Can't discount the fact that they had 4 seniors on that team with tourney experience from that final 4 run and we had essentially no postseason experience with the canceled tourney from the year before. All advanced metrics also suggested that they were terribly underseeded at 8
Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa/Ohio State
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I think you're right about not being physically tired. But the turnovers and incredible number of defensive lapses did look like we hadn't scouted Loyola, but of course we HAD scouted them. I felt like it was maybe psychological fatigue after a tough and emotional and exciting ride starting near the end of the B1G season and on through the B1G conference tournament. Our guys - including very much our best players -- did not play like they normally did. Of course, Loyola had a lot to do with that but there seemed like more going on: mental fatigue.
The B1G championship belongs to Purdue. They now play for the B1G tournament title which has far less prestige and is set up to favor the teams that played well for 20 games to succeed in winning three. There is a big difference in how the two are viewed by players, coaches, media, and polls. Remember when Alford's Hawkeyes won the tournament and he declared them to be "Big Ten Champions"? He was vilified by common sense fans....all they won was a tournament title and were hardly Big Ten Champions. Many coaches could care less about playing for a tournament title and prefer the extra days of preparation if they will be playing in the dance...and that is not unreasonable. What is unreasonable is to win 3 games in a rigged tournament that is played only to make money and declare yourself the conference champions. That is earned the hard way by working through a twenty game schedule.
Strongly agree with this view. Ty can score bunches, but he has to take his time and shoot the ball to make it...not just throw it up quickly fearing it may be blocked. Of course I don't know how much time he spends shooting his jump hook or driving tear drop, but if he is not taking the 10 ft. jumper I have seen him practice, then he should spend that time on those other two, while Sincere is defending him....or better yet...TSJr. And be aggressive!!!
Can't discount the fact, Oregon State played a zone the next game against Loyola and nullified their pick and roll action.
Why would we be scared of them?
We shouldn't. That was my point. Good teams win games like these. Simply replying to another's concern.
I fully expect to be playing on Sunday and hope it is against Purdue.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
FWIW (and I'll qualify this by noting that I've watched little BT basketball this winter beyond the Illini games) I watched the 1H of OSU @ Rutgers on Sunday. While Diebler certainly has got them playing with energy and purpose the past three wks, I saw nothing to indicate that on a neutral court we won't control them if we play D remotely close to the level we played @ Iowa. That's the qualification: gotta contain Gayle, Thornton & Battle.
No insight into the rules or practices beyond avoiding them in the first 2 rounds, but it feels like they would not put us in PU’s region if we are a top 4 seed
Agreed. Any team we play in the NCAA second round or later will be better than them. If we are nervous about playing the Buckeyes on a neutral court we barely belong in the Big Dance.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
They wouldn't. From the seeding procedures:
Purdue and Illinois will be the first 2 teams from the B1G and therefore should be in different regions.
I think the feeling about the BTT has evolved a little with the unbalanced schedules, and will continue to evolve with the addition of the PAC schools. BTT rewards those who play well during the regular season and continue to play well in the BTT. Might make it more meaningful than it was in years past as the regular season tally becomes a lesser measuring stick.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
A little Illini BTT history! I believe until the Groce Era we had by far the best BTT record all-time.
1998 - Chicago, IL
#22 Illinois 66, Wisconsin 61 (Quarterfinals)
#9 Purdue 68, #22 Illinois 47 (Semifinals)
1999 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 67, #23 Minnesota 64 (First Round)
Illinois 82, #17 Indiana 66 (Quarterfinals)
Illinois 79, #11 Ohio State 77 (Semifinals)
#2 Michigan State 67, Illinois 50 (Championship)
2000 - Chicago, IL
#21 Illinois 72, #13 Indiana 69 (Quarterfinals)
#21 Illinois 94, Penn State 84 (Semifinals)
#5 Michigan State, #21 Illinois (Championship)
2001 - Chicago, IL
#4 Illinois 83, Purdue 66 (Quarterfinals)
Indiana 58, #4 Illinois 56 (Semifinals)
2002 - Chicago, IL
#10 Illinois 92, Minnesota 76 (Quarterfinals)
#21 Ohio State 94, #10 Illinois 88 (Semifinals)
2003 - Chicago, IL
#13 Illinois 94, Northwestern 65 (Quarterfinals)
#13 Illinois 73, Indiana 72 (Semifinals)
