Pregame: Illinois vs Georgia Tech, Wednesday, November 28th, 8:00pm CT, ESPN2

Future Walk-On · Nov 28, 2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinifan31

Hopefully I get onto the floor. Class ends at 7, right when doors open. Gonna be a tight oneeeeee.

leave class early

PVR · Nov 28, 2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVR

Won't be checking the board after about 4, so for real if any students want them (free), shoot me a private message. Hoping to get to campus around 7.

Yo's: Tix are claimed.

I-L-L let's do this.

U of I 89-05-10 · Nov 28, 2012, 03:39 PM

IMO, the big boys each season in college basketball are the programs that stay ranked for a vast majority of the season (as in, excluding the teams that start ranked and can't keep it and the teams that just jump into the rankings after an upset or two) ... which I'm guessing is about 15-20 teams given all the movement the top 25 experiences. When you're one of those teams, you carry a target on your back, people think of you as a "basketball school," your school is thought of as a big time program even when you have a down year or two. Illinois was that type of program and then some from 2000-2006, and we even carried that prestige through the 2008 season (i.e., even though we weren't great in 2007 and sucked in '08, people had no doubt we'd be back). However, from 2009 until now, we've lost a little bit of the respect our program gained in the early and mid 2000s ... but all it would take to get it back is a legitimate stay in the top 25, especially with the recruiting class we have coming in.

What's my point with all of this? I think this game is a lot more important to our program's future/perception than most realize. We're ranked 22nd in both polls, and we made it out of our trap game alive last Sunday, and now we have a winnable home game for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on national TV, and how we play in this game will likely sway a lot of people on the fence about UI; if we win convincingly, I think people will view Hawaii and Gardner-Webb for what they were ... games where we were off because of the time switch. If we look bad tonight or even lose, it will cost us our ranking and we'll lose a lot of the positive buzz and momentum. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I think this is Illinois' chance to take a relatively huge baby step back into the spotlight. 2006 seems like a long time ago, but it wasn't long enough ago that people wouldn't jump back on the Illini bandwagon the second they had legitimate reason to believe we were "back." I think this game can be that moment.

If we blow out Georgia Tech and look good doing it, we'll almost certainly break into the top 20, and our next two games after that are vs. Western Carolina and at Gonzaga ... I think we'll beat Western Carolina, and a loss at Gonzaga isn't going to drop us too far, and a win would skyrocket us in the rankings. Again, what's the point? This game is pretty essential as to where we go from here, IMO. I think it'd be huge to go into the Big Ten season ranked, and a big win tonight makes that infinitely easier. GO ILLINI!

My new prediction is that Groce and co. show us that this team is for real ... and not to be taken lightly ... unless we just traveled a long way.

Georgia Tech 67
Illinois 91

krushalot · Nov 28, 2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinifan31

Hopefully I get onto the floor. Class ends at 7, right when doors open. Gonna be a tight oneeeeee.

There's always a spot in Krush for the cows

Dan · Nov 28, 2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

#Illini shootaround now, ready for tonight's #ACCvsBIGTEN Challenge game vs Georgia Tech, 8 pm at the @Assembly_Hall http://pic.twitter.com/9o8jx4TU

http://twitter.com/IlliniHoops

ChiTownIllini22 · Nov 28, 2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

IMO, the big boys each season in college basketball are the programs that stay ranked for a vast majority of the season (as in, excluding the teams that start ranked and can't keep it and the teams that just jump into the rankings after an upset or two) ... which I'm guessing is about 15-20 teams given all the movement the top 25 experiences. When you're one of those teams, you carry a target on your back, people think of you as a "basketball school," your school is thought of as a big time program even when you have a down year or two. Illinois was that type of program and then some from 2000-2006, and we even carried that prestige through the 2008 season (i.e., even though we weren't great in 2007 and sucked in '08, people had no doubt we'd be back). However, from 2009 until now, we've lost a little bit of the respect our program gained in the early and mid 2000s ... but all it would take to get it back is a legitimate stay in the top 25, especially with the recruiting class we have coming in.

What's my point with all of this? I think this game is a lot more important to our program's future/perception than most realize. We're ranked 22nd in both polls, and we made it out of our trap game alive last Sunday, and now we have a winnable home game for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on national TV, and how we play in this game will likely sway a lot of people on the fence about UI; if we win convincingly, I think people will view Hawaii and Gardner-Webb for what they were ... games where we were off because of the time switch. If we look bad tonight or even lose, it will cost us our ranking and we'll lose a lot of the positive buzz and momentum. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I think this is Illinois' chance to take a relatively huge baby step back into the spotlight. 2006 seems like a long time ago, but it wasn't long enough ago that people wouldn't jump back on the Illini bandwagon the second they had legitimate reason to believe we were "back." I think this game can be that moment.

If we blow out Georgia Tech and look good doing it, we'll almost certainly break into the top 20, and our next two games after that are vs. Western Carolina and at Gonzaga ... I think we'll beat Western Carolina, and a loss at Gonzaga isn't going to drop us too far, and a win would skyrocket us in the rankings. Again, what's the point? This game is pretty essential as to where we go from here, IMO. I think it'd be huge to go into the Big Ten season ranked, and a big win tonight makes that infinitely easier. GO ILLINI!

