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March Madness is in full swing. The NBA regular season is winding down, headed for the playoffs. Baseball is also ready to get underway. While you watch the lack of underdogs in the Dance, notice the lack of parity in the NBA this year, and warm up to a long summer of scandal-ridden baseball here are some great links from around the web to keep you satisfied.
Alyssa Milano, Author and Scholar: Friend of the Cartel, Alyssa Milano, has decided to take her love of the game of baseball and her love of its stars and turn it into a book. [Moon Dog Sports]
Brilliant Speech, But To No Avail What if the coach from Hoosiers had spoken to the Boilermakers prior to Thursday's game against Connecticut? [Boiled Sports]
Bulls Finally Get Sidekick for Rose John Salmons hasn't been in Chicago long after being traded from the Kings, but he has made the most of it so far and is putting up some solid numbers. [Pippen Ain't Easy]
Durant is a Beast, Says He Likes Oklahoma Superstud Kevin Durant is pleased with the direction that the OKC franchise is taking. He sees a bright future, and as long as he wears one of those atrocious OKC unis, the Thunder could be dangerous.[The Boston Globe]
This past week has been a roller coaster for the Purdue Boilermakers. They've had stellar first half performances, that end with late game meltdowns and they've won their last two games by only a combined score of 7 points (after a combined halftime lead of 23). Now, they face UCONN and must deal with the most athletic team they've faced all year.
But should Purdue even be in this situation? Should they be going up against the giants from Storrs? I say no, if only they could get a little respect.
Other than the Arizona Wildcats (a 12 seed), the Boilermakers are the lowest seed left in the dance. This might not seem like such a bad deal, other than you have to look at their resume. Not only did they compile a 25-9 record in one of the major BCS conferences, but they won the league's tournament. Though I'm a purist and don't consider the end-of-year tourney to be the championship, in some leagues Purdue would be considered that. And what did the Boilers get out of all this success? They received a 5 seed and had to go clear to the west coast to play in Portland.
This might not seem too bad. All teams have to travel great distances, especially if they're not a top seed, right? Nope.
Purdue's second opponent in the dance was Washington (located in Seattle, not too far from Portland). Neutral site, I think not. Well, at least the Huskies were a 4 seed. It makes sense that they might get preferential treatment, but how does that explain 8-seeded Ohio State (defeated by Purdue in the conference tourney) getting to play in their own state?
Geographic anomalies aside, seeding makes a huge difference of who you even have to face on your way to the Final Four. Let's face it, you don't have to be the best team in the country to win it all. All you have to do is win 6 games in a row. What teams wind up in your quadrant/side of the bracket make a huge difference. Now is UCONN the highest rated and most dangerous team in the tourney? I'd say no. But they are still a force to be reckoned with and quite a match up for a team that did as well during the season as Purdue did. Let's compare the Boilers' Sweet 16 draw with a similar squad. Kansas (25-7) only won one version of the Big 12 championship, but wound up with a 3 seed. Only being 2 seeds higher than the Boilers, the Jayhawks get to ride in the bottom side of the Midwest bracket and match up against a very beatable Michigan State squad. Meanwhile by virtue of being a 5, the boilers are forced to play the 1 seed a round earlier than teams like Kansas and Villanova.
I realize that as a Purdue fan I should just be ecstatic that they are in the Sweet 16 and leave it at that. But I can't help but feel that Purdue is rarely thought of amongst the nation's elite basketball programs, despite its great history, and often it appears to get little respect.
I don’t know how AP Sports Columnist Jim Litke snuck this gem by me since I was pulling for Edgerrin in Super Bowl XLIII, but combine the 168 hours of week-long coverage the world managed prior to the big game with the bottle of rut-gut I had for lunch, and maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.
What’s your halfback done for the economy in your neck of the woods? Speaking of “brother can you spare a dime”, somebody please hand Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo some sense. On the No. 5 Spartans’ third loss of the Big Ten season at the hands of the Boilermakers: “Does Purdue deserve credit? Probably. Are we to blame? Probably.” Probably, Tommy?
Purdue didn’t have the most stellar offensive game either, not even managing half their shots on the night. Though the highlight reel will show Robbie Hummel coming back from the stress fracture in his back, he did only go 3-9 from the floor in 25 minutes of work.
How’s about instead of probably—as in there’s a likelihood for the grounds of believing—we’ll just go ahead a say definitively Purdue’s defense stifled the Spartans, holding them to a season-low 32.7 percent shooting from the floor and only 54 points—the second time this season they’ve been held under 60. But don’t worry East Lansing, you’re in good company: Only three squads have managed 60 points on Keady Court this season, and six teams couldn't even reach 50.
And before everyone gets up in arms, I get what Izzo’s trying to say: Was the Boiler D (10 steals, 8 blocks) great or was Michigan State having an off night? That must be the reason the ‘ol ball coach is unable to praise a defense which held his leading scorer (and turn-over artist with six), Kalin Lucus, to a horrendous 2-11 from the floor. But look at the big picture; how’d your boy eek out 14 points on such an poor night? Maybe by knocking down a not-so-off-night 10 of 12 in six trips to the charity stripe? Probably.
My beloved Boilermakers eked out a win today in Iowa City. With Play like that they'll likely be slaughtered by the Spartans on Tuesday. With that said, and in honor of how crazy the Big Ten season has been, I've decided to keep a Midwestern flavor in my recap of the web's best.
John Paxson ousted in the Windy City: With the Bulls being basement dwellers practically ever since His Airness left town, everybody saw this coming. Here we have a good recap of his stellar moves and signings. [Luol's Dong]
AL Central Preview Even though it's only February, diehard baseball fans are already looking towards the the upcoming season. I have to agree with picking the Twins, though the ChiSox may give them a run. With the AL East as stacked as ever, there will only be one playoff spot coming from the Central. [Midwest Sports Fans]
Tom Crean Continues to Bring Respectibality to Bloomington The Cartel has long been a fan of Crean. We loved what he did at Marquette and hoped that he might help heal IU after the disastorous exits of Knight, Sampson, and to a lesser extent Davis. It seems that he might be living up to this reformer hype. Though we will never be IU fans, we are glad to see this kind of action. [Larry Brown Sports]
Bears Make Roster Changes Long time Bears will be seen elsewhere next year. Mike Brown and Marty Booker were not offered new contracts. Also it appears that John Tait will retire. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Billynho has to give props to Staff over @ the JC for dishing the word that God Drew Brees had his birthmark removed earlier this season. I applaud the decision. A scar on his face is far more appropriate (But if anyone ever sees his old birthmark on EBay, promise to let me know?). Now he's the muggle version of Harry Potter in appearance and action.
But that's not the only hospital related bit of news on Brees I have to offer you Brees-stalking muggles! Just like Harry, Brees is now a father. He blessed his wife Brittany by impregnating her and something wonderful came out yesterday for Brees's 30th birthday.
********OBLIGATORY JOKE ALERT******** If Purdue football coach Danny Hope hasn't offered the boy/girl a scholarship yet, he better get on that. Hee Haw! ********OBLIGATORY JOKE ALERT OVER********
How jealous are you of that kid? And Drew's wife...
Third Eye Blind's Out of the Vein is an underrated album.
Dunkeroos were the ultimate lunchtime cafeteria dessert for tweens in the 1990's.
Adding baking soda to toothpaste presents no benefit for your teeth.
The Big Ten Network's Tim Doyle is the worst studio analyst I've ever heard (apologies to NBA TV's Eric Snow).
Guylyn, Remmenga, Cummins of 501 West Broadway in San Diego is one of the top First Amendment law firms in America.
The Big Ten will win the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at least six times in the next decade.
Most of the Big Ten's basketball programs are on the rise. They've amassed nearly as much coaching talent as the SEC has for football and a handful of teams have unbelievable recruiting classes already committed for 2010. And Indiana has stopped cheating.