#13 Illinois 72, Ohio State 59 (Championship)
2004 - Indianapolis, IN
#12 Illinois 71, Indiana 59 (Quarterfinals)
#12 Illinois 74, Michigan 60 (Semifinals)
#10 Wisconsin 70, #12 Illinois 53 (Championship)
2005 - Chicago, IL
#1 Illinois 68, Northwestern 51 (Quarterfinals)
#1 Illinois 64, Minnesota 56 (Semifinals)
#1 Illinois 54, #23 Wisconsin 43 (Championship)
2006 - Indianapolis, IN
Michigan State 61, #9 Illinois 56 (Quarterfinals)
2007 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 66, Penn State 60 (First Round)
Illinois 58, Indiana 54 in OT (Quarterfinals)
#3 Wisconsin 53, Illinois 41 (Semifinals)
2008 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 64, Penn State 63 (First Round)
Illinois 74, #16 Purdue in OT (Quarterfinals)
Illinois 54, Minnesota 50 (Semifinals)
#6 Wisconsin 61, Illinois 48 (Championship)
2009 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 60, Michigan 50 (Quarterfinals)
#24 Purdue 66, Illinois 56 (Semifinals)
2010 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 58, #13 Wisconsin 54 (Quarterfinals)
#5 Ohio State 88, Illinois 81 in 2OT (Semifinals)
2011 - Indianapolis, IN
Michigan 60, Illinois 55 (Quarterfinals)
2012 - Indianapolis, IN
Iowa 64, Illinois 61
2013 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 51, Minnesota 49 (First Round)
#3 Indiana 80, Illinois 64 (Quarterfinals)
2014 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 64, Indiana 54 (First Round)
#8 Michigan 64, Illinois 63 (Quarterfinals)
2015 - Chicago, IL
Michigan 73, Illinois 55
2016 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 85, Minnesota 52 (First Round)
Illinois 68, #20 Iowa 66 (Second Round)
#13 Purdue 89, Illinois 58 (Quarterfinals)
2017 - Washington, DC
Michigan 75, Illinois 55 (Second Round)
2018 - New York, NY
Iowa 96, Illinois 87
2019 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 74, Northwestern 69 in OT (First Round)
Iowa 83, Illinois 62 (Second Round)
2021 - Indianapolis, IN
#3 Illinois 90, Rutgers 68 (Quarterfinals)
#3 Illinois 82, #5 Iowa 71 (Semifinals)
#3 Illinois 91, #9 Ohio State 88 in OT (Championship)
2022 - Indianapolis, IN
Indiana 65, #16 Illinois 63 (Quarterfinals)
2023 - Chicago, IL
Penn State 79, Illinois 76 (Second Round)
2024 - Minneapolis, MN
#13 Illinois vs. Iowa/Ohio State (Quarterfinals)
Some truly great and truly awful memories in that list, haha. I remember one-and-done performances in 2006 and 2022 being especially disappointing and (IMO) costing us a seed line. I remember our 2019 loss to Iowa, while disappointing and a blowout, truly giving me hope for the future ... and the very next year was a bit of our "we're back" campaign. I wish I had been old enough to witness the surprise run to the title game in 1999 ... but I DO remember a similar run in 2008 and just praying we could somehow knock off Wisconsin and extend our NCAAT streak to 10 years. Alas, it was not to be.
Even after some VERY mediocre years thrown in there, according to Wikipedia Illinois' all-time stats are still pretty good. 3 championships is the third most after MSU (6) and Ohio State (4). Our 7 championship game appearances is tied for second, only to OSU's 9. Our all-time winning percentage in the BTT of .585 is also third, only behind OSU (.647) and MSU (.642).
I also just want to take a moment to laugh that Indiana has a .390 all-time winning percentage in the BTT, inclusive of 1 championship game appearance and 0 titles.
1998 - Chicago, IL
#22 Illinois 66, Wisconsin 61 (Quarterfinals)
#9 Purdue 68, #22 Illinois 47 (Semifinals)
1999 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 67, #23 Minnesota 64 (First Round)
Illinois 82, #17 Indiana 66 (Quarterfinals)
Illinois 79, #11 Ohio State 77 (Semifinals)
#2 Michigan State 67, Illinois 50 (Championship)
2000 - Chicago, IL
#21 Illinois 72, #13 Indiana 69 (Quarterfinals)
#21 Illinois 94, Penn State 84 (Semifinals)
#5 Michigan State, #21 Illinois (Championship)
2001 - Chicago, IL
#4 Illinois 83, Purdue 66 (Quarterfinals)
Indiana 58, #4 Illinois 56 (Semifinals)
2002 - Chicago, IL
#10 Illinois 92, Minnesota 76 (Quarterfinals)
#21 Ohio State 94, #10 Illinois 88 (Semifinals)
2003 - Chicago, IL
#13 Illinois 94, Northwestern 65 (Quarterfinals)
#13 Illinois 73, Indiana 72 (Semifinals)
#13 Illinois 72, Ohio State 59 (Championship)
2004 - Indianapolis, IN
#12 Illinois 71, Indiana 59 (Quarterfinals)
#12 Illinois 74, Michigan 60 (Semifinals)
#10 Wisconsin 70, #12 Illinois 53 (Championship)
2005 - Chicago, IL
#1 Illinois 68, Northwestern 51 (Quarterfinals)
#1 Illinois 64, Minnesota 56 (Semifinals)
#1 Illinois 54, #23 Wisconsin 43 (Championship)
2006 - Indianapolis, IN
Michigan State 61, #9 Illinois 56 (Quarterfinals)
2007 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 66, Penn State 60 (First Round)
Illinois 58, Indiana 54 in OT (Quarterfinals)
#3 Wisconsin 53, Illinois 41 (Semifinals)
2008 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 64, Penn State 63 (First Round)
Illinois 74, #16 Purdue in OT (Quarterfinals)
Illinois 54, Minnesota 50 (Semifinals)
