Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa State, 9:09pm CT, TBS

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

Per Sports Reference, we average 10.6 turnovers per game. Here are those stats for our recent 7-1 streak:

9 vs. Duquesne (NCAAT Second Round)
6 vs. Morehead State (NCAAT First Round)
7 vs. Wisconsin (BTT Championship)
8 vs. Nebraska (BTT Semifinals)
10 vs. Ohio State (BTT Quarterfinals)
5 at Iowa
8 vs. Purdue
8 at Wisconsin

We have not gone over our season average for turnovers since the 95-85 home win vs. Iowa. Take care of the ball vs. this elite defense, and let our scorers score.

ChiefGritty · Mar 28, 2024

From the cheap seats said:
I think (and hope) the Illini win tonight. Regardless, I would like to thank the coaches, players...and fans for making this one of the most entertaining, enjoyable Illini seasons ever for me. The highs have been really high, only one of the lows (PSU) really low and they bounced back quickly. As a fan, I couldn't ask for more (unless, of course, it is cutting down the nets in Phoenix/Glendale).

I felt more distant from the program a year ago at this time than I had since getting into it as a kid. And while some of the college sports-wide issues that made me feel that way still exist, this bunch has really rekindled my love of Illini Hoops and it has been a real thrill ride with this team.

Why stop now?

Illwinsagain · Mar 28, 2024

ChiefGritty said:
A bit of trivia: the national title game in 2005 was also played on the evening of MLB's Opening Day.

Dunno if there might be some strange circumstance I'm missing, but I'm relatively certain the Illini have never had their season extend beyond Opening Day.

(They shouldn't play baseball in March and shouldn't play college basketball in April, but that's another story)

Also, the last time the Illini played in the sweet 16, it was also Maundy Thursday (for the Christians in the thread), and they beat Satan.

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

Since 2003 (the last year the game times are on Wikipedia), this surprisingly is NOT our latest NCAA Tournament tipoff time. Again, per Wikipedia, these are the five latest tipoff times (all CST) we've had to endure during March Madness:

2004: 10:15 pm vs. #1 Duke (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 9:40 pm vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson (First Round)
2009: 9:30 pm vs. #12 Western Kentucky (First Round)
2024: 9:10 pm vs. #2 Iowa State (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 8:20 pm vs. #1 North Carolina (National Championship)

Still stupid, though ... lol. Oh well, I am working from home today and slept in a bit, so I will have some early evening coffee and be jazzed for this one!

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

ChiefGritty said:
A bit of trivia: the national title game in 2005 was also played on the evening of MLB's Opening Day.

Dunno if there might be some strange circumstance I'm missing, but I'm relatively certain the Illini have never had their season extend beyond Opening Day.

(They shouldn't play baseball in March and shouldn't play college basketball in April, but that's another story)

I so vividly remember the people on ESPN's Around the Horn were posed one of the debate questions as, "What is a bigger deal tonight - Illinois/UNC or MLB Opening Day?" Pretty sure Jay Mariotti (who I definitely had to look up, lol) obnoxiously brushed the question aside as obvious and said MLB Opening Day and that he couldn't care less about the National Championship that night. While my strong conviction that Cubs/Cardinals is the best rivalry in baseball gave me no choice but to at least mildly hate ESPN as a kid, this sealed the deal.

Get yourself a new map · Mar 28, 2024

rjeffreys said:
Speaking of which, BTN is reshowing the 2005 Louiville final game twice today, check local listing..

Roger Powell.... career 40% shooter from behind the arc on 110+ attempts. 60% on 2-pt fgs. LOL what a fantastic player.

Deep · Mar 28, 2024

kyillinifan · Mar 28, 2024

Cheap Seats. I agree. This has been an exciting year of Illini basketball. It isn’t over yet.

Eternal Optimist · Mar 28, 2024

allinforisu said:
Just wanted to say I enjoyed seeing what Illini fans had to say about the matchup, if Illinois does beat the Cyclones, I’ll be pulling for them to win the whole thing. I have no intention of posting on here again unless the Cyclones and Illini meet up down the road in future years. Take care all!

Get to steppin! /s

pruman91 · Mar 28, 2024

altgeld88 said:
View attachment 32816

The Galloping Ghost · Mar 28, 2024

Fighter of the Nightman said:
I so vividly remember the people on ESPN's Around the Horn were posed one of the debate questions as, "What is a bigger deal tonight - Illinois/UNC or MLB Opening Day?" Pretty sure Jay Mariotti (who I definitely had to look up, lol) obnoxiously brushed the question aside as obvious and said MLB Opening Day and that he couldn't care less about the National Championship that night. While my strong conviction that Cubs/Cardinals is the best rivalry in baseball gave me no choice but to at least mildly hate ESPN as a kid, this sealed the deal.

pruman91 · Mar 28, 2024

Willie Geist on the Morning Joe show sign off on MSNBC today said Go Illini for tonight's game.....has a lot of family who are Illini fans.....

sacraig · Mar 28, 2024

From the cheap seats said:
I think (and hope) the Illini win tonight. Regardless, I would like to thank the coaches, players...and fans for making this one of the most entertaining, enjoyable Illini seasons ever for me. The highs have been really high, only one of the lows (PSU) really low and they bounced back quickly. As a fan, I couldn't ask for more (unless, of course, it is cutting down the nets in Phoenix/Glendale).

Here's hoping for another full week of this feeling.

