Big 12 Basketball is about to get a shot in the arm

[NaptownChief]

CnnSi has Texas Tech ranked 24th in their preseason poll.

Here is some notes on Coach Knights recruiting success:


Once hired by Texas Tech, Knight focused his attention upon the junior colleges in hopes of finding a "quick fix." The results were outstanding, as the Red Raiders signed a full complement of five recruits, all from the juco ranks, and all highly regarded by most scouts.

First, Knight personally greeted high-scoring (27 points per game) 5-foot-10 1/2 Panola (Texas) JC sophomore point guard Will Chavis at the airport when the quickster from Philadelphia flew in to visit Lubbock, and a commitment followed within 48 hours. Next, the Red Raiders got the nod from a pair of frontcourt men of Eastern European descent. Ermal Kuqo, a 6-10, 270-pound Albanian center who spent his sophomore season at Seminole State (Okla.) JC, turned down overtures from Illinois, Kansas State, Charlotte, George Washington and others in order to play for Knight. Note that while Kuqo, an academic qualifier who signed the previous year with Tulsa but remained in junior college when Golden Hurricane coach Bill Self left for Illinois, is ranked among the top 50 juco sophomores by most scouting services. One coach in his conference considers him to be highly overrated.

Also ultimately picking Texas Tech as his collegiate destination was 6-8, 225-pound small forward/power forward Pawel Storozynski, a sharp-shooting native of Poland who posted big numbers this past season at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. You may recall that Storozynski actually gave South Carolina a verbal commitment late in the season but then looked elsewhere when Eddie Fogler stepped down as the Gamecocks' head coach. Pawel chose the Red Raiders over Illinois, Kansas State, LSU, Baylor, Tennessee and Oregon.

Most recently, Knight has corralled two more juco sophs, 6-6 small forward Kasib Powell of Butler County (Kan.) Community College and 6-8 power forward Billy Pharis of Westark (Ark.) JC. Combined with the other three signees, this gives Texas Tech arguably the best spring recruiting class in the nation

[Mi_chief_fan]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jl80 [/i]
[B]HC,

Trust me on that...His style of ball doesn't require a long break in period...He might challenge for the title this year, but he will definitely challenge for the title with two years... [/B][/QUOTE]

It's a good thing he's in the lil'12 then, because it had been nearly a decade since the Loosiers competed for the Big 10 crown.(Until last season).

[NaptownChief]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mi_chief_fan [/i]
[B]

It's a good thing he's in the lil'12 then, because it had been nearly a decade since the Loosiers competed for the Big 10 crown.(Until last season). [/B][/QUOTE]

IU won the most Big Ten games in the 90's....Not bad for a down period, eh....

[keg in kc]

[quote]IU won the most Big Ten games in the 90's....Not bad for a down period, eh....[/quote]

Sounds strangely like a Chiefs argument... ;)

[NaptownChief]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by keg in kc [/i]
[B]

Sounds strangely like a Chiefs argument... ;) [/B][/QUOTE]

Maybe it has something to do with the Red and White color scheme?:D

[keg in kc]

Hehe :p

[Mi_chief_fan]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jl80 [/i]
[B]

IU won the most Big Ten games in the 90's....Not bad for a down period, eh.... [/B][/QUOTE]

When was the last Big 10 title they won? Heck, when was the last time they won a tourney game?

[NaptownChief]

MI,

You being from Lawrence MI and in here taking shots at IU tells me you obviously have a Big Ten affiliation. Lemme guess, Michigan St fan in the late 70's(79), Big Blue fan in the late 80's (89) and early 90's then right back on the Lansing Express in the late 90's to the present?

I know you are currently on the Lansing Express or else you wouldn't have challenged the last time IU won the Big Ten(93) or a tourney game...Cause Big Blue hasn't pulled home a Big Ten title since 86 and have had more player suspensions and arrest than NCAA invitations in the past 10 years...

Now be honest, are you still wearing your "Unable to win a Big Ten Title Fab Five" baggy shorts?

