Collins bleeds Duke blue and has insisted that he's in no hurry to leave Durham for just any job. But he's been on the Duke staff for 12 years now and, at about 38 years of age, you have to think Collins is ready for his shot.
  
  What are some other candidates that may possibly get a look? I imagine Brad Stevens at Butler and the Piggyback Bandit are also on Illinois' radar.
• Laley23

  

  It's pretty well thought throughout the state that brad Stevens won't leave for any job but Indiana or Notre Dane. Also heard Illinois really wants to land Shaka Smart, but his price is likely to be too high.
  
  I've heard Buzz Williams is a front runner right now.
• reclegend22

  

  Thanks for the insight, Laley. I figured Stevens wouldn't leave Indianapolis yet. He fits in well there.
  
  Sounds like Illinois would like to land a more established lead man, which is certainly the most logical way to go about any coaching search if you can land one. If those guys turn the job down, however, it will be interesting to see if the Collins angle comes into play. Personally, I don't want Collins to leave Duke at this juncture. He's a hell of a recruiter and his passion for Duke is absolutely unmatched. So I hope someone else grabs it.
• Laley23

  

  What a horrendous half from the Hoosiers. 20 minutes to get the win. Otherwise they enter a more, must-winesque mode a week from today @Minny.
• Mulva

  

  Wow. Iowa up 17 late.
• vball10set

  B1G at home=W
• Laley23

  

  In the words of Adam Sandler, "GOOOOOOOOOOO"
  
  That was truley pathetic. No effort whatsoever. Needed to win 1 of these 2 road games to have some breathing room versus MSU at home. But this was the easier game and venue. I think IU will need to down MSU and Purdue at home.
  
  [video=youtube;jAF9RmtjxVY][/video]
• Mulva

  

  Laley23;1090601 wrote:I think IU will need to down MSU and Purdue at home

  To accomplish what?
• vball10set

  no chance vs. MSU...none
• Laley23

  

  Mulva;1090607 wrote:To accomplish what?

  Get a top 4 seed. I think its the only shot they have of winning 2 games. If they are a 5 or less, they may not win at all. Id like to see IU make the S16 this year, and even 4 weeks ago it was a pipe-dream. So Id like it to have a chance to come true lol. Though, either way. Making the tourney is a HUGE accomplishment and makes the season a 100% success
• Laley23

  

  vball10set;1090615 wrote:no chance vs. MSU...none

  Reverse jinx?
  
  If not, you know it in Bloomington right?
• vball10set

  Laley23;1090621 wrote: . Making the tourney is a HUGE accomplishment and makes the season a 100% success

  Never thought I'd hear a Hoosier uttering these words..if Bob Knight were dead, he'd be rolling over in his grave
• vball10set

  Laley23;1090622 wrote:If not, you know it in Bloomington right?

  The same place where IU lost to Minnesota, right? IMO, MSU is playing better than anyone in the country--not impossible for a Hoosier victory, but HIGHLY improbable
• Mulva

  

  Laley23;1090621 wrote:Get a top 4 seed.

  Gotcha. I'd agree they probably have to finish 2-1 in conference to get it. Hard to see a .500 conference team getting seeded that high.
• SportsAndLady

  

  vball10set;1090623 wrote:Never thought I'd hear a Hoosier uttering these words..if Bob Knight were dead, he'd be rolling over in his grave

  Lol I was thinking the same thing.
  
  I know before the season making the NCAA's would have been an accomplishment, but now that they're a top 25 team, SS seems like it should be expected at this point. Best case scenario they get a good draw and play tough in the Elite 8. I don't think that's too unrealistic for a top 25 team.
  
