clarkwgriswold

Don't you be dissin' the Bogalusa Bomber!

Charlie Spikes was taller than Antino Jackson and would have qualified for in-state tuition rates at LSU.

Two words- basketball spanx.

Simple personal observation from standing next to him in the lobby at the JAR. I would also estimate him at approximately 275 pounds.

Kind of a shame that in today's day and age that loyalty, which used to be expected, is now the exception.

Better than than "throw it up"!

Sorry, we got caught up in the LSU/Akron and Boals recruiting debates.

Yep. I stood next to Antino at the Zips pre-season event and he was clearly taller then me and I'm about 5'10".

How did Boals not recruit him to OSU?

OK, I've been lured in. It's a slow night. 38 LSU players have played in the NBA or ABA, including Shaq, Pete Maravich, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, John Chaney and Bob Petit. Akron's had 4 and none since 1976 when Nathanile Barnett played 12 games for the Indiana Pacers in the ABA. As a 20 year old basketball player, I suspect Antino is more concerned with a school's basketball tradition and where the school may take him in basketball than he is with the academic reputation behind his Master's Degree. Yes, I know they are bottom dwellers in the SEC right now, but I'd bet the Shejiang LIons, Maccabi Tel Aviv BC or the Frankfurt Skyliners are more likely to recognize LSU on a basketball resume.

We've clearly passed over into "who gives a $h!+" mode.

Per US News and World Report rankings, LSU is rated the 135th National University. Akron is "rank not published." I have no idea what the hell that means. We went 16 hours without a post and now we're on this. Obviously a slow day. LOL. LOI day tomorrow and we're....here.

Rub it in!

I just brought up the incentive for a 20 win season to stir the pot! At the end of the day, I want a team I enjoy watching. I did not enjoy this last season's team as much as I had enjoyed the past seasons and often found myself frustrated with them rather than enjoying them, even in their wins. By no means and am I one of those who discounts KD's contributions to the program, but I'd give up some wins to see some new things from the Zips in the transistion to a new system. With any luck, the Groce years will bring the wins along with some of the things I'd like to see (pressure; up tempo offense; some real out of bounds plays; better on ball defense...).

Hmmmmm, no incentives for a 20 win season.

Who'd have ever imagined you'd utter those words two days before LOI day? Oh how times have changed!

I'd really like to hear that Groce doesn't have time for an interview because he's in BFI recruiting some stud other schools missed.

Noah was never the same after the injury. In a season of transition, his senior leadership and calming influence could have helped, but in many games last year he seemed reduced to the role of the guy who brought the ball up the floor, posing little or no offensive threat. I wish him luck as he seems like a great kid from every interview I've heard in the last three years.

So, if all plays out, the Zips will lose 4 of 5 starters (Kwan, Dog, Antino and Noah) and the 6th man (Josh). Wow. I think the point Blue & Gold makes is a solid one- Noah's departure would open things up for Antino if he wants to return (fingers crossed).

I'm thinking Dustin's not bringing his brother as he's busy avoiding certified mail at Stony Brook and hoping to avoid Ohio process servers.

That makes sense. My concern when I see stuff like that is that people reading it will base their opinion on innuendo rather than fact, but I get where you're coming from here.

Hughes averaged 7.3 minutes per game in OOC play (before he was hurt) and 2.2 in conference play (after he returned). Whether that was the result of him falling out of the rotation or the coaching staff not thinking his play was worthy of more minutes or thought he was still hurt, only the coaching staff knows. I thought he showed some real promise early, before his injury.

I'd like the senior leadership of Noah or Antino. However, my little voice tells me that Antino's never at his best when he's on the floor with Noah. Antino's most successful at the point with the ball in his hands, attacking. We didn't see that this year. Hopefully, if both stay, Groce can find the answer.

OK, removing Dunn-Martin from the mix, you can only keep two of what's left. Who do you choose?

Why the secrecy?