Pregame: Illinois vs Baylor, Wednesday, December 2nd, 9:00pm CT, ESPN

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

For the record I love both Vitale and Walton because I love anybody who gets as excited about basketball as I do.

Also the more they do our games, it means the more we're on ESPN, which is good for our program.

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

I honestly would prefer Walton, and that's saying something. Vitale is just grating to me.

My nightmare scenario is a team of Dicky V, Bill Walton, and Dan Dakich working a game. (I know they're all color commentator guys, so that would never actually happen.) If I had to follow that up with watching Chris Collinsworth call a SNF game the next day, I might toss myself out of a window.

 

[Chukwuwumba]

I've been listening to (watching) Bill a lot over the past two days at the Maui Invitational. It's really fun and entertaining to hear him reminiscing about the "heyday" of NCAA college basketball (probably the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's when the NCAA first became a national phenom AND when schools were identified by their superstar players who you knew would return to the program season-after-season.) Just a few examples -- Oscar Robertson's Cincinnati Bearcats, Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton's UCLA Bruins, Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas, Steve Alford's Indiana Hoosiers, Chris Mullin's St. Johns Redmen and Danny Manning's Kansas Jayhawks..

Walton has phenomenal stories and anecdotes, an incredible memory, and he's visited sooooooo many college campuses. (I've said this before, but I'm quite sure I saw him on Wright St on Halloween in the mid/late 1980's). Pretty difficult to mistake a 6'11 UCLA 3-time All American --- with red hair.

His announcing partner Jason Benetti is the perfect straight man, and nearly as worldly, having visited 95% of the same places as Walton. Benetti is savvy at keeping BW just inside the rails, but then also provoking him when the game action warrants. Extreme entertainment in my view! I don't really want game-after-game of the predictable. (Robbie Hummel and Shon Morris and Ben Brust? Meh).

And he knows/remembers the Illini because of Nick Weatherspoon and Nick Connor, Efrem and Bruce, Deon and Kenny Norman, Dee/Deron/Luther.....and now Ayo and Kofi.

I was not a fan of Walton, but last year I changed my perspective to ‘he’s trolling all the time’ and then I really enjoyed the show.

 

[Sizzler22]

I don’t understand the hate for Dick Vitale, 1 - he loves the Illini, 2 - he really only calls big games (which we are finally back into playing), 3 - he’s entertaining. I’m glad we are back into the spotlight and not having games on BTN+

 

[AirNeezy]

For me, its simple. The game will come down to how well Kofi plays. If he dominates, we win.

When they were able to contain Azubuike against Kansas last year, Baylor won. After Bill Self made adjustments for their second matchup, I'm pretty sure he dominated with 20/20 and Kansas won. Hopefully BU took notes.

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

I don’t understand the hate for Dick Vitale, 1 - he loves the Illini, 2 - he really only calls big games (which we are finally back into playing), 3 - he’s entertaining. I’m glad we are back into the spotlight and not having games on BTN+

 

[AirNeezy]

I was not a fan of Walton, but last year I changed my perspective to ‘he’s trolling all the time’ and then I really enjoyed the show.

Walton used to be a really, really great announcer in the 90s for the NBA. Watching replays of old games he always had insightful comments.

However nowadays he's just become a caricature of himself (hopefully on purpose instead of age) and I can see how it grates on people, especially those who don't like turning on a game and hearing a troll wink at the camera that he's high all game lol.

 

[sacraig]

I bet "grating" is the polite, message board word for what you really think. Being "Danned" is not worth it.

You're... not wrong. I could probably put what I think into appropriate words if I wasn't also trying to write a report and tune into a teleconference at the same time.

 

[sacraig]

My nightmare scenario is a team of Dicky V, Bill Walton, and Dan Dakich working a game. (I know they're all color commentator guys, so that would never actually happen.) If I had to follow that up with watching Chris Collinsworth call a SNF game the next day, I might toss myself out of a window.

I must be the only person in Illini-land that doesn't really hate Dakich. I don't love him. He's a jerk. But specifically his work on the microphone calling games doesn't bother me.

Cris Collinsworth is absolutely my most-hated sports announcer. The man is just so abhorrently dumb.

 

[sacraig]

I don’t understand the hate for Dick Vitale, 1 - he loves the Illini, 2 - he really only calls big games (which we are finally back into playing), 3 - he’s entertaining. I’m glad we are back into the spotlight and not having games on BTN+

See, it's number 3 I disagree with. His voice drives me nuts. He doesn't ever seem to have real insight to me. He spends half the time talking about Duke regardless of which game he is calling. He uses the phrase "diaper dandy."

