2019-2020 Predictions Thread

#126      
W 11/5 - Nicholls State
W 11/8 - at Grand Canyon
W 11/10 - at Arizona -- we catch a young zona team completely flat-footed and it gets ugly
W 11/18 - Hawaii
W 11/20 - The Citadel
W 11/23 - Hampton
W 11/26 - Lindenwood
W 12/2 - Miami -- Win in OT
L 12/7 - at Maryland
W 12/11 - Michigan
W 12/14 - Old Dominion
W 12/21 - Missouri
W 12/29 - North Carolina AT&T
W 1/2 - at Michigan State -- assuming Langford is still out with his foot injury
L 1/5 - Purdue
W 1/8 - at Wisconsin
W 1/11 - Rutgers
W 1/18 - Northwestern
L 1/21 - at Purdue
L 1/25 - at Michigan
W 1/30 - Minnesota
W 2/2 - at Iowa
W 2/7 - Maryland
L 2/11 - Michigan State -- Langford returns and Michigan State is back
W 2/15 - at Rutgers
L 2/18 - at Penn State
W 2/24 - Nebraska
W 2/27 - at Northwestern
W 3/1 - Indiana
L 3/4 - at Ohio State
W 3/8 - Iowa

24-7 regular season, 13-7 B1G, 2-1 in B1G tourney, 1 win in march madness.
Drinking the Kool-aid.
 
#128      
I don’t see it as a big leap to think we have a pretty good shot at getting to the B1G at 8-0, AND going 11-0 in the non-conference part of the schedule. Am I drinking the Kool-Aide?

Who in the non-conference scares you?

Miami?

why? Pomeroy has them at #65 and us at #35.

Missouri?

why? Pomeroy has them at #39. So, while I know pre-season rankings don’t matter at all, and, I am sure we could easily drop one we shouldn’t, the 11-0 non-con seems quite possible.
 
#129      
I don’t see it as a big leap to think we have a pretty good shot at getting to the B1G at 8-0, AND going 11-0 in the non-conference part of the schedule. Am I drinking the Kool-Aide?

Who in the non-conference scares you?

Miami?

why? Pomeroy has them at #65 and us at #35.

Missouri?

why? Pomeroy has them at #39. So, while I know pre-season rankings don’t matter at all, and, I am sure we could easily drop one we shouldn’t, the 11-0 non-con seems quite possible.

I’m actually worried about GCU. We can’t sleep our way through our first road game, especially there. They are already sold out and it’s a “purple out” night. Their fans are going to be crazy and loud.
 
#130      
I don’t see it as a big leap to think we have a pretty good shot at getting to the B1G at 8-0, AND going 11-0 in the non-conference part of the schedule. Am I drinking the Kool-Aide?

Who in the non-conference scares you?

Miami?

why? Pomeroy has them at #65 and us at #35.

Missouri?

why? Pomeroy has them at #39. So, while I know pre-season rankings don’t matter at all, and, I am sure we could easily drop one we shouldn’t, the 11-0 non-con seems quite possible.
Well kenpom ranks are usually pretty rough to start the year since he had no stats to go on. Also, a team 4 ranks behind you is definitely a team to worry about. Kenpom is currently giving us a 51% chance to beat Missouri. That's almost literally a toss up. Also, you listed two teams to worry about, but somehow left off our strongest nonconference opponent who we happen to be playing on the road, Arizona. We obviously know very little about how everyone's season will go, but they are currently our most likely preseason loss (kenpom gives us 34%). And as a final note, even if we have a 90% chance to beat all of our nonconference opponents, we would still be more likely than not to lose one. 11-0 will be very difficult. That said, I'll take the koolaid please.
 
#131      
No matter how up we are or how down Arizona is, leaving Tucson with a win is a heavy lift. I'll be quite happy if we come back from that trip 1-1 and over the moon if we take both games.
 
