still wanna talk about the most negative part of the game, interesting
Illinois 117, Chicago State 64 Postgame
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As important as Ayo was, TJ was the bigger piece that kept everything moving forward. He got us to the tournament in the Sky year, and the E8 the next year. Otherwise we are just a team that gets few years of success and falls back to earth.
This is my most unpopular Illini opinion, so don't ignore me. If Michigan accepts TJ, they now have TJ and Hunter, two premier players in college basketball and replace Illinois' success as their own. Illinois, without TJ flounders and misses the tournament. Brad is on the hot seat and the next year he doesn't get Domask, and Hawkins leaves as it seems we are a declining program, and Underwood gets fired when he doesn't make the tournament for a second straight year.
Obviously Brad is a much better coach than Howard, but this little "what-if" isn't that far off in the Illinois sports multiverse. I'm sure Underwood would have found somebody, but without TJ, our last two seasons are vastly different.
As for the game tonight, I was there. It is such an absolute joy watching Morez work off the ball. My kids got lightsabers. Ben seemed to be working harder but he's still not confident in himself. Booth looks even worse. Jake Davis is our new Goose, but with better hair.
This is my most unpopular Illini opinion, so don't ignore me. If Michigan accepts TJ, they now have TJ and Hunter, two premier players in college basketball and replace Illinois' success as their own. Illinois, without TJ flounders and misses the tournament. Brad is on the hot seat and the next year he doesn't get Domask, and Hawkins leaves as it seems we are a declining program, and Underwood gets fired when he doesn't make the tournament for a second straight year.
Obviously Brad is a much better coach than Howard, but this little "what-if" isn't that far off in the Illinois sports multiverse. I'm sure Underwood would have found somebody, but without TJ, our last two seasons are vastly different.
As for the game tonight, I was there. It is such an absolute joy watching Morez work off the ball. My kids got lightsabers. Ben seemed to be working harder but he's still not confident in himself. Booth looks even worse. Jake Davis is our new Goose, but with better hair.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Sorry, Dickinsomething terribleness cancels out TSJ amazingness.
Therefore Your hypothesis carries no weight.
Hopefully their replacement was there watching the game today.
Underwood...uh...finds a way.
Thankful for all our greats and their contributions but if there weren't an Ayo, BU would've found someone else. If TSJ goes to Michigan, someone else would've filled his role. That's why we're an elite program.
Thankful for all our greats and their contributions but if there weren't an Ayo, BU would've found someone else. If TSJ goes to Michigan, someone else would've filled his role. That's why we're an elite program.
AEX
- West Lafayette
Look at my picture, there isn't a bigger TJ fan in the world than me.
But comparing Ayo to TJs impact on this program is wild lol.
TJ was a better player but impact isn't even remotely comparable. How dope it is to root for 2 good kids like that for our team though at least we can all agree on that.
Which is exactly why Brad cannot screw this Morez thing up. Chicago kid wants to go to Illinois takes pride in going here it matters. We werent TJs second choice after he transferred from his first choice its just not comparable.
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Without Illinois’ brand development under Henson, we don’t get Kruger, Self, or Underwood…and the players that created our successes and memories. I know it seems like a long time ago…it wasn’t. I’m probably alienating someone who remembers pre-Henson Illinois BB…it’s not intentional. At the same time, grateful for Ayo’s decision and the rebuILLd that has endured.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Nice gesture from the team to Mike Hall after the game. Hall’s wife is an Illinois grad and will start chemo this week for breast cancer. Best wishes to the Halls. https://www.instagram.com/p/DELNd3qhwkf/?igsh=MWd4d2N4djkyaXpk
Still focusing on the game's most challenging aspects, interesting. It's not negativity; it's about identifying areas for improvement. Over the past seven years, history has shown us that this is the final game before Brad implements major changes and adjustments to the lineup, offensive, and defensive sets. The coaches needed to see Ben perform well in this game. For the most part, everyone else did their part. That's all.
Oh no, you've been critically inconvenienced. The simplest actions of acknowledging a true, and fairly glaring aspect of the circumstances. The internet, for as much grief it is, doesn't exactly revolve around your delicate sensibilities. My condolences.
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Have a feeling I’m just a few years older than you.. My first Illini memory was the 04-05 team when I was in 3rd grade. Illinois was not a laughing stock until the mid 2010’s. Stinks that your first Illini memories were the last years of Bruce or John Groce. But Ayo didn’t “build” Illinois basketball- he revived it, along with BU.
Side note: Trent Frazier, Monte, Feliz & Giorgi being all-time EDG’s is who set the standard at Illinois along with Ayo.
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Not much to take from this game other than Ben is really not looking like a Big 10 player. Also did Boswell play 31 minutes just so he could get a triple double? Would have been nice to get Booth some more action too even though he didn’t so much in the minutes he did get. We already know what most of the guys can do
Games like this make me think if DGL went down a level to like the Horizon League he’d be averaging 22+ a game and be looked at as a high impact portal transfer. But coming off the bench at Illinois other teams probably don’t see him that way
Games like this make me think if DGL went down a level to like the Horizon League he’d be averaging 22+ a game and be looked at as a high impact portal transfer. But coming off the bench at Illinois other teams probably don’t see him that way
Booth and Ben H will have limited minutes, but are definitely needed once Tomi and Morez get into foul trouble. Especially deep into conference games.
Possibly but with unlimited transfers it’s no different than taking a one year contract job and deciding it’s not for you. I’m sure he got paid something to be here. Hindsight is 20/20 if he stayed at Notre Dame and played more his value would be higher. But IL probably paid more
I get that vibe tooI go back to Flyin' Illini days but I get it as far as where the program was pre-Ayo and where it is post-Ayo.
Lot of grumps on here today after a 50 point win, I got yelled at for not picking up sarcasm earlier
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Yankee Stadium: The House that Aaron Judge built.
I think Kofi is still the most impactful Illini of all the most recent recruits. We didn’t actually start winning till he got here
To the basketball gods I hope and I pray not…….
Da*n straight. I was taught that we, each and every one of us, stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. I think that is exactly right.
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