I wouldnt unless its Purdue. I want no part of Ohio State in the final four. Playing them a fourth time is scary.
NCAA Tournament
Jay Bilas Final 4 picks
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 2 Alabama
No. 1 Illinois over No. 1 Baylor
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 1 Illinois
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 2 Alabama
No. 1 Illinois over No. 1 Baylor
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 1 Illinois
Almost, Jay, Almost.Jay Bilas Final 4 picks
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 2 Alabama
No. 1 Illinois over No. 1 Baylor
No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 1 Illinois
Hopefully the NCAA doesn't assume we had to pay extra for this and start sniffing around.
what was the name of the little drug store / diner on the corner of Wright / Green , just west of Alma Mater ? that was a step back in time
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
are second round matchup locations posted anywhere?
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Know exactly what you're talking about, but can't remember its name.
same venues but will likely be at one of the other two spots in town. I suppose Mackey & IUAssHall are game as well
they wont start announcing the locations and times until AFTER the first round games of the teams in question are over
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
This had to be one of the easiest articles to write ever. Tons of quote, little commentary, but likely better that way. (No offense meant to the author, just how much Kofi and Giorgi's Zoom call wrote it for him, and the writer was wise enough to let it happen).great article in today’s Washington Post about Giorgi, Kofi and the Illini’s culture
Don’t worry, i will send to Wally Szczerbiak.
This will be the biggest issue for the Illini. I can see Kofi getting called for ticky tack fouls (even offensive fouls for bodying up guys in the post), and Giorgi fouls consistently when he is in the game just about every game. Even though B1G refs can be atrocious, they often let the guys play. Refs who don't see B1G teams might not be prepared for how physical our games are. This, and the physical grind of the season wearing down players, is why I don't think the B1G wins more NCAA championships than they do. Hope I am wrong and the refs instead call all the fouls that other players commit against Kofi. May be a race to see whose bigs foul out first.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I really believe "IF" the refs stay consistent, our guys can adjust. We can be a finesse team and we can also do well in a brawl. Just stay consistent and call it even, and we will have no problems. (not to mention, we are deeper than most teams, if both teams lose there alpha and beta, I will take our gamma, delta, epsilon, etc, VS. any other team in the country!)
I would focus on enjoying each game. Don’t worry about possibly 3-4 games down the road.
think in reverse. Don’t worry about E8, S16. Worry about round of 64. It’s been awhile since ILL has been in the tourney. Enjoy each round, however far it goes.
In my mind the team will not be overly physical. Within the limits. I think/hope the team was physical when calls were going for them (always fouling Kofi) so that lead to more physical play. As long as the refs call it fair, like another post mentioned, should be fine. The team has great body control.
Did you notice that in wins above the bubble Illinois is No. 1? Good indicator that we are not over seeded at all.
Mackey and the other Assembly Hall are only hosting First Four and first round games. 2nd round game will be at either Bankers Life Fieldhouse or Lucas Oil Stadium.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
THIS. The biggest problem with B1G officiating was inconsistency, not only from game to game, but many times from half to half or even play to play,
Tophe
- Middle TN
Fivethirtyeight odds
They've got Gonzaga with a 27% chance of winning it all, Illini at 15%
ETA: I think this is because the Zags have an easier path, not because they're a better team. I think it's a pickem between the 2 of us.
They've got Gonzaga with a 27% chance of winning it all, Illini at 15%
ETA: I think this is because the Zags have an easier path, not because they're a better team. I think it's a pickem between the 2 of us.
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Actually, if you match up Gonzaga vs Illinois in the final there, Gonzaga has a 58% of winning and Illinois 42%.
If Baylor plays Illinois in a final four match up they have that game as 50/50.
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Tophe
- Middle TN
Sorry, I meant my personal opinion is a Zags/Illini matchup is a pickem. Timme is great, but he can't play the whole game and none of their other big guys are ready. Other than Timme in the paint, the Zags rely on a lot of transition offense and 3s and I think we can defend both well. I don't think they can defend Kofi very well, but they can deny the entry passes. I'd love to see the matchup, tbh.
They take the highest percentage of shots at the rim in all of college basketball.
I'm guessing major fatigue played a part in those two TO's
Wasn't that their 2nd OT game in four days?
And all four of their games were dog fights, no easy one
like we got with Rutgers
I would love to see that matchup as well. Would mean we are in the finals. And I think we can beat the Zags. Heck, we almost beat them two years ago with a freshman Ayo and no Kofi.
And I think it is safe to say that we have improved a lot more than they have since then.
Has Kofi fouled out of a single game this year?
I hope Coach Gentry might be able to help us if we play them as he worked for Mark Few at Gonzaga during the '17-'18 and '18-'19 seasons and played for him for 4 seasons there before that.
I don't think you can say that. They've added 2 potential first round draft picks including a lottery pick since then.
I don't know why people keep trying to downplay how good Gonzaga is. They're the best team in the nation and there is no disputing that. They will be favored in every game up to and including the national title game.
They can be beaten but they're the favorite.