UIUC vs IU Rd 2

[IlliBraves]

Well he certainly stunk it up in the first half, and I don't think it's a stretch to say that the crowd got to him, but he had near 20 points after halftime, and I think it's clear after looking at last night's game, that free throws are pretty important, just ask Shaun Pruitt.

This ones going to sting for quite some time. All we needed was one free throw, just one, and apparently that was too much to ask. I hate to call out players on my own team, but its getting to the point where Illinois should be an NCAA contender instead of a 10-14 team all due to FT shooting. I don't think EJ is anywhere close to being ready for the NBA, I actually hope he stays because I want another shot at him. Next year with Jamar, forget about it!!!

[J Money]

I don't think EJ is anywhere close to being ready for the NBA, I actually hope he stays because I want another shot at him. Next year with Jamar, forget about it!!!

Haha!! You have got to be kidding me! You hope he stays? So do I and I'm a huge Indiana fan. And speaking of complete scumbags--Jamar? He is the biggest embarassment to Illini basketball in the last two seasons and he hasn't even seen the court! Jamar Smith....give me a break.

[tornado]

well I don't think it was thuggery coach....it wasn't that big of a deal

crowd behavior throwing things?....now that is bad..no need for it

they were just throwing their beads....don't they do that in New Orleans for Mardi Gras?
I thought it was a well respected tradition?

[lake Camelot]

What a game, Eric Gordon steps up big in the second half, what a player! Real lack of class by the fans and Chester Frasier ... and another loss for the Illini!

You watched a different game than me. I'm not much of a Ill basketball fan. So I think I'm pretty impartial. Although I do dislike Sampson. Anyway, I think Gordon played a horrible game. i think it will cost him some money in the draft because it causes me to question how well he can handle pressure. The throwing by the fans was too much if that took place, but i enjoyed the frazier move.

[Da Coach]

Well I think since it was shown all throughout the game it had more impact on the whole situation. If they hadn't shown it several times I don't know if it would even be discussed. I've seen players shake and lean their shoulder in and Frazier hit him harder than normal but a body shot? I don't know. So it looks like you are referring to Weber when you say assigned..and I think that is pretty presumptuos really. Kids do alot on their own. I'm not embarrased by the team as a whole tonite.
I'm embarrased by Pruitt and Randle mainly and by the fans throwing stuff at the Gordon's but that's it really.
I mean they are winning against the 13 ranked team in the country and EG BANKS in the long three..that's the way the season has gone for the Illini...they have been in most every game and are just not good enough to pull them out...and they know it

For the record, when I said "assigned", I meant the players themselves probably made that decision, and whoever was called out at the same time as Frazier would be the one to send the message IMO. (since I doubt the players know what order the opposing players will be called).

Here is ESPN's Pat Forde's article. He takes a couple shots at the Illini and their fans. And he is not as harsh as a lot of other people nationally.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3236182&sportCat=ncb

[BUBraves06]

You watched a different game than me. I'm not much of a Ill basketball fan. So I think I'm pretty impartial. Although I do dislike Sampson. Anyway, I think Gordon played a horrible game. i think it will cost him some money in the draft because it causes me to question how well he can handle pressure. The throwing by the fans was too much if that took place, but i enjoyed the frazier move.

He was bad in the first half, but the second half he came out and played well. I realize that some of his points were from the free throw line but he is so good at driving to the hoop that it causes teams to foul him frequently. Admittedly the 10 second call was an absolute bonehead move but hitting that bank three was clutch.

[mportsch]

He was bad in the first half, but the second half he came out and played well. I realize that some of his points were from the free throw line but he is so good at driving to the hoop that it causes teams to foul him frequently. Admittedly the 10 second call was an absolute bonehead move but hitting that bank three was clutch.

Wow, that's a first - calling an obviously unintentional bank shot 'clutch'. How about that 'pass' he made that rolled off his foot and right into the hands of Jordan Crawford for a dagger three - also clutch? Gordon did do a nice job of making FTs, but that's about it.

He made a total of THREE shots, and that includes his banked 30-footer. He had 7 turnovers. He had ONE rebound in 45 minutes. To say he played well is pretty ridiculous, considering the type of player he normal is. Illinois did a great job on Gordon, and they would have won if Pruitt had hit his customary 50% on FTs. Chester Frazier deserves a lot of credit for shutting down the Big Ten's leading scorer.

[BUBraves06]

Wow, that's a first - calling an obviously unintentional bank shot 'clutch'. How about that 'pass' he made that rolled off his foot and right into the hands of Jordan Crawford for a dagger three - also clutch? Gordon did do a nice job of making FTs, but that's about it.

He made a total of THREE shots, and that includes his banked 30-footer. He had 7 turnovers. He had ONE rebound in 45 minutes. To say he played well is pretty ridiculous, considering the type of player he normal is. Illinois did a great job on Gordon, and they would have won if Pruitt had hit his customary 50% on FTs. Chester Frazier deserves a lot of credit for shutting down the Big Ten's leading scorer.

Just shows how good he is, had an awful night shooting and still finished with 19 points. Why can't a lucky shot be clutch? Sure I he banked in a deep shot but it was still clutch and lead to an INDIANA win!

[MacabreMob]

All this talk about how Gordon stunk it up.... maybe Illini fans can finally feel glad Gordon didn't go to UIUC.

