Tate & Turpin chat: 11 a.m. Monday
Monday, January 26, 2009 - 11:00am
Chat with the hosts of "Saturday Sportsline" and "Monday Morning Quarterback."
Chat with the hosts of "Saturday Sportsline" and "Monday Morning Quarterback."
Good morning again, let's see what the issues are today ... Jim and Loren
Guys,
if one wanted to send a letter to Coach Henson, where would they send it?
Bruce, I think this address is correct. What I have is 2468 El Dorado Court, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88011. I also have an e-mail address which I can look up if you need it ... simply contact me at ltate@news-gazette.com, and I'll supply it. Loren and Jim
Jim, Loren,
any chance that Coach Henson ever gets in the Hall of Fame? Anything people can do to get him support?
Tim, several years ago we began a petition drive to get Coach Henson into the Hall of Fame. We sent several hundred signatures to the Hall of Fame Committee, but nothing happened. I'm not sure there is anything we can do at this point. He certainly deserves it. He has more wins than any coach not in.
He is about 20 shy of 800, and everyone with 800 is in. Jim and Loren
Hi Loren! you picked Tisdale as a quality player long before any of the other pundits. So my question to you is how much upside is there, considering his work ethic and progress in just a season and a half.
Bill, how's the car business???
I am afraid I based my evaluation too much on his offensive skills. I saw early what a good shooter he was. But I didn't know he'd have trouble with defense and rebounding. His work ethic and his determination to build his body are tremendous, and he can improve in those areas, hopefully. Loren
Was that a beat down in Iown City yesterday or what? I was really hoping for a good dual and what I say was just pure dominance from Iowa.
BJ, like you, we were hoping to win three or four matches. But Iowa won nine and outwrestled the Illini by a huge margin. One of the matches we hoped to win was Kennedy, but he was thoroughly dominated. That seemed to set the tone for the rest of the meet. It is no disgrace to lose to the No. 1 team in the nation but we certainly hoped it would be closer. Jim and Loren
It seems like we just don't have the recruiting "Buzz" this year like we have had in the past. No 5 star guys and Drummond decommits but I think losing Larry Johnson as a coach was bigger than any recruiting loss this year. Is the arrow now pointing down on our football future?
Were grades or the inability to enroll early the issue with Drummond?
Tom, grades and the inability to gain acceptance of two classes created a problem for Drummond, who has already graduated from high school.
There was a lot of "buzz" when Martez Wilson was recruited, and what did that matter? He's not nearly the linebacker that marginally-recruited Brit Miller turned out to be, or Leman. We can guess at it, but we won't know for a year or two or three when we see them on the field. Recruiting has very little to do with how the Illini perform in 2009. Hopefully the two jucos can help. Jim and Loren
I'm not sure anyone let alone a local celebrity like Lou would want there address posted in a place for all to see. Most folks would be supportive and grateful to coach of course but I hope he doesn't get any mean spirited letters from a couple wacos. Just food for thought.
Tom, I don't think Lou and Mary would mind anyone writing them in Las Cruces. Lou is always accessible. If he gets a wacko letter or two, it won't be his first. Jim and Loren
Please explain the statistical rationale behind always benching one of your best players with his 2nd foul in the first half, and third foul in the 2nd half. Tisdale has been our best offensive threat lately, and pulling him at Mich. St really hurt our chances. At least if a player fouls out, you have MAXIMIZED his playing time, which was not done with Tisdale.( 17 minutes total?) Don't think he finally returned until the start of the 2nd half and then 3:50 remaining in the 2nd half; game basically over!
Bernard, for Loren and Jim, those are our thoughts exactly. There are instances where players commit two fouls, sit down and then never foul again in the second half. More often, though, the player grows stale on the bench and simply isn't as effective.
The rationale that Lou Henson used was, boys, if you get two fouls, you're going to sit down, so don't foul. He used it as a teaching opportunity.
This is just me, Loren, but I would leave them in. But all coaches tend to remove players with two fouls until halftime, and that's almost as big a mistake as not fouling with a three-point lead and less than 8 seconds remaining. Jim and Loren
Hey Jim and Loren,
It seems basketball is on the rise while football may once again be in a slide. Is it simply coincidence that both programs never seem to be up or down at the same time or is there something else playing into it?
I don't think I can remember a stretch of 2 or 3 years where both squads have been consistently good or bad at the same time.
Wade, there is no real connection.
It may be too early to conclude that the football program is in a slide. It is hard to predict. One thing we know is that Illinois has more starters returning than many, including 9 of 11 on offense. It is probably happenstance that both aren't good at the same time, but then, football hasn't been good very many years in the past, and basketball has been generally good for more than 25 years. Jim and Loren
Not that I have any statistics, but it seems to me that the new three point line is having an effect on the game- not necessarily on shooting percentage, but creating turnovers in that it seems like there are a lot more calls for players stepping on the out of bounds line when they are toward the corner of the court. Players seem to position themselves behind the three point line leaving them less room to accept a pass in order to shoot the three. Seemed like this happened often in the Ohio State game. Just wondering what effects the extended line is having- are there less three pointers taken in a game on the average, are shooting percentages down and is the NCAA and coaches satisfied with the results the change has made?
IlliniPhil, there is less room in the corners, and you may have a point. We hadn't thought of it that way.
