LamarCheeks

Grew up in Indiana -- about a half-hour from Chicago -- and graduated from IU, so 4:30 is prime time this afternoon w/ Hoosiers in Ann Arbor and Bears playing Philly. I do have more than one TV, but they're in separate rooms. My hound wants me to put them together so she can watch both. Instead of her usual lamb/rice dog food, she's hoping for some Eagle stew and a Wolverine sandwich for dinner tonight.

Out in my neck of the woods ... Western Kentucky takes a 21-0 lead on Old Dominion -- a 21-0 lead -- and loses. How on earth do you score the game's first 21 points, then lose? Crazy! https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/old-dominion/basketball/article_1a6c2a6e-1153-11e9-ac6c-fbc427c6e37d.html

At least he didn't pick up the IU hat before grabbing the Toiletmakers cap.

Chambers just gave the kid a love tap. Wasn't much to it at all.

Sheesh -- are we gonna win any B1G game by double digits this season? When we have a team down big, we have a tendency to let off the gas. That's gonna end up costing us a couple games.

I turned on a late-night West Coast game a few weeks ago and Walton was the analyst. After about 5 minutes, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I realize Walton has built his reputation on being off-beat and colorful, but that night, he was downright weird and obnoxious. There comes a point where he needs to stop with the hippie, weirdo shtick and analyze the game -- which is what he's supposed to be doing. Get a talk show if you've got so much to say outside basketball!

Maize & Blue 79 Cream & Crimson 65

Jeezus, Devonte -- chuck the ball upcourt or call a timeout!

Did I really just see Devonte fire an airball from 2 feet?

And, it seems, the Farting Illini are just daring him to chuck it from the cheap seats.

If Feliz (No. 10) for Illinois, were about 7 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier, he could pass for Coolidge from The White Shadow.

Al -- you gotta foul him so he doesn't finish the drive or let him go!

Lazy pass by Al, but JuMo has to go get that ball!!!

At one point, this was a thread about Steve Alford -- love him or hate him or somewhere in between -- getting fired from UCLA. Now, it's a debate about conference tournaments and NCAA bids and whether we were better than Louisville the year they did/didn't win the tournament. Given the track record of threads on this site, it's not surprising but seriously -- WTF???

And for years, he continued to defend the way he handled it. Even after he went to UCLA, he did so. Then, after people started to look into what really happened and hammered him on it, he walked it back -- slightly.

Our problems are solved! Jim Bob Cooter is a free agent! And who wouldn't want a coach named Jim Bob Cooter!!!

Team that plays in the real Assembly Hall: 76 Team that plays in the fake Assembly Hall: 64 (Yes, I realize the fake Assembly Hall is now known as the State Farm Center).

Damn. Archie said no Phinisee for Illinois. Said he's getting better but he hasn't practiced and hasn't been cleared for basketball activity. He added he wouldn't be available this week and that they're planning to be without him for the foreseeable future. ... Shoot, I was hoping his injury wasn't that bad and he was held out of the past one-plus games as a precaution. Get well soon, Rob! ... Archie also said McBob should be available tomorrow.

Dana Holgorsen going from West Virginia to Houston. Going from a Power 5 to a Group of 5 school seems like a backward move, but it looks as if Houston is gonna pony up a lot more money. Plus, a buddy of mine is a WVU alum and said Holgorsen's tenure there was growing tenuous. Either way, I'm thinking Houston has it written into his contract -- when he's on the sidelines, a hat is mandatory!

If they're gonna dig Wooden up, they'd have to dig Sam Gilbert up, too. ... Wooden doesn't do what he did without Sam pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Thought I might watch a little of the Northwestern-Utah game. Now that I see Gus Johnson is on the call, I might watch a lot of the Northwestern-Utah game. Love me some Gus Johnson. I still remember when we played PU in hoops in 2012, Matt Roth had come in and hit a couple bombs in the first half. Cody got the ball just outside the free-three line. As the Toiletmakers doubled him, Roth sneaked around a couple screens and got wide-open in front of the PU bench. Cody hit him and right as Roth let fly with another bomb, Gus yelled: "Layup!" ... The Hall was already rocking and I thought the roof was gonna blow off after that 3 swished. Man, that was awesome!

Eagles say Foles is OK and will start at Chicago.

Can you elaborate? I've never heard this. What did Buckner have to do with it? ... Not doubting you -- just curious.

I thought I remember him saying he was looking for someone who had coached in college and had Indiana ties -- then added if it were an alum, that would be optimal. That's why I thought he was pointing right at Alford. It's quite possible I don't remember it correctly, though.

I would still love to get Fred Glass full of truth serum and find out exactly what went on after Crean was fired. Because his "check plus plus" speech seemed to be setting the stage for Alford's triumphant return. It's very possible I'm wrong -- I am quite often -- but I still think that was his initial plan, then after encountering a ton of backlash from fans, alumni, etc., who wanted no part of Alford, he switched gears. ... And although Alford later said he was "100 percent not going to Indiana," my guess is if offered the job, he would've taken it in a second.