My name is Seth Laurence.
I am a 28-year old radio broadcaster in Illinois.
I enjoy writing about sports and will post about a variety of topics.
Follow me on Twitter @Seth_SportsTalk
Thanks for reading.
Chief editor: Isaac Blue
Week 8 of the National Football League is in the books, and what a brutal week of football. I'm not sure there is a lot here to discuss, but we'll dive right in with these recaps.
DALvsDET - This game was just weird. Calvin Johnson over 300 yards of receiving yards. The Cowboys again find a way to lose a game they should have won. Detroit really came through in a big spot, and the depleted Cowboys defense gets a pass I think. I don't think things come down to Romo only on the offense. The offense played terrible for Dallas. Dallas had a chance the past few weeks to solidify themselves in the NFC East, and once again could not. I'm buying Detroit going forward.
CLEvsKC - The Chiefs struggled, which surprised me. But man, the Browns are not good, but they are playing with a lot of heart. I'm not completely buying the Chiefs, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they're not legit. Because they are. Their defense is absolutely tremendous.
MIAvsNE - Just when it looked like the Pats were going to implode on themselves, their defense comes out and bails out the incredibly beat up offense for New England. The Pats shut down Tannehill and the Dolphins completely in the 2nd half. After a tough loss to the Jets last week, the Pats started slow but turned in on late.
NYJvsCIN - I don't know about anyone else, but I am not surprised by the 40-point difference here. The Jets have been up and down consistently this year. And this was the down week, right on schedule. The Bengals are also ridiculously loaded on offense, and their defense is solid. The Bengals D against an offense that is a little overrated at times. Not surprised by this game what so ever.
PITvsOAK - Also not surprised by this at all. It is so hard for any team to go across the country and win, the Steelers are just another example of this. It's not impossible, but it is incredibly difficult. I am impressed with Terrell Pryor. He has guys that can make plays around him. While I don't expect Oakland to win a lot of games, but if they can play some games close, I would be impressed if they at least compete in a pretty tough AFC.
WASvsDEN - I watched a good portion of this game, and the Redskins defense looked much better until things fell apart in the 4th quarter. And the Broncos offensive line is very compromised. If you can get pressure on Manning with your front four, you've got them in a pickle. I thought Washington played well in the first half, but RGIII is not making smart decisions. He looks much better, but he was fortunate some of his throws did not get picked off.
ATLvsARI - If you didn't think the Falcons were depleted to the point of their season being over, now you're a believer. Arizona is not this good. The Falcons are not this bad either, but they are so beat up, it's hard to see them doing anything going forward. I don't mind the Falcons playing for next year at this point. They need some defensive playmakers. They are loaded on the offensive side of the ball, but I think they need to be assessing the future of their defense.
SEAvsSTL - Well, the Rams front seven showed why I was so high on them last night. They shut down the very good Seattle run game. And Russell Wilson did not have a great game. I very much wonder if Sam Bradford plays this game if the Rams pull off the upset. I have to think they do. The Rams crazy enough had a shot at winning this game at the end and couldn't execute. It may not be this year, but the Rams have something cooking on defense. They have a very, very good front 7, and a secondary that may be a playmaker away from a Seahawks like defense.
NYGvsPHI - Chip Kelly will get a pass this year because his offense has been so banged up, but I think if next year, they struggle this much, his leash will be short. Their offensive decision making is terrible and yes, the defense didn't allow a TD, but the Giants offense is not a very good offense right now. And after an 0-6 start, the Giants are unbelievably still in the hunt for the NFC East. I mean it is a long shot, but how many times have the Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin led Giants been in this situation and turned things around very quickly. The NFC East could easily be won by a 7-9 team.
Big Winners from Sunday:
1) Detroit Lions - The Lions had their backs against the wall and Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson made plays down the stretch and really showed the NFL some grit and said they were legit.
2) New England Patriots - The Pats also showed some grit and toughness Sunday after a terrible start. They rallied together and even though their parts are a little beat up, they showed the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.
3) Denver Broncos - The Broncos offense bounced back after about six quarters of very suspect play. I liked the toughness I saw from Peyton and the offense and the defense stepped up and played aggressive even though they were playing from behind for a while.
4) Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals are starting to roll and click on all cylinders. I really think this team has big things in store for the second half. Andy Dalton is a streak QB and I think he's about to go on a big hot streak.
5) New York Giants - I know it was ugly, but a win is a win and a team that needed a win got the win. The Giants have built up some momentum. While I still take a wait and see approach, I think the Giants could have a big run in them if the offense can get themselves together because the defense is playing rather well.
Biggest losers - This was tough because the football was so ugly and some games I thought, were pretty predictable.
1) Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins just melted down in the 2nd half of their game and to lose the game that way has them reeling. Their taking more steps back than steps forward.
2) Pittsburgh Steelers - It looked like the Steelers were building up some momentum, and a game a lot of people thought they should win with ease, they instead can't get anything going against a surprising Oakland team.
3) Seattle Seahawks - Even though the Seahawks won, I think the rest of the league has been served notice the Seahawks cannot win on the road. Yes they won at Houston, but I mean let's look at where Houston is at right now, and that victory looks less and less impressive. I think the Seahawks are a very solid team, but on the road they are not as strong.
4) Atlanta Falcons - If the Falcons weren't finished before this week, they are now.
5) Dallas Cowboys - You can't let a game like this slip away. Especially when you are less than two minutes from a very impressive road victory and all you need is a first down. The Cowboys once again are letting the NFC East slip through their fingers, and if their not careful, it very well could.
Power Rankings
1) Kansas City Chiefs
2) San Francisco 49ers
3) New Orleans Saints
4) Indianapolis Colts
5) New England Patriots
That's a wrap for another week of NFL action. I can't believe we're halfway through the year.
If you like what I'm posting, give me a follow on Twitter @sethalaurence
Everything went wrong for the St. Louis Cardinals in game 1 of the 2013 World Series, but for Cardinals fans, there is hope for things to turn around.
From poor fielding to an injury to one of the game's best postseason hitters since Reggie Jackson to the best postseason pitcher the Cardinals have had since 2006 got shelled , the World Series couldn't have started much worse. But, I think things are going to turn around for St. Louis.
I know the Cardinals hoped for more from Adam Wainwright in Game 1, but Jon Lester is a very good pitcher. Losing to him is nothing to be upset about. After Lester, I think the rotation really drops off for Boston.
Starting pitching was going to be the key for St. Louis to win their second Championship in three years, and fourth in ten years. But here's the thing, while Adam Wainwright was not very effective Wednesday, the Cardinals absolutely have the edge in the pitching department going forward. A lot is made of the Koji Uehara at the back end of the bullpen for Boston. But if one of their starters doesn't go deep in the game, the Red Sox may struggle because of the lack of quality depth in their bullpen.
While if a Cardinals starter struggles, they have several live, but also reliable arms to turn to. What I like about the Cardinals going forward is Michael Wacha has pitched incredibly well this October. John Lackey has really only had one good start this postseason when he outdueled Justin Verlander in a crucial game 3 victory for Boston.
When you get into the 2-3-2 format of the postseason, the road team taking one game in the first two games is incredibly crucial. The thing I worry about with Michael Wacha tonight being overwhelmed by the atmosphere at Fenway. While homefield advantage in baseball is almost minimal, there's a very select few places where it has an impact and Fenway Park is one of those places. It's a very small ballpark with the crowd on top of you all over the park. It's one of the unique atmosphere's in all of baseball.
But I think the advantage he has is seeing what happened last night, and I think his mentor, Adam Wainwright will give him plenty of things to do through the day leading up to the start in hopes of not getting overwhelmed.
I like Michael Wacha to come out tonight and give the Cardinals another stellar start.
However, if he can't, it's not over and here's why: The Cards head back home.
Homefield advantage in baseball is almost non-existent, but, the Cardinals gain a huge advantage by removing one of the bats of David Ortiz or Mike Napoli because the DH is eliminated. Both killed the Redbirds in game one with huge hits, and to get one of them out of the line up is a tremendous advantage.
While the Red Sox could put Napoli in the outfield, it's unlikely as Napoli is all but a defensive liability anywhere on the field but first base. And no, he is not going to catch. John Ferrell has pretty well established that well before last night's game.
