CSNbbs

Gordon seems to be looking ...

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S...v=menu35_8

Quote:There's been plenty of talk the last several weeks about Eric Gordon's college basketball future.

Although the North Central star has verbally committed to Illinois 24 Hour News 8 has learned that IU is stepping up it's efforts to change his mind. Sources tell us that Gordon and his father made a visit to Bloomington over the weekend, and we're told the visit was very successful. There's no official word from Gordon if this means he's decided to re-open the recruiting process. Gordon has given a verbal commitment to Illinois, but he could switch to the Hoosiers if he wants to.

Does a verbal commitment mean anything?

As far as recruiting goes not much. I would be nervous about Sampson if I was IU. Its funny they fired Bobby Knight and now they've got this guy. He might not throw chairs, but he bends the hell out of recruiting dos and don'ts. Who's the more moral of the two?

ptmg Wrote:Does a verbal commitment mean anything?

What's funny is that these folks are suppose to be 'conference boodie brothers' ... which, once you think about it, makes perfect sense.

That said, how does this affect us with Rose? Rose was quoted, as we know, as 'grooving' with Gordon on the court. A quote that gave me 'bad vibes.' My ESP tells me that this helps the Tigers. But maybe I've been watching too much of That 70s Show. You think? :)

Here are the links from the Illinois and Indiana Scout boards:

http://mb30.scout.com/fillinoisinsiderfr...9171.topic
http://mb4.scout.com/fiuinsiderfrm4.show...5023.topic

Some strange things seem to be happening here. Some people on fan boards and possibly in the media may be trying to influence the outcome of this recruitment. Some planting and posing may be going on. Anybody can get on a fan board and claim to have insider information. Eric Gordon, Jr. and Eric Gordon, Sr. have opened the door for all this, so one can only presume they're comfortable with all the scrutiny.

Take a look at the threads and judge for yourself. I don't even pretend to know what's going on.

IdahoTiger Wrote:Here are the links from the Illinois and Indiana Scout boards:

http://mb30.scout.com/fillinoisinsiderfr...9171.topic
http://mb4.scout.com/fiuinsiderfrm4.show...5023.topic

Some strange things seem to be happening here. Some people on fan boards and possibly in the media may be trying to influence the outcome of this recruitment. Some planting and posing may be going on. Anybody can get on a fan board and claim to have insider information. Eric Gordon, Jr. and Eric Gordon, Sr. have opened the door for all this, so one can only presume they're comfortable with all the scrutiny.

Take a look at the threads and judge for yourself. I don't even pretend to know what's going on.

The bottom line is that any confusion or uncertainty helps us. Why? Because how is Gordon supposed to recruit Rose to play at Illinois if nobody is sure that Gordon himself is going to be there? For that matter, how farfetched is it after Keith's cryptic comment to think that maybe Rose and Gordon will both end up here. Until Webber locks up players that actually make it to the NBA, Cal and company is going to run rings around him and most other staffs.

The staff knows exactly what it's doing. They're always quiet when it comes to recruiting; no leaks no bad info, no alleged this or that. One minute you look outside and don't see anything and hear crickets...the next Amare Stoudemire, DaJuan Wagner, DWash, Mack, CDR or someone else is committing.

The more Gordon wanders, the better I feel about Rose.

Stammers, I couldn't agree with more your post. Given how they are incessantly targeted by people employing negative recruiting, Cal and his staff are doing a great job combating it. He's a master of his craft.

Here's the write-up in today's Indianapolis Star:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...90424/1069

This whole situation is typical of what the Gordons have been doing all along: doing things that lead to more speculation. Why go to Bloomington when you know very well the kind of media speculation it's going to touch off? They do and say things that are ambiguous and then say they're committed to Illinois.

Understandably, the Illinois fans (and likely coaching staff) are not happy with this, but what can they really do about? He's just a commit, and can change his mind at any time. Mike DeCourcy, tiger-tug, and others have pointed out that most basketball coaches have an understood code of conduct regarding committed players, but some don't: Mr. Pearl and Mr. Sampson, for example. And it's true that continuing to recruit committed players is just par for the course in football. Virtually everybody does it. The famous quote in the SEC is, "A commitment is only important because it shows you who your competition is."

The difference in basketball is that you can't just go out and get another Eric Gordon if he decommits. It takes time to establish relationships with players. You've got to have a back-up plan to survive. Less players on the field of play in basketball; individual players have more of an impact in basketball than in football, obviously.

That's what people can't figure out in this. Why are the Gordons doing this to themselves, and to the Illinois coaching staff and fans? Surely they are aware of how their statements and actions are being perceived. No one can figure out why they just don't re-open his recruitment, take some visits and examine their options in a straightforward way. That would give the Illini a chance to develop a back-up plan. If a decommitment happens in September or October, they're left holding the bag.

Of course, given all the dirty tricks many coaches pull in recruiting, it's sometimes hard to feel sorry for them, and just cast blame on a young kid and his father. He's just 17 or so, after all; and a lot of people want to talk to him because of what they think he can do for them--the way of the world.

But why make it difficult for youself and bring down all this media and fan attention on your head? You're either committed or you're not--the term is not shaded in gray in the English language.