What follows is a ranking of how well-positioned the Big Ten's basketball programs are today and beyond:
1) Ohio State - Thanks to Greg Oden, THE Ohio State University is now THE destination for the nation's best young big men. Kosta Koufus was a disappointment and BJ Mullens is struggling, but they've already got three of the top 20 players (DeShaun Thomas, Jared Sullinger, and Jordan Sibert) in the country committed for 2010. Thad Matta has made Ohio State hot and it doesn't look like things will be changing anytime soon. The Buckeyes will be a threat to win the National Championship until Matta bolts. Of course, he'll never need to because the Buckeyes have the richest athletic department in the NCAA. 2) Illinois - If Illini fans had their wish a year and a half ago, non-nude model Bruce Weber would be looking for work. Lucky for them, he's still got the job and has Illinois poised to move back to the top of the polls. Their 2009 class is really nice with four-stars Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson and three-stars Tyler Griffey and Joseph Bertrand (who each had a slew of major offers). 2010 is scary for the rest of the league with five-stars Crandall Head and Jereme Richmond and four-star center Meyers Leonard. They'll be back in the Final Four soon. Of course, they would've been back sooner had Weber, then an assistant under Gene Keady at Purdue, followed through on the interest he showed in me as a 10-year old when he called me a "great shooter." Yeah, I was pretty good.
3) Michigan State - Their 2009 and 2010 classes aren't bad, but they aren't special either (example: Fort Wayne wing commit Russell Byrd wasn't even offered by Purdue). They've been so good for so long that it's hard to put them lower than number three. But the Spartans could be primed for a fall in what looks to be a vastly improved Big Ten over the next few years, unless a great 2008-09 season restores the program's reputation nationally.
4) Purdue - For a spell, the Boilermakers looked a threat to become the next Duke. Had they landed Tyler Zeller (or Jeff Teague or Matt Howard for that matter), they'd be well on their way; instead, they had to settle for John Hart, Scott Martin transferred, and this season has been a bit of a mess. Their 2009 commits are uninspiring, but a three-man 2010 class has hopes up in West Lafayette. The current sophomore trio has to make a run deep in the tournament before they're done, or Purdue will miss yet another opportunity to finally ascend among the nation's elite with regularity. Probably the latter; this is Purdue after all. Sigh... 5) Indiana - A six-man 2009 group combined with the competence of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean will restore the Hoosiers to respectability immediately. Looking further ahead, 2011 point guard Matt Carlino will be fun to watch. Indiana really needs time to recover from a volatile last ten years. From never knowing when Bob Knight's reign would come to a fiery end, to always wondering when Mike Davis would finally be pushed out, and then becoming even more of a laughingstock after hiring known cheater Kelvin Sampson, they've finally got it right in Bloomington. Crean will have them challenging for conference titles in no time.
6) Wisconsin - The Badgers have a remarkably personable, colorful coach, which makes the bland, bald, white guy culture in Madison all the more puzzling. Where do they keep finding all these lookalikes? Is cloning legal in Wisconsin? If it ever was it must still be, because they've got two new cult members on the way in Mike Bruesewitz and Evan Anderson. Diamond Taylor and Vander Blue will balance out the boring with funky names and real athletic ability. On the whole, Wisconsin will probably keep being Wisconsin... ranked near the bottom of the top-25, making shocking runs in March, and keeping scores in the 50's.
7) Minnesota - It's a testament to how deep the league will be more than an indictment that Tubby Smith is doing something wrong in Minnesota that they're ranked this low. They've been a revelation this year and will probably make the NCAA Tournament. They'll add potential superstars Royce White and Rodney Williams next year to a nice core. In reality, they'll be outstanding for the next few seasons. But longer term, Tubby Smith is almost 60 and could struggle to keep top recruits suiting up for the Golden Gophers.
8) Michigan - John Beilein has the right idea placing an emphasis on recruits in the state of Indiana. He's got two key freshmen from the Hoosier State in Zack Novak and Stu Douglass and is already hot for 2011 prospect Mitch McGary. Beilein is a great coach who put West Virginia on the map behind lightly regarded- yet super fashionable- Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey. He's hinting at doing the same with Michigan already; I'll probably look foolish in five years for putting the Wolverines this low.
9) Iowa - Todd Lickliter was fantastic at Butler and has the right mentality to succeed at Iowa. Unfortunately, their current talent level lags behind the rest of the league, and it will be a tall order for him to level the playing field for the Hawkeyes. He'll have to do more with less, just like he did while posting gaudy records with the Bulldogs. Give Lickliter a few years to develop his current group. Jake Kelly is much better this year, and Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker provide hope for the future. Lickliter has yet to nab a four-star, but a mature, experienced guard-heavy line-up could surprise the Big Ten in a few years.
10) Penn State - The current squad at Penn State may be as good as it gets in Happy Valley. The superb play of Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle is a testament to Ed DeChellis's eye for talent. But he'll have to get lucky to ever get the Nittany Lions into the NCAA Tournament.
11) Northwestern - Nothing against Bill Carmody, but why do analysts constantly praise him as the perfect coach for Northwestern? They've yet to be a threat to even be decent with him, and he'll never recruit well enough to move them up the standings. You can't win in the Big Ten if Tim Doyle, Kevin Coble, and Craig Moore are your stars. You probably couldn't win in the MAC either. It's easy to think that Northwestern will never be good, but it's possible. They need to take a risk with their next hire (How long is Carmody going to be given a free pass, anyways?). They should either go after the head coach of a Division II national champion (someone who's proven to be a good talent evaluator) or hire a top AAU coach who has the connections to bring talent. A third option might be to hire a European coach who can attract foreign studs to Evanston for an education and exposure to NBA scouts. None will guarantee success, but they'd be interesting to watch. Until then, they'll continue to be the conference doormat.
Dark days for Purdue basketball, Cartel fans, and it could get worse. Two straight losses to start the Big Ten schedule, rival coaches doing the Hambone, underperforming 2009 recruits, injuries to two top players, a horrible slump for last year's team MVP, and now... rumors that, if they prove to be founded, would amount to a death knell for a program on the cusp of joining the super-elite nationally... E'Twaun Moore may be agitating for a transfer!? A heart can only handle so much. Where is Rowdy when we need a smile?
Few would deny that the Boilermakers wouldn't be in this quagmire had Scott Martin stayed. Martin probably would have been the difference between a loss and win in overtime games against Oklahoma and Illinois and the narrow slip-up at Penn State. With him, Purdue would be 14-1 and ranked top-five nationally. Instead, they're on the brink of imploding.
For a number of selfish reasons, it's become fashionable for Knuckleheads to hate, trash, and deny the existence of Martin. I believe the nickname "Knuckleheads" is tongue in cheek, but it seems apropos enough to me because Martin is a nice guy who had good reason to transfer. Let us look at the reasons he's hated, and why he shouldn't be: 1- Scott Martin just transferred because he was totally jealous of Robbie Hummel. OK, Seriously? Are you serious? How did this rumor even get started? The sad thing is, it seems like everyone believes it. Does anyone honestly think Scott Martin ever verbalized a feeling like this? Really? Yes, and Nate Minnoy only transferred because he was losing too much weight running all the sprints Coach Painter made them run.
2- Psh, Martin was soft, didn't play hard, and sucked at D anyways. No, Really, You're not serious. Just because Martin didn't lay out every time he took a lay-up and come up limping and grimacing for the next 15 seconds doesn't make him soft. No, he wasn't Brian Cardinal, but who besides Hummel and Chris Kramer compare to Cardinal? He battled on the boards, dove for loose balls, and Purdue still managed to rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed per possession with Martin playing 25 minutes per.
3- Martin is so selfish for leaving. I don't EFFing believe you. You're really, truly glad Scott Martin left? No, you're selfish for projecting your desires on an 18 year old kid. Martin doesn't owe any of us anything. In fact, his haters were all aware of that whilst drooling on their keyboards the summer he signed. He did Purdue and Matt Painter a favor by coming here in the first place, as do all recruits we offer (in retrospect, it doesn't feel like Kyle Williams was very charitable). Oh, and, were Dan Vandervieren and Jonathan Uchendu selfish for being run off transferring, too? I don't remember anyone minding. I actually believe Purdue fans wished them all the best.
4- What a traitor for going to Notre Dame. You're in your fifties and anonymously trashing an 18 year old. Scott Martin's decision to transfer was rational. He's a very talented basketball player with (arguably) a shot to make the NBA. He came off the bench as a freshman and likely would have again as a sophomore. Due to our lack of depth inside, he spent most of his time late in the season battling inside on the boards. His future position as a professional would surely be on the perimeter. Purdue probably wasn't going to be a place where he could log mega-minutes on the perimeter. He liked living close to home (that's why he chose Purdue). Notre Dame is a major conference program near his hometown. They're a solid program (who've recently produced more NBA players than Purdue). Their coach probably told Martin what he wanted to hear. He transferred to a school he's comfortable with, to a basketball team that better suits him, he's happier today, and he's probably better situated to pursue a career as a basketball player. It makes sense to me. More sense than pandering to the whims middle-aged people who only care about you because you play basketball.