[Recker24]

jl80,
How did Indiana knock Luke Recker out for the rest of the season. That comment shows that you have no clue about Iowa or Indiana basketball. Recker was hurt, cracked kneecap, going into that game. That was going to be the last game of the season for him. Every Hawks fan knew it. 27 points, and 8 rebounds on a bumb leg. He ate them up. By the way, Who won the BIG 10 LEAGUE TOURNEY last season. Didn't Iowa knock off Indiana WITHOUT Luke Recker. Yeah I think so. I remember Reggie Evans cramming the ball down your hero's Kurk Haston's face to win the game. Iowa vs Indiana...Iowa 2-0....How do you like them apples???

[NaptownChief]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Recker24 [/i]
[B]jl80,
How did Indiana knock Luke Recker out for the rest of the season. That comment shows that you have no clue about Iowa or Indiana basketball. [/B][/QUOTE]

You like to play rough do ya?

First off HawkHead, I was merely joking with KPhob about knocking Recker out...

No clue eh? How bout this for a clue...

Who ranks in the bottom half of the Big Ten based on the last 30 years?

That would be Iowa...

Who ranks #1?

That would be Indiana


When is the last time Iowa won even a share of the Big Ten title? That would be a 3 way tie in 1979.

When is the last time Iowa won a Big Ten title outright? Gee, that would be two years prior to my birth, 1970...Very impressive

When is the last time Iowa won a national championship?

Gee, I guess we are still waiting on that one...Maybe now that you have a INDIANA HOOSIER leading your program something might rub off...


You better be thankful to Northwestern cause if it wasn't for them you would have the fewest Big Ten titles in the conference...(Original 10 of coarse).


So how does those rotten apples taste HawkHead?

[Mi_chief_fan]

Calling me a U-M fan was just plain low!!!

I'm Spartan, through & through. Whether it be the football team that's won a bowl game in the last decade, the basketball team that's been to 3 straight final fours, the wrestling team that yeear in & out is nationally ranked, or the hockey team that is perennially in the frozen 4, you have to admit this: MSU is just athletically superior to IU, and it drives you crazy.

Look at the bright side: even though you don't have Boob Knight to fall back on anymore, you still have you're soccer program. ;)

[NaptownChief]

MI,

I have nothing but respect for MSU...Big Blue on the other hand is a different story. I have always liked Jud and Izzo both. Steve Smith was one of my favorite non-IU players of all time...

I give MSU plenty of credit, but superior? They have 3 more basketball titles to go before they pull even...

You have to pay IU their dues...During the past two seasons when you guys have been at the height of your program you are just 2-2 against us in conference play...

[Mi_chief_fan]

I have to admit, the Big 10 is much less entertaining without Knight. I concur 100% about U-M; Steve Fisher & Brian Ellerbe have ruined many potential careers with their poor coaching techniques(look how long ot took Jalen Rose to recover). Their program was simple: recruit the best talent by not instilling discipline(something young guys hate).

Could you have imagined what Knight would have accomplished with the Fab 5? Just saying 'fab 5' makes me sick, BTW.

As far as IU football, my bosses son is the punter, Ryan Hamre.

[NaptownChief]

The funny thing about U of M fans is watching them squirm when you rub it in their face that their wonderful "Flab Five" couldn't even win a Big Ten title...:D

As for IU's football team, well they stink and will continue to do so until they get rid of Cameron...Decent recruiter but not a very good coach...Mallory was a very good coach and just not a very good recruiter. But at least Mallory took us to 6 straight bowl games in the late 80's and early 90's...

I wish I could take more pride in their soccer program but never cared much for soccer...However, Todd Yeagley was a good friend of mine when we were growing up so I got to know his old man when I was a kid...That was kinda cool.

[Mi_chief_fan]

Cam's teams score points. They just can't stop anyone from scoring. KC Wolfman disagrees with me on this, but I believe moving Randle-El to WR is a move of desperation, to try to get opposing defenses from focusing so much on him. Only time will tell.......

Bill Mallory was a good coach. His problem(Cam's too) was trying to recruit against Michigan, Ohio St., Notre Dame & all the rest of the big 10, and when Northwestern finally emerged, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue & Minnesota figured 'Hey, if they can do it, why can't we?' He was more of a victim of overzealous expectations. It's hard to recruit in the big boys' back yards.

[NaptownChief]

Randle El forced Cam's hand...He looked into his NFL stock and was told that he could dramatically increase his NFL stock if he were a WR...So he told Cam the only way he was coming back to school was if he were given the opportunity to play WR/KR...