Talk with Illinois men's basketball beat writer Paul Klee
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:28 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Good afternoon everyone. A few notes. Klee and Marcus Jackson are heading to Indy for Thursday's games and will have updates throughout the Big Ten tournament via Live Reports, blogs and reports on IlliniHQ. It's our first run through March Madness with HQ, so we're going crazy with it.
I'll be here for about an hour for today's Illinois basketball chat. Thanks for coming by.
Klee
Ja Ku Bat from Savoy, Illinois — 12:29 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
you wouldnt happen to know if the division two championship game will be televised or not?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:30 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
JKB- The Division II championship game is March 28 in Springfield, Mass., and will be televised on CBS. Former Illini guard Jamar Smith and Southern Indiana (21-6) earned an at-large bid and will open as a No. 4 seed against No. 5 Rockhurst (16-9) on Saturday in Findlay, Ohio. The winner gets top-seeded and top-ranked Findlay (30-0).
Klee
Doug from Urbana, IL — 12:31 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
how many Big 10 teams are in the NCAA tournament?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:36 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Doug- I think nine teams are in play for a bid, with Northwestern having the most work to do. The Big Ten tournament - especially Thursday and Friday's games - will be crucial for those on the bubble.
Klee
Andy from Champaign, IL — 12:38 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Klee,
what seed will the Illini get in the NCAA tournament? Guessing a lot will depend of the conference tournaments.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:43 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Andy- I think Illinois can go as high as a 4 seed with a Big Ten tournament title and as low as a 6 with a loss Friday. I think Friday's game - whether it's Iowa or Michigan - is crucial in terms of where Illinois is shipped for the NCAA tournament. The West is weak, and somehow the committee will have to fill out 16 spots in Portland and Boise, largely with teams from east of the Mississippi. Today's bracket on CNNSI.com has six of the eight teams in Boise from the eastern half of our basketball-loving country. Illinois doesn't want to be in Boise.
Klee
Trent from Urbana, IL — 12:43 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Klee,
with Frazier graduating, will Jordan have a bigger role next season as the defensive stopper? He also seems to be shooting the ball better this season
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:45 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Trent- Yes, I think Jeff can continue his move into the rotation next season. Illinois is losing three senior guards - I'm counting Calvin Brock as a guard - and gaining three freshman guards. He's ahead of those three freshman in terms of knowing the system. He has shot the ball well in practice, too, though that's not his strength, and Illinois doesn't need it to be his strength. I think Jeff Jordan's development has been one of the team's highlights over the past one-plus seasons. No one expected much from him, and he's in the rotation, albeit in a situation role.
Klee
Quinton from Bloomington, The state that is IL — 12:46 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
paul, what kind of seed do you see illinois getting? I've got them pegged between a 4 if we can win the BTT and as low as an 8 if we lose friday. Does that sound right?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:46 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Quinton- If Illinois is handed an 8 seed, that means 28 teams have a better resume. It's possible, but unlikely.
Klee
Rich from Mt. Village, Alaska — 12:47 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
I was told by an Illini game usher that Calvin Brock is a very good student in engineering. If this is true, I think this is very commendable. He seems like a very nice young man.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:48 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Rich- First, you have Illini game ushers in Alaska? That's a good-sized commute. Calvin is not an engineering student. He's working on a second undergrad degree, this one in community health.
Klee
Seth from Deerfield, IL — 12:48 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul
Your silence has not gone unnoticed. I am wondering why you have chosen to remain silent on the BT awards. How do you feel about Chester getting snubbed?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:53 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Seth- I'm rarely silent. Go to HQ, I've written extensively about the All-Big Ten awards. Wrote something yesterday, in fact, on Bruce Weber, Chester Frazier and Verdell Jones.
I didn't think the coaches handled Chester Frazier very well. Thought he should have been an honorable mention pick, at the least. He was an honorable mention pick with the media, and I put him on the second team. So the next time a Big Ten coach complains about Top 25 ballots and USBWA awards, we might have to bring this up.
Verdell should have been on the coaches' All-Freshman team. I'm told that Illinois voted for him, though there's no way to tell without seeing the ballot.
