Meyers Leonard Leads Illini to Huge Win vs. Hawkeyes--Why How Leonard Played Today Might Help For The Future

The Fighting Illini finally won a MUST-WIN game vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight and Meyers Leonard came up big. 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 monster blocks led the Illini to a 65-54 win.

Illini guards finally fed Meyers the ball down low, and he showed why they should have done that all year. He played big and with energy in the first half. He finally jumped up and glasses two shots in a row from the Hawkeyes. I have been saying all year, he needs to jump up and if not block shots, at least affect them. If he could do that all game, he can average 3-5 blocks a game, instead of just 2. People would recognize him with Anthony Davis for being the top shot blockers in the nation.

The few that were in attendance for the game tonight were actually quite energetic, along with the Orange Krush (the Illini's student section). The Illini played with energy and came ready to play.

Hawkeye guard, Matt Gatens was held to just four points in the second half, after being 5-5 from the 3-point line in the first half.

Going back to Meyers Leonard, today might indicate how he could play for the rest of the year. If he plays like that, nothing but good can happen. His draft stock can rise and the Illini can win some games.

If the Illini beat Michigan, Wisconsin, and at least two games in the B1G Conference Tournament, they have a chance of making the Big Dance in March. Is Bruce gone no matter what happens? Hopefully not. Bruce is a great guy and I'd hate to see him go. But I think if the Illini make the Big Dance depends on how Meyers Leonard plays.

All-Star Weekend--The Obvious Flaw That Makes It So Boring and How It Can Be Fixed

Jeremy Evans throws down one of his jams in the  Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

We all miss the all-star weekends with Jordan, Bird, Magic, Vince Carter, etc. in the contests. We miss the creative ideas with no props. We miss everything about the old contests. But we cannot go back in time and we have to deal with this period in time's boring All Star Weekend.

Everybody knows what is wrong with All Star Weekend. The NBA's superstars do not want to participate anymore.

The ideal lineup for the contests would go something like this;

Skills Contest;

Chris Paul

Deron Williams

Steve Nash

Derrick Rose

Rajon Rondo

Russell Westbrook

Ricky Rubio

Tony Parker

They may as well rename the contest (something like the Point Guard Skills Contest) considering they do not have anyone but point guards in the contest. Granted, point guards are the quickest and have some of the most skill out there, but there are other players out there who aren't point guards who can run this obstacle course successfully.

3-Point Contest;

Ray Allen

Kevin Durant

Jimmer Fredette

Kevin Love

Kobe Bryant

Dirk Nowitzki

People love variety. The mix of positions and height would draw attention itself.  Everyone would want to tune in to see how Jimmer would do, just because of the hype. Ray Allen is possibly the greatest three-point shooter of all-time. Durant, Kobe, and Dirk are clutch shooters who can do great in this competition, especially if they get a little hot. Kevin Love won this year and it would be nice to see him go at it again.

Dunk Contest;

LeBron James

Blake Griffin

Dwight Howard

Andre Igoudala

Russell Westbrook

Derrick Rose

LeBron is the one player every basketball fan wants to see in the dunk contest. LeBron made a promise he would do it, but didn't come through. Blake competed last year, but claims "dunk contests aren't my thing." Dwight is electrifying and insanely athletic for a near 7-footer. Igoudala, if he still has the energy and bounce, has competed before and is a magnificent dunker. Westbrook and Rose would add the element of a guard in the contest, and would draw attention from everyone. Yes, there are two more dunkers in the ideal contest here, but take away some of the boring commentary from the All-Star Weekend and you would be able to fit them in easily.

Those who don't watch, you cannot tell me you wouldn't tune in to see these players who are "superstars" perform and compete in these contests.

Instead we have Jeremy Evans, James Jones, Anthony Morrow, and Chase Bundinger competing, players who many of you didn't know before yesterday.

How does the NBA expect me to watch year-after-year with these players who never step on the court during games anyways? I want to see the superstars, the best players in the world on All-Star Weekend. Don't you?

First off, the NBA should state, if playing in the All-Star game, you are expected to compete, if asked, on All-Star Saturday. It would finally give fans the opportunity to see these superstars in a competition.

There needs to be new ideas. The HORSE game between Joe Johnson, Kevin Durant, and OJ Mayo a few years ago wasn't a bad idea, but you have to hope it gets done in a certain amount of time. You can even pre-record the event and show it on television later during the day. This way, the players can do crazy shots and have time to finish off before going into a three-point tiebreaker like they had to the one year they did it in '09.

Something that would help the time limit thing--make it an ALL DAY thing. From 12 noon to about 10 or 11 at night. This way, you can add different the various different events.

Maybe a game of 21 between a few players or even one-on-one. LeBron & Kobe, D-Rose & Westbrook, anyone who is willing to play one-on-one would be nice.

A three-on-three game would work well too. Pick&Rolls would be well in effect, and the players can have fun with it while staying competitive and serious.

Even the Celebrity Game needs to be fixed. Kevin Hart made that game somewhat watchable. His antics kept me laughing and watching, hoping he either crosses someone or someone blocks his shot into the 15th row. Most of the "Celebrities" I have never heard of. Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education played well. Maybe Obama would be willing to play? Secret Service would have to be all around the court and security would be about triple what they would usually need, but television ratings would be sky high. I figure bring back the old players they used to have, as well. My ideal Celebrity Game would be this;

Barack Obama

Kevin Hart

Arne Duncan

Terrell Owens

Romeo Miller

Justin Bieber

Michael Jordan

Candace Parker

Snoop Dogg

Just to name a few, those are some celebs who supposedly can ball. Obama, Hart, and Bieber would draw fans, especially Bieber. Who wouldn't want to see Michael Jordan, the greatest player ever, go at it one more time on national television. Scottie Pippen did it last year, why not Jordan? I would like to see Candace ball with the boys. Tamika Catchings did it the past two years and played decent. T.O. and Romeo have played before and played extremely well. Snoop apparently has major skill, so he'd be a good celeb to have out there. 

