Illinois 80, Iowa 75 Postgame

[sacraig]

We were favored by 2-3 and won by 5 so on a per-possession basis, it was pretty much what was expected to happen.

Sure, but it takes a big chunk of the season for KenPom to be that locked into its expected outcomes. Predictions are only as good as the data they're based on.

 

[spillini]

I'm going to put the Fran postgame presser into a pot for a couple hours to really reduce it down. Once it's really concentrated, I'll put it into one of those Glade plug-in things so I can enjoy it for longer. Beautiful stuff.

 

[Punesguy]

I like Garza and his parents. The rest of that team can go pound sand.

If you want to see a really classy young man, watch Luka's presser. He never made excuses, didn't complain about the refs and said he had to do better. If you want to see someone who makes a petulant child look good, watch Fran's presser. What a complete embarrassment to their University! I pray that we get to see them again at some point later in the year and I hope CJ is there so they have no excuses!

 

[LostinNebraska]

Did he actually claim he’s the best guard in the country?

"And I still expect myself to be the best point guard in the country when I step foot out there. And I feel like I am."
Yep. And he's not even the best starting PG on his own team.

 

[CV Illini]

Frans post-game interview is unreal. That guy is a bona-fide P.O.S. All you have to watch is the first minute.

 

[Gregjacksonfan]

If I was a Big Ten ref and heard one of Frans pressers I wouldn’t give that SOB a call ever

 

[Tacomallini]

I’m trying to think of the last time I enjoyed watching a game this much. Anyone?

for me, last game against Iowa. Not being a wiseacre either.

 

[BillyBob1]

Not sure.....but I think he has Schuett for brains.

He’s Fredrickson’s buddy!

 

[Highlander]

12:40 PM Eastern Time - just finished watching my DVR version of this game, so late to the dance (missed the live action because I was celebrating my 66th b-day with my kids and grandkids). WHAT A GREAT COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME. But anyway for what its worth my observations:

1) Trent Frazier - maybe one of the top recruits of all-time for us.
2) Ayo is a killer - maybe one of the best Illini of all-time
3) Kofi - his dominance shows even when he doesn’t get a double-double.
4) Jacob Grandison - obviously deserves to be starting - huge impact.
5) DeMonte - still hugely important.
6) Curbleo - so enjoyable to watch!!!
7) I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!
8). Edit - I forgot, Iowa still has the most punchable faces of any team, any time

 

[BillyBob1]

That was one those plays where I was like but they somehow didn't call it. Would like to see a replay because I sure thought they were going to call a travel. It did make up for the phantom call on Giorgi earlier in the half that Bardo called them out on.

When you watch someone make a layup, they always take 2 steps. That’s what Curbelo did.

 

[jrmarcus]

Iowa fans are losing there minds over refs? get the $#@% outta here with that. Literally, go back and watch the count, the ref only pumps his arms for 4 seconds and blows the whistle. He missed the 5 count completely. If you have this game on the DVR go watch and count, he lost track of his numbers.

Ok. I thought it was 4 in the replay, but the commentators said it was 5.

 

[LostinNebraska]

When you watch someone make a layup, they always take 2 steps. That’s what Curbelo did.

Yep, even a significant portion of Hawkeyes posters realized he got the ball away before the third step landed. The kid is something else.

 

[drsmitty74]

I hate Iowa as much as anyone...Illinois side QC’s hate for Iowa is visceral...but I like Garza. He was joking around with Kofi right before play started in the second half and gave Kofi a couple pats on the back...the other Hawks...Kofi can give them the same “pat” he gave that ref last year.

Nope

 

[mikeyo]

If I was a Big Ten ref and heard one of Frans pressers I wouldn’t give that SOB a call ever

His tone changed after that, but that was a very frustrated first few minutes out of him

 

[BillyBob1]

Yep, even a significant portion of Hawkeyes posters realized he got the ball away before the third step landed. The kid is something else.

Remember early in the season they called some travels against Andre. Coach said he didn’t travel and said they needed to get this to the attention of head of officials. I don’t think this was an example, but I don’t think he travelled.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Well, how does that change our projection percentage to win the BIG?! To the guy who posted that before.

