Illinitalk

Dear Rick,

Normally I enjoy reading your columns in the Chicago Tribune. However, every once in a while you decide to write something that is just completely, off the charts ridiculous. That would be the case today in your column entitled:

Illinois fans can consider Bob Knight
Orange you glad that former nemesis Bob Knight might be available to coach in Illini colors? Or is that just a nightmare?

Now I know that at least part of your job is to write things that get people talking in order to sell more newspapers. And I know that I may be helping you out by highlighting this article in Illinitalk and drawing more attention to it.

For that Rick, you are welcome. But come on, are you kidding me? While you seem to realize what you are writing, you end by saying "You'd be silly if you didn't consider it." I take that to mean you are at least partially serious.

I have to tell you, of all the things that crossed my mind when Bob Knight resigned as coach of Texas Tech, consideration of him as a possible coach of the Illini never crossed my mind. It will/would not happen for so many reasons I could not list them all here.

However, please allow me to explain the most important reason why it will not happen. Unlike some Illini fans, I strongly disagree with those who are calling for Bruce Weber's job right now. Like you, I believe he is a kind, decent man and a very good basketball coach. And like others, Illinitalk has been critical of some of his recruiting failures in the past. As we all know this has been a very difficult season for Coach Weber and the Illini.

But for those with a long term view, it appears to me that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Next year, Alex Legion and Jamar Smith will presumably be able to play while promising freshman Demetri McCamey and Mike Tinsdale will have a season under their belts. In 2009, Coach Weber has verbal commitments from four very good to great recruits. In 2010, he already has verbal commitments from two more very good to great recruits.

After the Gordon situtation, Illini fans won't take anything for granted until the commitment letters are signed but the future looks very promising right now for the Illini. Making a coaching change now would jeopardize all of these verbal commitments and potentially put the Illini back to square one. If that coaching change was to Bob Knight, I guarantee that not all of those recruits are coming to Illinois. In addition, Knight is not a long term solution for anyone, including Illinois.

Enough said. Please Rick, no more columns about Bob Knight as a possible coach for the Illini. Thanks for your consideration of this request.

Best regards,

Good Hope Orange

Labels: Bob Knight, Bruce Weber, Coaching, Illini basketball, Recruiting, Rick Morrissey

Three quick basketball items that may be of interest to our readers today:

1) In addition to signing junior college forward Rodney Alexander to a letter of intent yesterday, Illinois had additional news in the way of current power forward C.J. Jackson. C.J. is going to suit up for football practice and could make a switch to that sport (which he starred in during high school) or become a two sport athlete. This decision could potentially free up a 3rd scholarship for the 2008 Class.

With the signing of Alexander, Illinois only has two scholarships for the 2008 class at this time. Although it would be nice to have three to work with, as an Illini fan I am pleased with how the 2007 class has ended up. While there were disappointments along the way, Illinois still ended up with what I think will turn out to be five good to very good players with a nice blend of guards and big men. It should be fun to watch all of the young guys blend with our returning players and grow as a team.

2) The Big Ten is going back to an 18 game league schedule. This schedule change means there willl likely be two fewer non-conference games but that each team will play all but two of the league teams twice. You can argue whether this is good or bad but I would rather watch two Big Ten teams go at it than a Big Ten team pound a cupcake. While teams won't be able to pad their victory total anymore, I think this is a good thing in the long run for the conference and for teams trying to make the NCAA tournament.

3) The schedule change won't effect the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, however, and Illinois will play at Maryland this coming season. Let's hope that the Illini can pull off a victory and that the Big Ten Conference can finally win the overall challenge for a change.

Labels: Big Ten/ACC Challenge, C.J. Jackson, Illini basketball, Recruiting, Rodney Alexander, Schedule

A few interesting tidbits from today's papers:

--Skip Myslenski of the Tribune has comments from Brian Randle about his transition from role player to being a go-to guy for the Illini. The article also talks about other Big Ten players who are also making that transition.

--Teddy Greenstein, also of the Tribune, reports that Illinois may be lining up a quarterback recruit by the name of Phil Haig to replace Clint Brewster, who decided to sign with Minnesota at the last minute when his dad became their new head coach. In an interesting twist, Haig was originally planning to commit to Minnesota.

--Greenstein also reports on some "trash talking" between the Big Ten Commisioner (open letter) and the SEC Commissioner (response).


--Finally, today's headline of the day is (drumroll please):

Maryland adds to Duke's Misery (Blue Devils suffer fourth straight defeat)

Sadly, this headline was in the print addition of the Daily Herald and not their online edition, which titled it "Unfamliar Territory."

--The quote of the day also comes from this article:

"After the final buzzer, the Maryland fans didn’t rush the court — an indication, perhaps, of Duke’s fall from elite status."

After the game, Coach K had a few things to say, including the following comments on how to right his struggling team:

“I’ll do whatever I can,” he said Sunday, moments after a 72-60 loss to host Maryland. “I’m not going to punt, let’s put it that way. You have to figure it out. The one thing you can’t do is feel sorry for yourself.”

Maybe he could do another American Express commercial about winning to make himself feel better.

Labels: Big Ten, Brian Randle, Coach K, Duke, Illini football, Quarterback, Recruiting

This is a BIG DAY for Illinois athletics. For the football team, signing day has finally arrived. Coach Zook and his staff have assembled a great recruiting class that ranks in the Top 20 in the country. When is the last time we saw an article with this headline for football recruiting? Answer: I don't recall ever seeing one like it but for those of you who are older than me, it has been more than a decade and probably even longer than that.

The hard part of recruiting for this class is done and all the coaches can do now is wait the formal, signed national letters of intent to come across the fax machine today. While there is always the risk of surprises on signing day, let's hope the only surprise came earlier this week when quarterback Clint Brewster changed his mind and committed to Minnesota (where his father is the new coach).

I can't wait to see these guys on the field over the next four years. Check the blog again later today for some additional thoughts on football recruiting from Chief.

In addition to the excitement of signing day for the football team, Illinois has an important basketball game tonight at Northwestern. Like just about every game for the remainder of the season, this is a must win game for the Illini. Here are a couple of previews about the game from the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, respectively. Also, here is one from the Daily Herald that contains information at the end about the Illini's continuing battle with injuries.

Couple of miscellaneous side notes:

--This is what often frustrates me about the NBA. I support John Paxson's decision wholeheartedly on this one. I can only hope that the comments Thomas made in the second article are more reflective of him than the first article, which was written by Sam Smith.

--Interesting perspective on the Bears and Rex Grossman. The thing that stood out to me in this article: The Bears had enough money under the salary cap that they could have signed Drew Brees last off-season!!! I know hindsight is 20/20 but come on, that should have been a no-brainer. They would likely be getting fitted for the Super Bowl rings if they had made that move. To win a championship, you have to go all in (as they would say in poker). I hope Jerry Angelo considers that and takes it as a lesson learned.

Labels: Chicago Bears, Illini football, John Paxson, Northwestern, Recruiting, Signing Day