#132      

Eddie509

Chicago, IL
Games:
11/5 - Nicholls State W
11/8 - at Grand Canyon W
11/10 - at Arizona L
11/18 - Hawaii W
11/20 - The Citadel W
11/23 - Hampton W
11/26 - Lindenwood W
12/2 - Miami W
12/7 - at Maryland L
12/11 - Michigan W
12/14 - Old Dominion W
12/21 - Missouri W
12/29 - North Carolina AT&T W
1/2 - at Michigan State L
1/5 - Purdue W
1/8 - at Wisconsin L
1/11 - Rutgers W
1/18 - Northwestern W
1/21 - at Purdue L
1/25 - at Michigan L
1/30 - Minnesota W
2/2 - at Iowa W
2/7 - Maryland W
2/11 - Michigan State L
2/15 - at Rutgers W
2/18 - at Penn State W
2/24 - Nebraska W
2/27 - at Northwestern W
3/1 - Indiana L
3/4 - at Ohio State L
3/8 - Iowa W

Overall: (22-9) BIG: (12-8)
 
#133      
I’m actually worried about GCU. We can’t sleep our way through our first road game, especially there. They are already sold out and it’s a “purple out” night. Their fans are going to be crazy and loud.

Having followed west region D2 ball for years, I can tell you that GCU was a crazy place to play back when they were D2. Can't imagine how crazy that place would be now. Going to be a test for the boys. But, assuming they get out of it with a win, it will help them down the line on the road.
 
#134      

illini80

Forgottonia
I don’t see it as a big leap to think we have a pretty good shot at getting to the B1G at 8-0, AND going 11-0 in the non-conference part of the schedule. Am I drinking the Kool-Aide?

Who in the non-conference scares you?

Miami?

why? Pomeroy has them at #65 and us at #35.

Missouri?

why? Pomeroy has them at #39. So, while I know pre-season rankings don’t matter at all, and, I am sure we could easily drop one we shouldn’t, the 11-0 non-con seems quite possible.
You may be drinking it spiked with a little something extra! It is possible, but pretty unlikely imo. B-V still is barely practicing, Kofi is going to be great, but if history tells us anything, he will be in foul trouble. A lot. Many are expecting great things from our defense this year. We may get there, but I see it as a work in progress and AZ comes too early in the season. Hope I’m wrong on all accounts!
 
#135      
Having followed west region D2 ball for years, I can tell you that GCU was a crazy place to play back when they were D2. Can't imagine how crazy that place would be now. Going to be a test for the boys. But, assuming they get out of it with a win, it will help them down the line on the road.

Been to GCU for the dunk contest a year ago....it is loud, boisterous, the fans get into that scenario as well as games, and is raucous and Thunder Dan likes it that way. It will indeed be a tough place for them to get a win.
 
#138      
No matter how up we are or how down Arizona is, leaving Tucson with a win is a heavy lift. I'll be quite happy if we come back from that trip 1-1 and over the moon if we take both games.

They didn't do as well at home as usual last year -- losing 5 games (Baylor and 4 conference games. For perspective, in the previous 4 seasons they lost a total of 3 home games. Hopefully early in the season they're more like last year's team at home than previous 4 seasons' team.
 
#139      
Games:
11/5 - Nicholls State W
11/8 - at Grand Canyon W
11/10 - at Arizona L
11/18 - Hawaii W
11/20 - The Citadel W
11/23 - Hampton W
11/26 - Lindenwood W
12/2 - Miami W
12/7 - at Maryland L
12/11 - Michigan W
12/14 - Old Dominion W
12/21 - Missouri W
12/29 - North Carolina AT&T W
1/2 - at Michigan State L
1/5 - Purdue W
1/8 - at Wisconsin L
1/11 - Rutgers W
1/18 - Northwestern W
1/21 - at Purdue L
1/25 - at Michigan L
1/30 - Minnesota W
2/2 - at Iowa W
2/7 - Maryland W
2/11 - Michigan State L
2/15 - at Rutgers W
2/18 - at Penn State W
2/24 - Nebraska W
2/27 - at Northwestern W
3/1 - Indiana L
3/4 - at Ohio State L
3/8 - Iowa W

Overall: (22-9) BIG: (12-8)

I agree with your numbers both overall and in the league, but I could certainly see a win at Arizona, which would kick it up to 23-8. I'll go with 23-8, top 25 and a 5 seed.
 
#140      
You may be drinking it spiked with a little something extra! It is possible, but pretty unlikely imo. B-V still is barely practicing, Kofi is going to be great, but if history tells us anything, he will be in foul trouble. A lot. Many are expecting great things from our defense this year. We may get there, but I see it as a work in progress and AZ comes too early in the season. Hope I’m wrong on all accounts!
I agree. If we were playing AZ in Feb. I would say we have a great shot at a win. Just think it comes too early for a relatively young team on the road against a top 20 team.
 