If the Cardinals can steal a game in Boston, I like their chances of heading home and taking two out of three in St. Louis. They will face Jake Peavy Saturday night, and Peavy has not pitched well at all in the postseason. He's one of a number of guys that have waited to play in a World Series, and are now getting a chance, but he's not doing a great job of taking advantage of it.
Clay Buchholz is the likely starter right now for game 4, but he's battled injuries to this point since they clinched a spot in the World Series. I really question if he can overcome that to throw an effective game.
While the Cardinals haven't announced their games 3 or 4 starters at this point, I have to think Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn will get the nod. If that's the case, they've got to be relieved they likely won't face Mike Napoli or David Ortiz.
After we shift the series to St. Louis, we could really see a slugfest of a series, which does not favor the Cardinals, but with power arms in the bullpen, I have to think Kelly and likely Lynn will be on short leashes.
I've thought all along the Cardinals depth in their rotation and bullpen were the X-factor for them. They don't have a lot of bench depth, which really showed last night, as after Beltran left the game on what was a tremendous catch.
I said from the beginning the Cardinals will win the World Series, and I've learned to never count them out. I'm still going with the Cardinals.
As we've reached the World Series, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm about sick of seeing the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants playing in the late October series... But that's another topic for another day.
Normally, the World Series rolls around and I'm a fan of the Mets, so naturally I'd like to see the NL win, but when it's the St. Louis Cardinals, no way. I'm an AL guy then. But not this year, and there's one reason I'll be hoping the Cardinals win, and that's Carlos Beltran.
After this team clinched their spot, you heard the next day all about how this team wanted to get Carlos Beltran that championship he deserves. And he does. He absolutely does.
Carlos Beltran is one of my all-time favorite players. He's by far one of the best Mets to wear the uniform, second to Darryl Strawberry of course. When he signed that big contract, every Mets game I went to, I couldn't wait to see Carlos Beltran in the middle of that lineup behind Jose Reyes, next to David Wright because he was a lot of fun to watch. The funny thing about it is he's still got about 60% of Mets fans who can't get over that one, wicked as all hell, curveball from an unknown commodity in Adam Wainwright in 2006.
The fact is, Beltran was tremendous in New York. He gets a bad rap for the injuries and the struggle in the first year of that huge contract, compiled with the horrible collision in the outfield with Mike Cameron. But when you set aside those things, his Mets numbers are up there with all-time Mets. And yet Carlos Beltran can't get past that one pitch he took for strike three.
The man is championship caliber player. He makes every team he plays on better. And a championship for him, would emphasize that more. Now Mets fans probably don't want to see him get it with the Cardinals, and to be fair, it certainly would add insult to injury. I can't hide it, it kills me seeing him helping that team, but at the same time, I'm rooting for Carlos Beltran because of the player that meant so much to the Mets, and also for Carlos Beltran the man, humanitarian, and teammate.
I'm rooting for Carlos Beltran for a lot of reasons. Like I said, he's always been one of my favorite players, with the Mets, away from the Mets, wherever. When he went to St. Louis, I knew he would be healthy, he would be successful, and I knew the Cards were signing a champion in the making. But he was so close to getting the Mets to the promised land, it's bittersweet to see him getting this opportunity.
It's funny, the arrogance of Cardinals fans sometimes cracks me up. I like to think I'm a pretty humble person, and I can think straight and somewhat unbiased, but living in Cardinal nation, it's difficult because all I heard in 2012 was about Carlos Beltran being the outcast of the Mets... I bet you (being me, of course) hate seeing him in St. Louis... We got the Mets old garbage... He's better off with us.... bla bla bla. And all I could think was, yea, you wish I hated Carlos Beltran because you won't have half the player we had.
Here's the deal. The Cardinals are getting a half complete Carlos Beltran. The Mets, Astros and Royals had the best years of this man's baseball life. The Cardinals are just coming in for sloppy seconds. (Still, pretty high standard for sloppy seconds you know)
How can you say that? His batting average is the same... He'd be on pace to match his stolen bases in New York... He's already played more games in his first two years here than he did in his first two in New York... again, bla bla bla bla... Arrogant Cardinal fans.
