According to bartovik, we have the easiest schedule of any team during the rest of the B1G. They also predict we will finish 7-13, so....
Pregame: Illinois at Minnesota, Wednesday, January 30th, 8:00pm CT, BTN
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According to bartovik, we have the easiest schedule of any team during the rest of the B1G. They also predict we will finish 7-13, so....
Deleted member 645583
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Yeah, be ready for Minnesota! They gonna be ready for Illini. If you can, Illini, replicate performance against MD and you'll be fine. Make those shots, intense D, run, run, run. Great passing is needed, too. Just an all-out effort again. Simple.
Deleted member 173571
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Is there any chance this game is postponed due to the weather - extreme cold (no snow)?
illini80
- Forgottonia
I’m surprised its not colder than that. Our high Wed is -14 in western IL with lows Wed of -29. Shattering all time records and wind chills of -50. Also all time.
Flying from Champaign to Minneapolis with a wind child predicted at -50 would not be high on my list.
Thanks for that data point.
7-13? I would say 9-11. And, maybe as high as 11-9. Just my gut.
My reasoning? The 7-13/9-11 based on season stats. 11-9 based on the past few games. I happen to think the kids have not just bought in, but actually, are starting to understanding and execute. Which has/will lead to the hunger needed to W.
The second factor, IMHO, is that there are more bodies to throw at the problem without (much?) loss of quality. IF this is true, then we should play very well here on out and in the B10 Tourney.
Meanwhile, beat MN.
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FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
There are FIVE teams just ahead of us in the conference standings with 3 wins.
A win in frigid Minny Wednesday night would likely move us up into a much more attractive band of the standings.
Always looks better to find your team in the mix instead of the basement.
Let's go, Illini !
A win in frigid Minny Wednesday night would likely move us up into a much more attractive band of the standings.
Always looks better to find your team in the mix instead of the basement.
Let's go, Illini !
Deleted member 29907
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This team needs to break the will of teams they play with fierce D - Minny can be broken but it will take a really good inside effort again to do so and of course we need to hit shots...
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
7-13 would be pretty great, considering. I'd bite your arm off for that right now.
I would SO love for you to be able to say I told you so at the end of the season!
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
This one is likely a loss, 82-74. They owe us and 2 losses to us will look real bad for them getting in the dance. If we play them close and play a team game, that would be a win. Then our schedule "lightens up" a little with 4-5 more winnable games in the 2nd half of the B10 season.
LOL they're not playing outside
DoctorOrange
- Chicago, IL
Well...I mean...You only die once.
I would SO love for you to be able to say I told you so at the end of the season!
I called Kofi. 1 for 3 so far. Called Brown too.
. Slow and study. We will get there. Enjoy the ride Illini.The Dave
- CA
It's tough to win on the road in the B10 and Minny is really going to be looking for revenge (and our young guys may come in over confident). I don't think dropping this game is "end of the world, fire BU" stuff but I put a win at 50-50. We can/should win this game, doesn't mean we will.
The Barn is a tough place to play, the fans are pretty rowdy and it gets loud. Rodents are coming off a big win over Iowa where they just flat outscored them so they'll have a lot of confidence too.
Shouldn't expect the weather to have an affect on attendance, they know how to deal with it up here. Gotta get Murphy in foul trouble early and try to at least contain Coffey and we'll have a good shot at a road win. Don't expect another blowout, although I'd love to see it.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Adjusting my expectations for this 6-14 (2-7) Illini squad of ours after nothing short of an inspiring performance vs. Maryland ... I won't entertain doomsday scenarios, as I am firmly of the belief that next year will get most of our fans excited again, more excited than we have been in a while:
UNDERWHELMING, BUT I'M STILL ON BOARD
L at Minnesota
L vs. Nebraska
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers
L at Ohio State
L at Wisconsin
W vs. Penn State
L at Purdue
W vs. Northwestern
W vs. Indiana
L at Penn State
Finish 4-7, making us 10-21 (6-14). This is fairly "expected" given our season so far but with some mild improvement as the year goes on. Given what we return and Kofi, this should still leave most fans believing we can be fairly decent next year.
MY PREDICTIONS
W at Minnesota
W vs. Nebraska
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers
L at Ohio State
L at Wisconsin
W vs. Penn State
L at Purdue
W vs. Northwestern
W vs. Indiana
L at Penn State
Finish 6-5, making us 12-19 (8-12). It's lofty, but I think we can do it. We didn't just "look great" vs. Maryland like we did against Minnesota; we fought and showed some actual grit/maturity/ability to get it done down the stretch that we just haven't seen. I honestly, perhaps foolishly, believe that we will build on it.
WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE OUR CEILING
W at Minnesota (we KILLED them in Champaign, so beating them by one point at their place can't be totally counted out)
W vs. Nebraska (Nebraska isn't playing that well, and we're at home)
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers (gotta beat Rutgers at home)
W at Ohio State (they've been playing worse, and we could be playing inspired for that UC collapse?)
L at Wisconsin (tough matchup for us at a really tough place to play, and they have our number)
W vs. Penn State (gotta beat PSU at home)
L at Purdue (this game isn't TOTALLY unwinnable, but our realistic ceiling doesn't include winning every rough road game)
W vs. Northwestern (revenge for that loss in Evanston)
W vs. Indiana (playing a floundering rival at home, you have to win)
W at Penn State (season-ending win to finish on a three-game winning streak, guys are fired up)
Finish 8-3, making us 14-17 (10-10) ... that would be incredible, and we would actually get some serious hype as a potential dark horse team (for the Tournament, of course, not the Big Ten) next year.
