Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa/Ohio State

[Second place is 1st loser]

One of Illinois/Nebraska/Indiana/Iowa/Ohio State/Penn State/Michigan will play Sunday.

Crazy. One of that group will be playing for the Big Ten Championship.

I'll be supremely disappointed if it's not us. The road is paved.

 

[zentrails]

Considering how Iowa played today in a must win to close out the season and how great OSU has been down the stretch, I'd be surprised if OSU wasn't our opponent for the Quarters.

An OSU team which had just won a tough game the day before while we watched.
Or IA if they win.
I like our chances in either case.
Heck we just beat a fired up, rested IA team in their own place folks.

 

[frozenrope9190]

A reminder that Illinois has beaten every single team in the Big Ten this year, except Penn State and Purdue. Every single one.

Onward to the finals!!!

 

[ptgrd23]

I like our path. Iowa/Osu winner will be on tired legs. Then likely Nebraska. Two very winnable games. Love to meet Purdue in finals for revenge game.

 

[My2Cents]

No reason to go into this tourney with anything less than confidence and desire to play Purdue again!! As a few have already stated here, It's put up or shut up time and I'm pretty sure we let everyone see and hear tonight, the almighty roar that is the FIGHTING ILLINI!!!!!

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

If Illini fans can show up in such impressive numbers to Iowa City for a 6:00 pm Sunday game, we can take over Minneapolis!!

 

[dmb24illini]

If Illini fans can show up in such impressive numbers to Iowa City for a 6:00 pm Sunday game, we can take over Minneapolis!!

If we win Friday, I'm making the trip for the semis/finals

 

[DeonThomas]

Need to get one of Harmon/Goode going from 3. That’s the last piece to hit our peak.

Agreed.

Goode's poor defense has been exposed, however. And Harmon looked lost today in Iowa City.

 

[Zorak]

I don't fear anyone in this conference besides Purdue, and we've proven we can hang with them. Whatever the draw is, I say bring it on.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

No matter who we draw this’ll be a quad 2 game. Would take a lot for either of OSU or Iowa to jump into the top 50 to make it a quad 1….

If we make it to championship Sunday and go through Iowa/OSU then Nebraska our resume would most likely look like this going into the title game:

Illinois:
25-8
Quad 1: 6-6
Quad 2: 6-2
Quad 3/4: 12-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Other teams as of 03/10/24

Team A:

Spoiler

Auburn

24-7
Quad 1: 1-7
Quad 2: 9-0
Quad 3/4: 14-0
~Top 10 in all advanced matrices + NET

Team B:

Spoiler

Baylor

22-9
Quad 1: 9-8
Quad 2: 4-1
Quad 3/4: 8-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team C:

Spoiler

Kentucky

23-8
Quad 1: 6-5
Quad 2: 2-2
Quad 3/4: 15-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team D:

Spoiler

Kansas

22-9
Quad 1: 7-8
Quad 2: 6-0
Quad 3/4: 8-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

who can correctly guess all of them? How would you rank us with them?

 

[lstewart53x3]

No matter who we draw this’ll be a quad 2 game. Would take a lot for either of OSU or Iowa to jump into the top 50 to make it a quad 1….

If we make it to championship Sunday and go through Iowa/OSU then Nebraska our resume would most likely look like this going into the title game:

Illinois:
25-8
Quad 1: 6-6
Quad 2: 6-2
Quad 3/4: 12-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Other teams as of 03/10/24

Team A:

Spoiler

Auburn

24-7
Quad 1: 1-7
Quad 2: 9-0
Quad 3/4: 14-0
~Top 10 in all advanced matrices + NET

Team B:

Spoiler

Baylor

22-9
Quad 1: 9-8
Quad 2: 4-1
Quad 3/4: 8-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team C:

Spoiler

Kentucky

23-8
Quad 1: 6-5
Quad 2: 2-2
Quad 3/4: 15-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team D:

Spoiler

Kansas

22-9
Quad 1: 7-8
Quad 2: 6-0
Quad 3/4: 8-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

who can correctly guess all of them? How would you rank us with them?

My rankings:

Baylor
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Auburn

 

[illini0440]

No matter who we draw this’ll be a quad 2 game. Would take a lot for either of OSU or Iowa to jump into the top 50 to make it a quad 1….

If we make it to championship Sunday and go through Iowa/OSU then Nebraska our resume would most likely look like this going into the title game:

Illinois:
25-8
Quad 1: 6-6
Quad 2: 6-2
Quad 3/4: 12-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Other teams as of 03/10/24

Team A:

Spoiler

Auburn

24-7
Quad 1: 1-7
Quad 2: 9-0
Quad 3/4: 14-0
~Top 10 in all advanced matrices + NET

Team B:

Spoiler

Baylor

22-9
Quad 1: 9-8
Quad 2: 4-1
Quad 3/4: 8-0
~Top 15 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team C:

Spoiler

Kentucky

23-8
Quad 1: 6-5
Quad 2: 2-2
Quad 3/4: 15-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

Team D:

Spoiler

Kansas

22-9
Quad 1: 7-8
Quad 2: 6-0
Quad 3/4: 8-1
~Top 20 in all predictive metrics + NET

who can correctly guess all of them? How would you rank us with them?