Carlos Beltran hit .280 in his Mets career. He is probably the last true five tool player the game has seen, and he spent about half his prime in New York. He hit almost 150 homers in seven seasons. His worst batting average was .255 in 2010, when he only played in 64 games, that's a third of the season.
Carlos Beltran in his first World Series appearance, is 36 years old. Think about that for minute. If you think a 36-year old athlete, who is breaking down by the year could duplicate what he did in his late 20s and early 30s, you are delusional.
But we don't have to worry about that, because it's almost a guarantee Carlos Beltran will leave "Baseball Heaven" after the World Series is over, likely get another $30-million dollar, two or three year contract offer, and finish out his playing career somewhere.
On a side note, how fitting would it be if he did that with the franchise that originally drafted him and carried them to a World Series.
But what's lost in all this discussion, is yes you have the half seasons towards the end of what is now a very favorable contract but at the time it was a crazy contact, 7 years for $119 million. And yes you have the strike out in game seven of the NLCS in '06, and yes you have two years of collapses in the final week to miss the playoffs in '07 and '08, but look at his numbers and tell me, if the Mets didn't have him, they woulda been better off. The fact Mets fans still think this guy was a horrible signing shows just how off this fan base really is.
Here are how the top three seasons for Beltran in New York shake out (per Baseball Reference)
Yea, Carlos Beltran was just a bust and did nothing for this franchise. The numbers speak for themselves, but I just can't get over that argument. He also had a couple huge hits in the final day of the season in 2008 when the Mets lost on their hold for the Wild Card and missed the playoffs.
But again, the Mets should have never signed Beltran.
Take that and sell it somewhere else. Beltran was one of the greatest Mets to wear the uniform and grace the field. He's half the player he was, but he can still play, and he's getting it done in St. Louis.
Now for his off the field stuff. Not only is he a great baseball player, he's a tremendous person off the field.
In every community he's played in, Beltran has always gone out of his way to give back to sick children, less fortunate families in run-down neighborhoods, and in 2011 he opened his Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy.
A quote from a June 11, Danny Knobler article on CBSSports.com says "the idea for the academy is similar to the one John Young had when he started baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program: use baseball to get kids to value education, and along the way help develop young players".
In a USA Today article from May, Beltran is quoted as saying "I believe in education so much, wanting kids to understand how important it is in their lives. If you can play sports and make a living out of it, great. But it still doesn't replace education. That's in my heart. It will always be in my heart. Your baseball skills go away. Your education will stay with you forever."
That's awesome! And that's just the start of all the things this guy does.
It's unbelievable to me that the man has yet to be recognized with the Roberto Clemente Award. It's the award given to the player that stands out off the field with the work they do for others. But I have to say, some very deserving people have won the award, including Clayton Kershaw.
Side note again, Kershaw is doing incredibly things for kids in Africa with his wife. If you have time, I recommend you find some reading material on that. Kershaw is a great guy, and his off the field stuff is a big reason he's one of my favorite players.
So as the World Series opens in Boston on Wednesday night, I will be loathing the fact the Cardinals are again in the World Series, and the Mayor of Boston thinks these teams are playing for the "World Series Cup", I will be rooting on a man I modeled my hitting (comments not accepted from my friends I played baseball with), fielding, and playing baseball after. I'll be rooting on a guy that knows his platform is an opportunity to help others rather than glorify himself.
It's funny. Yankee stadium was "The House that Ruth Built". Lucas Oil is "The House Peyton Built". But the way the Mets were going when they started designing and building Citi Field, you could almost make the case, "It's the House Carlos Built"... only to see them deal him that summer.
At any rate, I'll be rooting for a Carlos Beltran more than the Cardinals. But because his success is reliant on their success, I guess that equals I'll be rooting for the Cardinals the next week to ten days.
Mets and Cardinals fans alike will enjoy this exchange of two guys in New York I listen to talk about the Cardinals and Carlos Beltran.
Another week is in the NFL books as we saw teams pick up much needed wins, we saw some unexpected upsets, and we saw some teams go on the road and play very well. We'll get after it here on this Tuesday morning.
