Thursday, April 19, 2007
In the News...
Several items of interest today:
1) Lindsey Willhite of the Daily Herald provides a nice update on the current state of Illini basketball (and don't worry--for once it is postive news)
2) I cannot wait to see Arrelious “Rejus” Benn play this fall. He is going to be a great football player for the Illini and every article like this makes me more and more excited to see him suit up this fall.
3) Coach Weber explains why the Illini recruited and signed junior college player Rodney Alexander.
4) How long does IU Coach Kelvin Sampson's NCAA mandated recruiting phone call ban last? Not sure if it has already ended or when it concludes (if he is even obeying the ban), but this latest NCAA decision to eliminate text messages to recruits can't be good for him if the ban is ongoing. It is, however, in this writer's opinion good for the recruits who get bombarded with text messages from coaches with no limitations. UPDATE: I just found this commentary by Greg Couch of the Chicago Sun-Times. He answers my question about Sampson plus had comments from Illini Football Coach Ron Zook (who is a text messaging master) on why he disagrees with the decision.
5) Question for our readers. Do any of you know if the new Big Ten Network will be carried on satellite by the Dish Network? It appears to me that at the present time it is not looking likely as Dish Network is not mentioned in this article or this article from today's papers. Since I have Dish Network, this would be a very disappointing develop and I would have to assess whether I should make a change. If anyone else out there is in the same boat, I encourage you to call Dish Network at 1-888-284-7116 and ask them to add the Big Ten Network to their channel line-up.
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1) Lindsey Willhite of the Daily Herald provides a nice update on the current state of Illini basketball (and don't worry--for once it is postive news)
2) I cannot wait to see Arrelious “Rejus” Benn play this fall. He is going to be a great football player for the Illini and every article like this makes me more and more excited to see him suit up this fall.
3) Coach Weber explains why the Illini recruited and signed junior college player Rodney Alexander.
4) How long does IU Coach Kelvin Sampson's NCAA mandated recruiting phone call ban last? Not sure if it has already ended or when it concludes (if he is even obeying the ban), but this latest NCAA decision to eliminate text messages to recruits can't be good for him if the ban is ongoing. It is, however, in this writer's opinion good for the recruits who get bombarded with text messages from coaches with no limitations. UPDATE: I just found this commentary by Greg Couch of the Chicago Sun-Times. He answers my question about Sampson plus had comments from Illini Football Coach Ron Zook (who is a text messaging master) on why he disagrees with the decision.
5) Question for our readers. Do any of you know if the new Big Ten Network will be carried on satellite by the Dish Network? It appears to me that at the present time it is not looking likely as Dish Network is not mentioned in this article or this article from today's papers. Since I have Dish Network, this would be a very disappointing develop and I would have to assess whether I should make a change. If anyone else out there is in the same boat, I encourage you to call Dish Network at 1-888-284-7116 and ask them to add the Big Ten Network to their channel line-up.
Labels: Arrelious “Rejus” Benn, Big Ten Network, Illini basketball, Illini football, Rodney Alexander, Text Messaging
# posted by Good Hope Orange : 2:01 PM
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Basketball News
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.
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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
# posted by Good Hope Orange : 2:13 PM
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Rodney Alexander Completes the Class
The News-Gazette's Paul Klee lifts the curtain on the Illini's final basketball scholarship for next year. Let's hope this kid can shoot like they say he can. I'm all for bringing in a JUCO transfer who has a litle more experience under his belt and to balance out the scholarship load. Hopefully Alexander can learn Bruce's offense quickly and make an immediate contribution. We definately need guys who can score.
Having not seen Alexander play and thus not knowing how much he's progressed since high school, it's good to see that major programs like Oklahoma, Tennessee and Indiana all were interested in his services. I think Klee even mentions Kentucky in his blog entry. Good signs.
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Having not seen Alexander play and thus not knowing how much he's progressed since high school, it's good to see that major programs like Oklahoma, Tennessee and Indiana all were interested in his services. I think Klee even mentions Kentucky in his blog entry. Good signs.
Labels: Rodney Alexander
# posted by Chief : 11:32 AM
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Four Eyes in the Receiving Corps
John Supinie has the skinny today on what the Illinois coaching staff is doing to try and eliminate dropped passes this year, including ordering eye exams for the receiving corps. It paid off as one player learned that he was blind in one eye. Not kidding:
Walk-on wide receiver Will Judson learned he was nearly blind in one eye. Players were scolded if they didn't wear their contacts to pass-catching workouts.
Also, he's got a blurb about Q-Wat. Let's hope no one steals him before Monday:
SIGNING DAY: Shooting guard Quinton Watkins of Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif., isn't expected to sign a letter of intent with Illinois on Wednesday, the first the day of the spring signing period. But Watkins is still considered a solid verbal who will sign Monday in a ceremony at Dominguez, which is out of school this week on Easter break.
And finally, what will ever become of the final basketball scholarship:
With its last available scholarship, Illinois remains a finalist for Rodney Alexander, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound sophomore forward from Redlands Community College in Oklahoma. Alexander made an official visit to Illinois in March. The native of Benton Harbor, Mich., will visit Tennessee this week after canceling a trip to Indiana.
Senior guard Tyler Abbott of Phoenix, who was granted his release from New Mexico following a coaching change, may visit Illinois after earlier reports he was leaning toward Washington State.
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Walk-on wide receiver Will Judson learned he was nearly blind in one eye. Players were scolded if they didn't wear their contacts to pass-catching workouts.
Also, he's got a blurb about Q-Wat. Let's hope no one steals him before Monday:
SIGNING DAY: Shooting guard Quinton Watkins of Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif., isn't expected to sign a letter of intent with Illinois on Wednesday, the first the day of the spring signing period. But Watkins is still considered a solid verbal who will sign Monday in a ceremony at Dominguez, which is out of school this week on Easter break.
And finally, what will ever become of the final basketball scholarship:
With its last available scholarship, Illinois remains a finalist for Rodney Alexander, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound sophomore forward from Redlands Community College in Oklahoma. Alexander made an official visit to Illinois in March. The native of Benton Harbor, Mich., will visit Tennessee this week after canceling a trip to Indiana.
Senior guard Tyler Abbott of Phoenix, who was granted his release from New Mexico following a coaching change, may visit Illinois after earlier reports he was leaning toward Washington State.
Labels: Quinton Watkins, Rodney Alexander, Tyler Abbott, Will Judson
# posted by Chief : 12:16 PM
