Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:01 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
lets get started....Big game with Minnesota coming up Saturday
cam from mahomet, illinois — 11:03 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
do you think mahomet will the REGIONAL
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:05 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Cam,
Sorry...I dont know much about Mahomet's chances in the regionals. That might be a better question for Fred Kroner of the News-Gazette.
I do know that my high school alma mater.... Unity High School ....is playing in the Regional Final on Friday night at the Rocket Center in Tolono.
Chris Roberts from Mahomet, iL. — 11:05 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Hello Brian,
I just wanted your thoughts on the
match-ups with the Gophers. They
will give the Illini all they want
and maybe even more if they have get
open looks from long distance. Thanks
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:10 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Chris,
Just look at the game they gave Purdue last night and that gives you an idea of how tough they can be.
Blake Hoffarber is the best 3-point shooter in the Big Ten...Lawrence Westbrook is a terrific scorer and they have two really big guys in the middle....in Ralph Sampson III at 6-11 and 240....and Colton Iverson at 6-10 and 260 pounds. They will also play solid defense.
The Minnesota game is much like the Michigan game was in that the win is possible...but the opponent is dangerous. The Illini need to take care of business. If they win Saturday....in my opinion...they are in the NCAA Tournament and next week's games will help or hurt their NCAA seeding.
Ken May from Troy, Illinois — 11:12 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
I watched Iowa and Penn State both lose to OSU (espeically Iowa) besause they did not employ the hack-a-shaq on OSU' big man - Iowa was up 5 with 1:30 left and allowd turner to beat them. Any idea why they would use that and think that if we are in that position we should say if he can hit free throws at the end of the game then they beat us but Turner is not going o?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:16 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Ken,
Good question Ken...although I am not sure if you are referring to fouling Evan Turner...or fouling Dallas Lauderdale.
I will assume you mean fouling Lauderdale...who is a 42 percent freethrow shooter (Turner is at 72 percent)
Not a bad idea to foul Lauderdale late in games....but I cant remember if Thad Matta leaves him in late in games or not. You might remember that better than I do.
Ken from Champaign, IL — 11:17 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Brian,
what will you all be covering for the Big 10 Network this spring?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:18 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Ken,
I am scheduled to do some baseball on the Big Ten Network this spring. I dont know yet how many games I will be doing....or where the games will be.
I got to do play by play for the first two days of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament last year. Hopefully I will get to do that again this year as well.
Laurie Jamieson from Bellevue, WA — 11:19 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Most Illini fans have been frustrated seeing Tisdale getting hammered in the paint but it seems one of his strongest assets is his outside shot. He's really been contributing more from outside in the last several games - is this more a change in approach/philosphy from BW OR more a function of the teams we happened to be playing?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:22 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Laurie,
I think it depends on the situation and whether or not opposing teams have their centers chase Tisdale out to the top of the key or corner....or let him go.
It also depends on the defense the opponent plays.
Northwestern used a 1-3-1 zone with a 5-7 inch guard on the back end of the zone. Tisdale poured in 31 points.
You are right...Mike is a great outside shooter. I am happy he has been getting more chances from 15-18 feet. His "baby-hook" shot isnt bad either. Just think how good he would be if he had red-shirted his freshman year.
Roy from Normal, IL — 11:24 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Does Weber want to get more playing time for Paul and Griffey but just doesn't pull the trigger? I understand matchups on the floor and game flow, but at some point, be it foul trouble or performance, depth and experience will be sorely needed.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:27 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Roy,
Coach Weber has told me several times that he wants to get Tyler Griffey more minutes in games. As you remember....Tyler got some starts in the place of Mike Davis when Mike was struggling.
The coaching staff really likes Tyler Griffey. He is very coachable and is a very hard worker.
Brandon Paul continues to improve..but right now he and Bill Cole are alternating at the wing spot and I think that rotation works pretty well right now.
Brandon is a great athlete and it is going to be fun to watch him develop over the next 4 years.
wr78438 from Paducah, Ky — 11:28 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, how would you rate Kramer from Purdue and his patented flopperooski antics ?
he is a fouling machine and never gets called for it...
BTW, you call the Illini games great...
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:30 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
wr,
Thanks for your kind comments on the broadcasts!
Kramer is a great defensive player...but he does do some flopping. But hey...if it helps your team and they call the charging foul....why not?
