I don't think I could possibly stay up for the entire game without beerNaps and espresso for all today. Cracking my first beer at tipoff. I. Cannot. Wait.
I've been listening to (watching) Bill a lot over the past two days at the Maui Invitational. It's really fun and entertaining to hear him reminiscing about the "heyday" of NCAA college basketball (probably the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's when the NCAA first became a national phenom AND when schools were identified by their superstar players who you knew would return to the program season-after-season.) Just a few examples -- Oscar Robertson's Cincinnati Bearcats, Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton's UCLA Bruins, Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, Steve Alford's Indiana Hoosiers, Chris Mullin's St. Johns Redmen and Danny Manning's Kansas Jayhawks..Still better than Bill Walton.
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I was thinking the same thing. The only downside is the possibility of waking up with a loss and a hangover. However, it's worth the risk.I don't think I could possibly stay up for the entire game without beer
Yeah, I was mostly thinking about it from a scouting perspective. Every local reporter is going to be a bit of a homer for the local team, and they should be.thanks for this awesome breakdown by this guy. He is selling our guards a bit short if you ask me, but a very well researched breakdown.
Could be my memory has conflated events, but didn’t Walton homer-call a certain tourney game? And wasn’t Illini Nation more than a little put out with him at the time?I've been listening to (watching) Bill a lot over the past two days at the Maui Invitational. It's really fun and entertaining to hear him reminiscing about the "heyday" of NCAA college basketball (probably the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's when the NCAA first became a national phenom AND when schools were identified by their superstar players who you knew would return to the program season-after-season.) Just a few examples -- Oscar Robertson's Cincinnati Bearcats, Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton's UCLA Bruins, Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, Steve Alford's Indiana Hoosiers, Chris Mullin's St. Johns Redmen and Danny Manning's Kansas Jayhawks..
Walton has phenomenal stories and anecdotes, an incredible memory, and he's visited sooooooo many college campuses. (I've said this before, but I'm quite sure I saw him on Wright St on Halloween in the mid/late 1980's). Pretty difficult to mistake a 6'11 UCLA 3-time All American --- with red hair.
His announcing partner Jason Benetti is the perfect straight man, and nearly as worldly, having visited 95% of the same places as Walton. Benetti is savvy at keeping BW just inside the rails, but then also provoking him when the game action warrants. Extreme entertainment in my view! I don't really want game-after-game of the predictable. (Robbie Hummel and Shon Morris and Ben Brust? Meh).
And he knows/remembers the Illini because of Nick Weatherspoon and Nick Connor, Efrem and Bruce, Deon and Kenny Norman, Dee/Deron/Luther.....and now Ayo and Kofi.
In the Underwood era, Illinois is 30-5 when keeping Division I teams to 70 points or less.Our best wins last year were ugly games where we held our opponent under 70 (Michigan x2, Purdue x2, Penn St, etc.), and I think our defensive efforts were clearly spearheaded by those 2 guards’ efforts.
I’ll be curious which of those three see tick today and/or how much). I have a feeling the rotation is going to be much tighter today.Hard to predict if this game becomes a three point shooting contest or if perimeter defense makes it a drive and dish game for either team. In either case, Baylor would seem to have an advantage due to experience. Kofi has to avoid foul trouble which will be huge. Good for Illini is that the game will be played in SFC with firm rims...maybe....or maybe too many long rebounds...who knows? (SFC rims used to be among the tightest in the country but I'm not sure any adjustments) Good learning opportunity for Grandison, Curbelo and Hawkins...and if any of those three step up and show the Illini may just pull it off. Regardless, Illini nation is awaiting one of the most anticipated games in more than a dozen years.
Isn't the game in Indianapolis?Hard to predict if this game becomes a three point shooting contest or if perimeter defense makes it a drive and dish game for either team. In either case, Baylor would seem to have an advantage due to experience. Kofi has to avoid foul trouble which will be huge. Good for Illini is that the game will be played in SFC with firm rims...maybe....or maybe too many long rebounds...who knows? (SFC rims used to be among the tightest in the country but I'm not sure any adjustments) Good learning opportunity for Grandison, Curbelo and Hawkins...and if any of those three step up and show the Illini may just pull it off. Regardless, Illini nation is awaiting one of the most anticipated games in more than a dozen years.
It is. Game is being played at Bankers Life FieldhouseIsn't the game in Indianapolis?
Yes. Jimmy V Classic.Isn't the game in Indianapolis?
Will take Dickie V over Bill Walton all day every dayTime to mute the TV and flip on the radio.
I share your sentiment regarding Mr. Walton. He is at the beginning of my basketball memory. I remember my old man cheering him on when he played for the Celtics.I've been listening to (watching) Bill a lot over the past two days at the Maui Invitational. It's really fun and entertaining to hear him reminiscing about the "heyday" of NCAA college basketball (probably the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's when the NCAA first became a national phenom AND when schools were identified by their superstar players who you knew would return to the program season-after-season.) Just a few examples -- Oscar Robertson's Cincinnati Bearcats, Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton's UCLA Bruins, Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, Steve Alford's Indiana Hoosiers, Chris Mullin's St. Johns Redmen and Danny Manning's Kansas Jayhawks..
Walton has phenomenal stories and anecdotes, an incredible memory, and he's visited sooooooo many college campuses. (I've said this before, but I'm quite sure I saw him on Wright St on Halloween in the mid/late 1980's). Pretty difficult to mistake a 6'11 UCLA 3-time All American --- with red hair.
His announcing partner Jason Benetti is the perfect straight man, and nearly as worldly, having visited 95% of the same places as Walton. Benetti is savvy at keeping BW just inside the rails, but then also provoking him when the game action warrants. Extreme entertainment in my view! I don't really want game-after-game of the predictable. (Robbie Hummel and Shon Morris and Ben Brust? Meh).
And he knows/remembers the Illini because of Nick Weatherspoon and Nick Connor, Efrem and Bruce, Deon and Kenny Norman, Dee/Deron/Luther.....and now Ayo and Kofi.
His announcing partner Jason Benetti is the perfect straight man, and nearly as worldly, having visited 95% of the same places as Walton. Benetti is savvy at keeping BW just inside the rails, but then also provoking him when the game action warrants. Extreme entertainment in my view! I don't really want game-after-game of the predictable. (Robbie Hummel and Shon Morris and Ben Brust? Meh).
Hope the dude in the first video is better at projecting winners and losers than he is at pronouncing our players names.
Will take Dickie V over Bill Walton all day every day
His son was getting his !!! beat all night, I'd cry too if I was his dad. I know I've yelled my share of times on the sidelines when my sons got crushed driving the net over their lacrosse careers.Arizona with Luke Walton playing beat the Illini by six points in 2001 elite eight West Regional final. Arizona shot 56 free throws and Walton complained the whole game how Illinois played too physical.
Was just thinking about how much it blows there’s no fans. Would be Orange everywhere tonight.
I bet "grating" is the polite, message board word for what you really think. Being "Danned" is not worth it.I honestly would prefer Walton, and that's saying something. Vitale is just grating to me.