5- Scott Martin? Who's that? Scott Martin doesn't exist. You're so butthurt. Please please please just shut up. I wish you didn't exist.
Life in West Point can get lonely for a 23 year old male. Too young for the Lion's Club, too poor for the Steakhouse, and too healthy for the cemetery; there's just no place for me to make friends! So, the first thing I do every morning is read the J&C Personals. They haven't done me much good yet (I'm six rejections deep), but I have come across some interesting listings: LOST CONNECTION WLTR 38 Y.O. strict disciplinarian WINNER seeking to add depth back into his life. You were a tall, blond, nice, unselfish southpaw. I watched you grow up, we took bus trips, I yelled at you, we visited the Capital… then you left. Let's play ball (again)! Text MARTbrokIN to (555) NDS-UCKS
HARD-WORKING LITTLE DEVIL 18 Y.O. QB, W. Laf, wants to stay close to home. Seeking relationship with mustached authority figure. I'm smart, tough, I don't lose, and I'd look great in gold and black. Don't miss out on the next-Josh Smith! Text Matt Lancaster at (555) ILO-VEPU
YOU'RE MY MAN Shout out to my man Matt Painter. Tough going thus far this season, but I know you'll whip them into shape. Don't forget who brought you here. You're MY coach. Make me YOUR AD forever this offseason! How's $2.5 million a year sound? Let me know… Text Morgan Burke at (555) STA-Y@PU
I'M YOUR BEST HOPE You're the Kansan RB ranked first in the country. I'm the old, white guy with the backward Purdue cap stalking you the last few months. I want to buy you books and your own room (sorta), dress you up, watch you run, and see you off to the NFL. Let's make my your dreams come true? Text Bryce Brown to (555) PRT-YPLZ
Now that college basketball has officially begun, The Siets and the rest of the staff here at the Cartel couldn't be more excited. For one thing, our Boilers are looking sharp in the preseason NIT and are headed to NYC. Secondly, is there a more exhilarating sport to watch than college hoops? About the only way college hoops could get better is if some drastic change were made.
Nonetheless, this week has already caused some interesting basketball news to hit the internet and we're here to show you the best...
If there is one thing that the Cartel can't stand in sports, it's cheating. After all, we hated Kelvin Sampson long before he started coaching in Bloomington. Dana O'Neil, writing for a site you might have heard of, brings to light how shady and conniving some college coaches have become. My dad always says, "whenever a program starts to win, you don't have to wait long before the evidence starts to prove they were cheating." Looking at some of the teams that Ms. O'Neil cites, it seems like my dad might be right again. [ESPN]
New Jersey Institute of Technology is not a very good basketball program. In fact, they are one of the worst programs ever (at least as of late). Some records should never be broken. [ABC-11 Raleigh/Durham]
Matt Painter proves his genius once again! Only a mastemind of his caliber would have had the foresight to see that stud recruit Tyler Zeller would break his wrist and miss the entire season. I'm glad we got Lew Jack instead. [FOX Sports]
A very bizarre situation occurred the other night during the NIT Season Tip-off. Loyola's coach found a very creative way to avoid ejection, seemingly having to deal with a biased and unprofessional ref (based on Patsos' story). [SportingNews]
It's March 12, 2013 outside Conseco Fieldhouse and 150,000 gold, black, crimson, and cream fans are willing to do anything short of selling their house to get a ticket into the arena. Matt Painter and Tom Crean are leading their teams off their respective buses. Billy Packer is slouched courtside thumbing through media guides in hopes of once again inundating viewers with a deluge of historical notes during the telecast of what is surely the most anticipated sporting event ever staged in the Crossroads of America. What’s the occasion? Two top-five teams, the fiercest of rivals, are about to tip-off in the basketball capital of the world.
For decades, an antiquated tournament structure indirectly spawned largely mundane non-conference contests. For every major conference match-up, there were ten also-rans playing (and typically getting trampled by) Duke on ESPN. The recipe was simple for high-majors that wanted an invitation to the "Big Dance": load up on mid-major opponents to rack up non-conference wins, finish over .500 in conference play, and win at least one game in the conference tournament. Most of college basketball slavishly relied on that status quo ante. Fans reluctantly endured the rehearsal: an unnecessary number of tickets never served their purpose.
With prescient knowledge in mind that there would be no snubs this year, high-major coaches focused on cooking up more challenging non-conferencing dates, which made for an unprecedentedly diverting mise-en-scène. Fans with a sweet tooth for inter-major conference match-ups were wisely advised to schedule root canals ahead of time. Cynical predictions that fans wouldn't follow a season where every team was guaranteed postseason play were expunged as the NCAA reported record attendance numbers. ESPN drooled and agonized over having to descry the cream-of-the-crop from the five-star buffet of games to televise.
The result of the libertinism is encapsulated by the top-25. Two of the top-five and 11 overall have 10 or more losses.
As Purdue and IU line up for lay-ups inside, let's go back to 2008 and take a look at what suggested that allowing every team into the NCAA Tournament would be a positive change for all parties involved: the NCAA, big schools, small schools, coaches, players, networks, and the fans. ________________________________________________________________
Americans have a predilection for canting in the face of reshuffling what we know and love (think MLB interleague play); not when we can have the "good ol' days" and the "way things were." Once college basketball fans get over the initial shock at the idea of a tournament change and start asking questions, they'll come to wonder why the tournament doesn't already include everyone.
Why would the NCAA consider changing the tournament? The NCAA states that it "shares a belief in and commitment to an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student athletes." What is more inclusive than letting everyone have a shot in March? Isn't attempting to differentiate bubble teams inequitable?
In addition to the boost for philosophical ideals, college basketball would be richer than ever. The NCAA serves the interests of member institutions. High-major schools would no longer have to fastidiously find the non-conference equilibrium between manipulating RPI, determining the correct strength of schedule, and pacing towards the "20-win" mark. The resulting freedom would improve match-ups, generating higher television ratings and ticket sales.
So a reformed tournament would result in improved non-conference match-ups. Are the non-conference schedules of high-majors bad enough to warrant a change?
Even the most optimistic fans subconsciously see schedule-makers as power-wielding misanthropes. The unwritten 20-win rule leads to major conference teams hosting opponents like Bethune-Cookman (RPI of 319), Lipscomb (226), Loyola-Chicago (222), Indiana State (128), Ball State (297), Texas Southern (320), Wofford (195), Florida-International (263) (Note: This was Purdue's actual entire home non-conference schedule during the 2007-08 season in addition to exhibition games against Indianapolis and Saginaw Valley State. Purdue and Notre Dame haven't played since 1966.).
Fans are persnickety when analyzing opposition. Some have the disposable income to buy a season-ticket and eat the games against cupcakes; more think carefully before paying $300 to attend the only eight games that aren't boring bugbears. Tight games are as important as wins; unpredictability and excitement define basketball at its best. Little can rival the satiation derived from supporting your favorite team in a back-and-forth battle.
The current system prevents high-majors from portioning out enough of what fans crave. Teams are lucky to schedule even two non-conference home games against major conference opposition in a non-affiliated match-up.
Would rising nepotism between major conference teams be a cryptic omen portending a larger schism between big and small schools?
That's a concern, but schedules wouldn't be as head scratching if high-majors looked out their windows for competitors. Why did Florida host Vermont (25-point win), but not Central Florida? Why would Texas play Division II Arkansas Monticello (49-11 at halftime), but not make room for Stephen F. Austin? Ditto Michigan State, who beat San Jose State by 40 points, but didn't play Western Michigan. Viable alternatives of comparable strength were present in the area; location and familiarity breed interest.
Mid-majors shouldn't be left out as attractive schedules would still have a balance of tough, big-name opponents and hungry nearby smaller schools led by players still heartbroken at being overlooked by the bigger fish coming out of high school. Series against local opponents would be easier to sell to fans, as return trips would give the die-hards (boosters) a chance to see their team on the road. Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke sees the value in playing geographical rivals. "Local teams also add the possibility of bringing extra fans to Mackey Arena," Burke wrote in a May e-mail. "If we can play an in-state opponent, that is always our preference." High-majors wouldn't have to fret over how losing to mid-majors could damage tourney résumés. A schedule-maker I spoke with said a two-for-one series (the high major hosts the mid-major, plays on the road the next year, then hosts again) could work financially in most cases.