Kramer is one of those guys that you dont like when he is on the other team...but you love him if he is your teammate.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:31 AM on Thu, 02/25/2010
Thanks guys...I have to run to a lunch appointment in downtown Champaign.
Talk to you Saturday from the Assembly Hall.
lets get started....Big game with Minnesota coming up Saturday
do you think mahomet will the REGIONAL
Cam,
Sorry...I dont know much about Mahomet's chances in the regionals. That might be a better question for Fred Kroner of the News-Gazette.
I do know that my high school alma mater.... Unity High School ....is playing in the Regional Final on Friday night at the Rocket Center in Tolono.
Hello Brian,
I just wanted your thoughts on the
match-ups with the Gophers. They
will give the Illini all they want
and maybe even more if they have get
open looks from long distance. Thanks
Chris,
Just look at the game they gave Purdue last night and that gives you an idea of how tough they can be.
Blake Hoffarber is the best 3-point shooter in the Big Ten...Lawrence Westbrook is a terrific scorer and they have two really big guys in the middle....in Ralph Sampson III at 6-11 and 240....and Colton Iverson at 6-10 and 260 pounds. They will also play solid defense.
The Minnesota game is much like the Michigan game was in that the win is possible...but the opponent is dangerous. The Illini need to take care of business. If they win Saturday....in my opinion...they are in the NCAA Tournament and next week's games will help or hurt their NCAA seeding.
I watched Iowa and Penn State both lose to OSU (espeically Iowa) besause they did not employ the hack-a-shaq on OSU' big man - Iowa was up 5 with 1:30 left and allowd turner to beat them. Any idea why they would use that and think that if we are in that position we should say if he can hit free throws at the end of the game then they beat us but Turner is not going o?
Ken,
Good question Ken...although I am not sure if you are referring to fouling Evan Turner...or fouling Dallas Lauderdale.
I will assume you mean fouling Lauderdale...who is a 42 percent freethrow shooter (Turner is at 72 percent)
Not a bad idea to foul Lauderdale late in games....but I cant remember if Thad Matta leaves him in late in games or not. You might remember that better than I do.
Brian,
what will you all be covering for the Big 10 Network this spring?
Ken,
I am scheduled to do some baseball on the Big Ten Network this spring. I dont know yet how many games I will be doing....or where the games will be.
I got to do play by play for the first two days of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament last year. Hopefully I will get to do that again this year as well.
Most Illini fans have been frustrated seeing Tisdale getting hammered in the paint but it seems one of his strongest assets is his outside shot. He's really been contributing more from outside in the last several games - is this more a change in approach/philosphy from BW OR more a function of the teams we happened to be playing?
Laurie,
I think it depends on the situation and whether or not opposing teams have their centers chase Tisdale out to the top of the key or corner....or let him go.
It also depends on the defense the opponent plays.
Northwestern used a 1-3-1 zone with a 5-7 inch guard on the back end of the zone. Tisdale poured in 31 points.
You are right...Mike is a great outside shooter. I am happy he has been getting more chances from 15-18 feet. His "baby-hook" shot isnt bad either. Just think how good he would be if he had red-shirted his freshman year.
Does Weber want to get more playing time for Paul and Griffey but just doesn't pull the trigger? I understand matchups on the floor and game flow, but at some point, be it foul trouble or performance, depth and experience will be sorely needed.
Roy,
Coach Weber has told me several times that he wants to get Tyler Griffey more minutes in games. As you remember....Tyler got some starts in the place of Mike Davis when Mike was struggling.
The coaching staff really likes Tyler Griffey. He is very coachable and is a very hard worker.
Brandon Paul continues to improve..but right now he and Bill Cole are alternating at the wing spot and I think that rotation works pretty well right now.
Brandon is a great athlete and it is going to be fun to watch him develop over the next 4 years.
In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, how would you rate Kramer from Purdue and his patented flopperooski antics ?
he is a fouling machine and never gets called for it...
BTW, you call the Illini games great...
wr,
Thanks for your kind comments on the broadcasts!
Kramer is a great defensive player...but he does do some flopping. But hey...if it helps your team and they call the charging foul....why not?
Kramer is one of those guys that you dont like when he is on the other team...but you love him if he is your teammate.
Thanks guys...I have to run to a lunch appointment in downtown Champaign.
Talk to you Saturday from the Assembly Hall.