Klee
Dick Carsten from Mahomet, Illinois — 12:53 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
It was no mistake not picking Weber as. Look at the loses Minn.-didn't score even 40 Pts.- and Wisc. they hadn't won
a game and they blew the Illini out of field house and Penn. State again the Illini scored the lest amount of pts.
ever. And in the last game with Penn.St. evryone knew who was picked by the Penn.St. coachs to take the last shot and Weber didn't have the team go into a full court pass and make him giveup the ball. Weber shouldn't coach in the final 5 minutes of a game,Wayne should takeover.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 12:55 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Dick- That was very hard to read.
We had Bruce Weber as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Tom Izzo was a great choice. He won the league by four games, no small feat.
Klee
Ryan from Lombard, Il — 12:55 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
What are your thoughts on Memphis being ranked so high. The have losses to G'Town, X and the Cuse, wins against the Gonzaga and Tennessee. Granted they have to play who is on the schedule(C-USA), but dont you think their ranking is way too high? Wouldnt they be better served to join a better conference like the Big 10? They would be competitive in Football and Basketball.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:00 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Ryan- I've heard this for three years now, and Memphis has a pair of Elite Eights and a Final Four in that span. You put too much value in conference affiliation. I put the same value in watching teams, and I've watched Memphis plenty. They're very good. I think they're capable of another Elite Eight run, or a second-round exit.
I remember hearing the same thing last season about Memphis, before it played Michigan State in the Sweet 16. The Big Ten would rather pretend that game didn't happen.
On a related note, Memphis is one of five programs selected to wear Nike's latest and greatest line of uniforms in the NCAA tournament (Michigan State, Oregon, Duke, Gonzaga).
Klee
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:04 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Note: Just got off the phone with UI strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Price. With a 10-foot running start, Mike Davis touched 12-foot-5 in testing, and he's added about 6 inches to his vertical leap since arriving at Illinois.
"He
Tom from Winnetka, IL — 01:05 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul,
Do you think both Mullins and Turner will leave OSU after this season for the NBA?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:06 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Tom- I think B.J. Mullens is as good as gone, though it's still flabbergasting to me why he doesn't play ahead of Dallas Lauderdale. A number of Big Ten coaches would tell you the same. The people I've talked to that are close to Evan Turner believe he will return as a junior, and he would be a leading candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year.
Klee
Andy Wood from Tuscola, Illinois — 01:07 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul, Is it just me or does it seem everytime another player drives thru the lane our help defense is there and looks like they could take a charge so easy but instead the turn and go with the player and then foul him anyway. Why not take a chance and take a charge, I mean if your going to foul them anyway, heck maybe you'll get the charge. 50/50 chance. Seems like they have done this time and time again all year. Thanks. Go Illini
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:10 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Andy- Some players are better than others at taking charges. The Illinois coaches use the charge drill in practice from time to time, where a player stands in the lane and gets bowled over by a ballhandler. They used that drill before the Penn State game.
Remember, a charge is worth two points on the Matto chart. Head manager Matt Scaletta told me Illinois beat Penn State 41-30 on the Matto chart in the regular season finale.
Klee
Doc from Whitewater, WI — 01:11 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
What is the long term site plan for the Big Ten Tournament? How far out has the venue been committed and where and are you aware of any other sites under consideration beyond that point?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:12 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Doc- The Big Ten tournament will remain at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis through 2012, at the least.
Klee
Zack from Urbana, Illinois — 01:13 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul- Illinois has been blessed in the last ten years (last year excluded) with a guy who comes through in the clutch. Frankie, Cook, Deron, Dee...they've all been the guy who you can count on to make a play down the stretch. Who are the coaches looking at to be that guy. Demetri has seemed unwilling at times, and it doesn't feel like Mike&Mike are ready yet either. Is it someone from next year's class?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:15 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Zack- Bruce Weber would like Demetri McCamey to be the go-to guy. He's the best candidate for the remainder of his career at Illinois, including this weekend at Conseco, where he flourished as an All-Tournament pick as a freshman.
Klee
ea from Glenview, IL — 01:16 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Illinois is supposedly now looking at Marshall senior Darius Smith for the 2009 recruiting class.
I thought that Illinois was full for the 2009 class. Is the staff expecting to have room for Smith?
Thanks for the chats!
ea
T. Bell from Chicago, IL — 01:16 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul -
Is there any substance to all the Darius Smith chatter of late? Does it perhaps imply unexpected changes to the current roster, or any of the 09s coming in the fall?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:20 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
T. Bell and EA- Yes, Illinois has an interest in Darius Smith, though currently there isn't a scholarship available for another 2009 recruit. Even so, they want to be in the picture with him if a scholarship were to open and he is still uncommitted.