Dwarfing the appeal that a shot at hosting high-major neighbors would bring, the peak perk of expanding the NCAA Tournament would be that small schools would have a guaranteed tournament spot waiting every year. The relevancy of even following smaller programs is debatable at present as they, on average, earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament just over once every ten years. Survey a student at one of these schools over who his favorite team is, and chances are he'll name a major conference school (with Butler, Xavier and Gonzaga three possible exceptions). Having an automatic seat reserved in the tournament for every team would fuel continued attention by students and alums, even in down years.
Alums would notice that closely following their alma mater's team, no matter how weak, would be a more worthwhile endeavor. Recruits may not be as quick to look past the near-by mid-major school if they have the guarantee of four years of postseason basketball pending. It could level the playing field and give small school coaches more to sell to recruits.
America loves a Cinderella. There would be 250 trying on slippers every March.
How would coaches and players benefit?
Blue-chip recruits demand development, competition, and opportunity. Coaches would yield more control over the troika than ever before.
Development could be emphasized in a way not possible today. The pressure to win that exists from game one would be lessened tremendously. Freshmen teeming with potential but short on experience (Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan in 2007-08 for example) could profit from an expedited learning curve. More minutes could be allocated to potential stars, who perhaps don't have a polished game due to lack of floor time. From the start, coaching would be undertaken with an eye on what matters, the postseason.
Competition is the whetstone of talent; top players and coaches who view the NBA as a future reality rather than a pipe dream aren't seeing their skills sharpened. In the NBA, every game is a dogfight for the players and a test for the coaches; even the worst teams win 20 games a year. Winning by 40 over a mid-major in college doesn't sharpen skills like playing other top programs would. Top programs could face-off against each other much more often, and top talents would learn to focus for a full 40 minutes every game.
For the majority of players who are true student-athletes and see college as the end of the road for their basketball career, the opportunity of playing in the postseason would be invaluable. Over five times more coaches and players would live the dream of competing in the NCAA Tournament every year.
With 340 teams playing Division I basketball, how long would the tournament last?
Figure on the tournament lasting just one week longer than present. Today, the future champion has to win five tournament games to make Championship Monday. If all 340 teams were involved, they would have to play either seven or eight games. A maximum of eight teams would play more than the six tournament games today's champion must win.
The negligible difference could be made up by removing conference tournaments. They would be obsolete. Since they're cash cows, the other option would be to remove two allowable non-conference games.
Wouldn't the tournament be impossible to schedule logistically?
It wouldn't have to be. Here's a suggestion: split teams along geographic lines into 24 regions of 12-16 teams. For example, the entire Northwest would play one another, California and Nevada would combine to form two regions, and Indiana and western Ohio would form a logical group. Regions would be awarded two, three, or four berths to the Field of 64 (with number of berths tied to group strength). Two neutral sites in each region could be selected to host the games each year.
Opponents could be randomly drawn by ping-pong balls as is done in the NBA Lottery and European Champions League. Imagine the tension as match-ups are revealed.
The potential for Duke and North Carolina to face off in the first round would not be a problem, but a cause for celebration. If they were the two best teams, they'd have to beat one another eventually if they were to prove themselves as champions. Fans of the two teams would have the lion's share of tickets and only a short drive to get to see the historic match-up. Ponder these other possible region match-ups: UCLA-USC, Purdue-Indiana, Michigan State-Michigan, Kentucky-Louisville, Georgetown-Maryland… all with the season on the line and in front of passionate fans.
300 valuable new games, some less nationally relevant, will spontaneously arise from nowhere; tickets and telecasts will surely accompany each and every one. Coverage could be regionalized. Games could be played every night the first week, allowing the networks to choose the best games to display nationally and in prime time slots.
Once the field is narrowed down to 64 teams, fans would again surround the television to see the same committee used today re-seed the teams the same way they do today and send them to a national tournament like the one currently in place. Two weeks later, the first true national champion would be crowned.
Really, everyone would benefit? Run that by me again please.
The NCAA will have made more money and encouraged competition and opportunity. Large schools will delight their fan bases with more appealing schedules and have more money to invest into athletic department interests. Small schools would be in the tournament, a dream they drool over nightly. Coaches and players will have the satisfaction of knowing they've been tested more than ever before. Networks would see higher ratings. Fans will revel on a season like none before, ask themselves what possessed them to spend $400 on a scalped ticket to go watch their team in the first round, then mail in their season ticket renewal.
Some have questioned why Mackey Arena at Purdue can't sell out anymore after over a decade of packed houses. To that I stare back as my stomach lurches, and query how they still pull in 13,000 nightly with the atrocious alimentation available? Where to begin...! Upon arriving, diners are herded like cattle through gates and required to show a ticket to very old men wearing matching tacky gold and black uniforms. The cost to even enter this establishment is over $20, and most pay a yearly membership to "John Purdue's Club" to ensure prime seating. Why anyone would pay extra for "better" seating in this filthy over-glorified concrete barn is beyond me! Every seat is the same; uncomfortable, hard, and around more old people. And did I mention there's no seat back? (Shudder) Don't even ask about silverware or a table.
After being entertained for almost an hour by a charming game of baskethoop, patrons file out into a concourse where they wait in line to order the food. By this point, it was 8:00 P.M., and I must say I was famished... hungry enough to eat a metaphorical horse.
If only.
Instead I was served a supposed "hot" dog wrapped in a stale, uninspiring pathetic excuse for a baguette, a plastic tin of salted crisps with neon-yellow dipping cheese, a cold, oversized pretzel with the taste and texture of a decade-old salted cardboard box, overly salted popcorn lathered in a coat of faux-butter, eight miniature Butterfingers bars (that I had to open MYSELF!), and a Coke with faint traces of ice (that I noticed in my lap after bringing the cheap cup to my face and realizing that the lid--- yes, they have lids at this restaurant [sic]--- wasn't snapped on.). Total Outlay: $17
And did I mention the hapless service? (restaurant critic rereads above transgressions and confirms that he did not, in fact, mention the service) Ahem. After reading up on the State of Indiana's Labor Codes, I shall be sending notice henceforth to the mayor of the municipality of West Lafayette to notify him of dozens of horrific counts of child labor violations.
Please allow me to describe the young lad who took my order... Eight years old.
In the event that isn't enough to disgust even the least demanding of diners, I'll go into more detail. The food counter stood nary an inch above my belly button, and he was a good six inches shorter than that. What he possessed in enthusiasm for the job and effort in counting my money, he lacked in math skills (I was shorted $2 in change; I considered it the tip) and the ability to reach the Butterfingers. Luckily, his mom was available to help. And when I inquired as to the locale of the Grey Poupon, he had the gall to direct me towards the restroom, with grim order to, "Poop in there."
To the lavatory I went, obediently and gladly. Whilst there, I deposited my food right into the trashcan, washed away any germs acquired in hand-to-hand dealings with l'enfant, and proceeded to drive myself straight to the fine, classic, culinary restaurant Monical's Pizza where I cry myself back to happiness through the sweet gluttonous satisfaction found in a pepperoni pizza and Mr. Pibb.
Rating: *
Mackey Arena
1000 North University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907
765-494-3194
Open: Game Nights
Entree prices: $3- $3.50
Credit cards: None accepted, cash only
Reservations: Required
Noise: Conversation-unfriendly. Shout to be heard.
Last season, Purdue's Baby Boilers shocked the nation in crawling to 25 wins and somersaulting all the way to second in the Big Ten with three freshmen and two sophomores making up their top-five scorers. Now a year older and more mature, one has to assume Purdue will be improved if only because they will no longer refuse to shoot until they know their parents are watching (and anyone who has watched a basketball game inside Mackey Arena HEARD guard Chris Kramer's mom watching him*) or make yucky faces at their vegetables at the training table.
But those aren't the only reasons to expect the Boilermakers to make the leap to conference champs and the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament (or beyond). Guard E'Twaun Moore might be the most underrated player in the country. He started last season shakily, but dominated the last half of Purdue's season. He can shoot the ball as well as anyone (over 43% from three-point range last season), gets to the hoop at will despite underwhelming quickness, and flashed improved vision and passing ability in Purdue's exhibition games. Illinois's head coach Bruce Weber called him the conference's best player a year ago. He'll make waves nationally this winter.
Moore's classmate Robbie Hummel took most of the plaudits last season and is the kind of rare player who would start for every team in the country based off his intangibles and fundamentals. Hummel, 6'8", is also a lights-out shooter (45% from three-point range last season), stalks the passing lanes, and handles the ball as well as anyone his size in the country. He was named preseason Big Ten Player-of-the-Year.