#6 Wisconsin 61, Illinois 48 (Championship)
2009 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 60, Michigan 50 (Quarterfinals)
#24 Purdue 66, Illinois 56 (Semifinals)
2010 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 58, #13 Wisconsin 54 (Quarterfinals)
#5 Ohio State 88, Illinois 81 in 2OT (Semifinals)
2011 - Indianapolis, IN
Michigan 60, Illinois 55 (Quarterfinals)
2012 - Indianapolis, IN
Iowa 64, Illinois 61
2013 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 51, Minnesota 49 (First Round)
#3 Indiana 80, Illinois 64 (Quarterfinals)
2014 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 64, Indiana 54 (First Round)
#8 Michigan 64, Illinois 63 (Quarterfinals)
2015 - Chicago, IL
Michigan 73, Illinois 55
2016 - Indianapolis, IN
Illinois 85, Minnesota 52 (First Round)
Illinois 68, #20 Iowa 66 (Second Round)
#13 Purdue 89, Illinois 58 (Quarterfinals)
2017 - Washington, DC
Michigan 75, Illinois 55 (Second Round)
2018 - New York, NY
Iowa 96, Illinois 87
2019 - Chicago, IL
Illinois 74, Northwestern 69 in OT (First Round)
Iowa 83, Illinois 62 (Second Round)
2021 - Indianapolis, IN
#3 Illinois 90, Rutgers 68 (Quarterfinals)
#3 Illinois 82, #5 Iowa 71 (Semifinals)
#3 Illinois 91, #9 Ohio State 88 in OT (Championship)
2022 - Indianapolis, IN
Indiana 65, #16 Illinois 63 (Quarterfinals)
2023 - Chicago, IL
Penn State 79, Illinois 76 (Second Round)
2024 - Minneapolis, MN
#13 Illinois vs. Iowa/Ohio State (Quarterfinals)
Some truly great and truly awful memories in that list, haha. I remember one-and-done performances in 2006 and 2022 being especially disappointing and (IMO) costing us a seed line. I remember our 2019 loss to Iowa, while disappointing and a blowout, truly giving me hope for the future ... and the very next year was a bit of our "we're back" campaign. I wish I had been old enough to witness the surprise run to the title game in 1999 ... but I DO remember a similar run in 2008 and just praying we could somehow knock off Wisconsin and extend our NCAAT streak to 10 years. Alas, it was not to be.
Even after some VERY mediocre years thrown in there, according to Wikipedia Illinois' all-time stats are still pretty good. 3 championships is the third most after MSU (6) and Ohio State (4). Our 7 championship game appearances is tied for second, only to OSU's 9. Our all-time winning percentage in the BTT of .585 is also third, only behind OSU (.647) and MSU (.642).
I also just want to take a moment to laugh that Indiana has a .390 all-time winning percentage in the BTT, inclusive of 1 championship game appearance and 0 titles.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I knew Michigan State was most successful historically in the BTT with 6 championships, but I personally did not realize (maybe intentionally) that Ohio State has actually had the second-highest win% (right ahead of Illinois) and most championship appearances (36% of time).
Interesting, I think we are 3-2 against Ohio State and 0-3 against Michigan State who we haven't played in 18 years since 2006!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
This made me want to look up our all-time record by opponent!
6-0 vs. Minnesota
3-0 vs. Northwestern
1-0 vs. Rutgers
3-1 vs. Penn State
3-2 vs. Ohio State
6-3 vs. Indiana
3-3 vs. Wisconsin
2-3 vs. Iowa
2-3 vs. Purdue
2-4 vs. Michigan
0-3 vs. Michigan State
... and by location.
18-10 in Chicago
13-10 in Indianapolis
0-1 in New York, NY
0-1 in Washington, DC
After 2005, BTW, we were 14-5 in Chicago and 2-1 in Indianapolis ... pure dominance up to that point!
2006 was the start of the great decline. Kruger and Self had raised us to be perennial top 15. Weber had 3 great seasons then started the tail spin. Groce never was able to get to upper division B10. Brad has had us rolling past 4 years but only one good run in BTT. Hopefully that changes this year. Wish we could get back to Chicago and Indy locations.
I think we stack up very well with the rest of the prospective 3 seeds, push to Sunday lets make it happen!
I think Iowa has been deflated--especially after getting pounded by Illinois. OSU wins this game by seven (7) points; it could get to double digits.
Could see that for sure. Will be interesting to see how Iowa responds after Sunday-we should be able to get to the final though minimum, even if it won't be super easy
That could be the case, but they are 4-2 since February 17th with wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern while Illinois provided the only two losses. So it could just be that we are that much better than them and it makes it look like they are deflated. We'll see on Thursday.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
We are a bad matchup for them IMO. I’m not sure what they do well against us and their defense has no chance at stopping us beyond missing open shots.
Odds makers strongly favor Purdue. Seems like they're even money vs the field, and Illinois is next best bet +300. NEB +700 after that.
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