Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Saturday, February 9th, 3:00pm CT, BTN

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#1      

Dan

Admin
Illinois vs Rutgers
Saturday, February 9th
3:00pm CT
BTN

:illinois:
 
#6      

redwingillini11

North Aurora
Checking in! Looking forward to taking in my first game of the year. Hope these guys come to play because Rutger will.
 
#7      
Illinois should be favored in at least 4 of its last 8 games - home against Rutgers, NU, PSU and Indy. @Wiscy and @Purdon’t are really the only two really tough games left. The other two road games @OSU and @PSU won’t be easy, but aren’t impossible either.

Dare to dream finishing 5-3 in the last 8 for a 9-11 B1G record? Finishing out of the bottom 4 and avoiding playing in a Wednesday game in the BTT would be awesome.
 
#9      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Better be careful, this is not your older brother's Rutgers. This is another improving team.
 
#10      
I’m predicting that we will open at around a 6-7 point favorite. Rutgers is a scrappy team, but they run a half court offense, and probably don’t have the athleticism to keep up with are uptempo playing style. 76-64 Illini.
 
#11      
By the way if the game holds currently and Rutgers loses then we will be in a tie for 10th and have the easiest remaining schedule in the BIG. We are on pace for a first day bye.
 
#15      

Illinifan533

Normal, Illinois
I'll have what you're having. At 16-15 with a top 5 SOS and winning 10 in a row, we would be firmly on the bubble. Ok, attack away.


This isn't too far out of the question if Illinois then go on and win 2 or 3 games in the Big Ten tourney. That would have us at 18/19-16, and Alabama got in last year at 19-15 thanks to a good run in the SEC tourney (and I believe the committee wanted top NBA prospects showcased, so having Colin Sexton helped. Same reason why Oklahoma got in despite a mediocre finish to the season). So, thanks to the SoS and the NBA prospect boost, Illinois doesn't have to win the Big Ten tourney in order to get in.
 
#16      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Look into my orange.....

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#19      
Just wanted to bring it up although it has nothing to do with the upcoming game, but remember that time from Mid December to Mid Janurary where we are feeling more faith in the football program than the basketball program? Feels weird to think that now.
 
#20      
This isn't too far out of the question if Illinois then go on and win 2 or 3 games in the Big Ten tourney. That would have us at 18/19-16, and Alabama got in last year at 19-15 thanks to a good run in the SEC tourney (and I believe the committee wanted top NBA prospects showcased, so having Colin Sexton helped. Same reason why Oklahoma got in despite a mediocre finish to the season). So, thanks to the SoS and the NBA prospect boost, Illinois doesn't have to win the Big Ten tourney in order to get in.

By the way sorry to keep commenting but the home loss to FAU may be the only thing stopping this from happening. But if we had wins over MSU, Maryland on a neutral, away at Wisky, away at Purdue, and another 1-2 ranked wins on a neutral court in the BTT I could see a pretty damn good case.
 
#21      

Deleted member 173571

D
Guest
Would 18-16 (with 2 wins in the B1G 10 tournament) get us in the dance? I know it won't happen...but let's have a little fun.
 
#23      
NO BUBBLE TALK YET. First let's take care of Rutgers and then if we somehow pull off the upsets at Ohio State and Wisconsin, then MAYBE we can start the bubble talk.
 
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