There's no reason to shut the door on yourself, so I'm sure they will continue to track him. If I had to wager a guess right now, I'd say Marquette or Arizona State. But nobody knows.
Klee
SD from The Burbs, IL — 01:21 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Before this season I believe you picked Indiana to win 6 games and you were given some grief by IU fans (I think you mentioned it on the radio show a while back). You look pretty smart now. Nicely done. Do I remember this correctly?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:22 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
SD- Yes, you remember correctly. Thanks.
Klee
M Madness from Chicago, IL — 01:25 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Do you buy into the theory that it's better to be a 6 seed than a 4/5 seed, so you avoid the #1 seed in the third round? I think you have to get to the third round first and we would have a much better chance against the other 4/5 seeds than a 3 seed.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:26 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
M- I'm with you. Get the highest possible seed, and run with it. Illinois set a preseason goal of reaching the Sweet 16. In theory, a No. 4 seed would place them as the favorite to reach the Sweet 16 from their pod.
Klee
Jacob of Justin from Paramus, NJ — 01:28 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Just because he is the only player we don't have a good grasp on, and you VIP, how does Stan Simpson look. Is there anyone we are familiar with that you could compare him too?
And do you think he could possibly fill a rebounding role next year?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:32 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Jacob- If you're in New Jersey, I would imagine you're hoping to see the Illini in Philly for the first and second rounds.
Stan Simpson is "a man of few words," as assistant coach Wayne McClain likes to say. As for a comparison? That's a tough one. His best skill is shot-blocking. (He had a surprising blocked shot in practice about three weeks ago, though Bruce Weber called him goal-tending.) He has a ways to go before cracking the frontcourt rotation next season. Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Dominique Keller all return. I don't see him in the rotation next season. Of course, an injury here, an illness there changes things.
Klee
Eugene from Charlottesville , VA — 01:33 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul-
Love your unbiased approach to covering the Illini. Thanks. Along those lines, as an Illinois alum, I am often disappointed by the way Illini supporters conduct themselves. This behavior includes the treatment of Chester Frasier, for example, and the constant complaining about disrespect in rankings, and bellyaching about officials who don't see things through orange colored glasses. Obviously all fan bases as large as Illinois (please never use the phrase Illini Nation), but I'm wondering, am I simply more sensitive to this behavior from my own school's supporters, or do a lot of Illini fans need to grow up? How does Illinois' fan base compare to others? Who are the most unreasonable/reasonable fans in the Big Ten or around the country? Thanks.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:40 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Eugene- Good observations. I, too, am bothered by the amount of open rooting among media. There's far too much of it, especially in the Midwest.
As for Illinois fans, I love them. They are tremendous. They deserve year-round coverage and maintain a keen interest in Illinois basketball in the offseason, and that's one reason we developed IlliniHQ.com, because there's a market for it.
Klee
Ed Hightower from Alton, IL — 01:43 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul,
It has always seemed to me that Coach Weber has never gotten the same amount of respect from referees that a lot of other coaches get. I'm not talking about getting more calls, I'm just talking about the way he is treated by the officials. From my perspective it doesn't seem that he gets the in game attention that a lot of the coaches get where an official will come over and respectfully discuss the game with the coach. Ed Hightower spent an entire timeout in the MSU huddle in the second half of the game two weeks ago, for crying out loud. I've never seen Bruce get that kind of love.
It seems like when an official does come over he (the official) has a confrontational attitude. I remember in the National Championship game they wouldn't even come over and talk to Bruce. Am I the only one who sees this?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:43 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Ed-
Ed, Eugene. Eugene, Ed.
Klee
classof87 from Golden, Colorado — 01:43 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Paul,
I'm sure you've been asked this a million times, but forgive me because I'm new to your chat - Are you related to the great artist, Paul Klee? He's one of my favorites.
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:45 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Classof87- My bank account and artistic abilities say no, there's no relation.
But I love your town. Now please fix our Nuggets before this collapse results in a first-round matchup with the Lakers.
Klee
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:46 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Classof87- UI assistant Jerrance Howard attended the Pacers-Jazz game in Indianapolis last night, to see good friend Deron Williams.