SEAvsARI - I know this was the Thursday game, my only take away from this is the Seahawks are playing well, both on the road and at home. They seem to be the favorite in the NFC right now because of that. Also of interest, they could be close to getting Percy Harvin, and how dangerous will they be then? You add that to Mershawn Lynch and Russell Wilson who are playing stellar right now. That really adds a new dimension to the team.
TBvsATL - I know Atlanta is beat up, but at home against an absolutely awful Tampa Bay team, this game should not have been this close. A win is a win is a w in, but the Falcons are completely desecrated by injury. And what a big loss for Tampa losing Doug Martin. A lot of concern going forward for both these clubs.
CINvsDET - What a quality football this was. An old fashion shootout and Andy Dalton did enough late to get them to a win. It's never easy containing Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson at the same time, so I give the Bengals a pass on defense. But the offense is coming around. Some very winnable games going forward into their week 12 bye, the Bengals could create some separation in the AFC North.
NEvsNYJ - I feel zero for the sympathy for the Pats being screwed by a terrible rule. It was the right call in that situation. Yes it probably was not the place to first call it, but apparently the Pats were warned about doing that and still did. The Pats are just fine going forward, but the Jets, my goodness, the up and down season continues, and I still like this defense. The offense is going to continue to be the question mark this season.
DALvsPHI - The Cowboys did themselves a huge favor going on the road in the NFC North and pulling out the win. The Cowboys right now are the favorite in the division that is incredibly weak. Romo looked good again. Unless the Eagles can get Vick back into vintage form, they are going to struggle on offense, while they can continue to struggle on defense.
HOUvsKC - The Chiefs just squeeked out a win this week, but the Texans actually looked good. Brian Cushing is a huge, huge loss for an already struggling defense. But the Chiefs continue to roll and their pass rush is unbelievable, and they're doing it with mostly their front four. I expect them to give the Broncos a great game in a few weeks. Case Keenum I thought played well. He made some plays. I like him going forward.
BALvsPIT - This was one of the ugliest games you'll ever see. Most people want to call it an old fashioned defensive battle, OK. That's fine. But I think it was just incompetence for both offenses. The Steelers seem to be bouncing back, but I still don't buy them. They are completely depleted up front. The Ravens are struggling in a big way right now and desparately need a win. The upcoming schedule is pretty tough for them, but they are definitely winnable games.
DENvsIND - This game lived up to the hype. When Indianapolis is at home, they are tough. With the struggles of the rest of the division, they can absolutely win a playoff game, if they don't get a bye, which as this point, they are a contender for one of those. I don't worry about Denver. Like I said, Indy is so tough at home. The Broncos are going to be so dangerous if they can get Von Miller back to his old form. We'll see how Indy responds to a big injury loss in Reggie Wayne.
Big Winners from Sunday:
Cincinnati Bengals - The defense is playing well. And now the offense is gettig back into form. They got a great road win and are very much a contender for a first round bye, and have to be the front runner for this division. I really like the Bengals going forward.
Washington Redskins - RGIII looked very good against the Bears, who are very beat up and continue to slide after a very good start. If the Skins can figure out their defensive woes, I can't say they are out of it in the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys went on the road and got a great win. Any road win is a good win. The Eagles struggles at home are remarkable, but still, the Cowboys didn't play their best and were able to win. Says a lot about them.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Maybe a week of rest was what this team needed. The Steelers are now 2-0 out of their bye, and have some very winnable games coming up. I don't buy the Steelers yet, but a few wins on the road in the next month might change my mind. We'll see.
Indianapolis Colts - A lot of people felt the Colts could win this game, but I think were quietly reserved about it being Peyton's return to Indy. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Chuck Pagano doesn't have the most talent, but man he can game plan with the best of them and really get the most out of what he has.
Biggest Losers:
New England Patriots - The Pats played well enough to win this game, but they are beat up and they are definitely exposed if they let the Jets move the ball all over the field on them. The Pats are vulnerable and don't have a lot of options.
Baltimore Ravens - Yes this is always a dog fight, but the Ravens let a winnable game slip. They are really struggling and have to find somewhere to get a win somewhere with a couple tough road games in the next few weeks.
Chicago Bears - The injuries continue to mount for the Bears as they try to turn things around under first year head coach Mark Trestman. Obviously injuries are hard to overcome, but after a great start, things continue to turn south for the Monsters of the Midway.
