Weekend of 3/15 Games Thread

[PNWIllini]

Akron vs Kent State, MAC tournament title. KS gets a putback with 6 seconds left to take a 61-60 lead. A KS player inexplicably fouls an Akron player. Two free throws are good, Akron up 62-61 now. John Groce may get back to the tournament. Just an unreal event.

EDIT - Akron wins 62-61. Happy for John Groce to get back to the NCAA tournament, but still kind of in shock over exactly what happened. I obviously didn't like the results of the John Groce era at Illinois, but he never did stupid stuff at Illinois and took his firing with as much class and dignity as one can in that situation. He just wasn't ready for that role when he was hired, and I'm happy to see him have success again.

Lunardi’s most recent mock has Akron facing Illinois. Narratives!

 

[illiniguy24]

John Groce and Akron GIFTED a ncaa birth. Wild stuff. March madness is so here

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Gotta love Burns!

There is an absolute monster in that frame somewhere. That dude can be as good as he wants to be.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Lunardi’s most recent mock has Akron facing Illinois. Narratives!

It's stuff like that where the selection committee will absolutely look to move teams around a little bit. Gotta have those extra backstories to draw viewers. It was like back in 2011 or so when Illinois played Lon and UNLV in a 8-9 game.

 

[FloridaMan]

Or maybe they only have so much time each segment and can only cover so many of the tournament games going on.

Naw, I've seen two game's halftime segments. Both the same. It is not coincedental.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

John Groce and Akron GIFTED a ncaa birth. Wild stuff. March madness is so here

Great game. Just an awful mistake by the kid from Kent St. I wouldn’t call it a gift… they made some huge defensive plays down the stretch. It was decided by the players.

 

[illinifan1987]

Gotta feel for Rollins from Kent State. Was a heck of a hard fought game on both sides.
By the way, Bracketology this morning had us in the same pod as Akron. In the 3vs14 matchup

He was a good coach...just not for a power 4 team. If they do get that pairing, I wish him the best of luck next season!

 

[OrangeBlue98]

It really feels like NC State is going to steal another bid. I have to think that if Indiana State wasn't quite off the chart before this game, that a NC State win would finish that given the A-10 will also steal a bid.

 

[Chad Fleck]

There is a lady yelling on this NC State game. I had a headache anyway, but it's making it way worse.

 

[Piotyr]

NC State up 10 with 3 minutes to play in an effort to steal yet another bid this March...

 

[illinifan1987]

It's stuff like that where the selection committee will absolutely look to move teams around a little bit. Gotta have those extra backstories to draw viewers. It was like back in 2011 or so when Illinois played Lon and UNLV in a 8-9 game.

That was a payback game from earlier in the season. UNLV would be on my permanent $hitlist if we lost that one. Coulda woulda shoulda

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Gotta love Burns!

He's just so much fun to watch. Such great footwork, court sense, and passing ability.

Iowa State's women's team has a freshman named Audi Crooks who is in that mold. She played in a small Iowa town for a parochial high school. She signed for Iowa State. You look at her and think "how can she keep up with the Division 1 game?" But her footwork and court sense is so good for someone her age. So having watched her play a few times this year since I live in Cyclone country, I really appreciate a player like DJ Burns who has a similar skill set.

 

[Chad Fleck]

Isn't it fun to watch bid thiefs when they can't steal it from the Illini?

 

[jumpingjack]

Someone is strangling a duck in the BoA center.
Someone throw a beer at her.

 

[illinifan1987]

Welp...it looks like NC State is going to make history. Don't be surprised if Brown matches that record tomorrow. Dare I say..............2011 UCONN vibes?

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Is this the first time any team has won five games in five days to win a conference tournament?

 

[Chad Fleck]

I guess it's an NC State fan, so I hate it mildly less. But still hate it with the fury of the sun.

 

[BashCtIllini]

can someone get the shrieking female away from the mic in the UNC/NC State game. Seems like I'm not the only one annoyed.

Never been able to hear one annoying individual for an extended period in a game before.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

I guess it's an NC State fan, so I hate it mildly less. But still hate it with the fury of the sun.

Jay Bilas just said "platitudes", and I originally processed it as "platypus" after the discussion about strangling a duck.

Or maybe that's me after a third glass of red wine . . .

 

[Ramrod2010]

#KeattsHypeTrain

 

[OrangeBlue98]

He was a good coach...just not for a power 4 team. If they do get that pairing, I wish him the best of luck next season!
View attachment 32280

Plus, he's secure enough to rock the Midtown Uniform in a world of coaching polos and half-zips.

 

[jumpingjack]

I guess it's an NC State fan, so I hate it mildly less. But still hate it with the fury of the sun.

It's like a pig processing plant in auditory terms..

 

[ChiefGritty]

Mildly comforting to see a team as bad at closing out a win as we are

 

[Chad Fleck]

It's like a pig processing plant in auditory terms..

I raise some pigs every year. Can confirm this is a good analogy.

 

[jumpingjack]

Carolina picked the wrong game to quit sniffing glue. They are missing wide open looks.
Maybe their ear drums are hemorrhaging.