Guards Keaton Grant and Kramer round out the core of Purdue's team. Grant is a steady player who also excels from the outside (44%), but battled injuries that robbed him of his lateral quickness a year ago. At his peak, he can get to the hoop and bothers opposing guards with his long frame. Kramer is a one-of-a-kind player who ever coach loves. Limited to aggressive drives offensively, he more than makes up for any shortcomings with his marauding presence on defense. Kramer averaged 2.3 steals in 28 minutes per game last season by physically harassing opposing guards and sneaking up behind unaware ballhandlers. The 2007-08 Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Year, captain Kramer also provides leadership in spades and incites the Paint Crew into mob-like fever pitches (loud enough for Purdue's mostly octagenarian crowd to hear at times even).
If there was one area where this team could be called into question, it'd be the interior. Last season the Boilermakers had a negative rebounding ratio and saw 6'8" rotation staple Scott Martin transfer to Notre Dame this summer. How far the team goes relies on the development of former four-star recruit JaJuan Johnson. Early indications are that the unaggressive 6'10" freshman beanpole from last year has sprouted into a savage beastly sophomore. In Purdue's second exhibition game, Johnson scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and swatted seven shots... unthinkable numbers if you saw him play eight months ago (and this is coming from one of his biggest fans).
5'9" freshman Lewis Jackson helps fill an additional potential weakness by adding some quickness to a team built on fundamentals. Michigan State's Kalin Lucas and Xavier's Drew Lavender tormented Purdue with their penetration last season. Jackson could help keep quick guards from reaching the paint, and if not, hopefully Johnson will be waiting to send them back out.
Seniors Marcus Green and Nemanja Calasan provide solid, experienced depth and can be effective if they play within themselves.
The schedule is equal parts kind and challenging for Purdue. They play Davidson, Duke and likely Georgia in the non-conference, yet won't leave the state of Indiana until Big Ten play unless they reach the Preseason NIT semi-finals in New York. With just two other ranked Big Ten teams, Purdue is one to watch as a sleeper with the potential to post a gaudy record and earn a No. 1 seed in March.
(Here would have been the perfect place to insert a lame "Baby Boilers" metaphor as a closer, but I just couldn't bring myself to be so cliche. I guess... you could say... I'm growing up... too?)
Prediction: 11-1 Non-conference, 16-2 Big Ten, No. 1 Seed And I'm generally exceedingly pessimistic, but I feel Matt Painter is developing this team impossibly well. With as many as five future NBA players on the team, I can't help but see a Final Four berth this spring.
* To Chris Kramer and his large, tough looking dad... I was just kidding! Although I really have heard her... But it's too quiet in the pit anyways; hers are always extremely welcome loud breathes of fresh air.
In an effort to avoid any copyright infringement, I'll speak in generalizations when commenting on the theme of today's Gold and Black subscription article. The teaser claimed "No one could have foreseen quarterback play being a serious issue for the Boilermakers this season." Ummm, seriously? I did! I knew! Me. I called it! I saw it coming from a mile away, months away, a few years away. So did Orel Kornheiser, so did Barry Badrinath, so did... come to think of it, EVERYONE I KNOW KNEW THIS WAS COMING. Not guess, not figured, we all KNEW it was gonna happen. No one could have seen this coming? Not the entire Purdue student section who booed him every game last season... not half of Purdue message boarders who pined for Justin Siller all summer... not Miss Cleo? Come on, dude. Even if you don't believe me, admit Miss Cleo definitely knew.
How could you not see this coming? Curtis Painter seems like a great person, really nice, friendly, humble, which is important (I mean that). He doesn't poison the team with a bad attitude like Brandon Kirsch. He plays hard every down and will smash into a defender if it'll get Purdue a few extra yards. But a) he's only a good passer with a lot of time, and even then he's inconsistent b) he seems unwilling to run, which is a problem in Purdue's "spread offense" (can we really call it that if our QB doesn't run?) c) he looks like a Furby, and d) as everyone knows, he's never led Purdue to a victory over a decent team, and e) he locks in on one target and rarely goes through his progressions, which caused him to miss a widewidewide WIDE-open Keith Smith in the end zone on 3rd-and-10 against Notre DameleavingitalluptoCHRISSUMMERS!!! Sorry, I had to get that out...
I know what you're thinking... "He does look like a Furby! That's so true! But we've heard everything else before."
I'll tackle his play from a different angle... Painterites and announcers like to say, "Well he's gonna break a bunch of Drew Brees's records, so he can't be that bad," or "Come on dude, no quarterback was going to lead us to victory against the Michigans or Ohio States or Penn States."
Who did Drew Brees and Kyle Orton have to throw and handoff to? Take your pick of all the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends that played for Joe Tiller before Painter became starter... Joey Harris, Vinny Sutherland, Chris Daniels, John Standeford, and Tim Stratton seem like fair choices, but you could throw Montrell Lowe, Taylor Stubblefield, Randall Lane, or Isaac Jones in there if you'd like. Am I crazy, or are the quintet of Korey Sheets, Greg Orton, Selwyn Lymon, Dorien Bryant (Desmond Tardy has been extremely impressive this season... NFL-level if you ask me), and Dustin Keller more impressive? I think I'd rather have the five Painter enjoyed in his first few seasons as starter; a perfect blend of size, quickness, speed, explosiveness, and hands.
But they've been wasted! And I didn't see that coming.
I wish Miss Cleo would've warned me when I got my hopes up as they each committed.
Full Disclosure: I'm a Big Ten fan. But I'm not like any of you all... SEC, Big 12, Pac-10, ACC, Big East, or fellow Big Ten fans. I'll swallow my pride and admit it; the Big Ten is weak at football this year and has been down this whole decade. They can't hang with the SEC or Big 12, and I'm not real interested in where they slot in the lexicon with the rest of the pretenders. Purdue could run the table in conference this season (really, they could), and I wouldn't be impressed (really, I wouldn't).
But as cynical and pessimistic as I am about the conference today, I've got a raging clue at the thought of where it's headed. The Big Ten is stockpiling top head coaches, and traditionally pathetic programs are squirreling out of hibernation with a metaphorical nutsack loaded with highly ranked recruits. In just a few years, we may not blink at the sight of eight ranked conference teams. Big Ten fans may be disappointed to see just six at one time in 2011.
Read on as I rank the Big Ten's football programs in order of just how fat they'll get feasting on wins in the near future:
1) Ohio State - In the last six seasons going into 2008, the Buckeyes had won 70 games, finished in the top-four of the coaches' poll five times, and earned at least a share of four Big Ten titles. Despite some unimpressive national title game performances and a meek loss to USC, they're showing no signs of slowing down. They already have 25 commitments for their 2009 recruiting class (including one five-star and 17 four-star prospects) that is ranked number one by Rivals, and last year's mega-signee Terrelle Pryor is looking like Texas Vince Young. Assuming Ohio State fans don't boo their young quarterback (and turn him into another Tennessee Vince Young), they can expect to see their team in BCS games every January.
2) Michigan - Their new head coach is a certifiable creeper, got his fellow conference coaches all butthurt with some shady recruiting practices, and pissed off his home state. Pretty much everyone hates him. Word doesn't seem to have reached recruits; Michigan's got 10 four-star commits in 2009, and their class is ranked sixth nationally. He did win four Big East titles in his last five seasons at West Virginia, so it's fair to assume he's got the coaching perspicacity that Lloyd Carr lacked. Once he's got a sickass running quarterback in place, Michigan will once again be on level footing with Ohio State. With how drawn high schoolers are to those sweet helmets, there's no reason for Michigan to ever be ranked outside the top-10. They won't be ever again once Rodriguez gets this Lamborghini in fifth gear. 3) Penn State - Recruiting has fallen off dramatically (they haven't been ranked in the top-20 in the team rankings since their 2006 class), and JoePa is still in good health and may be around for awhile yet. But they're loaded on both sides of the ball and primed for 10+ wins this season, Galen Hall seems to have revived a stagnant offense since coming in as offensive coordinator, and when (if?) Joe Paterno is replaced, the job will be an easy sell to hot coaching candidates thanks to crowds of 100,000+ at every home game. If Paterno retires soon and the new coach locks down the state of Pennsylvania, Penn State should be a fixture near the top of the polls like the two teams above them.
