Team stays healthy, we are dancing. The tolerance on the W/L side will favor us in the conference.
Okay, here is a realistic prediction for the rest of the season IMO:
Sorry but that's crazy talk. Going 12-6 and winning the rest of non-conference wouldn't have us even close to the bubble and would probably put us in the top 25 or at least receiving a decent amount of votes. That being said, it might be a little insane to expect us to go 12-6 given what we've seen so far. It's possible but man, I don't think we've earned that kind of optimism yet.
Okay, here is a realistic prediction for the rest of the season IMO:
Final record: 12-6 B1G 22-9 overall. Safely in the tournament, but closer to the bubble than we may think, because our only quality conference wins would be over UM and MSU. Our wins over MD and tOSU would probably only be considered okay wins.
Pessimists, don't be offended by the conference record. It's more attainable than you think. We play each of the pre-season top four B1G teams once this year.
I have UI going 1-3 against those teams. Our ceiling IMO is finishing anywhere from 4th-6th in the B1G with our floor finishing anywhere from 8th-10th.
Feel free to comment with your own predictions. Go Illini!
I've seen a couple 9-9 predictions with a win or two in the BTT. IMHO, there is virtually no way that gets us in the tourney with our conference schedule. Last year that would have been good for 9th with probably 7 teams from the B1G in the tourney.
At 9-9 we will not have any good wins or any good wins will be offset by bad losses. 10-8 will get us between 6th and 8th and firmly on the bubble, 11-7 5th or 6th and solidly in.
WVC will remind me that conference standings have no input into decision making by the committee. In an attempt to avoid that I am referencing conference standings purely as a reference point.
The big ten tournament could be huge too because at 9-9, we would likely play another Big ten bubble team, for example, Northwestern? Michigan? Those types of games late in the season tend to be play in games. For example, even though it wasn't in the BTT, Purdue two seasons ago. I think we will have a game like that down the stretch where it is a virtual play in game for both teams.
I don't think winning out the non-conference is a given. Central Michigan is a tough mid major opponent, much like Winthrop. Hopefully the team will be more prepared this time. BYU has been pretty inconsistent but their offense is strong. It's certainly a game we could lose if our offense has an off night and can't keep up. The Missouri game scares me, because a loss would be horrible and it's always close when we play them. I think we should be favored in each of those 3 games, but I'd say there's a decent chance we drop one.
I don't think 10-8 should be an unrealistic expectation in B10 play, but from what we have seen, there is no reason for any confidence in a prediction like that either. "Unbiased" sources have had us predicted significantly lower than that so maybe they are seeing what we often overlook.
Reminder: In 12 days, Kipper Nichols will play his first Illini game.
Reminder: In 12 days, Kipper Nichols will play his first Illini game.
I'm hoping JG doesn't use Nichols like he is using TJL and DJW.
He dangles them in front of us just long enough to get us excited, then yanks them away.
It's almost Christmas Charlie Brown! )
I don't like him taking those shots, but if he does that add that as a weapon, he will be a tough match-up. That being said, I hate it less than Malcolm's 20 ft shots just inside the 3pt line.Just wanted to point out that Leron seems to have put his tendency for profligate fouling behind him. Thank goodness.
His progression has been very good. Am thinking the redshirt year, while a bummer in a lot of ways, helped WRT maturity and comfort level. Man, that 15-18' is nearly automatic now. I'd rather not have him launching treys, but he's earned the right, I suppose.
While I'm on the subject of progression, how bout JCL? Not settling for being one dimensional. Granted, just one game, but more of the same please. The way he's covered, he ought to be able to get past his man whenever he wants. Once the opps adjust, he'll have a lot more room to shoot. He also appears to be learning what to do with it when close to the basket, as opposed to getting stuffed more often than not. A work in progress, to be sure, yet encouraging.
Did he start last game? If so, I suspect his practicing has also picked up. Once his threes start dropping this offense will be hard to defend.
Yes. Lineup was Thorne, Black, Hill, JCL, Abrams.