Illini Basketball 2017-2018

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#452      
Joel Goodson
Combes (or anyone else who's privy to workouts, pickup games, etc.), throw us a bone, please! Any impressions are welcome.
 
#461      
jmilt7
FeelYourPaign said:
huh. I didn't even know that there is a Grand Canyon Uni.
Looked them up. Ranked 152 by Ken Pom last year.
Finished 3rd in the WAC.
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There is a relationship between U of I and GCU. Jerry Colangelo is affiliated in some way with GCU. There is the Colangelo School of Business named after him that is part of GCU. There was even talk of GCU coach, Dan Majerle, being recruited for the Illinois job this year and I think Colangelo was involved or at least believed to be involved, but not sure of that. Colangelo is, of course, a U of I graduate and long time poobah.
 
#462      
alaskaillini
I follow west region D2 ball pretty closely. IIRC Grand Canyon jumped from NAIA to D2 about 10 years ago, as a stepping stone to there goal of D1. They were always a good team but not dominant - on par with Seattle University before they made the jump. Not sure if they ever made the west region tourney during that time, but they were usually close to doing so. It seemed like they had a plan to field a competitive D1 team as part of the college experience for their students, and were willing to spend the $ to get it done.
 
#463      
PlayAZ
jmilt7 said:
There is a relationship between U of I and GCU. Jerry Colangelo is affiliated in some way with GCU. There is the Colangelo School of Business named after him that is part of GCU. There was even talk of GCU coach, Dan Majerle, being recruited for the Illinois job this year and I think Colangelo was involved or at least believed to be involved, but not sure of that. Colangelo is, of course, a U of I graduate and long time poobah.
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Colangelo was rumored to have a voice into the search by Whitman. Colangelo may have been inquired for an experienced proven voice during the process, however, Marjerle would have never been a serious thought or even a fleeting one for the Illinois position. May have been reported, but Bon Jour, not true.
 
#464      
PlayAZ
IanKEvans2 said:
I also did some research, going in thinking it was a diploma mill university. I knew it was a for-profit school, but as far as those go, GCU isn't that bad by comparison.
http://www.denverpost.com/2015/05/01/hilker-why-grand-canyon-university-is-thriving/
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Buy their stock it will triple within 3 years...mark it down. Traded at $39.00 in 2015, up to $62.00 a year later and now $77.83....this is first year they are eligible for NCAA $$$ from tournament and such. They will blow up, I have been to a game, it is amazing the crowd and atmosphere they have amassed.
 
#465      
oskeewowwowboomtime
Jerry Colangelo is a charter member of the Inaugural Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 for Basketball/Contributor to Sport (Past Chairman of USA Basketball and owner of several major sports franchises. GCU is his pet project and he got Dan Majerle the head coaching job of the Men's basketball team which he was able to get elevated to the D1 level. He also has VERY DEEP pockets and is a big Whitman/Illiini athletics financial supporter. The game this December is a direct result of that and it is a virtual guarantee that this will be a home and home series going forward because of Colangelo's influence. Jerry always spends his money wisely on his investments!
 
#468      
TriCityBurbs
The optimist in me says that we can sweep Nebraska, Rutgers Wisconsin Indiana and beat MSU at home, the realist says that we will probably go 6-4. Think this is a very favorable schedule.
 
#469      
foby
I'm thinking we can go 11-7 with that schedule. If all goes well, then 21-10 going into conference tourney, and should be in the dance. If I take a big gulp of the orange stuff, I see 12-6 and a 9 seed in the dance.
 
#471      
foby
FC Illiniman said:
Like the home and home list. MSU at SFC early December?:thumb::illinois:
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I really hope not. This team will need some extra seasoning before something like that. Would rather have MSU on the road, as it will most likely be an L anyway.
 
#472      
TriCityBurbs
I'm bored and need something stimulating to do so ive decided to reasonably break down how we stack up in the big ten this year and how we stack up based on what we know of our schedule.