St. Louis Rams - Yes they were on the road, but Sam Bradford's ACL tear is huge loss. I have to say, he was having a quietly good year, but things look like they may have hit the fan for him now. I hate to say it, but I think Tim Tebow could be a very good influence there and I would think he could give them a chance to win games going forward. With how bad they've been in some games, believe it or not, the Rams are just one game under .500.
Denver Broncos - The Broncos have been exposed. If you have any sort of a four man rush and you can get to Peyton Manning, you can beat the Broncos. The biggest problem is, right now, the front four in Kansas City are playing as good as anyone in football. That's worrysome if you're a Broncos fan or coach.
That's a wrap, I'll be back with the power rankings next week.
Look for a brief World Series preview between now and tomorrow morning.
The Orange & Blue game was Thursday at the Assembly Hall (I'm sorry, State Farm Center) in Champaign, and exhibitions games are set to get underway this week. The 2013-14 Illinois Fighting Illini are going to have a drastically different look after a surprising 2012-13 campaign.
My view of the Indiana upset
The 2012-13 Illini featured four seniors that were the heart and soul of the team that made the 2nd round (technically, it was the 3rd round) of the NCAA tournament and pulled off several big upsets along the way. Ohio State and Indiana certainly stand out to everybody.
Because of the loss of excellent guard play by left behind by DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul, along with the big, versatile bodies of Tyler Griffey and Sam McLaurin, this year's edition of the Illinois Fighting Illini have a lot of voids, holes, leadership, you name it, they most likely have to find a replacement for it.
This year's squad features two key juniors that move into the upper-classman ranks and will be heavily relied upon as the leaders of this unit, both on and off the court. Highly touted recruits from the Chicago area dating back to the Bruce Weber era, Tracy Abrams and Nnanna Egwu now become go to guys for the Illini. One of just two seniors on this team, Jo Bertrand will have to undoubtedly step up and shoulder a lot of the load as well.
Did I mention seven, count em, seven, new faces Coach John Groce will try to flawlessly implement into his system.
(It's actually ten if you include transfers Darius Paul, Brandon Paul's younger brother, who transferred from Western Michigan, Ahmad Starks, a Chicago native who had a hardship waiver denied by the NCAA to be allowed to play right away after transferring from Oregon State, and Aaron Cosby, a transfer from Seton Hall, all of whom have to sit out for a year because of NCAA transfer guidelines)
So all that said, like I pointed out at the top, this is going to be a very different looking Fighting Illini group.
What I like about this team is the underwhelming amount of experience. That can be taken two different ways, but the direction I'll turn is to the experience they return. Joseph Bertrand, Nnanna Egwu, and Tracy Abrams are hands down the most experienced players this team has. But I like each and every one of these kids and I without a doubt think they could keep Illinois in the upper tier of the Big Ten Conference.
If you've picked up on anything about John Groce to this point in his time at Illinois, one thing that to me stands out the most is he is an unbelievably positive person. You would be hard pressed to find a quote from him where he doesn't put a positive spin on things, be it a loss, injury, bad bounce of luck, anything.
Listening to him talk about the progress off Abrams and Egwu should give Illini fans a ton of hope as we head into what looks to be a very uncertain 2013-14 campaign. Give a listen from his press conference at media day for Illinois recently.
I'll get to why I think this team will be successful because of the coach in a little bit, but Nnanna Egwu isn't the only player that has made strides. As I mentioned, Tracy Abrams is another guy Groce speaks very highly of when it comes to his leadership. As the point guard of the team, he's basically the general on the floor, always having to know the situation, what he's going to do with the ball each time he gets, and directing the players around him and putting them in positions to be successful. Because of that, a point guard must have the trust and respect of his teammates, and I don't think Abrams never had the trust and respect of his peers, but Coach Groce talks about him going above and beyond to better connect with them off the floor, which makes his connection on the floor with them stronger. Have a listen.
