RE: Gordon to IU

I think that your story is sensationalized. Gordon always wanted to go to IU, but with Davis there is wasn't even an option.

I think if you check your facts, the Gordon's sent word to the IU staff which indicated that he was interested in Indiana again.

Weber has the right to be upset. UI Fans have the right to be upset. But, your story is factually incorrect and thus fairly bunk.

I think that your story is factually incorrect. Sampson can not even recruit off campus, and such, I don't think he chased after anyone.

The Gordon's expressed interest in IU after the coaching change was made. He wanted to be a Hoosier all along. UI fans and coaches can be mad - I understand that. What I don't really get is how you write for SI, and not a more sensational periodical.

Really, Eric Gordon had a win-win situation. Both Indiana and Illinois are elite teams and he'll perform well at either one.

Although my heart goes out to Illinois fans, I personally think that Indiana was the wiser choice and applaud Gordon. Indiana simply underachieved last year with DJ White out and with him back, Eric and DJ are going to make a powerful duo. Such as duo would simply not exist with the Illini. Of course, the fact that he already lived in Indiana most likely had something to do with it.

Luke,

Do you think EJ will win a title with the Hoosiers and jump ship to the Illini and try to take the title there?

Luke,

Check the articles on EJ. It was EJ who was interested in IU, just not Mike "why did he last so long" Davis. With Davis gone, EJ was able to realize his dream of being a Hoosier. This was a unique situation, that I doubt will be repeated at least by Sampson.

I agree that a renewed rivalry between IU and Illinois has been sparked (remember the old Knight Henson days?). But there are few things I would like to point out and you can take them or leave them. According to the Gordons and EJ's high school head coach, conversation regarding an interest in IU was initiated by the Gordons, not Sampson. Sampson had recruited EJ while at Oklahoma so a relationship had already been established. Plus EJ had always dreamed of playing for the Hoosiers, but the Mike Davis situation was going to prevent that from happening.

Secondly, EJ and his father both have stated that they were very up front with Weber and kept him in the loop during the process. They did not make a lot of public statements, but apparently Weber knew what was going on.

I am not saying that Weber and the Illini faithful should not be upset. I am just saying that there are some mitigating factors that may or may not be presented in the national media. It seems as though this situation is always presented as a case of Sampson relentlessly going after the kid and hounding him to go to IU and then Weber getting totally blindsided. I just don't feel that this is entirely accurate.

buckeyes champs in football and basketball.

Luke, please keep in mind that many UF fans had started making the trek for the Auburn game. That being said, I believe Midnight Madness has pretty much lost it's appeal. It's basically the same thing year in and year out at every school. Hats off to the UK fans who filled Rupp.

Eric Gordon was the one who opened his recruiting back up. You shouldn't make it sound like Sampson went after him for no reason. It was more the player coming to the coach then the other way around.

Buckeyes will go down to Badgers

Who cares? w/a backcourt of A. Freeman & C. Wright(we also picked up C. Braswell-top 25 recruit) the Hoyas will be the Team to beat.

Sampson hired Gordon's Aau coach and another friend of Gordon's to be the team video manager. The guy is the biggest scumbag in college ball (in any sport). It's only a matter of time until he screws up again and violates NCAA rules, is forced to leave Indiana in disgrace, while Indiana will be stuck with the NCAA sanctions. The whole Gordon situation is about a complete lack of ethics, but Sampson and Gordon will be a good match because neither of them have ethics.

You are correct in saying Kelvin Sampson went after Eric Gordon. To the IU fans who think Sampson did not, I would say hiring the father's former college coach Jeff Meyer far surpasses just going after a player.

Ssampson is the biggest scumbag in college ball (in any sport). This whole situation highlights a complete lack of ethics, so Gordon and Sampson are perfect for each other, as neither has any ethics. This was a high pressure move, as Sampson hired Gordon's AAU coach, as well as hiring a Gordon family friend to work the video machines at IU basketball. It's only a matter of time until there are new NCAA violations by Sampson, and he leaves in disgrace (again). Indiana will have to pick up the pieces of their program after the punishments are handded out and a new coach is hired.

previous comments commending gordon and sampson are disgusting...both of them have no ethics to say the least. Sampson is a scumbag and went against the unwritten rule of recruiting an already verbally committed recruit. Not only has he put a bad taste in Illinois fans, but the entire bigten. Gordon is a pos for not retracting his commitment a long time ago instead of telling weber that his verbal was still solid and leaving at the last minute basically ruining U of I's recruiting efforts. Both of them are just another example of the corruption of sports and more specifically the bogus ncaa.

Whether the Gordons initiated it or not Sampson should have stayed away imo. He was committed to UI. But what do you expect from someone with recruiting violations. I don't know how up front the Gordons were with Weber. As recently as six days before he switched he told Weber he was coming to Illinois.

Sorry, but I can't feel sorry for the Illini, not after their "recruitment" of Trent Meachem from U of Dayton. Do you think maybe that messed up Dayton's recruiting plans for a PG?

Illini - don't be hypocrits.

Memphis is filled with talented two-guards, but we're excited you think Rose is going to be a Tiger!!

Luke,

You are incorrect. Weber has recruited a top 50 player. Illinois freshman center Brian Carlwell was ranked #37 in the 2006 class, according to scout.com.

"Sad that Kentucky can pack Rupp Arena for its Midnight Madness, while at UF, the national champs can fold back most of the floor-level seats at the O-Dome and still accommodate everyone." Whats said is Kentucky now can't beat the Gators in football or basketball

Sampson had the right to recruit Gordon. It's HOW he went about it that's disturbing. He hired three (3) Gordon associates (two close family friends and his AAU coach) to entice him to the program. No, that's not illegal. But to me, it's a move that borrows on the integrity and principles that a good program is built on. It's this: "Come to Indiana, and I'll let you bring your entourage with you, my master." Instead of this: "Come to Indiana, we have a good program, great fans, unbelievable tradition, and you'll get a good education to boot." I hate to see a program like Indiana, with impeccable integrity up to now, chip away at that foundation by throwing out the window HR practices in maniacal pursuit of a single player. Sampson is basically going off of the philosophy of "I had to destroy the program's integrity, in order to save it." Not sad or tragic. Just a little disappointing.

Illinois fans criticizing Sampson for hiring Gordon associates as acting unethical have a short memory. If you remember, in 1998 Illinois hired Wayne McClain because he was the high school coach of his son Sergio McClain, Frank Williams, and Marcus Griffin who all came to Illinois because Wayne was hired as an assistant coach. If Sampson is unethical for hiring Gordon associates, you must think that your own program is unethical as well.

"Sad that Kentucky can pack Rupp Arena for its Midnight Madness, while at UF, the national champs can fold back most of the floor-level seats at the O-Dome and still accommodate everyone." Whats said is Kentucky now can't beat the Gators in football or basketball"

No whats really sad is a FLORIDA clown gets one little championship and thinks its KING OF THE WORLD. When you get six, count them 6, more then come see me at UK. Until you win 7 National championships, keep your gator trap closed!

PN