Senior night for the Big Blue..

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

Wrong....Indiana will NEVER have a Calipari type coach. The administration hiring Sampson was enough stupidity to last a billion years. AND for the record, while Sampson was winning there were many, MANY diehards that refused to go to games. AH was empty and I was able to snag SCALPED tickets to the IU DUKE game that year..........

Under a real coach I would have NEVER been able to do that.

There are a few bad apple fans at Indiana, but for the most part, Indiana fans care MORE about integrity with getting the wins then the wins themselves. Show me one who doesn't and I will show you then that do.

Later,

Geo

So what is a Calipari kind of Coach? If we are talking about recruiting the best players possible to get the best results possible, then EVERY single Basketball Coach in America is trying to be a "Calipari Kind of Coach" The second Crean gets top level players to round out top recruiting classes, he is getting the exact players who will be leaving early for the NBA. Let Calipari be the only Coach in America to recruit the top talent and get the top talent year in and year out, and they will have to add more support to Rupp to hold up the banners.

Calbert Chaney, you are going to give me Calbert Chaney from 1993. A player from 19 years ago is the example that you give. My guess is this is because IU has not had any talent since that made a splash in the NBA. 18 year old kids in 2012 are no where near what they were in 1993. 18 year old kids today don't care about tradition. Go poll the entire IU team and ask each of the under-classmen if they could be a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, how many of you would turn pro at the end of the season? I will save you the trouble, ALL OF THEM WILL GO. Rick Pitino told Jamaal Mashburn that "He could turn pro and pay Jamaal's bills or stay in school and help pay Rick's bills". Tom Crean better keep going after and getting the 1 and doners because if the rest of the Big Ten coach get them and Crean does not, it will be the Big Nine and IU.

[lroberts]

So what is a Calipari kind of Coach? If we are talking about recruiting the best players possible to get the best results possible, then EVERY single Basketball Coach in America is trying to be a "Calipari Kind of Coach" The second Crean gets top level players to round out top recruiting classes, he is getting the exact players who will be leaving early for the NBA. Let Calipari be the only Coach in America to recruit the top talent and get the top talent year in and year out, and they will have to add more support to Rupp to hold up the banners.

Calbert Chaney, you are going to give me Calbert Chaney from 1993. A player from 19 years ago is the example that you give. My guess is this is because IU has not had any talent since that made a splash in the NBA. 18 year old kids in 2012 are no where near what they were in 1993. 18 year old kids today don't care about tradition. Go poll the entire IU team and ask each of the under-classmen if they could be a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, how many of you would turn pro at the end of the season? I will save you the trouble, ALL OF THEM WILL GO. Rick Pitino told Jamaal Mashburn that "He could turn pro and pay Jamaal's bills or stay in school and help pay Rick's bills". Tom Crean better keep going after and getting the 1 and doners because if the rest of the Big Ten coach get them and Crean does not, it will be the Big Nine and IU.

Jared Jeffries and Eric Gordon are good examples. Jeffries stayed two years and Gordon one. Jeffries helped us get the National Title game and Gordon not so much....although he is the better pro. Apparently Zeller could be a lottery pick, and he is staying put. You keep wanting those kids who don't care about tradition, and we'll keep wanting those who do! I'll give you the fact that UK has been better than us lately (due mostly to Sampson's dumba$$), but banners they have not hung...at least not the ones that matter. Uk had five lottery picks(freshman) that started for them two yrs ago and couldn't win it. If they couldn't do it I don't see a team made mostly of one and doners accomplish it. UK is the team to beat this year(which we already did!), but I'm betting they don't get the National Championship....it will be a team with more upperclass leadership.

[GeoFisher]

So what is a Calipari kind of Coach? If we are talking about recruiting the best players possible to get the best results possible, then EVERY single Basketball Coach in America is trying to be a "Calipari Kind of Coach" The second Crean gets top level players to round out top recruiting classes, he is getting the exact players who will be leaving early for the NBA. Let Calipari be the only Coach in America to recruit the top talent and get the top talent year in and year out, and they will have to add more support to Rupp to hold up the banners.

Calbert Chaney, you are going to give me Calbert Chaney from 1993. A player from 19 years ago is the example that you give. My guess is this is because IU has not had any talent since that made a splash in the NBA. 18 year old kids in 2012 are no where near what they were in 1993. 18 year old kids today don't care about tradition. Go poll the entire IU team and ask each of the under-classmen if they could be a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, how many of you would turn pro at the end of the season? I will save you the trouble, ALL OF THEM WILL GO. Rick Pitino told Jamaal Mashburn that "He could turn pro and pay Jamaal's bills or stay in school and help pay Rick's bills". Tom Crean better keep going after and getting the 1 and doners because if the rest of the Big Ten coach get them and Crean does not, it will be the Big Nine and IU.

How many of your superstars come back to the program that gave them their start??

