Pregame: Illinois at Ohio State, Saturday, March 6th, 3:00pm CT, ESPN

[texillwek]

All very valid.
Criticizing Ayo however is mostly petty. It's like trying to find something wrong with...bacon. Or Jennifer Aniston. Of course they have flaws, but c'mon man!
IT'S F@#KING BACON AND JEN ANISTON!!

Because if you want to be petty and critical of bacon, or Jen...you can expect some pretty harsh push back.

Come join me in the Jennifer Anniston & Bacon Appreciation Thread

 

[pruman91]

WOW! Don't get me wrong, I love Ayo and believe he's the most important basketball player we've had since Dee ... probably ever. There's no way we're #4 in the nation without him and he's deserving of being national player of the year. More importantly Ayo is a GREAT representative of my alma mater and my home state as a person and I believe he will have a long and productive pro career.

Again, I love Ayo too!

He's not perfect, however. I'm definitely not perfect and you're not either. I thought this was a message board where we could share our opinions freely without being shout down by the masses, but I guess I'm wrong. Insults about height (I'm 6'2" - not sure why that matters), about my history playing basketball (I played as a youth and have coached at the middle school level) or telling people to STFU because they don't necessarily agree with you don't belong here or in society.

I hope Ayo plays this weekend and leads us to the National Championship like all of you ... but let's be civil about it ok?

Yes, we are here to share opinions and you are entitled to your own one.....i just think if you had left out the word "" LOAF """ it might have not been so irritating to me and others....The alleged NPOTY and B1G POTY isn't perfect but darn near close.........
As with you, JMHO

 

[sacraig]

OSU is an extremely tough place for us to play at. Our last win there was 2-22-2009.

Incidentally, that was one of the last years we had a remotely decent team. I think our struggles there have been less about Ohio State and more about how much of a dumpster fire our program had become.

 

[skyIdub]

Come join me in the Jennifer Anniston & Bacon Appreciation Thread

Link?

 

[skibdaddy]

The team has found that missing piece, which is the mental side of the game and playing a full 40 minutes.

Illini 82
Suckeyes 70

 

[PapaKvells]

I just realized that picture of Curbelo, Georgi, Grandison and DMW represented guys who were her one year, two years, three years and four years. It not only reveals a special kind of brotherhood in our culture, but a locker room with no cliques.

 

[sacraig]

Ayo personally brought this program back to national relevance.

If you have anything bad to say about him or his effort on defense or rebounding, just STFU. You don't know basketball.

I mean, I get defending him because you are exactly right that he (nearly) singlehandedly brought us back. He's an amazing player with a lot of swagger that we've been missing. But goodness, no one (and I mean that literally) is above criticism. The moment someone stops accepting criticism is the moment they've stopped growing as a person or player or whatever it is that they do. The important thing is that it needs to be fair criticism, knowledgeable criticism.

 

[Orangetool]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1367723595531714560

I am very proud that he is our coach. He oozes integrity and sportsmanship and his humility is real.

We are lucky.

 

[skyIdub]

Come join me in the Jennifer Anniston & Bacon Appreciation Thread

Bacon and Jennifer Aniston Appreciation

You shouldn't temp me texillwek.

www.illinoisloyalty.com

 

[illiniu]

Beat The OSU. Payback for that loss to them in 2005. Do I hold grudges? Heck, yes. (Let's discuss North Carolina , when they're relevant, later).

 

[LostinNebraska]

When it comes to Ayo and the discussion of his strengths/weaknesses, I'm reminded of the immortal words of Canada's Poet Laureate - Alan Thicke.
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have...
The facts of life.
The facts of life.

 

[FeelYourPaign]

Beat The OSU. Payback for that loss to them in 2005. Do I hold grudges? Heck, yes. (Let's discuss North Carolina , when they're relevant, later).

Its just an OSU. There is no the OSU.
AN

 

[skyIdub]

Its just an OSU. There is no the OSU.
AN

Oregon State University:
Oklahoma State University:

 

[Deleted member 746963]

Did I just read Brad Underwood came out of the Ubben after practice yesterday with people waiting in the parking lot for autographs!? Illinois fans, if you truly CARE about this team and want to see a deep run in the BTT and NCAA, refrain from anything like this (especially with the players). The team (Any team) is is one positive test away (COVID) from the season being over this late in the game. Use your heads folks...

 

[illiniu]

Oregon State University:
Oklahoma State University:

Ohio State still refers to itself as THE Ohio State University. Sorry for confusion. From now on, I will post just plain simple Ohio State so as not to be confused with Oklahoma State, Oregon State, any other OSU. Thanks.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

BU after practices:

 

[Deleted member 746963]

BU after practices:

 

[illiniu]

Now if you could have Mr. Curbelo jumping on him, you'd really have something.

 

[Rap73]

What has any Ohio State player done the that have to be insulted with name calling.? It isn't that hard to show a little class in this forum. Rizzo deserves it, Ohio State doesn't.

 

[AirNeezy]

I mean, I get defending him because you are exactly right that he (nearly) singlehandedly brought us back. He's an amazing player with a lot of swagger that we've been missing. But goodness, no one (and I mean that literally) is above criticism. The moment someone stops accepting criticism is the moment they've stopped growing as a person or player or whatever it is that they do. The important thing is that it needs to be fair criticism, knowledgeable criticism.

That's a fair point, but to *me*....regarding his Illini career and play Ayo is above criticism. It'd be like getting on a message board in 2006 and complaining that Dee doesn't rebound well enough.

 

[texillwek]

Beat The OSU. Payback for that loss to them in 2005. Do I hold grudges? Heck, yes. (Let's discuss North Carolina , when they're relevant, later).

Matt Sylvester...grrrrrr

 

[Orangetool]

When you look at this year, Curbelo, Miller and Hawkins proved to be a group that grew up fast and really contributed during a long Big Ten season.
They have been integral to our success and have proven to be a great class.

The best incoming class since? ......

 

[eMitch]

What has any Ohio State player done the that have to be insulted with name calling.? It isn't that hard to show a little class in this forum. Rizzo deserves it, Ohio State doesn't.

They chose to go to Ohio State, duh

 

[AirNeezy]

When you look at this year, Curbelo, Miller and Hawkins proved to be a group that grew up fast and really contributed during a long Big Ten season.
They have been integral to our success and have proven to be a great class.

The best incoming class since? ......

I've said this in another thread but I wouldn't be surprised by a Mike Davis type leap from Hawk next year.

 

[RockfordIllini]

I've said this in another thread but I wouldn't be surprised by a Mike Davis type leap from Hawk next year.

He’s got such a short, compact shot. I think it’s going in every time he shoots it. Biggest keys for him I think is to continue to improve defensive awareness and get stronger. Once the game slows down just a bit more, agree he’s going to be a very valuable piece.