Law Lover from Champ-izzle, Illinizzle — 12:59 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Mr. Bleill,
How did your story taste Monday morning? I hope you came through with your promise in your in-game story that you would eat Monday's paper if either team hit 60. Can we see some picture?
You know who from Champaign, IL — 12:59 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Tony,
How did Monday's newspaper taste? Stinks having to eat your words, doesn't it? It's time to get on the bandwagon!
Not only did I eat Monday's entire edition, it was so tasty that I also downed the Sunday edition as well. I highly recommend. The Entertainment section, in particularly, was mighty tasty. I'd recommend it with a side of marinara sauce.
Smith/simpson FAN! from Hope City for LADIES BB, OF MIND DEP — 01:01 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
BUENOS DIAS SENOR Bleill: I love women's basbetball versus The Men's.They are fundementally better and can shoot free throws better which is needed at crunch time.My question is with Simpson and Smith graduating, do you think we will stay at the bottom of the Big Ten relying on Laws recruits.Simpson and Smith were the best duo we had for 4 years. Classic Ladies and great team players. They were fun to watch. Good luck to them in their future endeavers.Law has lost recruits and is turning out to be like Gretz with no respect from her players. Help out here.Thanks for your time.Go ILLINI!
S/S Fan,
Losing their two best players, it is hard to imagine the Illini taking a step forward next season. Talk about an inexperienced team. It will be a transition year, no doubt. And given the landscape of the Big Ten, I can't see how Illinois finishes higher than eighth or ninth. In the last three seasons, Illinois has finished ninth, ninth and (presumably) 10th. And those were with veteran teams.
Brian from Urbana, IL — 01:03 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Tony,
obviously Jenna is one of the best players in the programs history. Where would she rank in your mind? Top 2 with Bergerren?
Where do you see her playing next year? WNBA? Overseas?
Brian,
I can't put Jenna on Berggren's level, just because of the team success Berggren had here. But once you get beyond her, Jenna has to be in the discussion for the No. 2 spot, along with Lynnette Robinson, Allison Curtin and Jonelle Polk. I'd have a hard time separating those three.
Dave from Champaign, IL — 01:06 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
you have mentioned a few times that 2 sisters from the Chicago area I believe it is have been here visiting. I cant think of there names right now.
But what is there interest in the Illini? Always good when they are visiting atleast.
Dave,
You're referring to Morgan and Taylor Tuck at Bolingbrook. I haven't spoken to them since last year, but at that time they told me they were interested in Illinois. They've been here for summer camp and for several games in the last couple years, so they must have significant interest. Getting Morgan Tuck, however, could be very, very hard. She is considered one of the top five players nationally in her class, so you'll have to beat all of the national powerhouses to get her. Folks like UConn and Tennessee and Baylor and Duke and everyone else will be doing the same.
Troy from Urbana, IL — 01:08 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Tony,
do you see the team being better next season? Obviously this years freshman class is good, and hopefully next years will be good as well.
But they lose 2 very good players in Smith and Simpson.
Troy,
Honestly, I'm not trying to be a pessimist here, but when you look at it realistically, I just can't envision this team being very good, mainly for the reasons I mentioned above. There's certainly nothing wrong with the freshmen. Amber Moore's return will be huge, Karisma Penn has already shown she'll be a terrific player in the Big Ten, Adrienne GodBold is raw but athletically talented, and Kersten Magrum has the best basketball IQ and a good midrange game. But they're all young, and there is still a major question as to how their abilities will translate on the court. Again, there is no debate that this program has drastically -- DRASTICALLY -- underachieved in two of the last three seasons. (I'll give the 2008-09 team a pass because it had to play an absurdly difficult nonconference schedule.)
Andrew from Urbana, IL — 01:12 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Hey Tony...
If Illinois takes care of the Cats where will their seed be in the BTT? Do you think they have a run in them like a few years back? I went to my first womens game sunday when they played purdue and had a blast. They were pretty fun to watch. i know that hasnt been the case all year but I'm hooke! Go ILLINI
Andrew,
I haven't run through all of the scenarios and tiebreakers yet, but it looks to me that if Illinois wins Sunday, it will likely be in the 8 vs. 9 game in Indianapolis (about 4 p.m. Thursday). If the Illini lose, they'll probably be the No. 10 seed and face the No. 7 seed at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Determining who'll they'll play is awfully hard because of the jumble in the standings, and there are a couple of games Sunday that are too close to predict with confidence.
Eric from Tuscola, IL — 01:15 PM on Fri, 02/26/2010
Tony
ON TV last night they mentioned a girl from Springfield who was playing in Champaign, and that she might be interested in Illinois. Can y ou fill me in?
Eric,
I didn't see it, but I'm guessing they might have been referring to Zahna Medley of Springfield, a sophomore guard who is among the state's top players in her class. I saw her play as a freshman and was very impressed. She's not big, but she's quick and looked like a future Big Ten player to me.
I do think Illinois is capable of making a long run, but only if it winds up in the bracket opposite of Ohio State. That means the Illini need to avoid that 8 vs. 9 game because the winner gets Ohio State, and if the Illini beat OSU, I'll eat an entire year's worth of News-Gazette's. No joke.
Other than that, however, Illinois would be in a position to win some games. No other Big Ten team, except perhaps a hot MIchigan State squad, is very imposing. But the way Illinois has played since early January, I'm not expecting a run to the title game.