While we don't have statistics at hand, we don't think it has had a major impact on 3-point statistics. Many of the shots we see are well beyond the new line, anyway. Illinois usually shoots between 18 and 22 treys, but tried only 9 at Purdue, and 10 Saturday, so it depends on the game. Jim and Loren
Guys! Do you think this year's Football
recruits will be as good as last years?
Al J.
Alfred, probably not but we really don't know. Again, we'll have to wait years to find out. Jim and Loren
Is the recruitment of the two out of state receivers, I believe Stokes from Phily & the other from Fla., have any impact on Kraig Appleton's or the other verbally committed receivers final decision & since Appleton was a no-show this past weekend, do you feel that he will decommit?
Also, do you have a feel on what the reception has been from the committed recruits & current players to the to the two new coaches, K. Gilmore & Schultz?
Gene, it doesn't look good on Appleton because he has been so shaky all along, but it's doubtful either of the other receivers affects his decision.
We'd have to talk to recruits individually and personally to know how they really feel about Gilmore, Gilbert and Schultz, so it's a question we can't answer. The coaches come with great credentials. They seem to be fitting in well. Jim and Loren
We all have to be thrilled with the performance of the bball team, and I know there are arguments for not disrupting chemistry, but will Legion start to see more playing time? I know his D isn't as solid as others, but he could be an X factor to really help the team in the tourney and needs playing time to develop.
PhillyIllini, Weber wants to give Legion more playing time, but his primary concern is winning games. The coach doesn't want somebody in there disturbing the great chemistry that has brought them to 17-3.So Legion will have to be patient. At this point, he looks uncomfortable in the motion offense, but he can, unlike some others, get his own shot. He could break out at any time. But each game is so hard-fought, Weber is not anxious to experiment. Jim and Loren
Any word on how the recruiting visits went this past weekend? Thanks.
Marc, no news is good news. We have 22 and need about three more ... Wingo and a linebacker would be great. Jim and Loren
Any thoughts on how Champaign Central can be ranked 11th (extending the rankings by # of votes)in the AP State 3A HS Boys basketball poll when the are several games below .500. Are the voters not paying atention, mistaking them for Centennial, or what?I think the pollsters are generally doing a good job except for this glaring error.
Dave, I'll bet there are people making mistakes in other parts of the state. Like you, we think this is an error. Central was very good last year. Maybe there is carryover in some fashion. Jim and Loren
Gentlemen, can you give us a sense of where Griffey is as a senior compared to Simpson last year? He seems much more advanced offensively, but will he have a better chance of playing as a freshman next year, or will Tisdale, Keller, Davis, Semrau and Simpson mean he's a likely redshirt?
Pete, Griffey is a vastly more advanced player in terms of ballhandling and outshooting, but he'll be behind the others so he should probably redshirt. Over the long haul, he should be a standout because he is strong and complete. Jim and Loren
Hello good sirs,
Can signing day come ANY EARLIER??? We're all dying here glued to our computers waiting for any shred of news. Any updates for us by any chance? Is Wingo declaring for sure tomorrow at his school as rumored? Is Patrick Nixon on campus and attending class as rumored?
David, I'm told Nixon is enrolled. I'm told Wingo will choose between Illinois and Missouri. But, David, you need to calm down. Jim and Loren
Gentlemen, I've always enjoyed your work very much and to betray my age, I can recall when Larry Steward did Illini games on the "Purity Sundbeam Football Network."
Loren, I'm curious about one thing -- why did you suddenly begin to mention Mike Davis' predecessor as Indiana Men's basketball coach by name in your columns again? In tribute to that era, I'm not going to mention his name here, but I can tell you your Sept. 11, 2000 column, with your comments when he was fired, is an absolute classic -- though just one of your many.
Thanks to both you gentleman for lots enjoyment I've had from your work.
Jeff, too much time has elapsed and there are readers who didn't follow the situation and wouldn't understand. Loren
I just wanted to respond to "tom" from bloomington. He is disregarding the fact that Martez Wilson was just a sophomore and a first-year starter last year. Martez Wilson is playing as well as any underclassman linebacker in the country. If he plays at the same level for the next two years he'll be a disappointment or a "bust". Until then, it's too early to get down on him. I think we're all expecting a big year for him next season.
David, this is Loren, and I'd have to say you're mistaken when you say Wilson is playing as well as any underclassman linebacker in the country, and no one knows that more than our coaches. But you're right, he could get better, and they expect and need him to. LOren
I was wondering if you guys had looked into your crystal balls to figure out what might happen if Illinois has another down year in football...and with the Illinis schedule--it certainly is possible. Anyway, what would be Coach Zook'a status at that point? Let's say the Illini only win between 3 and 5 games. I believe he would be given another year, but that expectations would be huge .....
Jim, if they win 3 to 5 games, there would be more pressure on Zook and Guenther, but I don't think Zook would be in any danger of losing his job. Jim
sorry, i meant i was responding to YOUR response to tom from bloomington.
David, OK. Loren
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this Wrigley field game idea coming out of Evanston.
Jay, Guenther is only interested if it is NU's home game. For me, Loren, it seems like a silly idea when, if you wanted to go to Chicago, you could get a lot more people seated at Soldier Field, but that was a bad experience for the Illini, if you recall. Of course, it is always a bad experience to play at Northwestern. Loren and Jim