Klee
ubbenholdthekraut from Chicago, Illinois — 01:47 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
How do you think we will fare in the Big Ten Tourney this weekend? How will that affect our seed for the NCAA Tournament?
I thought we played a pretty good game overall against PSU. It wouldn't surprise me to see us playing on Sunday, which could turn in to a 4 or a 5 seed for March Madness.
Additionally- Who do you see getting more PT next year between Legion, Richardson and Paul? I know it's too early to say, but give me your gut feeling based on your knowledge of all 3......
Finally- How is the development of Stan Simpson coming along. What type of player can he become for us, both next year and down the road as an upperclassman?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:50 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Ubben- I don't see Illinois' seed moving dramatically based on the Big Ten tournament. But we don't know where it is now, so that's hard to say. The NCAA selection committee filled out an early bracket today in Indianapolis, though. But I see Illinois anywhere from a 4 seed - maybe a 3, if they win the Big Ten tournament - to a 6 seed.
If there's one thing that could hurt Illinois in terms of seeding, they played a weak nonconference schedule. In their defense, they expected some of those opponents to be better than they were. But the nonconference schedule still rates in the 200s.
On another note, one of the team's battle cries before the season was how so much focus was on the incoming recruits, not the current team. I think that's served as a source of motivation, at least in theory.
Bruce Weber said this yesterday:
"I want to win right now. Since the beginning of the year, everybody has said,
Ja Ku Bat from Savoy, Illinois — 01:51 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Yes Paul, did u see the replay for Jereme Richmonds' technical foul on the missed dunk, they say he hung on the rim but i didnt even count a tenth of a second on that, your opinion please if you have seen it, thank you
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:54 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
JKB- Yes, we wrote about Jereme Richmond's reinstatement on HQ, on the blogs. (Sun-Times reporter Michael O'Brien did his usual fine job of covering the story.)
It appears to be basketball justice, though I question whether another player - a non-Illinois recruit, without a high profile - would have been afforded the same treatment.
Should be an entertaining game tonight, and I look forward to watching Jereme Richmond against Zion-Benton. Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw deserves credit for how he's handled the Bulldogs this season. I remember talking to Ron Ashlaw during an Illinois practice in September, and he wasn't sure which direction this season would go. It's gone in a positive direction.
Klee
Jimmy Jackson from Dallas, Texas — 01:54 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
I have read on some sites that some insiders have illinois pegged as a sleeper in the NCAA tourney. Do you think Illinois has the horse power to make a elite eight run?
Paul Klee (moderator) — 01:58 PM on Wed, 03/11/2009
Jimmy- I think Illinois is going to be a difficult team to upset, because of it rarely has a bad night on the defensive end, and because it's balanced scoring will make it tough to scout. So, I think the Illini are good for at least two games in the NCAA tournament. After that is anyone's guess.
On another note, Cleveland State didn't help the Big Ten's chances of getting seven or eight bids, but Siena did. I also find it interesting how a low-scoring Cleveland State-Butler final (57-54) can be viewed as an exceptional postseason game, while the same score in the Big Ten will be seen in a negative light.
Good afternoon everyone. A few notes. Klee and Marcus Jackson are heading to Indy for Thursday's games and will have updates throughout the Big Ten tournament via Live Reports, blogs and reports on IlliniHQ. It's our first run through March Madness with HQ, so we're going crazy with it.
I'll be here for about an hour for today's Illinois basketball chat. Thanks for coming by.
Klee
you wouldnt happen to know if the division two championship game will be televised or not?
JKB- The Division II championship game is March 28 in Springfield, Mass., and will be televised on CBS. Former Illini guard Jamar Smith and Southern Indiana (21-6) earned an at-large bid and will open as a No. 4 seed against No. 5 Rockhurst (16-9) on Saturday in Findlay, Ohio. The winner gets top-seeded and top-ranked Findlay (30-0).
Klee
how many Big 10 teams are in the NCAA tournament?
Doug- I think nine teams are in play for a bid, with Northwestern having the most work to do. The Big Ten tournament - especially Thursday and Friday's games - will be crucial for those on the bubble.
Klee
Klee,
what seed will the Illini get in the NCAA tournament? Guessing a lot will depend of the conference tournaments.
