Illini Basketball 2022-2023

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#226      
I think, if he’s ready for B1G action, we should go ahead and play him now.

With the Portal open as it is, we can’t be certain he’ll even be here next fall, let alone be here in three or four years.

If he can help us now, put him in.
 
#227      
Just to play devils advocate.....

-Their huge bump in ratings have largely been because of one early season tournament, where their opponents probably weren't as prepared as B1G teams will be. These coaches/teams know Edey well and will have better game plans to stop him.

-After Edey, they are lead by 2 freshmen. Once again, conference games are different. If these freshmen have weaknesses, the B1G will expose them.

-Take out the good tournament results....They beat a pretty good Marquette team, FSU and Davidson both hung with them pretty much all game, and they should've lost to Nebraska. Maybe they just had a hot tournament?

I agree, they have earned the #1 ranking at the moment. But they still have question marks and the margins are small. With how tough the conference is, it's easy to find 7+ losses on anybody's schedule.
PU has the been good for the last few years. They have shown they have not regressed losing Ivey Williams and Sasha.
We only play them once on the road they play Wisky once (both games end of the season) and they don’t play at the RAC this year. They should be heavy favorites to win the Big Ten. They have a 2 game lead on us
 
#228      
natives are restless in uk country.............................


“I'm disappointed that we lost but I'm also disappointed in plays that I thought we could make and some of the turnovers that I just thought were not necessary,” coach John Calipari said postgame.
 
#229      
If you look at Torvik, only Purdue is expected to finish above 12-8, and they are pegged at 15-5. So, your theory is not that far out there.

We are favored in our next 9 games, and in 5 of last 11. Playing to current expectations puts us at 12-8. To beat Mizzou and win the next 7 games, though expected, is a big ask, but if we can do that and surprise a team or two in the last half of the conference season, we could easily be a top 4 team and maybe compete for the championship. Starting 0-2 and winning the B1G might have never been done, but we have a favorable schedule, and a 20-game season reduces the importance of starting 0-2.

This team needs to find its identity, but an excellent season is still quite possible.
Ummmm the importance of stating 0-2?
 
#230      
Well , he is lefthanded so that balances the batting order and we can go righty 5 -lefty 5- then come back righty...........His defense will dictate how much he plays.........

oh wait................................................View attachment 22236
Wait! He’s a lefty? Maybe the Cardinals should sign him. Line up is too right-handed. Maybe I’m in the wrong thread. Damn bourbon!
 
#231      
natives are restless in uk country.............................


“I'm disappointed that we lost but I'm also disappointed in plays that I thought we could make and some of the turnovers that I just thought were not necessary,” coach John Calipari said postgame.

Just tears me up.
 
#235      
Because many here habitually overrate our talent and convince themselves we’re going to beat up on most teams. And then when we lose a game to a non-top 10 opponent or don’t win by 30 points against weak competition, they’re incredulous.
Season 2 Nbc GIF by Manifest
 
#238      
Have you watched Purdue much? They've earned that #1 ranking IMO. Don't see much chance of them dropping 7 or more.
Normally, I'd say 2 games isn't a lot to make up, but I don't see a lot of chances to make up ground, plus we only meet once.

While theyve earned that ranking......life on the road in the b10 is tough and in the only road game theyve played in conference thus far they needed OT to beat a team expected to finsihed what? 13th at best? And while up 1 late, they were the recipient of a phanton call (that was called out by the commentators and on twitter as atrocious) on a purdue turnover that wouldve given nebraska a chance to win down 1.....instead they got unwarranted FTs to virtually ice the game

Their only other road game was against 3-10 FSU who played them even for about 35 mins if i recall

Maybe theyl wake up and dog walk every other b10 team on the road but id bet theyl drop enough that gets us a fighting chance. We'l have to go on a heck of a run obviously thouugh
 
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#241      
Ummmm the importance of stating 0-2?
Yeah, no one has started 0-2 and won, but there have only been 4 previous seasons where there were 20 conference games. It is easier to catch up with 18 games to play rather than just 16. Winning the B1G may be a long shot but top 4 isn't that far-fetched, especially this year. Frankly about everyone but Minnesota has demonstrated that they are capable of winning any B1G game. I think we will need to get to 2-2 and to be honest I am pretty concerned about playing Northwestern on the road and Wisky at home. I think everyone but Minnesota has proven they are more than capable of winning on any given night. There is going to be a lot of handwringing in the B1G this year. Hopefully, we have had ours.

BTW three teams ahead of us in the AP lost today. Miami beat Virginia (ouch). Drake beat Miss St (previously unbeaten) and Wake beat Duke. There seems to be a lot of parity this year. Two losses is not a good start but not insurmountable.
 
#242      
I saw most of that game and agree that if they play that way in BIG, they are very beatable
Everybody looks beatable when you're missing shots like PU did that night but they still won and Edey is a ton. They definitely looked beatable against Nebraska too but still won. They are well coached and will be in the mix for a BIG championship but it is far from a given. We should be there too but time will tell as we are still in the which team will show up on a given night mode.
 
#243      
He is 12th man and they haven’t needed his scholarship yet. He a decent practice player, a good student and a good teammate.

This. What is with people constantly going after Lieb? It’s getting a little tiresome.

You need guys at the end of the bench on scholarship that will be a reliable practice body, take care of things off the court and not be a distraction
 
#244      
Not sure how much, but he will definitely play this year.
Agree. May not see much of him in December and early-to-mid January, but I think he’ll get some tick at some point. If he can pick up the defense and allow them to use the “switch everything” approach that they abandon when Dainja is in, I could see him stealing some minutes from Dain in certain situations.
 
#245      
This. What is with people constantly going after Lieb? It’s getting a little tiresome.

You need guys at the end of the bench on scholarship that will be a reliable practice body, take care of things off the court and not be a distraction
Yep, it seems like it’s always open-season on Lieb not deserving a scholarship and
Bielema needing to lose weight.

I’m tired of hearing both.
 
#248      
Seems like all the insiders say that Lieb has no chance of becoming a meaningful rotation guy. Don’t mean to be a jerk, but why is he still on scholarship?
I don't think he's much worse than most team's 12th man. Especially with the ease of transferring I don't think it will be practical to fill a team with more than 10 quality guys. Ideally you have guys down in the depth chart who can develop and then play into a role but show me how many talented and happy guys who stick around a program and not play? We could do way worse.
 
#250      
Seems like all the insiders say that Lieb has no chance of becoming a meaningful rotation guy. Don’t mean to be a jerk, but why is he still on scholarship?
He was offered a scholarship for four years. He accepted that offer. The offer did not include, and indeed could not legally include, a requirement that he become a meaningful rotation guy in order to keep the scholarship. Both sides are simply upholding their ends of the bargain as they were made.
 
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