RE: the GoT hype video ... I love it.
It really reminds me of the swagger we had during the mid-2000s and hope to regain during the BWood Era. Being the state flagship school of a giant state that is constantly being raided by other coaches and a hot spot for other teams' transplant fans, we have a natural "us against the world" mentality sometimes, and that video pumps me up to own that mentality.
Indiana scoffs from the east because they have five dusty banners? We don't care. That's in the past, and we'll take whatever they throw at us from now on.
Iowa yaps about their fantasies of the "Cheatin' Illini" from the west? We don't care. We'll continue to own that series.
Missouri has a new, flashy coach that is determined to poach recruits from our side of the river? We don't care. We'll make them pay for it in December in St. Louis.
We have been through a lot the last ten seasons, and it has beaten down a lot of our fans. I understand if some need to "see to believe" before they get that swagger back, but it's back for me. I enjoy NU fans thinking they're in a better spot than us because they made one NCAA Tournament ever; it will make beating them sweeter. I enjoy that Indiana is so pumped about Archie Miller that Brad Underwood and his Illini aren't even on their radar. I love that Missouri fans actually are delusional enough to think they have this rivalry on cruise control going forward because of Cuonzo. Illinois basketball has to prove itself again, and I cannot wait. Because we will.