Andy- I think Illinois can go as high as a 4 seed with a Big Ten tournament title and as low as a 6 with a loss Friday. I think Friday's game - whether it's Iowa or Michigan - is crucial in terms of where Illinois is shipped for the NCAA tournament. The West is weak, and somehow the committee will have to fill out 16 spots in Portland and Boise, largely with teams from east of the Mississippi. Today's bracket on CNNSI.com has six of the eight teams in Boise from the eastern half of our basketball-loving country. Illinois doesn't want to be in Boise.
Klee
Klee,
with Frazier graduating, will Jordan have a bigger role next season as the defensive stopper? He also seems to be shooting the ball better this season
Trent- Yes, I think Jeff can continue his move into the rotation next season. Illinois is losing three senior guards - I'm counting Calvin Brock as a guard - and gaining three freshman guards. He's ahead of those three freshman in terms of knowing the system. He has shot the ball well in practice, too, though that's not his strength, and Illinois doesn't need it to be his strength. I think Jeff Jordan's development has been one of the team's highlights over the past one-plus seasons. No one expected much from him, and he's in the rotation, albeit in a situation role.
Klee
paul, what kind of seed do you see illinois getting? I've got them pegged between a 4 if we can win the BTT and as low as an 8 if we lose friday. Does that sound right?
Quinton- If Illinois is handed an 8 seed, that means 28 teams have a better resume. It's possible, but unlikely.
Klee
I was told by an Illini game usher that Calvin Brock is a very good student in engineering. If this is true, I think this is very commendable. He seems like a very nice young man.
Rich- First, you have Illini game ushers in Alaska? That's a good-sized commute. Calvin is not an engineering student. He's working on a second undergrad degree, this one in community health.
Klee
Paul
Your silence has not gone unnoticed. I am wondering why you have chosen to remain silent on the BT awards. How do you feel about Chester getting snubbed?
Seth- I'm rarely silent. Go to HQ, I've written extensively about the All-Big Ten awards. Wrote something yesterday, in fact, on Bruce Weber, Chester Frazier and Verdell Jones.
I didn't think the coaches handled Chester Frazier very well. Thought he should have been an honorable mention pick, at the least. He was an honorable mention pick with the media, and I put him on the second team. So the next time a Big Ten coach complains about Top 25 ballots and USBWA awards, we might have to bring this up.
Verdell should have been on the coaches' All-Freshman team. I'm told that Illinois voted for him, though there's no way to tell without seeing the ballot.
Klee
It was no mistake not picking Weber as. Look at the loses Minn.-didn't score even 40 Pts.- and Wisc. they hadn't won
a game and they blew the Illini out of field house and Penn. State again the Illini scored the lest amount of pts.
ever. And in the last game with Penn.St. evryone knew who was picked by the Penn.St. coachs to take the last shot and Weber didn't have the team go into a full court pass and make him giveup the ball. Weber shouldn't coach in the final 5 minutes of a game,Wayne should takeover.
Dick- That was very hard to read.
We had Bruce Weber as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Tom Izzo was a great choice. He won the league by four games, no small feat.
Klee
What are your thoughts on Memphis being ranked so high. The have losses to G'Town, X and the Cuse, wins against the Gonzaga and Tennessee. Granted they have to play who is on the schedule(C-USA), but dont you think their ranking is way too high? Wouldnt they be better served to join a better conference like the Big 10? They would be competitive in Football and Basketball.
Ryan- I've heard this for three years now, and Memphis has a pair of Elite Eights and a Final Four in that span. You put too much value in conference affiliation. I put the same value in watching teams, and I've watched Memphis plenty. They're very good. I think they're capable of another Elite Eight run, or a second-round exit.
I remember hearing the same thing last season about Memphis, before it played Michigan State in the Sweet 16. The Big Ten would rather pretend that game didn't happen.
On a related note, Memphis is one of five programs selected to wear Nike's latest and greatest line of uniforms in the NCAA tournament (Michigan State, Oregon, Duke, Gonzaga).
Klee
Note: Just got off the phone with UI strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Price. With a 10-foot running start, Mike Davis touched 12-foot-5 in testing, and he's added about 6 inches to his vertical leap since arriving at Illinois.
"He
Paul,
Do you think both Mullins and Turner will leave OSU after this season for the NBA?
Tom- I think B.J. Mullens is as good as gone, though it's still flabbergasting to me why he doesn't play ahead of Dallas Lauderdale. A number of Big Ten coaches would tell you the same. The people I've talked to that are close to Evan Turner believe he will return as a junior, and he would be a leading candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year.
