Purdue Lands Big Man

The Purdue men's basketball team claims to have signed center Sandi Marcius, who moved from Croatia to LaPorte, Ind., for his senior season.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound center averaged 15 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocked shots for La Lumiere last season.

Marcius will help the void of Nemanja Calasan, a forward who is no longer eligible in the NCAA after playing two years for the Boilermakers after Junior College. Marcius will be a steady backup to all-conference center JaJuan Johnson.

"We have been recruiting Sandi since the fall and are excited about his decision to come to Purdue," head coach Matt Painter said in a news release Monday. "He has really made strides this year at La Lumiere School under Coach Brooks."

Marcius was coached by Delray Brooks, the 1984 Indiana "Mr. Basketball."

"We feel that he is going to give us an inside presence on both ends of the floor," Painter said. "He gives us another big body along the frontline which is something we've been looking to address. We really feel like he will fit in well with our current player as well as the guys we have coming in with him."

Scouting Report

Author: zu (from Indiana Basketball News Message Board) - Marcius is a 6'10" highly athletic post with a very strong frame. Purdue will definately need his size in the post, and he may be that missing piece of bulk that can put Purdue a bit closer to elite level like Michigan State, NC, Duke, etc. Not on the same level, but much closer. Would probably be Painters most important recruit if he decides to go there since the others (J. Robinson, Bade) are just carbon copies of what he already has.

Author: Reg Tisdale (from Indiana Basketball News Message Board) - He is very skilled offensively scoring adeptly from 5' to 22'.. He hits the boards hard and is very aggressive in the paint. His bulk and total game is just what the Boilers need in the Post.....

Penn State Signs Serbian Prospect

Penn state has signed 6'9'' Serbian forward Sasa Borovnjak to play this fall. Read the full AP story here. Also, you can watch a highlight reel at Rivals.

Biggest Story

I've thought about and compiled some options for the "biggest story" of the year for men's basketball. Which do you think is the biggest story? If you feel there is something bigger, please feel free to throw it out.

• The Iowa men's basketball team loses its leading scored for the second year in a row (both due to transferring), including three others.
  
• Michigan State finishes the season as runner-up for the NCAA Championship.
  
• Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan is named coach of the United States men's basketball team that will play at this year's World University Games.
  
• Junior forward DeShawn Sims and sophomore guard Manny Harris skip out on the NBA draft, and will return for the 2009-10 season.
  
• Minnesota coach Tubby Smith wins 20+ games for 16th consecutive season.
  
• Seven Big Ten teams make it to the NCAA Tournament; Penn State snubbed.

Top Five Big Ten Coaches (Football and Men's Basketball)

Between Big Ten basketball and football, the conference has some of the best coaches the country has to offer. Here are my top five. This is taking into account the overall success of the coach and the current state of the program.

1. Tom Izzo - Michigan State Basketball



2. Jim Tressel - Ohio State Football



3. Kirk Ferentz - Iowa Football



4. Joe Paterno - Penn State Football



5. Thad Matta - Ohio State Basketball



What are your thoughts?





* photos from Yahoo images

Williams Comes Up Clutch

Ex-Illini star, Deron Williams, hit the game winning shot tonight with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the Jazz an 88-86 home victory and ray of hope against the Lakers.

Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds on the night, helping Utah to close the series gap to 2-1 in favor of Los Angeles.



* photo from yahoo sports

No. 9 Iowa

Dear friends, readers, and everyone alike --

I have found a possible answer as to why our basketball program has fallen apart! Oh wait...no I haven't. Maybe just in Tucker's case.

The University of Iowa is ranked ninth this year according to Playboy's top 10 party schools.

Check it here and how they base this at The Prox, The Daily Princetonian's online blog.

Home Run Nightmare

Everyone should check out Buster Olney's latest blog entry on home runs in the new Yankee Stadium.

The park is the same dimensions and the park is facing the same direction. Including the two games the Cubs played there prior to opening day, 25 home runs have been hit in five games.

You can see the balls flying out in right field in this amazing and historic 14-run second inning put together by the Cleveland Indians.



Haven't seen the stadium yet?



Speaking of the Yankees, check out this video of a Red Sox fan going through Yankee Stadium. Beware of laaaaaaaaaaanguage (dun dun dunnnnnnn).