Auburn, Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas.

Baylor and Kansas depends on what they do in conference tourney. Right now I’d have us ahead of them. If Kansas wins a couple they some really good Q1 wins that might jump them ahead of us. Kentucky is probably ahead of us and Auburn is even with us even with being terrible in Q1 games.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

Auburn, Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas.

Baylor and Kansas depends on what they do in conference tourney. Right now I’d have us ahead of them. If Kansas wins a couple they some really good Q1 wins that might jump them ahead of us. Kentucky is probably ahead of us and Auburn is even with us even with being terrible in Q1 games.

If we get to 7-6 in quad 1 with beating Purdue in the title game, is that something the committee would take into consideration when the bracket will get announced 10 minutes after our game ends? That could come down to the type of win that is the difference between us being a 4 or 3…

 

[illinifan1987]

i do not like our draw. Iowa third time or Minnesota at home is less than ideal. First game is actually one that most worries me

We don't have the best track record going 3-0 against one team. I'd much rather face OSU

 

[LvilleILL]

Very good draw. Won't be an easy games, but a good chance for us to get to Sunday and get that 3 seed. I would root against Baylor, Kansas, and Kentucky this week. Iowa State as well, I could see them being punished for their joke of a non conf schedule

 

[Doogie94]

My 2 Wishes for the BTT tourney:
1. Illini Sweeps the competition.
2. Maryland wins 3 games. that could be surprisingly important for our seeding.

**Note: There are constants (outside of illini cruising to BTT crown) that don't need to be wished for, since they are eternal: Iowa losing, Juwan keeping his job, NW kid crying, izzo screaming. **

 

[illini0440]

If we get to 7-6 in quad 1 with beating Purdue in the title game, is that something the committee would take into consideration when the bracket will get announced 10 minutes after our game ends? That could come down to the type of win that is the difference between us being a 4 or 3…

The title game isn’t normally looked at for seeding. Unless of course a team makes it the final and wins who otherwise wouldn’t be in the dance.

 

[jumpingjack]

Just got home from Iowa and I obviously haven't read the game thread but the first five minutes were like a scrappy doo moment for Iowa.
I wouldn't mind a chance to put the final nail on the coffin lid of their off-season dreams in the BTT. Fran would incinerate.
Ty missed (barely) two finishes that will be dunks next year. When he adds a jumper, he gone.
Quincy just did Quincy things. Continues to impress me for the variety of his strengths, gets boards, hits the open 3, etc, etc..
TJ continues to be an NBA guy amongst lesser mortals. Can't be given daylight and then gets to the hoop anyway and creates/converts and-1s like a maniac tonight. Huge focal point over last game.
Dain was a wall on defense tonight. Great game imo.
Domask is like Jason Voorhees on offense. He doesn't get sped up. Just runs his game. And it's a deep bag. He hit an absolutely filthy turnaround that got all the Illini fans in attendance smiling.
And the step kiddo ended up getting a headband from Sencire auto'd by Brad, Steve Bardo, and Sencire himself after the game (thanks for making incredible memories by doing that, guys ).
I liked the game, clearly.

 

[jumpingjack]

The title game isn’t normally looked at for seeding. Unless of course a team makes it the final and wins who otherwise wouldn’t be in the dance.

In the event, it's us v. Edey in the title game, and other stars align, any possibility a win could raise us a seed line?

 

[Captain 14]

In the event, it's us v. Edey in the title game, and other stars align, any possibility a win could raise us a seed line?

Read above

 

[Illini1985]

Would a BTT matchup against MN be considered a road game rather than neutral? I'm not sure if MN is close at all to being a top 75 NET team..

 

[Birdus]

I like our path. Purdue / Wisconsin / Michigan St. / Minnesota (home crowd) / Northwestern scares me a lot more than Iowa / Nebraska / Ohio St. / Indiana. Would love to make the title game and give Purdue one more shot.

Penn State is the only team that scares me

 

[CentralMaroon]

I think after last night's win, we're a lock at 4. If we won the BTT and some things happened, we might cross that 3 line, but bring on the 21st. It's time for the Illini to go out and get their signature win!

 

[Illini in Indiana]

The title game isn’t normally looked at for seeding. Unless of course a team makes it the final and wins who otherwise wouldn’t be in the dance.

I agree, it always seems like the B10 championship game doesn't matter for seeding purposes.

IMO if we get to the final game (2 more good wins -), then we have a good shot at a 3 seed. Upsets happen everywhere, and we'll be in the 3 or 4 conversation. So, the committee could easily hedge their bets that Illinois could beat Purdue. Purdue still a 1 seed anyway, and no one would have an issue with Illinois at a 3 seed. We are also a big draw team for TV and travel.

 

[jrichisamazing]

The good news is Kansas and Baylor play each other (assuming Kansas wins it first game), so both of them can't make runs in the Big 12 tourney.