That is why I gave an example in Calbert Cheaney........Played 13 yrs...made his millions.......could do ANYTHING, but comes back to Indiana to help rebuild.

The EXACT type of leader, player, character, that I WANT involved with Indiana Basketball.

Later,

Geo

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

Jared Jeffries and Eric Gordon are good examples. Jeffries stayed two years and Gordon one. Jeffries helped us get the National Title game and Gordon not so much....although he is the better pro. Apparently Zeller could be a lottery pick, and he is staying put. You keep wanting those kids who don't care about tradition, and we'll keep wanting those who do! I'll give you the fact that UK has been better than us lately (due mostly to Sampson's dumba$$), but banners they have not hung...at least not the ones that matter. Uk had five lottery picks(freshman) that started for them two yrs ago and couldn't win it. If they couldn't do it I don't see a team made mostly of one and doners accomplish it. UK is the team to beat this year(which we already did!), but I'm betting they don't get the National Championship....it will be a team with more upperclass leadership.

UK did not have 5 lottery picks much less 5 Freshmen lottery picks or 5 Freshmen starters. Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe were Freshmen starters on the 2010 team along with Patrick Patterson and Darius Miller. Wall, Cousins and Patterson were all Lottery picks, with Patterson being the 14th and last of the lottery picks. Bledsoe went 18th and Daniel Orton went 29th.

This years team is not made up of one and doners. Miller is a Senior, Lamb and Jones are both Sophomores. All 3 have Final Four experience plus Miller has an Elite 8 year as well. These 3 experienced players plus 4 Freshmen make up the best 7 in America. This team is MUCH better than the team of 2010 and MUCH better than the team of 2011. People keep making the mistake of thinking the 2012 version of Kentucky is a repeat of the last 2 years because it is another Number 1 recruiting class. Cousins was a headcase in 2010 and Harrelson performed above his head in 2011 and neither year did they have consistent outside shooting or play defense like this years team. 2012, Miller and Lamb are shooting above 45% from 3-pt range, MKG is the lockdown defender, Teague is getting better each game and the insde force offensively and defensively Davis is in the Top 2 for Player of the Year. You say you will bet Kentucky does not win the National Title and I say I will take Kentucky and give the field.

[parker]

Dont worry, the new IU coach will have Indiana back at full steam. I wanted him at Louisville the whole time. He has one advantage, he knows how to beat Cal and the one and dones.

[lroberts]

UK did not have 5 lottery picks much less 5 Freshmen lottery picks or 5 Freshmen starters. Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe were Freshmen starters on the 2010 team along with Patrick Patterson and Darius Miller. Wall, Cousins and Patterson were all Lottery picks, with Patterson being the 14th and last of the lottery picks. Bledsoe went 18th and Daniel Orton went 29th.

This years team is not made up of one and doners. Miller is a Senior, Lamb and Jones are both Sophomores. All 3 have Final Four experience plus Miller has an Elite 8 year as well. These 3 experienced players plus 4 Freshmen make up the best 7 in America. This team is MUCH better than the team of 2010 and MUCH better than the team of 2011. People keep making the mistake of thinking the 2012 version of Kentucky is a repeat of the last 2 years because it is another Number 1 recruiting class. Cousins was a headcase in 2010 and Harrelson performed above his head in 2011 and neither year did they have consistent outside shooting or play defense like this years team. 2012, Miller and Lamb are shooting above 45% from 3-pt range, MKG is the lockdown defender, Teague is getting better each game and the insde force offensively and defensively Davis is in the Top 2 for Player of the Year. You say you will bet Kentucky does not win the National Title and I say I will take Kentucky and give the field.

Thanks for correcting me.....5 first round picks....HUGE difference...oh, wait not really! I do agree that this UK team is more experienced....but not by much. Jones is as much of a headcase as Orton was. I really like the way MKG plays. We are not going to change each others mind. UK is the frontrunner, I just don't think they'll win it all. We'll have to wait and see....if I end up being wrong I'll eat my share of the crow. I know what your're going to say next....they'll go farther than IU/UL...and you're probably right. I'm just hoping in a about 3 weeks that we were the first team to beat UK this year, but not the last

[MrSplitshot]

Haters gonna hate. That's fine.

You boys that act like there is no tradition anymore at UK have forgotten our biggest tradition of all - We win...and we win a lot. You play the game to win. You win with the best players AND a coach that can make young superstars play defense and play together as a unit. We have both.


Why shouldn't a young man with the talent to play in the pros and make millions playing basketball as a career use a place like Kentucky and a coach like Calipari to help increase his stock? College is where folks go to hone their trade and become more attractive to employers. If you think some of these kids don't also end up loving this program, this university, this state, this fanbase, and this coach in the process, you're crazy.


We've always had something special with UK basketball. Now it has just been adapted to the modern college game and the modern college player through a unique coach. He's going to use everything UK has going for it to bring top talent and win games. Anybody who thinks Indiana would pass on Anthony Davis because he is a one and done jumper to the NBA is fooling themselves...