#142      
W 11/5 - Nicholls State
W 11/8 - at Grand Canyon
L 11/10 - at Arizona
W 11/18 - Hawaii
W 11/20 - The Citadel
W 11/23 - Hampton
W 11/26 - Lindenwood
W 12/2 - Miami
L 12/7 - at Maryland
W 12/11 - Michigan
W 12/14 - Old Dominion
W 12/21 - Missouri
W 12/29 - North Carolina AT&T
L 1/2 - at Michigan State
W 1/5 - Purdue
L 1/8 - at Wisconsin
W 1/11 - Rutgers
W 1/18 - Northwestern
L 1/21 - at Purdue
L 1/25 - at Michigan
W 1/30 - Minnesota
L 2/2 - at Iowa
L 2/7 - Maryland
L 2/11 - Michigan State
W 2/15 - at Rutgers
L 2/18 - at Penn State
W 2/24 - Nebraska
W 2/27 - at Northwestern
W 3/1 - Indiana
L 3/4 - at Ohio State
W 3/8 - Iowa

20-11 regular season, 10-10 Conference

This will end up being a bubble team due to the lack of depth in the conference. Can't have any "slip ups" during the preconference portion of the schedule.
 
#143      
I agree. If we were playing AZ in Feb. I would say we have a great shot at a win. Just think it comes too early for a relatively young team on the road against a top 20 team.
With two freshmen and two transfers (guessing as starters) early would be better with us playing only one freshman. It would seem to me that they have some very tough matchups. Who guards Ayo? Giorgi did more scoring than Jeter. Who guards Trent. They are long but not heavy and we have less problem with that. Should tell us a lot about our coaching as we have talent.
 
#144      
You may be drinking it spiked with a little something extra! It is possible, but pretty unlikely imo. B-V still is barely practicing, Kofi is going to be great, but if history tells us anything, he will be in foul trouble. A lot. Many are expecting great things from our defense this year. We may get there, but I see it as a work in progress and AZ comes too early in the season. Hope I’m wrong on all accounts!

I'm not seeing that. Arizona is going to start multiple freshmen, so you think they're not a work in progress? We have what, 7 of 8 top scorers back and they have something like 1 of their top 5 back. They are at home which helps, but we have the edge in experience and leadership. Illini by 5.
 
#145      
Vegas sets the Illini's win total line @ 23.

Personally, I think that's too high. But I can only bet one way on the orange & blue.
 
#146      

illini80

Forgottonia
I agree. If we were playing AZ in Feb. I would say we have a great shot at a win. Just think it comes too early for a relatively young team on the road against a top 20 team.
Ranked 21st in pre-season AP poll.
 
#147      

illini55

The Villages, FL
W 11/5 - Nicholls State
W 11/8 - at Grand Canyon
L 11/10 - at Arizona
W 11/18 - Hawaii
W 11/20 - The Citadel
W 11/23 - Hampton
W 11/26 - Lindenwood
W 12/2 - Miami
L 12/7 - at Maryland
W 12/11 - Michigan
W 12/14 - Old Dominion
W 12/21 - Missouri
W 12/29 - North Carolina AT&T
L 1/2 - at Michigan State
W 1/5 - Purdue
L 1/8 - at Wisconsin
W 1/11 - Rutgers
W 1/18 - Northwestern
L 1/21 - at Purdue
L 1/25 - at Michigan
W 1/30 - Minnesota
L 2/2 - at Iowa
L 2/7 - Maryland
L 2/11 - Michigan State
W 2/15 - at Rutgers
L 2/18 - at Penn State
W 2/24 - Nebraska
W 2/27 - at Northwestern
W 3/1 - Indiana
L 3/4 - at Ohio State
W 3/8 - Iowa

20-11 regular season, 10-10 Conference

This will end up being a bubble team due to the lack of depth in the conference. Can't have any "slip ups" during the preconference portion of the schedule.
No one who finishes 10-10 in the BIG is gonna be on the bubble unless they totally fail to take care of business in the early games.
 
#149      
Vegas sets the Illini's win total line @ 23.

Personally, I think that's too high. But I can only bet one way on the orange & blue.
Two things: 1) I hope Vegas is right 2) There is something to be said for an opinion that carries financial risk, i.e. putting your money where your mouth is.