I think this Minnesota game will tell us a lot ... do the guys come out fired up and still hungry and determined to sweep a fellow Big Ten school? Or do we come out flat and complacent after a big win? If we give Minnesota a hell of a game, look tough and play smart basketball, it will be a huge step forward for this turnaround, IMO. Bad teams upset good teams all of the time ... we looked like more than a bad team upsetting a good team on Saturday, but to be sure of that, we need to keep this train rolling! I'm staying optimistic:
Illinois 78
Minnesota 74
I-L-L!
UNDERWHELMING, BUT I'M STILL ON BOARD
L at Minnesota
L vs. Nebraska
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers
L at Ohio State
L at Wisconsin
W vs. Penn State
L at Purdue
W vs. Northwestern
W vs. Indiana
L at Penn State
Finish 4-7, making us 10-21 (6-14). This is fairly "expected" given our season so far but with some mild improvement as the year goes on. Given what we return and Kofi, this should still leave most fans believing we can be fairly decent next year.
MY PREDICTIONS
W at Minnesota
W vs. Nebraska
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers
L at Ohio State
L at Wisconsin
W vs. Penn State
L at Purdue
W vs. Northwestern
W vs. Indiana
L at Penn State
Finish 6-5, making us 12-19 (8-12). It's lofty, but I think we can do it. We didn't just "look great" vs. Maryland like we did against Minnesota; we fought and showed some actual grit/maturity/ability to get it done down the stretch that we just haven't seen. I honestly, perhaps foolishly, believe that we will build on it.
WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE OUR CEILING
W at Minnesota (we KILLED them in Champaign, so beating them by one point at their place can't be totally counted out)
W vs. Nebraska (Nebraska isn't playing that well, and we're at home)
L vs. Michigan State
W vs. Rutgers (gotta beat Rutgers at home)
W at Ohio State (they've been playing worse, and we could be playing inspired for that UC collapse?)
L at Wisconsin (tough matchup for us at a really tough place to play, and they have our number)
W vs. Penn State (gotta beat PSU at home)
L at Purdue (this game isn't TOTALLY unwinnable, but our realistic ceiling doesn't include winning every rough road game)
W vs. Northwestern (revenge for that loss in Evanston)
W vs. Indiana (playing a floundering rival at home, you have to win)
W at Penn State (season-ending win to finish on a three-game winning streak, guys are fired up)
Finish 8-3, making us 14-17 (10-10) ... that would be incredible, and we would actually get some serious hype as a potential dark horse team (for the Tournament, of course, not the Big Ten) next year.
I think this Minnesota game will tell us a lot ... do the guys come out fired up and still hungry and determined to sweep a fellow Big Ten school? Or do we come out flat and complacent after a big win? If we give Minnesota a hell of a game, look tough and play smart basketball, it will be a huge step forward for this turnaround, IMO. Bad teams upset good teams all of the time ... we looked like more than a bad team upsetting a good team on Saturday, but to be sure of that, we need to keep this train rolling! I'm staying optimistic:
Illinois 78
Minnesota 74
I-L-L!
I love ceiling + 1.
Having said that, IMHO, the B10 tournament will be our calling card (+vely). Based on which we get an invite to either of the postseason tournaments.
BTW, revenge works both ways. The diff maker is our execution - down the bench.
Having said that, IMHO, the B10 tournament will be our calling card (+vely). Based on which we get an invite to either of the postseason tournaments.
BTW, revenge works both ways. The diff maker is our execution - down the bench.
IMO, Illinois has played 4 very good games this year: Gonzaga, East Tenn., Minnesota, and now Maryland.
The issue is that after each one of those, a horrible game or two quickly followed (Xavier, Miss. Valley after Gonzaga after meh game against ISU; Missouri, FAU after Tenn; Iowa after Minn).
On the plus side, they have been shortening the time between the peaks.
In that light, I'm just hoping for a solid game that puts in place to win. Similar to the efforts against NW and Michigan. I'd strongly prefer a W, but will take just not looking completely lost. We've seen some high levels, but we need to see consistency.
The issue is that after each one of those, a horrible game or two quickly followed (Xavier, Miss. Valley after Gonzaga after meh game against ISU; Missouri, FAU after Tenn; Iowa after Minn).
On the plus side, they have been shortening the time between the peaks.
In that light, I'm just hoping for a solid game that puts in place to win. Similar to the efforts against NW and Michigan. I'd strongly prefer a W, but will take just not looking completely lost. We've seen some high levels, but we need to see consistency.
Deleted member 173571
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I can tell you are a deep thinker...LOL
Ha, nice. Time series analysis. Great catch.
So, here on out we win!!! The two Ls: MSU and LocoGuys.
I'm not sure if I should be impressed your optimism has survived the last 12 years in such strong force or concerned that you've lost your connection to reality. Either way, I'd take it
I have always been tempted to put a small bet on every Big 10 home team to cover the entire season and see how I cam out.
Shooting below 40% will not get it down, we go as our shooting goes. Can not count on the Gophers turning the ball over 21 times.
Shooting below 40% will not get it down, we go as our shooting goes. Can not count on the Gophers turning the ball over 21 times.
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