I understand that. However, B1G last year was even stronger but we all fell off early except for Michigan. They did not make the final 4 either. Gonzaga will always look good on this type of chart but they were pretty good last year indeed. I am not arguing Houston is a better team but I would not discount this type of analysis totally, either. I am sure Brad will treat Huston seriously if we play them. How did they do last year though?
Pregame: Illinois vs Chattanooga, Friday, March 18th, 5:50pm CT, TNT
- Status
I get what you are saying but:
1. Illinois
2. History
This is why so many of us old guys are leary.
You can't be serious with this. We won (okay, maybe not *officially*) the Big Ten regular season and BTT last year. We had seniors in Frazier and Williams, juniors in Ayo, Giorgi B and Grandison, and a sophomore Kofi. We were not some inexperienced team. We were tenuous last year as a #1 seed, but Iowa is not as a #5 seed? I'm sorry, this is an absolutely ridiculous post.
Bigtex
- DFW
I will contend that the “old guys” are still stung (history) by Henson teams that under achieved in the tourney. Great coach great results but coaching and adjusting in tournament is different that conference.
Barnes (Tenn) teams have historically under performed. Henson is in the top 10 under performing teams.
Certain coaches seem to always under perform in the tournament. Bill Self is one of them. If not for Chalmer, he probably already lost that job. Underwood looks like a smart, reasonable person with some flexibility. I hope he learned his lesson from last year and be more prepared. He was not ready for the Loyola defense. I blamed him instead of the players.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
If Plummer hits 50% and 5+ a game, then opponents should tremble. If he goes 1-6 or worse, then we might not advance that game. Plummer needs to go on a 2...3....4....5....6 game HOT streak.
To make a deep run we just need every one to be focused and playing to the level that they are all capable of. It would help if someone went into hero mode for the tourney. A different player every game or one that just one that gets on a roll.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
First off, we had basically zero tournament experience.
Second, if anyone has listened to BU's last two press conferences, he goes pretty heavily into why winning the BTT was such a drain. It wasn't a physical thing. Our guys we're rested enough to have succeeded. It was a mental issue.
Because of covid protocols, the team wasn't able to celebrate after they cut down the nets. Immediately afterward, they had to get tested. From there, rather than going back to campus and getting to celebrate with the community, they went to their hotel rooms. BU said other than a knock on their door to get Chick-fil-a sandwiches, they had zero interaction with anyone. They weren't even allowed to go to each other's rooms. Initially, the idea of staying in Indy seemed like a smart move, but BU said once they experienced it in practice, it was mentally exhausting to be in the bubble for the extra week, cut off from each other.
Add this to the lose-and-go-home nature of the tournament, an experience we missed out on in 2020, and it all starts to become clear why we laid an egg against Loyola.
Iowa is in a different position. They have tournament experience. They don't have the extremely strict covid protocols to deal with. While yes, they are a 5 seed, Iowa is in a better position to succeed than we were last year. Though, personally, I hope they crash and burn in the first round.
I would not bet my beach house on that so that is why I hope Belo can penetrate and score more. That will give the shooters more spacing, too.If Plummer hits 50% and 5+ a game, then opponents should tremble. If he goes 1-6 or worse, then we might not advance that game. Plummer needs to go on a 2...3....4....5....6 game HOT streak.
Our 2005 team was much more NCAA experienced
2003 lost in 2nd round to Notre Dame so 1-1
2002 lost in sweet 16 to #1 seed Duke so 2-1
2001 lost in Sweet 16 to Kansas 2-1
SR Luther was 5-3 in NCAA games going into 2005
SR Powell was 5-3 in NCAA games going into 2005
JR Derons was 3-2 in NCAA games
JR Brown was 3-2 in NCAA games
JR James was 3-2 in NCAA games
2005 team Total NCAA experience 31 games entering the 2005 tourney as #1 seed
2021 team Total NCAA experience 0 games entering 2021 tourney.
Now the 2022 team has had the bitter taste of Loyola NCAA defeat for 1 year. I think they will be ready for Chatanooga!
Attachments
Last edited:
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
It does seem to speak to parity within each conference. I’m still not convinced the B1G deserved to get 9 teams in, but 100% agree that it’s really hard to go on big runs in the conference given how much parity there was in the B1G.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
As mentioned before, great guard play seems to be the ticket to the FF. We are fortunate to have (imo) three guards that can take over a game in different ways. Trent and Plumm3r shooting, and Belo all around guard play. With regards to Belo and his very trying year....he is exactly the type of guard that explodes on the national stage.....if he's ready for prime time. Honestly I think if we are truly to make a run, we don't need the "good" Belo...we'll need a spectacular Belo that jumps off the screen and smacks you with his 'fro.