Honestly, not much.

Title Odds

TEAM	G	WINS	SHARE	SOLE	T4
Michigan	20	16.0	86	71	99.5
Iowa	20	13.2	11	4	80.5
Illinois	20	13.1	9	3	79.5
Wisconsin	20	13.0	10	3	76.3
Ohio St.	20	12.2	3	1	58.0
Purdue	20	11.7	1	0	44.6
Minnesota	20	9.9	0	0	10.4
Rutgers	20	9.7	0	0	5.4
Indiana	20	9.0	0	0	4.1
Penn St.	20	8.1	0	0	1.3
Maryland	20	8.0	0	0	0.6
Northwestern	20	6.8	0	0	0.1
Michigan St.	20	5.8	0	0	0.0
Nebraska	20	3.6	0	0	0.0

Michigan is still the prohibitive favorite to win the title.

 

[AttentionDeficit]

For everyone noting the quick 5 second call, i humbly submit that the quick counting started even earlier. Here is Curbelo after passing the ball with 35.0 seconds on the clock as he is called for 3 seconds in the lane (the call is made in the split second after the release):

Here he is three seconds earlier at 38.0 seconds on the clock:

Curbelo still has his dribble and is entirely outside the lane. Is that how three seconds works?

 

[Tacomallini]

The players were lot more friendly with each other this year than last year. Frazier helped up an Iowa player after taking a charge in the 1st half. I think not having a crazy crowd in the building is making these games far less intense/angry/nervy at least for the guys playing.

I think limited minutes for DMFW, no Griffin, and no Feliz also contributed to this more collegial game

 

[KnoxIllini2]

I’m trying to think of the last time I enjoyed watching a game this much. Anyone?

The win over Duke was fairly impressive, but that game lacked the entertainment value of tonight’s game.

 

[IlliniKat91]

I think limited minutes for DMFW, no Griffin, and no Feliz also contributed to this more collegial game

I also have to wonder if there was a conversation had with the team after two heated games with PSU. That fight is good but it's better to see it in points on the board than double techs. Just speculation on my part

 

[Highlander]

Frans post-game interview is unreal. That guy is a bona-fide P.O.S. All you have to watch is the first minute.

I just listened to his interview -and agree that for the first 30-60 seconds Fran sounded like a real dick. But he calmed down after that and I don’t hate him as much as I use to.

 

[number1IlliniFan]

Great game start to finish! Such a good feeling to see the entire team play so well. Loved the intensity. New guys are really showing up and our vets played like studs,

A few observations after re watching the game:
1. Iowa players got away with travelling twice in the 1st half. Of course Georgie was called for steps when he didn't. That's 3 possessions that should have been different. Ugh.
2. Georgie played really hard, loved his effort, but wow is he off offensively. Sad for him cause I like him so much, but he's not helping us there.
3. That was only 4 seconds on that last inbound play. Ref blew whistle at 4 count. Ball was in air on whistle.
4. Iowa is good. We legit were better!
5. So sad we couldn't be there. That would have been so much fun.

 

[PapaKvells]

Imagine graduating from a Big Ten school and not knowing it's "tow" not "toe."

I joke all the time that I could have gotten my English degree anywhere, but apparently that's not true of Iowa.

As much as I dislike Iowa Basketball, the University of Iowa has an elite writing program.

 

[PapaKvells]

Its my birthday and I can't ask for a better present. My 15 year old son, and my 14 year old son, and I watched the game together while I enjoyed some blue label, a lot of blue label. When we went down in 2nd half my 15 year old said dad you need to go drink in basement (thats our good luck charm) ....I came back up for last 2 mins and my 15 year old and 14 year old shared a big hug at the end of the game and I got...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

Can't Ask for more......

You and Oprah!

 

[blackdog]

When you watch someone make a layup, they always take 2 steps. That’s what Curbelo did.

Thats why I want to see the replay because it looked pretty wild live but I can believe he didn't travel. Never got a good look at when he picked the ball up.