Underwhelming is most likely, maybe even one too highAdjusting 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!