4) Michigan State - Their 2009 recruiting class is shaping up to be amazing (ranked 16th by Rivals right now, eight four-stars already). Sure they're probably cheating, but so is the whole SEC. And most of the SEC is ranked, which Michigan State will be every year come 2010 (and maybe sooner). Mark Dantonio's track record with Ohio State and at Cincinnati suggests he's a pretty good coach, too. If Brian Hoyer turns it around, they might be able to take advantage of the Big Ten being down this season and win a conference championship. If that were to happen, and Javon Ringer ends up a first round pick (which he shouldn't), the program could take off faster and higher than anyone expects.
5) Minnesota - Ripped mercilessly while winning just one game all last season for firing Glen Mason, the job Tim Brewster did in recruiting and on the field thus far this season has been overlooked. The Golden Gophers somehow pulled seven four-star recruits last season and have quadrupled their 2007 win total in just five games this year. Brewster seems to favor mobile quarterbacks, and they pulled one of the nation's best in MarQueis Gray last year, but he ended up academically ineligible. If Gray can get on the field, he could be Minnesota's Juice Williams... an exciting poster boy for a hot program. Then Minnesota fans will just have to worry about whether Brewster will stay loyal; hypocritical when you think back to what happened to Mason. 6) Wisconsin - Did you realize that Wisconsin ended the season ranked only six times in 16 years with Barry Alvarez at the helm? That shocked me. It's true, though. So it seems the perception of this program exceeds its production. Still Bret Bielema has them looking just like they did throughout Alvarez's tenure. Never lauded for their recruiting, the Badgers consistently make the most of the talent they get. "Jump Around" is pretty lame (fine,I'm just jealous), but the state of this program will always be healthy.
7) Illinois - Settle... I know the Illini were the sexy program, Juice is attracting kids from all over, etc... But Illinois has a lot talent now, yet they're not really performing. It's the ultimate Catch-22; Ron Zook is the reason Illinois has pulled a string of strong classes, but his coaching is holding them back. They'll continue to be exciting, consistently win six to nine games and chill around the bottom of the top-25 polls. But that'll make them run-of-the-mill in the new Big Ten. There's a cieling to where they can go with Zook leading them.
8) Northwestern - The Wildcats went 10-6 in Big Ten play over Randy Walker's last two seasons as head coach. Their record fell off in Pat Fitzgerald's first two seasons, but the Wildcats are 5-0 and looking good today. Recruiting is picking up; Fitzgerald has already landed a commitment from four-star lineman Patrick Ward (their first four-star commit since 2002), who was offered by Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Illinois among others, along with four other three-stars. Fitzgerald's got the D playing stout (they're allowing just over 12 points a game); adding a little more talent in the future could be enough to put the Wildcats into the polls with regularity.
9) Purdue - The talent level in West Lafayette has bottomed out in an unbelievable way. Players change positions in midweek and start on Saturday. Highly rated signees have failed to show up on campus, and when they have they've been busts. The players show nary a modicum of fire. Luckily, Danny Hope is waiting to take over from longtime (and very successful) coach Joe Tiller. By all accounts, Hope works and recruits around the clock. He gets in players' faces at practice. And he's trying to bring in the best talent in the country. On that topic, the nation's top running back recruit, Bryce Brown, is slated to take an official visit this fall. If Brown switches his commitment from Miami to Purdue (and doesn't turn out to be a baseball player, stab victim, or serial beater of women), then Purdue gets moved up this list a few ticks.
10) Iowa - Has any coach's star burned out faster than Kirk Ferentz's? Just two years after thrilling Hawkeyes fans by signing one of the richest contracts in college football, many of the same supporters were hoping a botched rape investigation would bring him down. What went wrong? Jake Christensen turned out to be more Paul Burmeister than Brad Banks and the vaunted 2005 recruiting class didn't pan out. A return to double-digit win seasons seems unlikely. Staying bowl eligible every year might be a lofty goal. 11) Indiana - The Hoosiers look to have taken a step back in Bill Lynch's second season as head coach, but there's even reason for optimism in Bloomington. 14 of 16 2009 commits are three-stars (although six lack other high-major offers), suggesting that there will more talent in a re-done Memorial Stadium than in 15 years. Indiana will be better on the field than during last year's bowl campaign, but the Big Ten is going to be so deep it probably won't be enough for them to kick open the cellar door.
Through four games, New Orleans Saints quarterback (and Kornheiser's Cartel favorite) Drew Brees is 107-for-148 (72.3%) for 1343 yards with a quarterback rating of 106.9 while throwing to a bunch of number three receivers after Marques Colston was injured in week one. He's also saved 314 Cajuns, reformed 963 prisoners, donated his money, house, and all of his clothing to charity, talked Jerry Seinfeld into doing those mildly amusing Microsoft commercials, decreased reciprocal usage of the word "bro" among non-bros by over 40% (!), and is close to bringing Elian home.
It's clear that no one in the sporting world is overlooked like Mr. New Orleans Drew Brees (well, other than Coach Conor O'Neill, who I almost overlooked myself).
He's on pace to pass for 5,372 yards, which would shatter the NFL single-season yardage record (5,084 by Dan Marino in 1984). If he can sustain his ridiculous completion percentage, that would also break a rickety old NFL record (70.55% by Ken Anderson in 1982). How are we not being reminded of this regularly?
Also never before mentioned is the fact that from 2004 through week four of the 2008 season, Brees has posted a 94.9 passer rating. That number is higher than the career passer ratings of both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
2008 seems destined to be the year Brees will finally receive the accolades he's long deserved. The Saints have an improved defense (with the exception of rookie cornerback Tracy Porter) and Saints running back Reggie Bush is suspiciously reminding me of former USC running back Reggie Bush. Coach Sean Payton has committed a few serious coaching gaffes that cost the Saints two games already this season (embarrassing playcalling in the red zone chief among them), but the schedule looks accommodating for New Orleans to go on a major tear despite their coach. If that happens, Brees will have a great chance to break both NFL records, not to mention finally receiving the NFL MVP award he deserved in 2004 and 2006.
Hopefully Coach Conor, in the spirit of G-Baby (RIP), will go broke upholding his end of the bargain rewarding the MVP (Most Valuable Pizzaeater) with a pizza for every touchdown he throws.
After all, he won't just be feeding a man........................ he'll be feeding a city.
A long summer rife with rumors of a move to Europe and lingering knee issues from an over three-year-old ACL injury ended happily for Carl Landry and the Houston Rockets... sort of. The Rockets matched the three year, $9 million offer sheet that the Bobcats offered Landry this week.
This may sound odd considering he's making $3 million a year, but Carl Landry should fire his agent. When he wasn't occupied with finishing game-winning three-point plays, giving Tim Duncan a facial, or evoking shades of Tayshaun Prince with his shotblocking in the playoffs, Landry simply posted the highest player efficiency rating of any rookie that saw significant minutes. He shot 62% from the field, which would have placed him third in the NBA had he attempted more shots, and his numbers projected to 17 points, over 10 rebounds, and just over one turnover per 35 minutes. To put those numbers into perspective, Portland's 6'11" franchise cornerstone LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 turnovers, and shot .484 from the field last season. In other words, Landry puts up just as many points, but does it more efficiently, while grabbing more rebounds, and turning the ball over less than his anointed future All Star (and likely soon to be recipient of a contract exceeding $10 million per year) colleague.
Somehow all of this was overlooked by the league's general managers, and Houston retained Landry at the bargain price of $3 million per season... while Kwame Brown is making $4 million a year... and Darko Milicic is making $7 million per year... and Troy Murphy is making over $10 million per year.
He's a snip, the one bargain in an industry of price gouging. Hopefully hard-working Hot Carl stays healthy... and hires a new agent to negotiate the proper mega-contract that he deserves in three years.
Meet this freak of nature, Rival's number one running back in the country Bryce Brown, who is currently a "soft" verbal to Miami. Which I think (hope) means he's willing to listen if the money is right.
Apparently (Hopefully) Purdue head coach (in-waiting) Danny Hope's hoodie is 50/50 PolyCash, because Brown supposedly took an official visit to Purdue for the game vs. Central Michigan. I don't care what Brown costs, watching him follow in Mike Alstott's Boilermaker footsteps for four seasons would be worth however many years of probation we get after the fact. Throw in Morgan Newton, and I'd be willing to see the program get the death penalty after they bounce out.
Hopefully he was impressed watching Purdue take down Central Michigan on Saturday (They went to the Motor City Bowl last year, they're not THAT bad!).
Serious question for college football fans: If you were a millionaire and Brown called you tomorrow and said he wants to go to Purdue (if not a Purdue fan, insert your school here), but he's demanding $5,000, would you fork it over?