[ph]

Just shows how good he is, had an awful night shooting and still finished with 19 points. Why can't a lucky shot be clutch? Sure I he banked in a deep shot but it was still clutch and lead to an INDIANA win!

Kinda sounds a little like some little guy that banked in a lucky 3 at the halftime buzzer vs Kansas..
Will turned out to be clutch for us...

[IlliBraves]

Haha!! You have got to be kidding me! You hope he stays? So do I and I'm a huge Indiana fan. And speaking of complete scumbags--Jamar? He is the biggest embarassment to Illini basketball in the last two seasons and he hasn't even seen the court! Jamar Smith....give me a break.

I don't give up grudges easily, and trust me, this one is far from over. I hate Indiana as I would hate Satan. All I have to say is at least Bruce and the boys run a clean enough program that disciplines its players when they make mistakes, and that was a huge mistake, don't let me fool you. Obviously, UI is not perfect, but it is far better than most programs. I do not under any circumstances, I don't care if you've had one drink, condone drunken driving. However, I'll make the same excuse many Indiana fans make in reference to Jamar "he's just a kid".

This game is the most disappointing loss I've ever taken in my life. I have waited a whole year to see the Illini do some justice on Indiana, and yet again, Shaun Pruitt disappoints an entire fan base. Just for the record, it's not just about EJ changing his mind, its the fact him and Sampson went behind Weber's back and never said a word to him about switching.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I don't give up grudges easily, and trust me, this one is far from over. I hate Indiana as I would hate Satan. All I have to say is at least Bruce and the boys run a clean enough program that disciplines its players when they make mistakes, and that was a huge mistake, don't let me fool you. Obviously, UI is not perfect, but it is far better than most programs. I do not under any circumstances, I don't care if you've had one drink, condone drunken driving. However, I'll make the same excuse many Indiana fans make in reference to Jamar "he's just a kid".

This game is the most disappointing loss I've ever taken in my life. I have waited a whole year to see the Illini do some justice on Indiana, and yet again, Shaun Pruitt disappoints an entire fan base. Just for the record, it's not just about EJ changing his mind, its the fact him and Sampson went behind Weber's back and never said a word to him about switching.

You Illini fans just don't give up do you?

First off, Bruce Weber has NO discipline...if he did, Luther Head probably wouldn't have ever finished his career there...and I don't even need to go into the Jamar Smith situation because that was an apparent coaching staff and players cover-up gone wrong by an errant phone call from a dorm co-ed.

The pre-game incident w/ Chester Frazier was ridiculous, unwarranted regardless of what Eric Gordon did to Illinois, and he should be disciplined by the conference.

I don't agree w/ a kid changing his mind, but he is a kid and they can be swayed by lots of things...and in no way am I even closely comparing this situation to Jamar's...apples to oranges...

That being said, I also don't agree w/ Kelvin Sampson's tactics and believe he and individuals like him are true detriments to all NCAA programs across the country...he lies, cheats, and pretty much steals his way to the top...

Lastly, I can't help but disagree w/ your comment about how Shaun Pruitt single handedly lost the game for UIUC...Shaun didn't blow a 12-pt second half lead or a 9-pt lead w/ 8 minutes to go by himself...

He had help from these guys:

• Trent Meachem 1 for 10 shooting
• Calvin Brock 6 for 16 shooting
• Chester Frazier 5 pts in 35 min
• Brian Randle 6 pts, 5 fouls in 28 min

That being said, UIUC would not have even been in the game w/o McCamey or the fact that Pruitt HAD to play 44 minutes because they have no one to spell him...so don't be too quick to judge and blame the losing effort on one guy...

They even still had a chance to tie at the end of double OT after the Gordon blunder until McCamey dribbled the ball off his own knee...

Unfortunately there are many ways to lose a basketball game and they seemed to find most of them on one given night

[J Money]

I completely agree that Kelvin Sampson should have called Bruce Weber and told him what was going on. That being said, what coach in the country doesn't answer a phone call from a top 5 recruit or his father just because he has already verbally comitted? Eric Gordan didn't comit to IU originally because Mike Davis was the coach and who can blame him? Mike Davis might be the worst game coach in the country. He always wanted to go there to play for his home-state team, and when Davis left that was his opportunity. Kelvin should have given Bruce a heads-up but he was not wrong for taking the kid in when that is where he wanted to play.

[bert notorius]

Throwing food at one's enemies is a time honored Indian tradition dating back to before the time of the Mississippians. It is a form of endearment, similar to leaving bits of bone, feathers or turquoise at the graves of one's most powerful enemies.

[IlliBraves]

It was far more complex than that. You're making Kelvin seem awfully innocent, and he's not. Do I believe that EG made the first move? Not a chance in h*ll. His tactics were slimy and he's shady under all circumstances. Why do you think the kid's AAU coach and EG Sr.'s old coach are now on the staff. Payoff. Big time. Plus, I think EG is just as low as Kelvin. He should have told Weber he wanted to reopen his recruitment as well. And he wonders why Champaign wants his head.

I don't know why everybody keeps making a big deal out of the Chester Frazier incident. Both sides downplayed the issue. Was it necessary, no, but I'm lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. Same for people throwing things, I was on board with everyone until I heard about how his father was acting just as rudely. Was it warranted, no, but don't go pointing fingers at Illinois when it was the Indiana fans instigating things.