The All-Star Weekend will always be around, but the question is--will it always be exciting? The NBA has slacked off on new ideas lately, and these are some simple things I had in mind.

What ideas do you have? Comment below and tell me.
Follow me on Twitter @fgasper25

Meyers Leonard Shows Emotion--Why it is Good he Finally Let it All Out

After watching tonight's game for the Illini vs. Nebraska, I feel the need to come to Meyers Leonard's defense. The Illini got whooped by the worst team in the Big Ten, 80-57.

Leonard, late in the game, was shown on the bench crying. I mean absolutely bawling his eyes out. To those who say he is a cry baby *coughcough Jerry Palmer coughcough*, listen to this. 

Meyers, just 19 years old and still a kid at heart, has had to grow up faster than imagined throughout the past few years. Meyers mother is quite sick, his brother is overseas in Afghanistan, and his dad passed away when he was just six years old. 

"I want to be a kid for as long as I can be," he said. "But there's a lot on my shoulders. My mom is in a lot of pain. My brother is overseas. All of these people, these fans, they want us to be good. People ask me if I'm going to the NBA. There's just a lot of stuff right now."  - ESPN

Meyers is the quote-on-quote "star" of the Illini, but has not lived up to expectations. With rumors of the man who recruited him, Bruce Weber, possibly being fired and that same man throwing him under the bus, Meyers has even more pressure on him.

Meyers Leonard has the right to cry.

To those who say "there is no crying in sports," put yourself in Meyers' shoes. Tell me how you would be able to handle yourself. Oh right, you wouldn't be able to. You would've broke down immediately. Meyers stayed as strong as possible for as long as possible. I am not 100% sure why Meyers was crying, but I feel this is it. He cannot take the pressure, and I would not be able to either. 

So, Jerry Palmer from CBS who tweeted this; 

"Like I said. Cry babies. RT @BTNTomDienhart: Meyers Leonard crying on the bench. #Illini #B1G " 

How do you feel now? Now that you know that Meyers has been through more than most of us, how do you feel? And that goes to any who call Meyers a cry-baby or say he doesn't care. His emotions today shows he clearly cares.

Do not worry Meyers, I'll have your back 'til the end.

Illini Drop Must-Win Game to Nebraska; What's Next?

Well, the Bruce Weber era looks like it is over. Today, the Illini dropped their eighth of their last nine games. Their record also dropped to a very mediocre 16-11. A game that was a must-win for the struggling Illini and Bruce Weber, the Illini lost 80-57. The Cornhuskers ended the game on a 50-12 run. Yes, that is correct, a 50-12 run. I am going to come to the defense of Bruce Weber before criticizing him for a second.

I am personally tired of people saying Bruce Weber cannot recruit. Anytime you bring up the 04-05 37-2 Illini team with Dee Brown, Deron Williams, James Augustine, Luther Head, and Roger Powell Jr, people jump on the fact that Weber did not recruit those players. While that is true, Weber still did coach them and they ran HIS system. Not former coach Bill Self's.

Another recruiting argument is that he cannot recruit his own state. Take a step back for a second. Weber has had ELEVEN ESPNU Top 100 recruits commit to the University of Illinois since 2007 from the state of Illinois alone, an average of about two a year. He recruits his own state better than anyone around. Those eleven players include, Bill Cole, Demetri McCamey, Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson, Crandall Head, Meyers Leonard, Jereme Richmond, Mychael Henry, Mike Shaw, Tracy Abrams, and Nnanna Egwu. 7 of those 11 are still on the current team.

Unfortunately, Weber has missed some of the top recruits from Illinois; Derrick Rose (Memphis), E'Twaun Moore, who technically lived in East Chicago, Indiana (Purdue), Evan Turner (Ohio State), Jacob Puller (Kansas St.), Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech), Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Quincy Miller (Baylor), and Wayne Blackshear (Louisville), just to name some of the few college superstars from Illinois.

Staying on the topic of recruiting, the Illini are in risk of losing even more players from Illinois. These players include Jabari Parker, Kendrick Nunn, Thomas Hamilton Jr, Paul White, Jahlil Okafor, and Cliff Alexander. The firing of Weber, if it happens, would not help the Illini's case in trying to recruit these talent high-schoolers.

Back to the college game and out of high school. Weber has struggled with discipline with his players. Players like Jereme Richmond and Demetri McCamey hurt the team with their attitude. Thus, Bruce seems like the bad guy. The thing is, these guys have mindset's that they are better than anyone. They have people always in their ear telling them how good they are. That sticks in a kid’s head.

A few former players have come to Bruce's defense, saying it is not his fault the team is not playing well. So the question is; what's next? With a new AD, do they fire Bruce? It's hard to believe he will be around much longer after today's game. The players gave up, they showed no heart or hustle. Near the end of the game, Meyers Leonard was shown, towel over his head, crying. And I mean bawling his eyes out.

Once again, I am going to come to an Illini's defense. Meyers has had a rough time adjusting lately. All the pressure finally broke him down. His mother was very sick, his brother was in Afghanistan, and his father passed away when Meyers was just 6. That is a lot for a boy from a small town in Illinois to handle. Personally, I think this has clearly played a huge factor in Meyers' recent struggles.

It is tough to see all these people wishing Bruce Weber good riddens, hoping he gets fired. Looks like we will all have to wait and see…