I hope we play loose and confident. You could see the confidence building in CoHawk and Belo in the last couple games.
If we really are "contenders" for the FF....we easily handle Chattanoogie, and then beat Houston/UAB with no real problems. The mostly anticipated matchup/rematch in the SS with Zona will be a pick 'em.
If we are pretenders (again), we squeak by Chat. and then get bounced by Houston.
Hopefully BU is correct when he says they will be loose and not tight....ready to have fun and let it fly.
I hope we play loose and confident. You could see the confidence building in CoHawk and Belo in the last couple games.
If we really are "contenders" for the FF....we easily handle Chattanoogie, and then beat Houston/UAB with no real problems. The mostly anticipated matchup/rematch in the SS with Zona will be a pick 'em.
If we are pretenders (again), we squeak by Chat. and then get bounced by Houston.
Hopefully BU is correct when he says they will be loose and not tight....ready to have fun and let it fly.
Kenpom has Illinois as about an 8 point favorite. And if you've followed his metrics, Illinois has trended down a bit from mid-season. Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just saying that I don't think a close game would be more of a shock than say, Loyola last year. Sometimes guys play flat, or the other team shoots the 3 ball better than their averages.
Illini_1979
- Oregon
Interesting (and scary) that both Houston and Arizona are "Dominant Teams" (not "Dominant Erupt") that go on way more runs than their opponents. We better do a good job of eliminating our scoring droughts and keeping them from running off a streak (I know, "Duh").
Houston is defense and offensive rebounding based. So they get stops and even if they miss they get back a lot of misses. Easier to go on runs that way.Interesting (and scary) that both Houston and Arizona are "Dominant Teams" (not "Dominant Erupt") that go on way more runs than their opponents. We better do a good job of eliminating our scoring droughts and keeping them from running off a streak (I know, "Duh").
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Houston plays in a weak conference which overblows stats like this. For as much grief as Gonzaga gets about the WCC, it's much stronger than the AAC this season.Interesting (and scary) that both Houston and Arizona are "Dominant Teams" (not "Dominant Erupt") that go on way more runs than their opponents. We better do a good job of eliminating our scoring droughts and keeping them from running off a streak (I know, "Duh").
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
do we have a pregame meet up spot picked out in pittsburgh? signed 2012 grad now living in pittsburgh
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
No need to apologize
. Of course, I'm absolutely serious about it or I wouldn't have written it. Yes, we were on a tear at the end of the season. I worried, however, about our lack of balance and seasoning, and what we expended at the end of the season and in the BTT. I never thought we'd go down as hard as we did but I was concerned that we were over-hyped.You're entitled to your take, of course. I find Iowa's play and balance since mid-Feb this year more sustainable and conducive to success in March than ours was last season. YMMV.
[EDIT: Just read @The Galloping Ghost reply. What he said. I don't like Iowa but I like Iowa, if you know what I mean.]
Last edited:
Except when it doesn’t
Iowa improved a lot from the shellacking we gave them in Iowa City in December. However we still beat them in March.
My personal preference is to be so dominant that you win the BTT without skipping a beat. We were not as good this year. Plus with the regular season title in hand we had nothing to prove.
Given how tired we looked and how up and down we were in 2nd half of BT season I think a week off is a good thing.
I like our chances against Chatanooga and Houston. They have never played vs King Kofi. I also think Andre is rounding into shape. If that layup falls in BTT vs IU every would be saying he is back.
Once we beat Chatanooga nobody will expect anything from Illinois so we can play loose.
My personal preference is to be so dominant that you win the BTT without skipping a beat. We were not as good this year. Plus with the regular season title in hand we had nothing to prove.
Given how tired we looked and how up and down we were in 2nd half of BT season I think a week off is a good thing.
I like our chances against Chatanooga and Houston. They have never played vs King Kofi. I also think Andre is rounding into shape. If that layup falls in BTT vs IU every would be saying he is back.
Once we beat Chatanooga nobody will expect anything from Illinois so we can play loose.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I didn't notice anyone posting about this so I will. If you haven't watched the 247 VIP Film Room video Dan posted earlier, do it. Mike LaTulip explains in detail, via clips from the IU loss, why Andre Curbelo is crucial to our success in the tourney. He goes on for more than 30 mins about it but you get the idea within 5-7 mins. It's why so many of us here want him on the floor as often as possible. We're a completely different team, with greater penetration and movement and an actual transition game. And his D is stellar.
Why LaTulip is so bullish on Curbelo
Why LaTulip is so bullish on Curbelo
Also, Underwood talked recently about how his scouting mentality/division of labor amongst the staff has changed a lot since last season AND that he is very happy with how it has gone. Hopefully that bodes well for our tournament performance!
Your house.
- Status