Pregame: Illinois vs Arkansas, Thursday, March 16th, 3:30pm CT, TBS

Status
Not open for further replies.
#176      
illini510
This is a tough matchup. Arkansas has a lot of talented players but a lot of young talented players. They are as inconsistent as we are. This could've been a 4/5 Round of 32 game if both teams lived up to their preseason hype, so to get this type of matchup in an 8/9 game should make for compelling TV. Ricky Council IV and Devo Davis, and the Mitchell bros are their only experienced upperclassmen. They've got a lot of youth(more than we do) so it really is a pick'em game. I think Musselman is a better coach than Underwood but both teams can't shoot well from the 3 so I think it will be a grind it out physical game.

Either way, Illinois doesn't make it past the 1st weekend. Too bad they didn't take care of business to get a 7 seed and possibly go up against a UCLA.
 
#177      
bergd91
WyattEarp said:
Do tell…
Looney Tunes Popcorn GIF by Looney Tunes World of Mayhem

EDIT: I mean seriously, do tell…I missed it.
Lol. I’m all ears.
Click to expand...
2 of their assistant coaches got super heated with each other during their 2nd tournament game. Had to be separated, I was laughing my arse off. Then their AD went on TV and apologized about their standards to fans, students, etc. When you hire a ,"tool", and willing to do anything to win things happen. I suppose 🤔 Arkansas and Alabama's head coaches are the equivalent of Will Wade and LSU. Probably worse. IMO
 
#178      
MDchicago
A few tidbits looking over their coach's (Eric Musselman's) background:
- experience as an assistant and head coach at college, CBA/D League, NBA and international levels (including Dominican and Venezuelan national teams);
- stints as an NBA assistant under Lon Kruger, Chuck Daly, Doc Rivers, Mike Fratello and his father Bill, and an NBA head coach for three seasons in the early 2000's (GSW and Sacramento); credits Lon with helping him get his first NBA head coaching job with GSW. Link
- once was a college assistant at Arizona State under Herb Sendek (Podz' current coach at Santa Clara);
- son of the late Bill Musselman (who one article referred to as the most intense man on the planet), who coached in college, CBA, ABA and NBA between 1964 and 2000, and was the head coach at Minnesota in 1971 at the time of the ugly in-game assault/one-sided brawl that left an Ohio State player in the ICU. Father left Minnesota job in 1975 with 128 pending NCAA violations from his four-year tenure that later resulted in sanctions for the Gophers.
- Quote of his father: "Defeat is worse than death because you have to live with defeat"; and
- married to former ESPN anchor Danyelle Sargent.
 
#179      
GallopingGhost
Given how the 1 seeds and 8 seeds all played out- I’d rather play Ark than Memphis and I’d rather play Kansas than Alabama or Houston.

I mean I think we got the best draw possible for our 9 seed position. Every single tourney game is going to be incredibly tough, and there are no “easy paths” anymore.

Let’s go win ourselves a ballgame.
 
#180      
RoundBalcs
Roundball Sage said:
Fresh Quote from an Arkansas Razorback fan blog:

“If we play above average and hit free throws, we can beat anybody, anywhere, any time. Our problem is lapses and missed free throws. If we play a complete game, even if we aren't on fire, we have the talent to compete with anyone. That's why you recruit five stars, for these types of moments when, even if they have been inconsistent all year, they may just shine when the lights are the brightest. If not, as you said, still a good season that ended in the NCAA...”

End quote.

Say Illini Nation... does this description remind you of ANYBODY?
Click to expand...
Spider-Man Reaction GIF
 
#181      
illiniguy24
Arkansas is essentially us. Plenty of talent, preseason expectations, poor 3pt shooting and have been wildly inconsistent.

Here’s to hoping this Illini team can “flip the switch”
 
#183      
RabidDawgClassic
Eternal Optimist said:
Call me the Eternal Optimist (yadda yadda name checks out) but I think we go on a run and lose to UCLA in Elite 8 with UCLA taking the tournament in the final from Alabama.

Alternative is we lose by 20 to Arkansas.

Channeling some Ayo with a #whynotme. It’s March Madness baby!
Click to expand...

Advancing to the Elite Eight then losing? Optimist yes. ETERNAL optimist? Name does not check out.
 
#186      
bergd91
IMO, this game is a toss up. The Officials and free throw shooting, will be the difference in this game! I no longer watch news ,TV shows, or lame movies produced by a streaming service. I record College Hoops from all over the country. I simply love College athletics. I have watched Arkansas 5x this year. They do hit their Free throws, but are exactly like our beloved team. Coaching could be a difference per a previous poster.
 