Looking forward to the Big Ten tournament. Always the highlight of the year, a tremendously fun event. Hope to see you there or, if not, keep an eye here for our coverage.
Welcome back. Let's get to the questions.
Mr. Bleill,
How did your story taste Monday morning? I hope you came through with your promise in your in-game story that you would eat Monday's paper if either team hit 60. Can we see some picture?
Tony,
How did Monday's newspaper taste? Stinks having to eat your words, doesn't it? It's time to get on the bandwagon!
Not only did I eat Monday's entire edition, it was so tasty that I also downed the Sunday edition as well. I highly recommend. The Entertainment section, in particularly, was mighty tasty. I'd recommend it with a side of marinara sauce.
BUENOS DIAS SENOR Bleill: I love women's basbetball versus The Men's.They are fundementally better and can shoot free throws better which is needed at crunch time.My question is with Simpson and Smith graduating, do you think we will stay at the bottom of the Big Ten relying on Laws recruits.Simpson and Smith were the best duo we had for 4 years. Classic Ladies and great team players. They were fun to watch. Good luck to them in their future endeavers.Law has lost recruits and is turning out to be like Gretz with no respect from her players. Help out here.Thanks for your time.Go ILLINI!
S/S Fan,
Losing their two best players, it is hard to imagine the Illini taking a step forward next season. Talk about an inexperienced team. It will be a transition year, no doubt. And given the landscape of the Big Ten, I can't see how Illinois finishes higher than eighth or ninth. In the last three seasons, Illinois has finished ninth, ninth and (presumably) 10th. And those were with veteran teams.
Tony,
obviously Jenna is one of the best players in the programs history. Where would she rank in your mind? Top 2 with Bergerren?
Where do you see her playing next year? WNBA? Overseas?
Brian,
I can't put Jenna on Berggren's level, just because of the team success Berggren had here. But once you get beyond her, Jenna has to be in the discussion for the No. 2 spot, along with Lynnette Robinson, Allison Curtin and Jonelle Polk. I'd have a hard time separating those three.
you have mentioned a few times that 2 sisters from the Chicago area I believe it is have been here visiting. I cant think of there names right now.
But what is there interest in the Illini? Always good when they are visiting atleast.
Dave,
You're referring to Morgan and Taylor Tuck at Bolingbrook. I haven't spoken to them since last year, but at that time they told me they were interested in Illinois. They've been here for summer camp and for several games in the last couple years, so they must have significant interest. Getting Morgan Tuck, however, could be very, very hard. She is considered one of the top five players nationally in her class, so you'll have to beat all of the national powerhouses to get her. Folks like UConn and Tennessee and Baylor and Duke and everyone else will be doing the same.
Tony,
do you see the team being better next season? Obviously this years freshman class is good, and hopefully next years will be good as well.
But they lose 2 very good players in Smith and Simpson.
Troy,
Honestly, I'm not trying to be a pessimist here, but when you look at it realistically, I just can't envision this team being very good, mainly for the reasons I mentioned above. There's certainly nothing wrong with the freshmen. Amber Moore's return will be huge, Karisma Penn has already shown she'll be a terrific player in the Big Ten, Adrienne GodBold is raw but athletically talented, and Kersten Magrum has the best basketball IQ and a good midrange game. But they're all young, and there is still a major question as to how their abilities will translate on the court. Again, there is no debate that this program has drastically -- DRASTICALLY -- underachieved in two of the last three seasons. (I'll give the 2008-09 team a pass because it had to play an absurdly difficult nonconference schedule.)
Hey Tony...
If Illinois takes care of the Cats where will their seed be in the BTT? Do you think they have a run in them like a few years back? I went to my first womens game sunday when they played purdue and had a blast. They were pretty fun to watch. i know that hasnt been the case all year but I'm hooke! Go ILLINI
Andrew,
I haven't run through all of the scenarios and tiebreakers yet, but it looks to me that if Illinois wins Sunday, it will likely be in the 8 vs. 9 game in Indianapolis (about 4 p.m. Thursday). If the Illini lose, they'll probably be the No. 10 seed and face the No. 7 seed at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Determining who'll they'll play is awfully hard because of the jumble in the standings, and there are a couple of games Sunday that are too close to predict with confidence.
Tony
ON TV last night they mentioned a girl from Springfield who was playing in Champaign, and that she might be interested in Illinois. Can y ou fill me in?
Eric,
I didn't see it, but I'm guessing they might have been referring to Zahna Medley of Springfield, a sophomore guard who is among the state's top players in her class. I saw her play as a freshman and was very impressed. She's not big, but she's quick and looked like a future Big Ten player to me.
As for the second part of Andrew's question ...
I do think Illinois is capable of making a long run, but only if it winds up in the bracket opposite of Ohio State. That means the Illini need to avoid that 8 vs. 9 game because the winner gets Ohio State, and if the Illini beat OSU, I'll eat an entire year's worth of News-Gazette's. No joke.
Other than that, however, Illinois would be in a position to win some games. No other Big Ten team, except perhaps a hot MIchigan State squad, is very imposing. But the way Illinois has played since early January, I'm not expecting a run to the title game.
Looking forward to the Big Ten tournament. Always the highlight of the year, a tremendously fun event. Hope to see you there or, if not, keep an eye here for our coverage.
Thanks for all the questions, and have a great weekend.