I'd say I figured Miami was paying him ten times that already...
Finally, a blogger who sees Curtis Painter for what he is... er, rather, what he isn't. Namely, a legitimate Heisman candidate (For the record, Painter is first and foremost a Furby look-a-like).
Yahoo's Dr. Saturday serves up an excellent preview of this weekend's Purdue vs. Oregon game.
According to the M.D., Purdue has lost 16 straight against non-MAC teams that finish the season with winning records, and Furby is 1-9 in his career against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin.
Great points, I've been trying to tell them to my dad every time he deludes himself into believing Purdue has put it together.
No one is as hard as I am on Joe Tiller's football team, but I'm not sold on Oregon either. I certainly don't see anyone running wild on the Boilermakers' defense.
Sure, Furby has never been able to elevate Purdue in big games, but the Ducks are the Michigan State to USC's Ohio State out west.
I realize Oregon boosters have laundered a lot of money to bring the current talent into Eugene, I get that, but I'm sorry... it isn't going to be enough Saturday.
Since this isn't a big game, Purdue FTW... On its way to becoming the worst 10-2 team in big conference college football history. And further entrenching Furby as a "real" Heisman candidate and project(ed) first round pick in next year's NFL Draft.
Purdue Message Boarders: I Don't Hate Out-Of-State Recruits, I Like Matt Painter
In the aftermath of my newfound near-unanimous popularity on Purdue message boards, this "open source sports" writer feels even dumber than usual.
Last week, when I posted my fact-based findings about the success of former Indiana schoolboys on the hardwood in college, the piece quickly and unfortunately made its way to said boards where fellow Boilermakers fans gasped at my (supposed) mordacious tone, cachinnated in response to my (supposed) demands, and clucked at my (supposed) censuring of Matt Painter.
One even went so far as to mournfully (and creepily!) satire my writing with an incoherent incident that you can view for yourself here. "If Purdue or Indiana could recruit two of the top-five players from Indiana every season, they'd continuously be Big Ten Championship contenders and reside high in the polls," I'd argued with (supposed) acerbic aplomb, unaware while typing that the sentence would be misconstrued as a call to ban out-of-state players from wearing black-and-gold.
To me, the point of the piece was simple and not-so-thinly-veiled. To others, it was a Magic-Eye challenge to read between the lines for sentiments that simply do not exist anywhere in my mind.
Because I am a Purdue fan, because I'm young and thin-skinned and do not want fellow Boilermakers to hate me over a misconception, and because I would rather not see any more attempts at Billy Buckles satire (that is what it was right?), I wish to add to, clarify, and clearly state the arguments I tried to express in my oh-so-famous piece (over 1,000 reads!):
1) Once again, if Purdue or Indiana could recruit two of the top-five players from Indiana every season, they'd continuously be Big Ten Championship contenders and reside high in the polls. I’d love for Purdue to get all of the top-five from Indiana every year.
I may be from West Point, Indiana (shout out to everyone in WePo!), but I understand that is typically not possible for many reasons, chief among them academics (see: Robert Goff) and competition (kids grow up fans of many different schools).
2) Indiana Mr. Basketball winners and the best player from the best team in Indiana are as sure a thing as you'll find in recruiting. I think my research validates that point, and it was the main idea that I wanted to express.
I tell my friends all of the time that I'm confident of a recruit if he is the best player on his team, and his team enjoys great success. I think it takes an extraordinary lead player to make a team elite in Indiana. I always bring up Josh McRoberts and Purdue's four freshmen from this season as examples of this. The consensus on McRoberts was that he was a top-five recruit nationally. Before seeing him play, I questioned the ranking since his Carmel teams were never much above average. Upon seeing him play against Greg Oden, I had no doubt that he was extremely overrated.
Purdue's freshmen, on the other hand, all led their teams to the top of the Class 4A rankings and gaudy records. They also passed the sight test. To me, each are important. J.R. Angle dropped almost 30 points a night, but Indian Creek wasn't anything special. His stats didn't translate into team success. I believe it's a valuable indicator.
3) Purdue missed out on about a dozen top-class in-state players this decade that common sense says would have loved to play in Mackey Arena.
I don't blame many of those on Matt Painter. He and his staff deserve dap for unearthing Chris Kramer. They were also on Scott Martin, Tyler Zeller, E'Twaun Moore and many others before other high-majors joined in the recruitment.
I was close enough to the team the last few years to know that Painter almost miraculously landed Dominic James and would have had it not been for Tom Crean and his damn Dwayne Wade anecdotes.
No, in all seriousness I wanted to illustrate the fact that as we passed on a lot of potential good players in our backyard the quality of our program fell. Even when we're not a national power program (as we're once again becoming today), I think Purdue can still be very good by feeding off of the talent yielded in-state.
Gene Keady may still be coach today had he offered Shane Power, Andre Owens, Avery Sheets, Anthony Winchester, Peyton Stovall, Stanley Burrell, and Brandon Crone.
(Message boarders… Please notice I said may. That is a very loaded may.He probably wouldn't still be coach. PLEASE don't start three threads calling me out for moronically, definitively stating that if Keady had stood outside Mad Mushroom after school on signing day in 2002 and offered five West Lafayette High School nerds walking by scholarships, Purdue would be coming off their sixth straight national title.)
4) I think Matt Painter has done an incredible job at Purdue, and I actually fear the day soon may come when he is priced out of West Lafayette. What he has done thus far at Purdue bears a striking resemblance to the early career of Billy Donovan (With the obvious difference being that Purdue had a much more storied history than Florida, but do high school kids today care?).
The two spent a similar length of time as assistants, possessed similar head coaching experience prior to landing a major gig, attack recruiting with ardent zest, and seem keen on playing up-tempo basketball with pressure defense. Painter's development of Carl Landry, David Teague, and Keaton Grant has been remarkable; I can't wait to see how the three freshmen from last season progress this year.
Donovan has turned a handful of mere four-star recruits into NBA lynchpins. If Painter can produce similar tournament success (Donovan took Florida to the championship game in his third season as head coach of the Gators), he'll be a major target for any deep-pocket program- if not NBA team- with an opening. I hope that day comes soon, and I hope when it does Morgan Burke can find the $3 million a year required to lock up Painter.
5) Despite my professed profound admiration for MP, I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to question him, or any coach for that matter, from time-to-time. And I doubt he really cares what I think.
No, no, no, I know he doesn't care what I think. What do I think? Losing very nice kids who get lots of playing time like Scott Martin and Chris Lutz is a worrisome trend that can't continue.
6) I hate the expression "Baby Boilers."
7) Plymouth's Randy Davis wouldn't have been a waste of a scholarship at Purdue* (don't worry, he's not related to Jamaal). Same goes for Winchester's Tyler Koch.
8) I really hope I didn't forget anything...
*Comment sure to trump everything stated above and start message board furor that ends in Knucklehead torch-laden march outside my house and yet another amended "open source sports" posting.
Purdue was just putting the finishing touches on an epic slide in 2005-2006. After over a century of success, the basketball program officially bottomed out with a 9-19 season, a year after going 7-21.
Matt Painter's first season as head coach couldn't have gone much worse.
It didn't have to be that way. Although the drawn-out conclusion to Gene Keady's career as head coach hurt the program's ability to recruit, the real reason for the slide was that Purdue was passing on the right personnel.
One look at Purdue's '05-'06 roster tells the whole story: just one recruited scholarship player from the state of Indiana, Matt Keifer, was playing.
To be fair, David Teague was out for the year after tearing his ACL, and Chris Hartley was playing after arriving as a walk-on.
Every other player from that disappointing team arrived from outside of Indiana's borders.
Can it be blamed on the fact that Purdue was simply unattractive to recruits worthy of playing in the Big Ten?
While it's understandable that the Boilermakers didn’t scoop up the five-star talent during this period, there's no excuse for missing out on a host of other possibilities who went on to excel at mid-majors after being shunned by Purdue.
During the '05-'06 season, many players from Indiana at smaller schools were outperforming players brought in from out of state to play in Mackey Arena.
From less than 10 miles away in Lafayette, Avery Sheets was putting the finishing touches on a very successful Butler career, and Peyton Stovall averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for Ball State as a sophomore.
AJ Graves and Brandon Crone became nationally recognizable names while leading Butler up the top-25.
George Hill averaged 19 points, six rebounds, and 3.6 assists as a freshman at IUPUI.
Had Purdue correctly assessed the talents of these former Indiana All-Stars, the program wouldn't have been in such a sorry state.
