LOI Announcement from ISU

[tornado]

They have announced what will be their only signing for the 2007 early signing period, Alex Rubin.

http://goredbirds.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110806aaa.html

Both Rivals and scout list Rubin as Two Star, and he is a point guard.

[DannyCooksey]

Alex verballed nearly a year ago. He has really improved his game over the last year and I know McDermott when he was at UNI really wanted this kid.

He'll have a year under Boo and Dom to get acclimated and then it's his ballgame in '08. Congrats to Alex.

[Big Mike]

Who else is signing with the redbirds this LOI period?

[DannyCooksey]

Who else is signing with the Redbirds this LOI period?

No one else will sign this Fall. There will be 2 open 'ships available for the Spring Signing Period.

[collegehoopjunkie]

You can never be too deep at the PG position as ISU learned the hard way last season.
One more combo guard or PG might be desired as well as a really big guy or two in the near future.
I think they are set at SG, SF with the guys they just got.

[DannyCooksey]

You can never be too deep at the PG position as ISU learned the hard way last season.
One more combo guard or PG might be desired as well as a really big guy or two in the near future.

I completely agree and I think that will be the emphasis with Dilligard and Carlwell completing their eligibility this season.

[MacabreMob]

Dillegard is a TON - that big guy is gonna be hard for Bradley to stop from dominating.

Good luck Redbirds.

I yearn for the day Bradley and ISU are atop the conference battling it out.

[tornado]

Here's one LOI announcement about a Bloomington kid but it shows a little lack of respect
in that they don't even get the kid's name right.

Brandon Dunson signed his LOI to Tennessee-Chattanooga, but their own website reports:
"CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--Brandon Dyson, a 6-3 guard from Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, Ill.
has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball ...
Dyson averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds as an integral part of a
talented Central Catholic team which went 25-5 last season and advanced to the sectional finals.

Central Catholic head coach Jeff Wulbrun indicated that Dyson???‚¬?„?s comfort with the
Chattanooga coaching staff played a major role "

http://www.gomocs.com/article.asp?articleid=82017

[DannyCooksey]

Central Catholic head coach Jeff Wulbrun

I didn't realize Coach Wulbrun was still in town. He was the lead recruiter on Stallings 1st staff at ISU. He did a fine job on that end of things.

I yearn for the day Bradley and ISU are atop the conference battling it out

One of my closest friends is a BU grad ('96) and we say the same thing all the time. I think if ISU starts to live up to their end of the bargain, us fans could see this in the next couple years perhaps.

At least to see our games mean more than just the rivalry every year. I'd like to see our games have major Valley implications very soon. Would be great for us fans of the schools and great for the Valley as well.

[tornado]

I hope Marcus Arnold is happy with the decision he made.

He could have stayed in the Valley, been the star for the Redbirds, likely would have been All Conference, and who knows?

Instead he is deep on the playing chart, still getting very few minutes...barely more than proposed-redshirt candidate Richard Semrau. The only scholarship player last year to play fewer minutes than Marcus, Calvin Brock, is NOW starting at FORWARD ahead of Marcus.

In his 14 minutes last night in the 19 point blowout, he only scored 2 pts, and even Semrau got 7, Brock 7, Carter 17, with most of those guys playing way more minutes than Marcus.

In their other scrimmage, a 24 pt. blowout of Lewis, Marcus logged only 9 minutes, picking up 3 lightning fast fouls in the first 2.5 minutes he was in, limiting his playing time to 9 minutes overall.

Had Patrick O'Bryant made the same bonehead move and transferred to a BCS school he'd have blown his Sweet Sixteen opportunity and NBA career.

[BradleyBrave]

I hope Marcus Arnold is happy with the decision he made.

He could have stayed in the Valley, been the star for the Redbirds, likely would have been All Conference, and who knows?

Instead he is deep on the playing chart, still getting very few minutes...barely more than proposed-redshirt candidate Richard Semrau. The only scholarship player last year to play fewer minutes than Marcus, Calvin Brock, is NOW starting at FORWARD ahead of Marcus.

In his 14 minutes last night in the 19 point blowout, he only scored 2 pts, and even Semrau got 7, Brock 7, Carter 17, with most of those guys playing way more minutes than Marcus.

In their other scrimmage, a 24 pt. blowout of Lewis, Marcus logged only 9 minutes, picking up 3 lightning fast fouls in the first 2.5 minutes he was in, limiting his playing time to 9 minutes overall.

Had Patrick O'Bryant made the same bonehead move and transferred to a BCS school he'd have blown his Sweet Sixteen opportunity and NBA career.

You also have to question Bruce Weber's judgement by wasting a scholarship on Arnold based on one career performance at the Assembly Hall.

[tornado]

At least Weber landed Arnold instead of losing him to an out of state school!

[DannyCooksey]

You also have to question Bruce Weber's judgement by wasting a scholarship on Arnold based on one career performance at the Assembly Hall.

That's exactly what almost all Redbird fans said. In that game at AH, Arnold had like 23 points and 10 boards. Literally everything he threw at the basket went in.

I also think in addition to that performance, Weber was still bitter toward ISU and Tom Richardson for winning the recruiting battle against Weber and SIU for Arnold's services out of Morgan Park hs. For whatever reason, Weber has a grudge against ISU (Or so it seems). He saw this as a way to even the score.

Arnold is actually able to pick up 2 quick fouls in warm-ups. He simply cannot guard anyone without fouling. I am not surprised he has been a dud in an Illinois uniform. He was the same way at ISU and it drove the coaches nuts.