  IU fans need to stop babying this program now. I understand the past couple years. I do. But now that they have a good team, it's time to act like a blue blood and not a "I hope we make the Sweet Sixteen!" program (cough cough, xavier).
• Laley23

  

  vball10set;1090623 wrote:Never thought I'd hear a Hoosier uttering these words..if Bob Knight were dead, he'd be rolling over in his grave

  
  I agree. It sucks to even think it. But its the truth. This team has vastly overachieved. They are not a top 20 team. Probably closer to 30 than 20. But thats just me, who watches every minute. They have a weak starting line-up, to be completely honest and Tom Prithard is still getting minutes. Just saying, they are really living off the December home wins (UK, OSU and Michigan). Look at how they have played since. If it wasnt for the UK and OSU wins, they are on the bubble. Its the hard truth.
  

  vball10set;1090625 wrote:The same place where IU lost to Minnesota, right? IMO, MSU is playing better than anyone in the country--not impossible for a Hoosier victory, but HIGHLY improbable

  They still have only that one lose at home though. I mean, the line is likely to be under 3 pts. At least, thats my initial betting instinct. They beat U of M, OSU and UK at home. UK was playing as well then as they are now...its their only loss. MSU is playng very well, but they can be beaten on the road. That environment will be tough. MSU has had issues in Bloomington the last 3 years as it is, when IU sucked a dick.
  

  Mulva;1090627 wrote:Gotcha. I'd agree they probably have to finish 2-1 in conference to get it. Hard to see a .500 conference team getting seeded that high.

  They still have a gimme win, then they will need to go 2-1 to end the year. B1G Tourney could change it all, but assuming 1-1 in the tourney, Id say a 2-1 finish would get them a top 4 seed. The wins over UofM, UK, Notre Dame and OSU (plus the MSU one if they get it) will be WAY better than a lot of teams with similar resumes on that 3-6 seed line.
  

  SportsAndLady;1090628 wrote:Lol I was thinking the same thing.
  
  I know before the season making the NCAA's would have been an accomplishment, but now that they're a top 25 team, SS seems like it should be expected at this point. Best case scenario they get a good draw and play tough in the Elite 8. I don't think that's too unrealistic for a top 25 team.
  
  IU fans need to stop babying this program now. I understand the past couple years. I do. But now that they have a good team, it's time to act like a blue blood and not a "I hope we make the Sweet Sixteen!" program (cough cough, xavier).

  See answer to V-Ball. But Ill elaborate a bit more here.
  
  
  Id like to start acting like a Blue Blood again. But as I said, this team performed well above their capabilities early on. If they get the right draw, they can make some noise. But to expect S16 from them in this state is setting up for disappointment. They are not a top 25 team.
  
  We arent babying the program at all. In fact, most are pissed that the team is regressing. As am I, but at the same time, you have a bunch of guys who just arent that good playing major minutes still. Next year will be different, and thats the year everyone pointed to when Crean took over. He is a year ahead, so its already a 100% success of a season. If IU doesnt win 25 games and make the Elite 8 next year, I will consider it a huge bust. They should/will be a top 10 team with some ACTUAL depth. Not fraudulent depth like this year (Pritchard, Abel and Jones III). Those 3 should play half the minutes on a real ream, some not at all. Even Elston and Sheehey get too many minutes for IU to be "for real".
  
  I realize that IU is having a very good season, but its behind a dark blanket. They have been able to mask their deficiencies very, very well at home.
  
  Lets put it this way, when you say "now they have a good team" I say they arent that good. They lost 20 games last year and added 1 player. Yes, its Zeller. But if thats the case, is he the POY in the B1G...IU is going to up their wins total by close to 12-14 games.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Laley, before this season, I and most KU fans were hoping to just get into the tourney..that's how low expectations were coming into the year. Now that they are a top 10 team, our expectations shifted to "final four or bust"
  
  What's the point? Preseason expectations are irrelevant. You have to adjust your expectations based on how well they've played this season, and IU has played pretty well, generally speaking.
  
  Now, if you are saying you don't think they're that good..then fine. I just don't like how fans continue their preseason expectations throughout the entire year. You have to adjust as the season goes along.