My new prediction is that Groce and co. show us that this team is for real ... and not to be taken lightly ... unless we just traveled a long way.

Georgia Tech 67
Illinois 91

What?

Leonardite · Nov 28, 2012, 03:56 PM

Is the Chief making an appearance tonight?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater

Illiniwek06 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonardite

Is the Chief making an appearance tonight?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater

Liked.

Illinois5 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:03 PM

I liked it..just in case.

Leonardite · Nov 28, 2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illiniwek06

Liked.

We needed 2,000 by game time, but its past 3,200 in 25 minutes. Success

zoggle101 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVR

Yo's: Tix are claimed.

I-L-L let's do this.

AEX · Nov 28, 2012, 04:06 PM

Can't help but feel that every game so far this season has been that this-is-the-game-where-we-find-out-if-this-team-is-for-real game. That's the great thing about winning - it allows you to move the goal posts in the right direction.

I'm curious to see how TA bounces back and how we do on the boards in a game where so much focus is going to be on rebounding. When it's been a priority, we seem to have been serviceable. That's something.

txillini · Nov 28, 2012, 04:06 PM

Way over 2k likes now. Looks like an extra treat for those of you lucky enough to go!

Leonardite · Nov 28, 2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txillini

Way over 2k likes now. Looks like an extra treat for those of you lucky enough to go!

Maybe. We can only hope!

TCTORNADO · Nov 28, 2012, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AEX

Can't help but feel that every game so far this season has been that this-is-the-game-where-we-find-out-if-this-team-is-for-real game. That's the great thing about winning - it allows you to move the goal posts in the right direction.

I'm curious to see how TA bounces back and how we do on the boards in a game where so much focus is going to be on rebounding. When it's been a priority, we seem to have been serviceable. That's something.

TA has been great against man to man but he looked awful against GW's zone. Does anybody know if GT is zone or man to man or combination of both?

IlliniRunIn07 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AEX

Can't help but feel that every game so far this season has been that this-is-the-game-where-we-find-out-if-this-team-is-for-real game. That's the great thing about winning - it allows you to move the goal posts in the right direction.

I'm curious to see how TA bounces back and how we do on the boards in a game where so much focus is going to be on rebounding. When it's been a priority, we seem to have been serviceable. That's something.

Good post. I don't think any of us expected to be ranked or even receiving votes at this point in the season. Most of us would've guessed that we would have some early bumps in the road, and start looking better as the season wore on. At this point, I'm greedy. I want to run the non-conf table, as difficult and unlikely as that may be. It is possible GT slows this game down, and our sloppy play prevents us from winning. It's also possible that we come out and embarrass them worse than we did to USC. That's one of the most exciting this about having a first year coach, and the excitement grows exponentially with every ounce of success he experiences here.

On TA: Groce wasn't shy about Tracy struggling in initial workouts and practices. As the season neared, he talked about how much improvement Tracy was making. TA could be one of those players that dwells on the negatives in a good way. He may be the type of guy to work relentlessly on his shortcomings instead of sulking about past mistakes. He will be one of the most interesting guys to keep an eye on this season.

HsvIllini · Nov 28, 2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konnie

Gave my ticket to a local fan. Wanted my seat filled for the game. GO ILLINI

WizardBill · Nov 28, 2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HsvIllini

PointGuardU01 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

IMO, the big boys each season in college basketball are the programs that stay ranked for a vast majority of the season (as in, excluding the teams that start ranked and can't keep it and the teams that just jump into the rankings after an upset or two) ... which I'm guessing is about 15-20 teams given all the movement the top 25 experiences. When you're one of those teams, you carry a target on your back, people think of you as a "basketball school," your school is thought of as a big time program even when you have a down year or two. Illinois was that type of program and then some from 2000-2006, and we even carried that prestige through the 2008 season (i.e., even though we weren't great in 2007 and sucked in '08, people had no doubt we'd be back). However, from 2009 until now, we've lost a little bit of the respect our program gained in the early and mid 2000s ... but all it would take to get it back is a legitimate stay in the top 25, especially with the recruiting class we have coming in.

What's my point with all of this? I think this game is a lot more important to our program's future/perception than most realize. We're ranked 22nd in both polls, and we made it out of our trap game alive last Sunday, and now we have a winnable home game for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on national TV, and how we play in this game will likely sway a lot of people on the fence about UI; if we win convincingly, I think people will view Hawaii and Gardner-Webb for what they were ... games where we were off because of the time switch. If we look bad tonight or even lose, it will cost us our ranking and we'll lose a lot of the positive buzz and momentum. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I think this is Illinois' chance to take a relatively huge baby step back into the spotlight. 2006 seems like a long time ago, but it wasn't long enough ago that people wouldn't jump back on the Illini bandwagon the second they had legitimate reason to believe we were "back." I think this game can be that moment.

