Darn those deadlines! Timing, they say, is everything. Timing is also very difficult for sports writers who write for magazines. By the time you see what you submitted in print it can often be quite dated.

That was the case today for Sports Illustrated columnist Seth Davis. In the January 31 edition of SI, Davis noted that James Augustine only made one of six shots against Iowa and said the Illini needed him to improve (he made no mention of the rest of Augustine's stats in that game: 14 rebounds, 7-8 on free throws and two blocks).

Coincidentally (and poor timing for Davis), on that same day, the Big Ten announced that Augustine was named the conference player of the week for the second time in the month of January (the Big Ten release for the first time is here).

As Illini Wonk has mentioned in a previous post, needlessly defending Augustine against sports-writers is becoming tiresome. Especially when all is required is a quick look at his stats: 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 1.5 bpg while shooting 64% from the field and 76% from the line. Whoever is compiling the Big Ten all conference team had better reserve a spot for James Augustine.

Marlen Garcia of the Chicago Tribune, who's deadline is much shorter, has a glowing profile of Augustine here. Mark Tupper of the Decatur Herald & Tribune has writes that the Illinois frontcourt is a strength recently .
  posted by Illiniwonk at 9:47 PM