21st Big Ten Title

[IU Hoops Expert]

Ed,
Before we get to basketball I would like to say congrats on your upcoming 50th show tonight. It seems like just yesterday that I was doing my phone interview, now look how far you have come ~ job well done!

I was going to email you last night after the game but I didn't get home from the party to celebrate another Big 10 title until late (or early) this morning. I had mentioned last week that I would email you after we locked up another championship and I always keep my word. I would like to say thanks to all of your viewers that texted me congratulations last night. It is amazing that IU is up to 21 championships! Well, we have one more regular season game at Michigan and then on to the tourney. I hope to be in touch after IU picks up a #1 seed in the big dance and can't wait to see how things go from there. Hopefully we will hang a 6th National Championship banner in Assembly Hall. Talk later...

Your friend as always,
I.U Hoops Expert aka/ Dick

[UMMSU Sports Expert aka Otis]

Let me introduce myself: Otis, UM/MSU Sport Expert. This is my first post to the Fish Report Message Board, because it's time for to set Dick, the so called IU Hoops expert, straight. His diatribes are not worth reading and always over the top. And why only about basketball; where is he during football season. It's also time for some balanced input from those teams up north. I predict that Michigan, MSU, Wisconsin, OSU and IU will all share the Big Ten regular season championship, which is somewhat meaningless with the upcoming tournament on a neutral court playing a bigger role in the NCAA seeding than regular season play.

Congratulations, Fish Report Live, on your 50th show.

[IU HOOPS EXPERT]

Nice to meet you Otis, welcome to the party! After reading your senseless drivel I have to wonder if maybe you are named after the Mayberry town drunk? I will try to address your "issues" in order:

1) Why only about basketball? In case you didn't notice I am the I.U Hoops Expert; unlike yourself I recognize my strengths and stick with those, instead of trying to be an expert on things I know nothing about.

2) Balanced input? You will have to forgive me for not giving credit to Michigan schools when they are 0-3 against I.U this year. The fact is, right now I.U is the only team in the Big Ten that has clinched at least a part of the title. They are the only team in the Big Ten that can still clinch the title outright. They are the #1 seed in the Big Ten tournament. It is hilarious that you call the regular season Big 10 championship "meaningless". I guess to a casual fan it would be, but to an expert you realize that being #1 in what is considered the toughest conference in the country goes a long way to determining your seeding in the NCAA tournament. I am sure that an "expert" like yourself believes a 3 or 4 game tournament will play a bigger role in NCAA tournament seeding. I guess if Illinois wins they will move up to the 1 line in the tournament? Or maybe Iowa? The tournament allows lower teams a change to get in the big dance and may effect a small change (say a 1 dropping to a 2, or vice versa) but to say it "plays a bigger role in the NCAA tournament seeding than the regular season" is evidence to your lack of expertise on college hoops.

Maybe instead of trying to copy my moniker, try coming up with an original one. Maybe "UMMSU Casual Basketball Fan"?

Your friend and hoops expert,
I.U Hoops Expert aka/ Dick

[Casual Message Board Reader]

Finally, something on this message board worth reading

[Otis UMMSU Sports Expert]

IU Hoops Expert aka Little Dick,

First of all congratulations on your 21st Big Ten title. Now that being said, isn't Bloomington a little south of Mayberry? And regarding your comment about the Big Ten basketball tournament, check the record; the winner has almost always gotten a #1 seed in the Big Dance; just look at last year; three way tie after the regular season (MSU/OSU/UofM - where was indiana?), MSU wins the tournament and gets the top seed in the NCAA's. And finally what's with Creen jumping all over Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer after the game - can't even win gracefully.

The Boys at Fish Report are on top of their game. Your IU blather is just a distraction.

[IU Hoops Expert]

Great to hear back from you Otis "the casual basketball fan"!

Thank you for continuing to make my point for me. As I am sure you are unaware, last year both MSU and OSU were already on the NCAA #2 line going in to the Big Ten tournament. Michigan State won the tourney and moved up to a 1 seed with OSU staying at a 2. So like I said (if you had been paying attention), the Big Ten tourney can help teams make small moves in their overall seeding. I.U was an NCAA #4 seed going into the tourney last year and didn't move, even though they lost their 2nd round game. I.U will be a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament this year regardless of how they preform in the Big Ten tourney. Get it yet? It is the regular season that ultimately determines where you will be seeded, with the year end tournament being a fine adjustment at the end. What always seems to confuse the casual fan, such as yourself, is that the reason the teams get 1 seeds when they win the Big Ten tournament is because they have been great during the regular season. I would suspect if you had ever even played basketball (except on your xbox) you would understand this concept.

About the Tom Crean (notice the spelling, casual basketball fan) and Jeff Meyer incident ~ Again, as I am sure you are unaware, Meyer was an I.U assistant from 06-08 under Kelvin Sampson. When Samson left for NCAA recruiting violations, so did Meyer. I know it's a shocker he ended up at Michigan. Speaking of that, what ever happened to those '92 and '93 Final Four banners that used to hang at Crisler arena. Do they keep them in storage with all the other Fraud Five memorabilia?

Having meet the Fish Report Guys in person, I know they are on top of their game. It is you that really needs to take some time and do your homework.

I.U - Big Ten Champions (4 and 0 vs Michigan schools)

Your friend and teacher,
I.U Hoops Expert aka/ Dick

[Had enough]

That's a lot of butt kissin for the FR team. Great guys, agreed, but oh man it's gettin a little over the top?

[Otis Uof M MSU Sports Expert]

IU Hoops Expert aka Small Dick,
What say you now?
Go Blue!
Otis