Crummy end to a great career

[OTM Al]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=1998349

So maybe I'm a bit biased having grown up there and being a Purdue alum, but this guy would get more out of what he had year after year than any coach I've ever seen. Had two big shots at the final four in 89 and (I think it was) 93 but fell short. The 89 loss in the round of 16 was the worst. #1 seeded and losing to Kansas St, a team they'd beaten by around 30 in the regular season. Sad to see him go out like this.

[cj]

Good coach, and definitely one of the Top 5 All Time "Bad Hair" coaches! :D

[toetoe]

Has to be Gene Keady, Bizarro World counterpart of Gene Rayburn.

[Valuist]

Definitely agree he got the most out of what he could. He would end up with the scraps IU wouldn't want.

[Valuist]

There may be an interesting wagering opportunity tonight. Illini coach Bruce Weber was an assistant for a number of years to Keady at Purdue. I don't think Weber will run it up real high on the Boilers, and Illinois has had a bit of a tendency to play to its level of competition. 23.5 is too tempting to pass up.

[OTM Al]

Valuist-

I would agree for that reason and one other. If my memory serves, Purdue has always played pretty well at Illinois and conversely pretty poorly against them at home. Of course Purdue has pretty well disintigrated this year, but there's nothing like playing a top ranked team to get you fired up.

[Valuist]

Its also Senior Night in Champaign. I think some of the senior bench players will get some floor time tonight. Just no reason to drive the Boilers into the ground w/a quick turnaround for a road game at Ohio State this weekend.

[freeneasy]

and came out with this
in comparing the last 5 rd games for purdue with the last 5 home games for illinois, illinois came out at -23.6
but
in collectivly combining both the road and the home games that each team has played in their last 5 games, illinois comes out at -14.45
so comparitivly speaking if the form for the road vs home games holds up its a 50-50 deal, but
that 50-50 punch loses its expectancy when you consider the fact that illinois has been favored by 13 or more points 11 times and has covered those spreads 3 times, thats a 3 and 8 record. as for purdue, they have been dogs by 13 or more points 5 times and they have covered 4 of those 5 times thats a 4 and 1 record. certainly good numbers for purdue and certainly worth a look if not a bet.

last nite the spread was 24 right now its 23 1/2

[OTM Al]

Guess that didn't work so well. Well, one more game and Gene is out of his misery.

[freeneasy]

purdue got the bejeezus beat out of em

[OTM Al]

And its over. The combover is gone but will never be forgotten.