#188      
WyattEarp
MDchicago said:
A few tidbits looking over their coach's (Eric Musselman's) background:
- experience as an assistant and head coach at college, CBA/D League, NBA and international levels (including Dominican and Venezuelan national teams);
- stints as an NBA assistant under Lon Kruger, Chuck Daly, Doc Rivers, Mike Fratello and his father Bill, and an NBA head coach for three seasons in the early 2000's (GSW and Sacramento); credits Lon with helping him get his first NBA head coaching job with GSW. Link
- once was a college assistant at Arizona State under Herb Sendek (Podz' current coach at Santa Clara);
- son of the late Bill Musselman (who one article referred to as the most intense man on the planet), who coached in college, CBA, ABA and NBA between 1964 and 2000, and was the head coach at Minnesota in 1971 at the time of the ugly in-game assault/one-sided brawl that left an Ohio State player in the ICU. Father left Minnesota job in 1975 with 128 pending NCAA violations from his four-year tenure that later resulted in sanctions for the Gophers.
- Quote of his father: "Defeat is worse than death because you have to live with defeat"; and
- married to former ESPN anchor Danyelle Sargent.
Click to expand...
1.) That is one helluva resume!
2.) He married UP^…WAY UP!^
3.) If they should win…and he does that shirtless BS with the goofy dance. I think I’m gonna lose it.
 
#189      
bergd91
MDchicago said:
A few tidbits looking over their coach's (Eric Musselman's) background:
- experience as an assistant and head coach at college, CBA/D League, NBA and international levels (including Dominican and Venezuelan national teams);
- stints as an NBA assistant under Lon Kruger, Chuck Daly, Doc Rivers, Mike Fratello and his father Bill, and an NBA head coach for three seasons in the early 2000's (GSW and Sacramento); credits Lon with helping him get his first NBA head coaching job with GSW. Link
- once was a college assistant at Arizona State under Herb Sendek (Podz' current coach at Santa Clara);
- son of the late Bill Musselman (who one article referred to as the most intense man on the planet), who coached in college, CBA, ABA and NBA between 1964 and 2000, and was the head coach at Minnesota in 1971 at the time of the ugly in-game assault/one-sided brawl that left an Ohio State player in the ICU. Father left Minnesota job in 1975 with 128 pending NCAA violations from his four-year tenure that later resulted in sanctions for the Gophers.
- Quote of his father: "Defeat is worse than death because you have to live with defeat"; and
- married to former ESPN anchor Danyelle Sargent.
Click to expand...
Coach Musselman is a clone of his father no doubt. Watched a 1 hour documentary years back when he was at Nevada. He makes BigDaddy Brad look like a calm guidance counselor trying to get everyone to graduation. 😆 🤣 The dude is a fanatic.
 
#191      
Illini in Italy
illini510 said:
This is a tough matchup. Arkansas has a lot of talented players but a lot of young talented players. They are as inconsistent as we are. This could've been a 4/5 Round of 32 game if both teams lived up to their preseason hype, so to get this type of matchup in an 8/9 game should make for compelling TV. Ricky Council IV and Devo Davis, and the Mitchell bros are their only experienced upperclassmen. They've got a lot of youth(more than we do) so it really is a pick'em game. I think Musselman is a better coach than Underwood but both teams can't shoot well from the 3 so I think it will be a grind it out physical game.

Either way, Illinois doesn't make it past the 1st weekend. Too bad they didn't take care of business to get a 7 seed and possibly go up against a UCLA.
Click to expand...
Discover No Way GIF by ADWEEK
 
#192      
CleverHandle1
I guess if the Illini matches up well against favored Arkansas, then they might have a chance. I'm thinking Illinois can match Arkansas's athleticism.
 
#194      
jayd
Stat wise they look a lot like us. Bad three point and free throw percentages.
 
#195      
Bigtex
like others - Don't mind this matchup. Wanted a defensive team vs good offensive team. Expect it to be a tight rock fight game that will come down to execution during the final minute to determine the winner.
 
#196      
and 69 others
So I’m tired of thinking about basketball and our next game, so my girlfriend left the apartment to run errands. I figured I had around 45 minutes on the internet, not that I need that long, so I clicked on hogville.net … sadly, not what I was hoping for - just more about our next game.
 
#197      
DocMorgan
Roundball Sage said:
Fresh Quote from an Arkansas Razorback fan blog:

“If we play above average and hit free throws, we can beat anybody, anywhere, any time. Our problem is lapses and missed free throws. If we play a complete game, even if we aren't on fire, we have the talent to compete with anyone. That's why you recruit five stars, for these types of moments when, even if they have been inconsistent all year, they may just shine when the lights are the brightest. If not, as you said, still a good season that ended in the NCAA...”

End quote.

Say Illini Nation... does this description remind you of ANYBODY?
Click to expand...
867640CF-5466-4DA5-84BF-AC7DB6D10CA5.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back