In '06-'07, Purdue brought in four scholarship recruits, and just one, the lightly-heralded Chris Kramer (the only Hoosier-native of the group), was a real difference-maker in what turned out to be a surprisingly good season.
The cupboard was bare afterwards, but the future looked good.
That's because the '07-'08 recruiting class was composed of four top-100 in-state freshmen (two JUCO-transfers were added late).
Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, Scott Martin, and JaJuan Johnson were the impetus behind what has been the most surprising of turnarounds in terms of both the level Purdue has ascended to and the short time it took.
"Baby Boilers" annoyingly became a linchpin of the vocabulary of college basketball analysts when Purdue turned out to be a threat for the Big Ten Championship on the backs of the freshmen, a fact all the more surprising when considering that they were not even the best four newcomers from Indiana last season.
Eric Gordon was ranked second in the country coming out of high school and averaged over 20 points for Indiana.
Jeff Teague and Matt Howard were certainly more productive than Johnson and arguably rank better than Martin.
In summation, the high school class of 2007 from the state of Indiana was loaded.
While it may be fair to suggest that it was a good year for Indiana recruits, it would be an incorrect slight to suggest that a class of this caliber was a one-off event.
Two prospects you can count on to develop into top college players every year are the Indiana Mr. Basketball and the best player from the Indiana 4A State Championship game (some years they are one-in-the-same).
Here's a year-by-year look at what Indiana's Mr. Basketball winner's have produced since 1990:
1990—Damon Bailey: The state's all-time leading scorer, Bailey averaged 19.6 points and was a second-team All-American as a senior.
1991—Glenn Robinson: After academic problems wrecked what would've been his freshman season, the Big Dog became the most dominant player in college basketball for Purdue and went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
1992—Charles Macon: Macon initially enrolled at Ohio State, but ended his career at Central Michigan. He averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior for the Chippewas.
1993—Maurice "Kojak" Fuller: Fuller stood just 5'7", but possessed big-time ability. Unfortunately, personal problems landed him in prison.
1994—Bryce Drew: Drew led Valparaiso to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before a six-year NBA career.
1995—Damon Frierson: Twice named second-team All-MAC at Miami, Frierson averaged 18.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists as a junior.
1996—Kevin Ault: Ault helped Steve Alford put the Bears' program on the map. He started as they went to the Sweet 16 in the program's only NCAA appearance.
1997—Luke Recker: Despite a helter-skelter career that saw him attend Indiana, Arizona, and Iowa, Recker managed to graduate with nearly 2,000 career points.
1998—Tom Coverdale: Coverdale was a three-year starter for Indiana who helped the Hoosiers reach the title game in 2002.
1999—Jason Gardner: Gardner started all four years at Arizona and was at times considered one of the best players in the country.
2000—Jared Jeffries: After hoisting the Hoosiers to the national title game, Jeffries turned pro and is currently playing for the New York Knicks.
2001—Chris Thomas: Thomas posted career averages of 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists at Notre Dame. He currently plays professionally in Spain.
2002—Sean May: May was Most Outstanding Player in leading North Carolina to the 2005 National Championship. He is a member of the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.
2003—Justin Cage: Cage started over 100 games as Xavier elevated themselves from a mid-major into a Top-25 staple during his career.
2004—AJ Ratliff: Ratliff's career at Indiana started promising, but personal problems led to him being dismissed from the team as a senior.
2005—Luke Zeller: The 6'10" Zeller has failed to establish himself at Notre Dame as anything more than a reserve.
2006—Greg Oden: Widely considered the best center prospect that his generation will see, Oden carried Ohio State to the title game as a freshman and was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
2007—Eric Gordon: Gordon led Indiana in scoring as a freshman and was recently drafted No. 7 overall.
Now a breakdown of the best players from the 4A and single-class state champions over the same time period:
1990—Bedford North Lawrence: Mr. Basketball Bailey
1991—Gary Roosevelt: Mr. Basketball Robinson
1992—Richmond: Woody Austin's brother Chad led Richmond. Chad went on to star at Purdue for four seasons.
1993—Jeffersonville: BJ Flynn was a contributor for four years at Louisville, and the Cardinals made three Sweet 16 appearances in his career.
1994—South Bend Clay: Lee Nailon was one of the top players in college basketball at TCU before enjoying a six-year NBA career.
1995—Indianapolis Ben Davis: Mr. Basketball Frierson
1996—Indianapolis Ben Davis: Unique case in that they were un-ranked before the tournament.
1997—Bloomington North: Kueth Duany was a starter and captain for Syracuse when they won the national championship in 2003.
1998—Indianapolis Pike: Rodney Smith started his last two seasons at Purdue and was a key player.
1999—Indianapolis North Central: Mr. Basketball Gardner
2000—Marion: Zach Randolph led Marion to victory over Jeffries and Bloomington North. Randolph starred in his freshman season at Michigan State and currently plays with Jeffries on the Knicks.
2001—Indianapolis Pike: Mr. Basketball Thomas
2002—Gary West Side: When Chris Hunter went to Michigan, he was said to be teeming with unrealized potential. People never stopped voicing his talent as his reputation exceeded his production all four years.
2003—Indianapolis Pike: Mr. Basketball Cage
2004-06—Lawrence North: Future Mr. Basketball Oden and future No. 4 overall draft pick Mike Conley Jr.
2007—East Chicago Central: Purdue's Moore
What does this history lesson serve to illustrate? No Mr. Basketball and no player that leads a big school team to a state championship should ever be passed on by Purdue or Indiana.
The state of Indiana isn't just stacked at the top. The classes are deep with future high-impact college players.
You can throw out the national recruiting rankings and say with some assurance that if Purdue or Indiana could recruit two of the top-five players from Indiana every season, they'd continuously be Big Ten Championship contenders and reside high in the polls.
A quick look back at recent Indiana All-Stars shows that there were dozens of All-Conference types that Purdue and Indiana missed on this decade after the Dukes and North Carolinas swooped in and stole the obvious stars.
2000: Jeffries, Randolph, Brody Boyd, Shane Power, Andre Owens
2001: Thomas, Chris Hill, Teague, Vytas Danelius
2002: May, Hunter, Kiefer, Sheets, Rodney Carney, Dedrick Finn, Anthony Winchester
2003: Cage, Stovall, Stanley Burrell, Brandon Crone
2006: Oden, Conley, Luke Harangody, Kramer, Vaughn Duggins
2007: Gordon, Moore, Hummel, Martin, Teague, Johnson, Howard, Ben Botts
Of the 34 players listed above between 2000-2006, only three moved to West Lafayette and just two played for the Hoosiers.
It's not hard to draw a connection between those numbers and the gradual downward slide the two programs suffered through during that time.
It's also perhaps worth reminding that a big in-state haul in 2007 paid early dividends for all three teams this season in propelling them to successful campaigns, while also stocking Purdue and Butler for the future.
The question is, have the Boilermakers and Hoosiers learned their lesson or will they once again foolishly covet thy neighbor's recruits while the ones residing in their borders are more than good enough?
A quick look ahead at the policies of Painter and his counterpart Tom Crean seems promising:
While just one of Purdue's three incoming recruits hail from the Hoosier state, Painter missed out on two big men he aggressively tried to recruit in Mr. Basketball Tyler Zeller (to North Carolina) and, star of the Class 4A State Champions, Brownsburg's 6'7" Gordon Hayward.
All four of Purdue's commitments for the high school Class of 2009—Franklin Central's Patrick Bade, Cathedral's Kelsey Barlow, Lawrence North's Jeff Robinson, and North Montgomery's DJ Byrd—are from Indiana, and Danville's Travis Carroll pledged for 2010 in mid-June.
Crean's 2008 class has been a patchwork, last-minute job, but he's got Tipton's Derek Elston and Bloomington South's Jordan Hulls waiting to sign in 2009.
We'll find out soon whether Crean makes in-state recruits a priority for 2010.
The state of Indiana features a handful of uncommitted top-100 talents in Lawrence North's Justin Martin, New Albany's Donnie Hale, and Blackhawk Christian's Russell Byrd.
The Hoosiers have reportedly already offered Byrd, while Purdue is said to heavily covet Hale.
How the final geographical make-up of those classes looks for the two rivals may go a long way in determining whether Painter can extend his time at Purdue as long as Gene Keady's, and if Tom Crean can be successful where Mike Davis and Kelvin Sampson were not.
Mid-majors around the country are holding their collective breath.
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