Weber rips bashers of Illini, Big Ten
Considering that Illinois scored 36 points in its first meeting with Minnesota and 33 points in its previous home game, the topic of low-scoring games was bound to work its way into the postgame discussion Thursday night after the Illini’s 52-41 win over the Gophers.
And when it was mentioned to Bruce Weber that some media had ridiculed the Illini and the Big Ten in general, the Illinois coach pounced.
He already was angry about an article in Thursday’s Minneapolis Star-Tribune in which former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher took some shots at the Illinois offense and the style of play in the conference. There has been much chatter lately about the meager offense produced in many Big Ten games.
“I’ll be honest, I’m sick of hearing all that,” Weber said, raising his voice to a volume not heard this season. “Go look at the scores in nonconference guys. Look at Michigan State against Kansas (75-62), (Minnesota) against Louisville (70-64), us against Missouri (75-59). It’s B.S. guys. Go look at that stuff. I’m mad. Jim Dutcher ripped us in the Minneapolis paper, our league. He’s a Big Ten guy. We guard, we prepare, we play our butts off and play in hostile environments. I’m sick of all that stuff.”
It is true that Big Ten teams scored considerably more during nonconference play. That’s when they established the conference as the second strongest in the country, according to the ratings percentage index.
Every team in the conference except Ohio State averaged more points during nonconference play than they do in the Big Ten. Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, Penn State and Illinois have a scoring differential of more than 10 points between nonconference and conference games. The average differential for the 11 teams is nearly eight points per game.
Many critics argue that the Big Ten simply doesn’t have as many high quality offensive players as other major conferences. Supporters say the conference just plays better defense than those conferences.
“It’s style of play,” Weber said. “I’ve always said we prepare. We guard. Every possession means something, whether it’s right or wrong. This goes back to coach (Gene) Keady, coach (Bobby) Knight, coach (Jud) Heathcoat. It’s just how it is within our league. … Out of league we were alright.”
Big Ten teams did score with more frequency against quality opponents on some occasions. Other times, not so much.
Purdue scored 82 against Oklahoma and 60 against Duke. Ohio State scored 73 against Miami and 54 against Butler. Michigan scored 81 against Duke and 55 against UCLA. Illinois responded in its biggest nonconference games with 74 against Clemson and 75 against Missouri.
“But you have to do your talking on the court, when you get to the (NCAA) tournament,” Weber said. “That’s when we’ll find out what it’s about. But if you’re smart and go do your homework and look at nonconference, we beat teams.
“Sorry for getting angry, but I’m sick of hearing it, to be honest.”
Give it a rest Weber, the Big 10, is down. They have lost the prestige, their rankings are based on a biased newsmedia from previous years. Their probable conference ranking should be 7th or 8th
In fact you couldn’t be more wrong dch60! Overall the Big 10 was down a couple of years ago..but no longer. And the RPI rankings prove it.
They now have some of best coaches in the nation in Weber, Painter, Izzo, Crean, Matta, Smith, Ryan, Belien…..
Along with the influx of these top flight coaches they now are bringing stud recruits…the Illini have 4 studs coming in next year (including st. louis’ Griffey) and 3 superstuds the year after. Indiana, Minnesota Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State also has some big time talent coming in!
The Big 10 will be one of the top 2 or 3 conferences in the nation for years to come! Weber is right on!!
Doed dch60 stand for Deuche. Everything you said is pure opinion, nothing based on fact. And you are wrong about all of it anyway.
Big 10 is down. Proof? Mich St still elite. Illinois back to the tourney. Michigan is making NCAAA noise again finally. Minnesota is improving with Tubby Smith. Purdue is solid. penn State is good for the first time in years. Wisconsin is still tough.
If anything, it’s amazing that their computer rankings are as high as they are with Indiana going on probation and losing half their team and coach.
And if Illinois and the Big 10 play such wrethced basketball, then Mizzou and other Big 12 school should have NO Problem convincing recruits to go Big 12… but Illinois has NINE future committments from absolute studs for the next three years, including Missouri’s best player - Griffey Prediction: They’ll be a top ten team next year.
dch60,
Please offer your proof instead of mindless babble. Please enlighten us all how the Big 10 should be the 7th or 8th rated conference. What factors are you using besides idiotic and biased thought. Are you using the RPI rating? If that is the case, the Big 10 is #2. Are you using non-conference performance? If thats the case, the Big 10 had one of the top productive non-conference performances of any conferences. Look it up!
Last I checked you idiot, the RPI is not based on newsmedia input, but rather peformance on the court. Lost prestige? Since 1987, the ACC has had 20 Final 4 teams, the Big 10 is second with 16.
There is nothing worse than idiot posters who spew out factless statements as if they are truth. If you can show any rational evidence that the Big 10 is not one of the top conferences this year, I would love to see it.
Give it a rest, dch60…the big ten is up, AND back where it belongs…!!!!