No thanks.

Having said that, I agree I am glad he is back calling our games. I just hope he retires soon.

 

[AirNeezy]

I must be the only person in Illini-land that doesn't really hate Dakich. I don't love him. He's a jerk. But specifically his work on the microphone calling games doesn't bother me.

Cris Collinsworth is absolutely my most-hated sports announcer. The man is just so abhorrently dumb.

Dan Jockitch's whole schtick is to pick a side during whatever game he's commentating on, say stupid, inflammatory, usually biased stuff about said team and how they're playing so that he can drive up his social media engagement numbers when said team's fanbase then lights him up on Twitter about it. He does it a lot when he's on Illini games (probably because of our huge, and very online fan base) but once you notice it, you'll notice it on every game he does.

I think he's just trying to build a Skip Bayless type brand where regardless of if you hate him or not, at least you're aware of him. Whether he's been successful at it is up to interpretation.

At least if Dickie V is doing your game you know you're nationally relevant.

 

[BRucks]

Not only is he still on, but he has our game tomorrow.
Sigh

Better than Walton.

 

[sacraig]

Dan Jockitch's whole schtick is to pick a side during whatever game he's commentating on, say stupid, inflammatory, usually biased stuff about said team and how they're playing so that he can drive up his social media engagement numbers when said team's fanbase then lights him up on Twitter about it. He does it a lot when he's on Illini games (probably because of our huge, and very online fan base) but once you notice it, you'll notice it on every game he does.

I think he's just trying to build a Skip Bayless type brand where regardless of if you hate him or not, at least you're aware of him. Whether he's been successful at it is up to interpretation.

At least if Dickie V is doing your game you know you're nationally relevant.

This may all well be true. But I have long since abandoned paying attention to any sports talking heads who get paid to have opinions on all things sports, so I don't pay much attention to things like that, whether from Dakich or Bayless or anyone else. It's just too exhausting. I watch the games, read the local coverage for teams I follow personally, and then pass out at halftime because my kids woke me up before 6 am.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Was just thinking about how much it blows there’s no fans. Would be Orange everywhere tonight.

Watching the MSU/Duke game last night was just bizarre. Cameron without the Crazies just wasn't the same. Duke mounted a comeback in the last few minutes and may have won if the crowd had been there to provide momentum.

 

[AirNeezy]

This may all well be true. But I have long since abandoned paying attention to any sports talking heads who get paid to have opinions on all things sports, so I don't pay much attention to things like that, whether from Dakich or Bayless or anyone else. It's just too exhausting. I watch the games, read the local coverage for teams I follow personally, and then pass out at halftime because my kids woke me up before 6 am.

Smart man.

 

[Baylor Bear 1986]

This is the best day of 2020! not saying much, but for we Baylor fans, while the team has played 2 games, for most of us this will be our first chance to see the Bears play outside of Highlights. What a great match up.

 

[CogDog]

My nightmare scenario is a team of Dicky V, Bill Walton, and Dan Dakich working a game. (I know they're all color commentator guys, so that would never actually happen.) If I had to follow that up with watching Chris Collinsworth call a SNF game the next day, I might toss myself out of a window.

I mute every Collinsworth game. I can’t stand him lol

 

[Homecoming 2019]

This is the best day of 2020! not saying much, but for we Baylor fans, while the team has played 2 games, for most of us this will be our first chance to see the Bears play outside of Highlights. What a great match up.

Coming in hot with a Gandhi quote

 

[Ubermensch]

I don’t understand the hate for Dick Vitale, 1 - he loves the Illini, 2 - he really only calls big games (which we are finally back into playing), 3 - he’s entertaining. I’m glad we are back into the spotlight and not having games on BTN+

Vitale loves anyone and everyone who will give him attention.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1334231498409598983

 

[Baylor Bear 1986]

Coming in hot with a Gandhi quote

it got me through the last 4 years.

 

[Baylor Bear 1986]

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1334214564062384135

 

[Deleted member 747277]

I’m probably going to say this a lot this year, but to all those who were adamant that Ayo and/or Kofi going to the league after last year would “great for the program,” this game is why some of us pushed back so hard on that view. I never understood it.

Playing tonight and vs Duke is what’s good for the program. So much better than coaches being about to sit in a living room and tell recruits that they “got” a super talented player to the NBA.

 

[Retro62]

I was thinking the same thing. The only downside is the possibility of waking up with a loss and a hangover. However, it's worth the risk.

A loss will give a hangover regardless