Klee
Paul, Is it just me or does it seem everytime another player drives thru the lane our help defense is there and looks like they could take a charge so easy but instead the turn and go with the player and then foul him anyway. Why not take a chance and take a charge, I mean if your going to foul them anyway, heck maybe you'll get the charge. 50/50 chance. Seems like they have done this time and time again all year. Thanks. Go Illini
Andy- Some players are better than others at taking charges. The Illinois coaches use the charge drill in practice from time to time, where a player stands in the lane and gets bowled over by a ballhandler. They used that drill before the Penn State game.
Remember, a charge is worth two points on the Matto chart. Head manager Matt Scaletta told me Illinois beat Penn State 41-30 on the Matto chart in the regular season finale.
Klee
What is the long term site plan for the Big Ten Tournament? How far out has the venue been committed and where and are you aware of any other sites under consideration beyond that point?
Doc- The Big Ten tournament will remain at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis through 2012, at the least.
Klee
Paul- Illinois has been blessed in the last ten years (last year excluded) with a guy who comes through in the clutch. Frankie, Cook, Deron, Dee...they've all been the guy who you can count on to make a play down the stretch. Who are the coaches looking at to be that guy. Demetri has seemed unwilling at times, and it doesn't feel like Mike&Mike are ready yet either. Is it someone from next year's class?
Zack- Bruce Weber would like Demetri McCamey to be the go-to guy. He's the best candidate for the remainder of his career at Illinois, including this weekend at Conseco, where he flourished as an All-Tournament pick as a freshman.
Klee
Illinois is supposedly now looking at Marshall senior Darius Smith for the 2009 recruiting class.
I thought that Illinois was full for the 2009 class. Is the staff expecting to have room for Smith?
Thanks for the chats!
ea
Paul -
Is there any substance to all the Darius Smith chatter of late? Does it perhaps imply unexpected changes to the current roster, or any of the 09s coming in the fall?
T. Bell and EA- Yes, Illinois has an interest in Darius Smith, though currently there isn't a scholarship available for another 2009 recruit. Even so, they want to be in the picture with him if a scholarship were to open and he is still uncommitted.
There's no reason to shut the door on yourself, so I'm sure they will continue to track him. If I had to wager a guess right now, I'd say Marquette or Arizona State. But nobody knows.
Klee
Before this season I believe you picked Indiana to win 6 games and you were given some grief by IU fans (I think you mentioned it on the radio show a while back). You look pretty smart now. Nicely done. Do I remember this correctly?
SD- Yes, you remember correctly. Thanks.
Klee
Do you buy into the theory that it's better to be a 6 seed than a 4/5 seed, so you avoid the #1 seed in the third round? I think you have to get to the third round first and we would have a much better chance against the other 4/5 seeds than a 3 seed.
M- I'm with you. Get the highest possible seed, and run with it. Illinois set a preseason goal of reaching the Sweet 16. In theory, a No. 4 seed would place them as the favorite to reach the Sweet 16 from their pod.
Klee
Just because he is the only player we don't have a good grasp on, and you VIP, how does Stan Simpson look. Is there anyone we are familiar with that you could compare him too?
And do you think he could possibly fill a rebounding role next year?
Jacob- If you're in New Jersey, I would imagine you're hoping to see the Illini in Philly for the first and second rounds.
Stan Simpson is "a man of few words," as assistant coach Wayne McClain likes to say. As for a comparison? That's a tough one. His best skill is shot-blocking. (He had a surprising blocked shot in practice about three weeks ago, though Bruce Weber called him goal-tending.) He has a ways to go before cracking the frontcourt rotation next season. Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Dominique Keller all return. I don't see him in the rotation next season. Of course, an injury here, an illness there changes things.
Klee
Paul-
Love your unbiased approach to covering the Illini. Thanks. Along those lines, as an Illinois alum, I am often disappointed by the way Illini supporters conduct themselves. This behavior includes the treatment of Chester Frasier, for example, and the constant complaining about disrespect in rankings, and bellyaching about officials who don't see things through orange colored glasses. Obviously all fan bases as large as Illinois (please never use the phrase Illini Nation), but I'm wondering, am I simply more sensitive to this behavior from my own school's supporters, or do a lot of Illini fans need to grow up? How does Illinois' fan base compare to others? Who are the most unreasonable/reasonable fans in the Big Ten or around the country? Thanks.