MSU-top 5 team, probably will win 26-28 games this year, a win against this team is not likely
Minnesota-returns everyone, top 20 team, and probably wins 23-26 games, if we get them at home I think we have about a 30% shot at a win
Purdue-don't match up well with them, experienced group even without Swanigan, I think they are underrated, probably a 5-6 seed, don't see us beating them

Northwestern-match up well with them IMO, beat them twice last year, got into the tourney last year with a favorable schedule, if we get them at home I'll drink some kool0aid and chalk up a W

Michigan/Maryland/Iowa-Confidently place these teams in the 5-7 range, all will probably be in the 7-11 range come tourney time, all beatable at home and road

penn st/indiana/ohio st/ rutgers nebraska are all not going to be in the tourney this year, Nebsraka/OSU/rutgers might all struggle to win more than 5 or 6 games in conference and i think it's fair to say that we can beat these teams anywhere.

in the nonconference Grand Valley should be a win, Miznoz probable loss,,new mexico is a win, like our chances with wake forest bc their home court is not very intimidating and is a must win if we want to make the tourney. UNLV and Depaul should also be wins. So far we have 5 "big" games in our noncofnerence and 4 of them are very winnable in my opinion, and dont see us scheduling more than 1 other power 5 matchup.

Given that, I think that a 11-2 nonconference should be very doable, along with a 10-8 confernce given our mirror games. Puts us at 21-10, and honestly don't think it's that out of the question, our SOS won't be stellar but i think we can reasonable expect to be dancing in march with a 8-10 seed. Am I drinking too much kool-aid? Jeez I need Novemeber to come around.
 
#474      
breadman
Coach Underwood has at least 20 wins in each of his first four seasons as a head coach. Don't think he wants that streak to end. So, I'm calling for at least 20 wins and a big dance appearance. Anything after that is gravy.
 
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#475      
Calvin
Early, but I would tend to agree that the BIG is going to be a decent conference, with MSU being quite dangerous nationally. I absolutely do NOT think we will compete for 2nd in the conference (MSU is a heavy favorite in my mind), but I think we'll see a young team make real strides forward (make the dance, not sweat through bubble watch, crack .500 in conference). Once we're in, we can look at match-ups.

Sometimes I think the kool-aid makes posters forget how many good coaches and teams there are in the BIG.

Here are the teams we need to pass from last year to move up, after losing Hill, Coleman-Lands, Mav, Thorne, & Tate.

Purdue
Wiscy
Maryland
Minney
Michigan
NW
MSU
Iowa

and you have Indiana at our heals after cratering from injuries, and picking up Miller as coach.


TriCityBurbs said:
MSU-top 5 team, probably will win 26-28 games this year, a win against this team is not likely
Minnesota-returns everyone, top 20 team, and probably wins 23-26 games, if we get them at home I think we have about a 30% shot at a win
Purdue-don't match up well with them, experienced group even without Swanigan, I think they are underrated, probably a 5-6 seed, don't see us beating them

Northwestern-match up well with them IMO, beat them twice last year, got into the tourney last year with a favorable schedule, if we get them at home I'll drink some kool0aid and chalk up a W

Michigan/Maryland/Iowa-Confidently place these teams in the 5-7 range, all will probably be in the 7-11 range come tourney time, all beatable at home and road

penn st/indiana/ohio st/ rutgers nebraska are all not going to be in the tourney this year, Nebsraka/OSU/rutgers might all struggle to win more than 5 or 6 games in conference and i think it's fair to say that we can beat these teams anywhere.

in the nonconference Grand Valley should be a win, Miznoz probable loss,,new mexico is a win, like our chances with wake forest bc their home court is not very intimidating and is a must win if we want to make the tourney. UNLV and Depaul should also be wins. So far we have 5 "big" games in our noncofnerence and 4 of them are very winnable in my opinion, and dont see us scheduling more than 1 other power 5 matchup.

Given that, I think that a 11-2 nonconference should be very doable, along with a 10-8 confernce given our mirror games. Puts us at 21-10, and honestly don't think it's that out of the question, our SOS won't be stellar but i think we can reasonable expect to be dancing in march with a 8-10 seed. Am I drinking too much kool-aid? Jeez I need Novemeber to come around.
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