If we blow out Georgia Tech and look good doing it, we'll almost certainly break into the top 20, and our next two games after that are vs. Western Carolina and at Gonzaga ... I think we'll beat Western Carolina, and a loss at Gonzaga isn't going to drop us too far, and a win would skyrocket us in the rankings. Again, what's the point? This game is pretty essential as to where we go from here, IMO. I think it'd be huge to go into the Big Ten season ranked, and a big win tonight makes that infinitely easier. GO ILLINI!

My new prediction is that Groce and co. show us that this team is for real ... and not to be taken lightly ... unless we just traveled a long way.

Georgia Tech 67
Illinois 91

That was a lot of words to say that it would be good to win and look good tonight and it would be even better to win at Gonzaga. I agree on both counts!

Us 72
Them 64

PointGuardU01 · Nov 28, 2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konnie

Gave my ticket to a local fan. Wanted my seat filled for the game. GO ILLINI

Good work

Dan · Nov 28, 2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Pumped to debut our new @homage shirts tonight! #beatgeorgiatech #ACCvsBIGTEN http://pic.twitter.com/0mQzJuV7

http://twitter.com/Illini_OKrush

WizardBill · Nov 28, 2012, 05:08 PM

Excellent! Are those for sale anywhere online?

Holdemall · Nov 28, 2012, 05:18 PM

So who's up for a gamewatch in Chicago (city only, please)? Anyone know of a good one?

Dan · Nov 28, 2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Finally, juggling piano guy. http://pic.twitter.com/NZ7iNkAA

http://twitter.com/mikecation

theanonymousillini · Nov 28, 2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizardBill

Excellent! Are those for sale anywhere online?

Shirt and towel are available for purchase here:
http://www.homage.com/store/collegia...s-orange-krush

http://www.homage.com/store/accessor...-krush-rah-rag

Nov 28, 2012, 03:56 PM	#157
Leonardite Location: Eyes on Portland Posts: 914	Is the Chief making an appearance tonight? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater __________________ "People willing to trade their Freedoms for Security deserve neither and will lose both."- Ben Franklin The Real Me

Nov 28, 2012, 03:39 PM	#153
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 955	IMO, the big boys each season in college basketball are the programs that stay ranked for a vast majority of the season (as in, excluding the teams that start ranked and can't keep it and the teams that just jump into the rankings after an upset or two) ... which I'm guessing is about 15-20 teams given all the movement the top 25 experiences. When you're one of those teams, you carry a target on your back, people think of you as a "basketball school," your school is thought of as a big time program even when you have a down year or two. Illinois was that type of program and then some from 2000-2006, and we even carried that prestige through the 2008 season (i.e., even though we weren't great in 2007 and sucked in '08, people had no doubt we'd be back). However, from 2009 until now, we've lost a little bit of the respect our program gained in the early and mid 2000s ... but all it would take to get it back is a legitimate stay in the top 25, especially with the recruiting class we have coming in. What's my point with all of this? I think this game is a lot more important to our program's future/perception than most realize. We're ranked 22nd in both polls, and we made it out of our trap game alive last Sunday, and now we have a winnable home game for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on national TV, and how we play in this game will likely sway a lot of people on the fence about UI; if we win convincingly, I think people will view Hawaii and Gardner-Webb for what they were ... games where we were off because of the time switch. If we look bad tonight or even lose, it will cost us our ranking and we'll lose a lot of the positive buzz and momentum. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I think this is Illinois' chance to take a relatively huge baby step back into the spotlight. 2006 seems like a long time ago, but it wasn't long enough ago that people wouldn't jump back on the Illini bandwagon the second they had legitimate reason to believe we were "back." I think this game can be that moment. If we blow out Georgia Tech and look good doing it, we'll almost certainly break into the top 20, and our next two games after that are vs. Western Carolina and at Gonzaga ... I think we'll beat Western Carolina, and a loss at Gonzaga isn't going to drop us too far, and a win would skyrocket us in the rankings. Again, what's the point? This game is pretty essential as to where we go from here, IMO. I think it'd be huge to go into the Big Ten season ranked, and a big win tonight makes that infinitely easier. GO ILLINI! My new prediction is that Groce and co. show us that this team is for real ... and not to be taken lightly ... unless we just traveled a long way. Georgia Tech 67 Illinois 91

Nov 28, 2012, 04:03 PM	#159
Illinois5 Location: Illinois Posts: 193	I liked it..just in case.

Nov 28, 2012, 04:06 PM	#162
AEX Posts: 1,035	Can't help but feel that every game so far this season has been that this-is-the-game-where-we-find-out-if-this-team-is-for-real game. That's the great thing about winning - it allows you to move the goal posts in the right direction. I'm curious to see how TA bounces back and how we do on the boards in a game where so much focus is going to be on rebounding. When it's been a priority, we seem to have been serviceable. That's something.

Nov 28, 2012, 04:06 PM	#163
txillini Posts: 165	Way over 2k likes now. Looks like an extra treat for those of you lucky enough to go!

Nov 28, 2012, 05:08 PM	#172
WizardBill Illini optimist Location: Charleston, IL Posts: 1,031	Excellent! Are those for sale anywhere online?

Nov 28, 2012, 05:18 PM	#173
Holdemall Posts: 810	So who's up for a gamewatch in Chicago (city only, please)? Anyone know of a good one?