I think so too. I have high hopes.
Illini Basketball 2016-2017
- Status
I think so too. I have high hopes.
He found his aggressiveness towards the end of the season, now with some time to gain weight, and get accustomed to the college game his raw talent will really show
soupy17
- MI
I think this is correct. If I remember with all the transfers we had, Rice, Cosby, etc. all sat out the exhibitions the first year they transferred. Where I think the exhibitions allow you to play is if you are trying to redshirt. IIRC Finke played in the exhibitions his freshman year before sitting out the remainder of the games.
Is Kipper expected to be better then DJW?
First answer best answer.
I think ticket sales speak louder than anything this board has to say. Attendance was awful last year, but last year was a train wreck for a lot of different reasons. If it's a trend, that will put a lot of pressure on supporters.
Recruiting has been amazing in light of the tough run Groce has had over the past few seasons, so I don't fully agree with the 'must win now' crowd. A good class carries a lot of weight in college bball.
Personally, I think we're more flawed for the upcoming season than people realize, but I do expect us to get into the dance. We have some nice pieces, but I haven't seen a team that is greater than the sum of its pieces in a couple seasons, and I'm not sure what it will take to turn that around.
I think we have a team capable of being in the dance without Thorne. If Thorne is healthy and stays healthy all year, we have a team that is capable of a whole lot more. :thumb:
As bad as last year was, if Thorne would have been healthy, we would have been dancing regardless of the obvious shortcomings at the point.
Dan
Admin
B1G Schedule announced
Illini opener at Maryland Dec 27
Illini home opener on New Year's Day vs Ohio State
* there are no New Year's Day bowl games due to 1/1/2017 falling on an NFL Sunday
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082516aaa.html
Illini opener at Maryland Dec 27
Illini home opener on New Year's Day vs Ohio State
* there are no New Year's Day bowl games due to 1/1/2017 falling on an NFL Sunday
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082516aaa.html
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Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
So, we are up against week 17 of the NFL. And no students.
That's a tough January.
Code:
12/27: @ Maryland
01/01: Ohio St.
01/07: @ Indiana
01/11: Michigan
01/14: Maryland
01/17: @ Purdue
01/21: @ Michigan
01/25: Iowa
01/28: @ Penn St.
01/31: Wisconsin
02/04: Minnesota
02/07: @ Northwestern
02/11: Penn St.
02/18: @ Iowa
02/21: Northwestern
02/26: @ Nebraska
03/01: Michigan St.
03/04: @ RutgersMight only be one game we are favorites in that entire month....
We get screwed by the Big Ten schedule makers again?
STOP THE PRESSES
STOP THE PRESSES
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
So, when do student get back from Winter break? In time for UM and UM?
Edit, looked it up, 1/17 (Tuesday, first day of classes). I would have come back for it.
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I like our senior experienced squad in early B1G play. I'd rather play those teams in the first handful of games than the last.
That's a rough schedule. Worst case is probably a 1-9 start in the B1G. Best reasonable expectation might be 5-5. I'm guessing we start 4-6 and then go 6-2 over the last eight. If we can manage a 10-3 non-con and win 2 in the BTT, that would put us comfortably in the tourney at 22-12 (somewhere between a 6 and 9 seed).
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Survey time, looking at the schedule, would you rather the B1G season be while kids are in school, play 4 in December, play some non-con during break and comeback mid-January? I know the BTT forces the schedule back a week.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Having 3 home games against conference opponents without Krush in the building doesn't seem like a way to build a program.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
So only one game against MSU, and it's home? Yay!
But only one game each against Minnesota, Nebraska and Rutgers? They stole three wins from us!
Our first BT home game with Krush is against Iowa. That's our 8th BT game. That seems ridiculous. And with the difficulty of the schedule ahead of it, we could easily be 1-6 or 2-5 heading into that game with our tournament backs against the wall. I don't expect our record to be that bad, but it's not at all outside the realm of possibility.
Also, we play Rutgers and Nebraska (who will arguably be the worst teams in conference) one time each, and both on the road. But I know the argument here the past few seasons has been that conference wins don't matter, it's about who you beat. I expect Michigan St and Wisconsin to be the top 2 teams in conference, and we play each of them only once. Luckily they are both at home (with Krush too) but we could use an upset. I know it's not this cut and dried, but if the rest of the games are closer to the "toss up" category, we need to really rack up some of those wins.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
So, could Krush choose to come back a little early? Do they sell their spots during winter break? I would think the Krush folks wouldn't mind getting on campus a week early, I know I always did.
Pretty sure those seats get sold during break games.
That being said, if we play well in the non-con there will be.plenty of students come back for games during break. Will they be in the Krush seats and have coordinated cheers? No, but the environment can be good during break games. Just need a product people want to come see
That would be like my worst case scenario. But, as most know, Im an eternal optimist.
- Status