Illinois votes new captains in the middle of the season

[BradleyBrave]

I can't think of a better way to tear a team apart than more or less directly pointing the fingers at the original captains, and saying that they aren't doing their job. I'm sorry, but I can't say I agree with this idea at all.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/illinois-will-vote-new-team-captains.html

[Nacho]

I would normally agree but since it was a players only meeting I would think that that it would bring them closer together, even if the original captains are a little upset- at this point, it doesn't seem like it can hurt too much... they are probably on the outside looking in towards the NCAA tourney... their February schedule is as brutal as it gets...

[MacabreMob]

... they are probably on the outside looking in towards the NCAA tourney...

Not "probably" - they ARE on the outside looking in.

There's a lot of basketball to be played and they are gonna need to win the games they are supposed to win (like at Penn St and/or home vs Indiana) and win a couple they aren't supposed to win (like at Wisky, Purdue and/or OSU) as well as win some tough ones at home.

Then again... they could easily win the B10 Tourney as some of the upper seeds can and might "tank" it knowing they are already "in". Couple that with a team like UIUC playing "on a mission" to get into the NCAA... they just might pull it off.

[tornado]

this is silly..
the players are playing selfishly and not producing, so why not let them pick their own captains...
it's like letting the inmates run the asylum....

[BradleyBrave]

this is silly..
the players are playing selfishly and not producing, so why not let them pick their own captains...
it's like letting the inmates run the asylum....

Yup. Let a team that's already coming apart at the seams start point the fingers at each other. Brilliant Bruce. Brilliant.

[Future Walk-On]

McCamey carries the team. I vote for him.

[BUfan14]

The Illini just don't play well for whole games. If they shot like they do the last 2 minutes when they are down of games, they would be amazing. It is amazing how they can't hit anything for long stretches and then when the game is out of reach they start drilling everything from downtown. No matter who you're a fan of, you have to feel good for Northwestern though.

They don't really have a guy that screams captain to me like we have with Sammy and Dodie. I think thats the role Meacham and Frazier filled last year, and maybe why despite being more talented aren't as good this year. They need a leader to step up, McCamey should take the leadership role on himself, but we will see I guess.

Just in case anyone is wondering when I say all this, I don't root against the Illini and hope they win, but I am not really a fan of them as my only team is Bradley. And when BU plays them I always hope we crush them because some of their fans are arrogant and ignorant towards us, and they are an instate rival that we try to measure up against.

[SFP]

Yup. Let a team that's already coming apart at the seams start point the fingers at each other. Brilliant Bruce. Brilliant.

Just maybe Bruce has tried it all and probably wants the guys to take some responsibility for their actions and not wait until the coaches have to scream at them. The voted captains will now be able to personally take it upon themselves to try and get the players on task. It may back fire but what did he have to lose at this point. I bet you he got the attention of the team. The status quo was not working so why stick to it. That takes a bit of cojones in my book to admit your mistakes. I'd like to see more people do that to be honest.

[bert notorius]

IL's problems have very little to do with who the team captains are and everything to do with players not having the intelligence to run a motion offense.

[bert notorius]

New captain......Bill Cole.