OrangeBlue98 · Mar 28, 2024

Four writers/columnists from The Athletic picked each of the eight S16 games. For Illinois-Iowa State, two picked the Illini and two picked the Cyclones. Definitely checks out on the idea of this being the most evenly matched of the games tonight and tomorrow.

fatboyslim · Mar 28, 2024

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Since 2003 (the last year the game times are on Wikipedia), this surprisingly is NOT our latest NCAA Tournament tipoff time. Again, per Wikipedia, these are the five latest tipoff times (all CST) we've had to endure during March Madness:

2004: 10:15 pm vs. #1 Duke (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 9:40 pm vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson (First Round)
2009: 9:30 pm vs. #12 Western Kentucky (First Round)
2024: 9:10 pm vs. #2 Iowa State (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 8:20 pm vs. #1 North Carolina (National Championship)

Still stupid, though ... lol. Oh well, I am working from home today and slept in a bit, so I will have some early evening coffee and be jazzed for this one!

The Farleigh Dickinson, Duke, and Western Kentucky games are EST

Chad Fleck · Mar 28, 2024

OrangeBlue98 said:
Four writers/columnists from The Athletic picked each of the eight S16 games. For Illinois-Iowa State, two picked the Illini and two picked the Cyclones. Definitely checks out on the idea of this being the most evenly matched of the games tonight and tomorrow.

I've consumed a lot of general national media and non-biased sources, including gambling advice videos (I don't gamble). It's overwhelming being picked to have the Illini win. I still consider it a toss-up though. Very excited to see how this plays out.

SuperintendentChalmers · Mar 28, 2024

pruman91 said:
Willie Geist on the Morning Joe show sign off on MSNBC today said Go Illini for tonight's game.....has a lot of family who are Illini fans.....

His father is a grad and led the homecoming parade once in the '90s. He also reported humor/human interest stories on CBS's Sunday Morning for decades. I liked this one about his daughter's wedding, which includes a brief cameo from Willie.

Illinicpa14 · Mar 28, 2024

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Since 2003 (the last year the game times are on Wikipedia), this surprisingly is NOT our latest NCAA Tournament tipoff time. Again, per Wikipedia, these are the five latest tipoff times (all CST) we've had to endure during March Madness:

2004: 10:15 pm vs. #1 Duke (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 9:40 pm vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson (First Round)
2009: 9:30 pm vs. #12 Western Kentucky (First Round)
2024: 9:10 pm vs. #2 Iowa State (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 8:20 pm vs. #1 North Carolina (National Championship)

Still stupid, though ... lol. Oh well, I am working from home today and slept in a bit, so I will have some early evening coffee and be jazzed for this one!

I hope it starts later then that because SDSU wins a 3 OT thriller

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

fatboyslim said:
The Farleigh Dickinson, Duke, and Western Kentucky games are EST

Ah, thanks for the catch. Weird that the Wikipedia pages would list the EST time when everything else is CST. Fun fact, I actually watched our Duke Sweet Sixteen game while on vacation in Anguilla, which is on Atlantic Standard Time. So, that game started at 11:15 pm for me and ended around 1:30 am (I'd guess), haha ... and I was in sixth grade.

Guess we knew I was going to be a super fan from an early age!

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

Illinicpa14 said:
I hope it starts later then that because SDSU wins a 3 OT thriller

True ... I'll take starting at 1:00 am EST if it means we are playing on Saturday vs. SDSU for a chance to go to the Final Four...

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 28, 2024

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Since 2003 (the last year the game times are on Wikipedia), this surprisingly is NOT our latest NCAA Tournament tipoff time. Again, per Wikipedia, these are the five latest tipoff times (all CST) we've had to endure during March Madness:

2004: 10:15 pm vs. #1 Duke (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 9:40 pm vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson (First Round)
2009: 9:30 pm vs. #12 Western Kentucky (First Round)
2024: 9:10 pm vs. #2 Iowa State (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 8:20 pm vs. #1 North Carolina (National Championship)

Still stupid, though ... lol. Oh well, I am working from home today and slept in a bit, so I will have some early evening coffee and be jazzed for this one!

Edited to match Duke 2004 and FDU 2005 being EST:

2009: 9:30 pm vs. #12 Western Kentucky (First Round)
2004: 9:15 pm vs. #1 Duke (Sweet Sixteen)
2024: 9:10 pm vs. #2 Iowa State (Sweet Sixteen)
2005: 8:40 pm vs. #16 Fairleigh Dickinson (First Round)
2005: 8:20 pm vs. #1 North Carolina (National Championship)

RockfordIllini · Mar 28, 2024

Think our biggest X factor will be either Luke or Quincy. Both can make open 3s and offensive rebound. I’m actually going with Luke because I think he can match up with Momcilovic. Luke can struggle against quicker guys, but Momcilovic isn’t overly quick. Luke probably did the best job of anyone guarding Minix and I think he can similarly make Momcilovic uncomfortable with his length and physicality.

Brosky · Mar 28, 2024

OrangeBlue98 said:
Four writers/columnists from The Athletic picked each of the eight S16 games. For Illinois-Iowa State, two picked the Illini and two picked the Cyclones. Definitely checks out on the idea of this being the most evenly matched of the games tonight and tomorrow.

perhaps. I don't know when Purdue plays but I expect them to get beat. I would love it.

IllinoisssssssVarsity · Mar 28, 2024

These games are why you recruit old guys in college basketball.

Mr. Roberts · Mar 28, 2024

Fighter of the Nightman said:
True ... I'll take starting at 1:00 am EST if it means we are playing on Saturday vs. SDSU for a chance to go to the Final Four...