This next guy I think is the key to the Illini's success this year. When you think about good Illinois teams, you think about a guy that can put the team on his back. You saw it last year in at Gonzaga, Brandon Paul put the team on his shoulders. The Indiana game, DJ Richardson carried the team down the stretch with big time plays offensively and defensively. I think Joseph Bertrand is the guy that is going to have to step up and put the team on his shoulders. Listening to Groce talk about Bertrand, he's the seasoned veteran of the group. To me, he's primed for a big time senior season.
One guy I think Illini fans will be pleasantly surprised by will be Rayvonte Rice. Rice is a transfer from Drake of the Missouri Valley Conference, and is a Champaign native. Rice was already a very versatile player upon his transfer, but of all the players Coach Groce talks about, this guy he sings the highest praises for. Groce says Rice can be a four position player on both offense and defense. There are not many athletes like that at any level. John Groce is really setting the bar high for this kid, I'm very excited and curious to see if he can live up to it.
I mentioned there will be a lot of uncertainty to this upcoming year, and that's where the second part of the underwhelming amount of experience comes in. Freshman Malcolm Hill, Kendrick Nunn, Jaylon Tate, Maverick Morgan, and Austin Colbert are the freshman newcomers. Add to that Jon Ekey, a graduate transfer (same situation as McLaurin last year) from Illinois State. The experience of this team is very limited, which means its likely Groce will have to maintain at least one or two of his experienced veterans on the floor at the same time, which may not give them a lot of rest.
When you talk about depth, the Illini like last year lack depth with their big men. Egwu gaining 30 pounds is great, but I very much wonder if his body can handle playing better than 25 or 30 minutes a night, especially when you're talking about a grueling Big Ten schedule. This is where Ekey is going to have step up big.
Jon Ekey For ISU
When I first read Ekey was headed over to Champaign from Bloomington/Normal, I was pretty stoked. Ekey was a straight stud at ISU last year. It really helped him he played next to the Missouri Valley's top big man in Jackie Carmichael. Well at the U of I, Ekey is going to have an even better big man playing alongside him in Egwu. And that is taking absolutely nothing away from Carmichael, because he was a tremendous player and rightfully making his way through the NBA circuit at this point. I look for Ekey to have a sneaky good year. A good comparison I think for Ekey is Tyler Griffey with maybe a little less versatility.
Now for the freshman: Kendrick Nunn comes with plenty of hype, and for good reason. The lefty played alongside one of the nation's top basketball prospects in Jabarri Parker and the two led Chicago Simeon to four straight IHSA Class 4A State Titles.
Jaylon Tate At Simeon
Not to mention, the final two years of Simeon's dominance, they were regarded as one of the top high school basketball teams in the entire country. The kid knows how to play on the big stage. His teammate Jaylon Tate was also a part of those four teams, and while he comes with far fewer accolades, I expect Tate to learn quickly from the seasoned veteran Abrams and really make big strides in the Illini system.
With Coach Groce signing some very intriguing players for his 2014 class, I really think this '13 class is not getting enough credit. They are a very green group, but the raw talent is there for them to meet, if not exceed, their expectation. One guy that is the epitome of this is Malcolm Hill.
Malcolm Hill
He's a 6-6 lanky guard out of the St. Louis area. Coach Groce says he's a very versatile player, but he needs some seasoning. Just like almost every freshman coming in this year. What I like is Hill, along with Nunn and Tate should get to see plenty of floor time in their rookie campaigns.
Another guy that really fits that mold is Maverick Morgan. At 6-10, lanky and long, I am going to really make some Illini fans queasy with this comparison, but I think it's accurate: Mike Tisdale. I know, I know, there's a lot disdained towards Tisdale, but deserved or not, it's about what Morgan looks like right now.
Maverick Morgan
I say right now because I think John Groce can make him into a post player that has the ability, but is not reliant, to step back and knock down perimeter jumpers. Before he's ready to bang with the Cody Zellers or Jared Sullingers, he's going to need experience and to get bigger and stronger. I could be dead wrong, but I don't know that he's going to have that great of a year. I do think, as he gets experience, he will get a lot better.
Austin Colbert
One last guy I think could be sneaky good, again like Morgan and Hill, will be Austin Colbert. At 6-9, and just like Mike Davis, he profiles to be a very athletic kid who needs to learn to put all his skills together. I don't think Davis ever did, but I think Coach Groce is going to be able to get nothing short of Colbert's very best, in terms of effort and ability.
