ESPN Men's Basketball

In the aftermath of the Indiana-Illinois game, we were asked in the studio to comment on the lingering controversy attendant to Indianapolis prep star and highly rated recruit Eric Gordon. Gordon gave a verbal commitment early to Illinois and Bruce Weber after a long recruitment, only to later sign with Indiana and new coach Kelvin Sampson.

After the Illinois home victory over the Hoosiers, I said the entire Gordon saga was overblown, and that it was much ado about nothing. This type of thing, while unfortunate, happens from time to time in recruiting. I finished by saying that Bruce Weber, whom I like and respect very much, should stop "whining" about the whole thing and move on.

The last comment did not come out as I intended, and I regret that. Weber has largely been silent publicly about the Gordon recruitment issue, and his public stance since the summer cannot reasonably be characterized by me or anyone else as whiny. What I meant to convey was my opinion that the Illinois faithful should stop whining about it, and I should have been more precise with my words. I fumbled that one out of bounds, and the turnover should be charged to me, and only me.

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