[Netboy Extraordinaire]

How many of your superstars come back to the program that gave them their start??

That is why I gave an example in Calbert Cheaney........Played 13 yrs...made his millions.......could do ANYTHING, but comes back to Indiana to help rebuild.

The EXACT type of leader, player, character, that I WANT involved with Indiana Basketball.

Later,

Geo

For all this talk about Kentucky having nothing but one and doners, the 2011 Draft had exactly ONE, Brandon Knight, who was drafted around #5 or maybe a pick or two later. Again, lottery pick, guaranteed money plus endorsements, why not? EVERY player on IU would have left IU if they kney they were going to be the #5 pick in the draft and they would not think twice about it. Enes Kanter never played at UK, Josh Harrelson was a Senior and Deandre Liggins was a Junior last year when they were drafted. Lamb and Jones both would have been drafted but they chose to come back to Kentucky. This years team, Davis is a lock to be the #1 pick and he is gone, MKG says he is coming back but I don't blame him for going because he will be a Top 10 Lottery pick, Teague and Wiltjer both need to come back. Again, 2 guaranteed picks in the NBA that any player on Indiana would happily trade places with in a heartbeat.

Coach Calipari can COACH and there are only a handful of Colleges in America that would keep their current coach over Calipari given the opportunity. He has shown the ability to recruit and sign the best players in America then get them all to buy into playing Defense and sharing the scoring opportunities between them. He has recruited exactly one player that almost crossed the Thug line and that was Cousins. But even in Cousins, he kept him under control and helped him be a better person as the year went along. Calipari also took Josh Harrelson from the end of the bench and in 1 season coached him into getting drafted by the New York Knicks and making the New York Knicks roster. Without Calipari, Josh Harrelson would have ended his career as the human victory cigar. Like I said before, there are VERY FEW Colleges in America that would turn down a coach that recruits good enough to get the best recruiting classes year after year. Plus a Coach that can take a player like Harrelson and coach him to become a NBA player. A Coach that takes his first team, a year removed from a NIT birth, to the Elite 8, his second team to the Final Four and his Third team the favorite to win the National Title.

[DJD]

Wrong....Indiana will NEVER have a Calipari type coach. The administration hiring Sampson was enough stupidity to last a billion years. AND for the record, while Sampson was winning there were many, MANY diehards that refused to go to games. AH was empty and I was able to snag SCALPED tickets to the IU DUKE game that year..........

Under a real coach I would have NEVER been able to do that.

There are a few bad apple fans at Indiana, but for the most part, Indiana fans care MORE about integrity with getting the wins then the wins themselves. Show me one who doesn't and I will show you then that do.

Later,

Geo

It's nice for the IU image that you say that but I beg to differ. Money makes the sports world go round. You may be right in your statement because a Calipari type Coach might not want to be in that environment? I agree a coach has to fit to some degree to the program. Who knows?? But I maintain that if you think IU is so different than most colleges, people, sportsfans or most of the country that has a desire to win and see cash and recognition flowing into their program your kidding yourself.

[Chubminnow]

It sure is sad that everything is about money....all the kids doing a couple of years of college before going to the NBA...I don't think it's a good thing. I understand some of them could get hurt in college practice or college games and end up being car salesmen, thus never being able to live the dream....but still...I don't think any player should be able to go pro until he's served his full four years in college.

[psprowler]

Yeah it's good for the kids to go pro in a year and make millions..........

But that ain't what this fan wants to see - and since this is the "me first" generation I demand that my intentions are made top priority!

I converted some of the games of IU's 87 title run from VHS to DVD for my dad. I sure miss 80's basketball. Back in the days when they ran actual offensive sets and tried to work the ball inside. Today it's all dribble, drive, and dish to someone behind the 3 point line. I hate the 3 point shot.

Dang I'm only 35 years old.

[Fishin is life]

How many of your superstars come back to the program that gave them their start??

That is why I gave an example in Calbert Cheaney........Played 13 yrs...made his millions.......could do ANYTHING, but comes back to Indiana to help rebuild.

The EXACT type of leader, player, character, that I WANT involved with Indiana Basketball.

Later,

Geo

Let me ask you one question Geo....I don't know what your chosen profession is, but I can almost guarantee that if you could have gone to college for one year, and made the jump straight into making the money you're making now, you would have...Am I right or am I wrong

This is the option these kids are faced with now, and if you're job is like mine, they're offered several extra zeros at the back end of their paycheck for doing so

You can talk tradition this and tradition that, but when it comes down to it, them coming back to college could wind up costing them their career...I know if I could guarantee that I'm gonna make enough money in a couple years to support my family for the rest of my life, I'm going to jump all over it

And for the record, IU's Zeller is NOT projected to be a lottery pick with guaranteed money, so it would make no sense for him to attempt to make the jump