Eugene- Good observations. I, too, am bothered by the amount of open rooting among media. There's far too much of it, especially in the Midwest.
As for Illinois fans, I love them. They are tremendous. They deserve year-round coverage and maintain a keen interest in Illinois basketball in the offseason, and that's one reason we developed IlliniHQ.com, because there's a market for it.
Klee
Paul,
It has always seemed to me that Coach Weber has never gotten the same amount of respect from referees that a lot of other coaches get. I'm not talking about getting more calls, I'm just talking about the way he is treated by the officials. From my perspective it doesn't seem that he gets the in game attention that a lot of the coaches get where an official will come over and respectfully discuss the game with the coach. Ed Hightower spent an entire timeout in the MSU huddle in the second half of the game two weeks ago, for crying out loud. I've never seen Bruce get that kind of love.
It seems like when an official does come over he (the official) has a confrontational attitude. I remember in the National Championship game they wouldn't even come over and talk to Bruce. Am I the only one who sees this?
Ed-
Ed, Eugene. Eugene, Ed.
Klee
Paul,
I'm sure you've been asked this a million times, but forgive me because I'm new to your chat - Are you related to the great artist, Paul Klee? He's one of my favorites.
Classof87- My bank account and artistic abilities say no, there's no relation.
But I love your town. Now please fix our Nuggets before this collapse results in a first-round matchup with the Lakers.
Klee
Classof87- UI assistant Jerrance Howard attended the Pacers-Jazz game in Indianapolis last night, to see good friend Deron Williams.
Klee
How do you think we will fare in the Big Ten Tourney this weekend? How will that affect our seed for the NCAA Tournament?
I thought we played a pretty good game overall against PSU. It wouldn't surprise me to see us playing on Sunday, which could turn in to a 4 or a 5 seed for March Madness.
Additionally- Who do you see getting more PT next year between Legion, Richardson and Paul? I know it's too early to say, but give me your gut feeling based on your knowledge of all 3......
Finally- How is the development of Stan Simpson coming along. What type of player can he become for us, both next year and down the road as an upperclassman?
Ubben- I don't see Illinois' seed moving dramatically based on the Big Ten tournament. But we don't know where it is now, so that's hard to say. The NCAA selection committee filled out an early bracket today in Indianapolis, though. But I see Illinois anywhere from a 4 seed - maybe a 3, if they win the Big Ten tournament - to a 6 seed.
If there's one thing that could hurt Illinois in terms of seeding, they played a weak nonconference schedule. In their defense, they expected some of those opponents to be better than they were. But the nonconference schedule still rates in the 200s.
On another note, one of the team's battle cries before the season was how so much focus was on the incoming recruits, not the current team. I think that's served as a source of motivation, at least in theory.
Bruce Weber said this yesterday:
"I want to win right now. Since the beginning of the year, everybody has said,
Yes Paul, did u see the replay for Jereme Richmonds' technical foul on the missed dunk, they say he hung on the rim but i didnt even count a tenth of a second on that, your opinion please if you have seen it, thank you
JKB- Yes, we wrote about Jereme Richmond's reinstatement on HQ, on the blogs. (Sun-Times reporter Michael O'Brien did his usual fine job of covering the story.)
It appears to be basketball justice, though I question whether another player - a non-Illinois recruit, without a high profile - would have been afforded the same treatment.
Should be an entertaining game tonight, and I look forward to watching Jereme Richmond against Zion-Benton. Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw deserves credit for how he's handled the Bulldogs this season. I remember talking to Ron Ashlaw during an Illinois practice in September, and he wasn't sure which direction this season would go. It's gone in a positive direction.
Klee
I have read on some sites that some insiders have illinois pegged as a sleeper in the NCAA tourney. Do you think Illinois has the horse power to make a elite eight run?
Jimmy- I think Illinois is going to be a difficult team to upset, because of it rarely has a bad night on the defensive end, and because it's balanced scoring will make it tough to scout. So, I think the Illini are good for at least two games in the NCAA tournament. After that is anyone's guess.
On another note, Cleveland State didn't help the Big Ten's chances of getting seven or eight bids, but Siena did. I also find it interesting how a low-scoring Cleveland State-Butler final (57-54) can be viewed as an exceptional postseason game, while the same score in the Big Ten will be seen in a negative light.
Klee