So that is a brief synopsis of what this year's Fighting Illini team looks like personnel wise. As much as I want this group to be a surprise 20+ win team, I just don't see. The Big Ten is going to be as good as it's ever been. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan State are all going to be tough as nails. Iowa is going to be a sleeper. Minnesota is always tough. Northwestern is going to be very solid. The conference really doesn't have a "weakest link". Each team is going to be very good. Of course while I forgot to mention them, that always seems to be what happens, Wisconsin gets left out, and then they scrap n claw their way into the top 25 and manage to play their best basketball in February and March. So really, you look at the Big Ten, and while I don't think they will, Illinois could easily slide into the lower third of the Conference standings.
Now that said, let's talk about John Groce, because it was after the Bruce Weber firing, the rejections from Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens, were well documented and really put Illini fans in the dumps. Then all of a sudden, they hire this tall, bald guy from Ohio. He's got energy, he doesn't have a lot of name power, but everything you hear about him is positive. OK, so let's wait and see.
Chicago Prospect Cliff Alexander #2 High School Sr In America
Meanwhile, John Groce is killing it everywhere he goes. First thing he does, he makes a B-Line to Chicago and sits down with some of the nation’s top Jr. and Sr. talent. He's real with them. They like him, and immediately Illinois shoots towards the top of their lists.
He talks to the guys that were already committed, Jaylon Tate, Kendrick Nunn, and Malcolm Hill. He managed to keep those guys, who I'm sure, had plenty of vultures trying to nab them after Bruce left. So he gets a late start, but he's getting it done on the recruiting trail.
Meanwhile, he's changing the atmosphere with the guys he's got. He's high energy. He's positive. He has them believing they can compete with the Big Ten's best. He has them working on their game in the summer.
Brandon Paul at Gonzaga
I think the turning point when everybody started believing in this guy was when they went to Maui, Hawaii, and blasted Butler in the championship game of that tournament. Still, and rightfully so, there were a few doubters. Then around Christmas time, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Illinois does their annual thing with Gonzaga. And the Illini go to the opposite side of the country and blast Gonzaga. Everybody loved Gonzaga and didn't give the Illini a shot, and they killed Gonzaga. We saw Brandon Paul become the player we all knew he could be. That was when John Groce won over all of Illini nation. We all know what happened then. They went into the Big Ten schedule no longer under the radar. They did well, losing some tough games, winning some improbable games. Ohio State and Indiana certainly stick out to us all.
Now, Groce has a very similar situation. I believe Illinois was picked 7th in the conference. I think, certainly a fair ranking, but, Coach Groce is definitely going to sell the "no respect" line. A lot of people say Illinois doesn't have as much talent as last. While fair, I don't think it's quite accurate. I think Illinois is talented in a different way. Last year, Illinois had a lot of developed talent that was ready to explode, and they did. I look at the Abrams, Egwu, and Bertrand combination as being your key three, and Groce is going to have to find those role players that can have an impact on the game. As easily as I could see Illinois falling into the lower tier of the conference standings by the end of the year, I could easily see them surprising people and finishing in the area of fifth to seventh with maybe another 8-10 or 10-8 Big Ten record.
All that said, I really don't know what to expect because it really comes down to what are the experienced guys going to do? Are they going to step up and lead the charge both from a leadership standpoint and statistical standpoint? Are they going to be more role players and hope the other guys fill in the gap?
Coach Groce with his son after Illini upset of Indiana
Like I said in the outset, this season, to me, really the success of this team relies on Joseph Bertrand. Coach Groce says it will take everybody, and that's certainly true, but Bertrand needs to be last year's Brandon Paul, where the team would need someone to step up, and he'd get the ball, and make the big shot. Bertrand has the ability to be that guy for the Illini. Another question: Will he do it?
Like I said, Groce is setting up Rayvonte Rice for big things. I hope he's not putting too much on him. If Rice can be that guy that can play four positions and guard four positions, Illinois has a great chance to be a good team because he can fill in a hole while someone gets a breather. If he can be a 12-15 points, maybe 5-7 boards a game guy, Groce will have really found something there.
Final thought as you gear up for what should be a stellar year of college basketball....
