New category: Pre-concussed Curbelo absolutely topped the "magical moments" list. Since that time he's simply sad.
Pregame: Illinois vs UCLA, Tuesday, February 11th, 7:00pm CT, Peacock
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This feels like a tone setter for the rest of the season. Huge game, have to come out aggressive from the tip and get the win against a red-hot UCLA team.
I like the "put the foot through the floorboard" analogy Brad was using up through the PSU game.
This needs to be a foot through the floorboard kind of game.
I'm sure most of us have Peacock.
If you're complaining about $7 a month for Peacock and paying $150 a month or whatever for cable, idk what to tell you. You can also literally sign up for a year of Peacock for $29.99 right now. That's $2.50 a month.
I just appreciate the fact that I live in 2025 and for a few bucks, I can watch EVERY Illini basketball game with a modest income.
I just appreciate the fact that I live in 2025 and for a few bucks, I can watch EVERY Illini basketball game with a modest income.
yes, i am so grateful i get to give more money to nbc/comcast (and hulu, and netflix, and amazon, and and and. . . ). what kind of thinking is this? the b1g network was supposed to have these games as a part of the cable package we already pay for. when does it end with these stupid streaming services?
I don’t really get the anti-Boswell sentiment on this board. I agree that he was probably overhyped in those initial rankings when they came out. But so what…so are a lot of guys. That doesn’t mean they don’t still end up being solid. It doesn’t mean they were totally wrong either.
I do think that his inconsistency is definitely frustrating. His shooting woes are perplexing…probably the most perplexing on this team; in truth. Since he struggles with shooting PERIOD…compared to where he’s supposed to be…I think his problem is likely just between his ears. (just bearing down/confidence/mental stuff) I don’t know if Caleb Loves lives in there rent-free or what is up.
Kylan being not athletic enough to finish around the rim doesn’t really track for me. It’s not like he’s even playing through contact most of the time. You don’t really have to be Clyde Drexler to finish around the rim. Remember A. Feliz? Kylan isn’t that strong but he’s plenty strong…
Honestly, much of the time he’s nearly/all alone down there, anyway. It happens a helluva a lot. He sees a lane…has that quick first step and blows past…and then just squanders the wide open bunny. Seriously, a lot of ‘em when he is forced to play through contact he often makes good on… a lot of times a switch hands, reverse or two hands muscle-it-up type shot is much more likely to have a favorable outcome.
At the risk of sounding like a crotchety coach from the 50s…I think it is too much: slop, neglect and underhand, finger roll crap on those easy ones…in situations where an underhanded finger roll makes zero sense…and you know, just not enough mind over matter in general.
Agree that his around-the-rim issues aren’t due to a lack of athleticism. It seems to be a lack of confidence and assertiveness. I assume he can dunk the ball but have never seen him do it even though he’s had several clear opportunities. He also seems to lack a plan near the basket, often just flinging the ball in the direction of the hole hoping it goes in.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Exactly! I remember the days when games were only on Channel 3 or 4 OTA in Champaign - my Father would tape them, and mail the VCR's to me!
I live SW of Champaign now in the middle of a 170 acre farm. Too old to go to games in person but now can watch every single men's and (esp) women's games on YTTV, B1G+, and PeaCock for less than $115 total monthly.
Bigtex
- DFW
Boy some things change for the better.
Caught all of the games (minus Eastern on B1G+) this year on B1G, YTTV and Peacock from North Texas
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Regarding Peacock, they also have a library of good movies and several of their original shows are very, very good. I've been sick the last few days and have caught up on "Day of the Jackal" for example. Fantastic show (but admittedly I'm a James Bond fan and enjoy that type of show).
Between some of their shows, the Premier League, Big Ten sports, and Big East basketball, I feel like I get a lot of value out of the $8/month.
Between some of their shows, the Premier League, Big Ten sports, and Big East basketball, I feel like I get a lot of value out of the $8/month.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
I think we all agree, but what is the "Vibe/Health" of the team? Is there any non basketball reasons to worry? I read UCLA may have "flu issues" and don't respond to games outside west coast time. So intangibles say, "punch them in the mouth early", and UCLA may fold.
I agree 100%. I was fooled into thinking after the Penn St. blow out that our confidence was back and we'd keep rolling. It didn't happen. The Minny game was a welcome site, but I don't think we've won two games in a row in a while now. A win tonight and I'll have a much better feeling about the future.
Don’t forget about the football games too! It’s not going to change and everyone should expect a few basketball games every year and a football game or 2 on peacock. Just do the annual deal(Black Friday special if you can and don’t even think about it any longer
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Great! My "local" YTTV has BTN on it already. What some may find amusing is that cable isn't available out here. But I have what I think is called "point-to-point" broadband shot from the tallest structure around - a grain elevator about 3 miles away to a small receiver on my roof!
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I’ve mention this before, but I love that you can purchase the year of Peacock, then go into settings immediately after and “cancel” subscription. It will cancel it after your paid year is over, so you won’t be automatically charged a much higher price after that deal.
It would be MUCH easier and cheaper if he’d just mailed the VHS tapes, instead of the whole VCR!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Nothing too substantive to add here, but MAN is it high time for the House of Paign to return to being a place people fear. We have four home games left, and all are "big games" in one way or another, whether they're vs. good opponents, rivalries or both. UCLA, MSU, Iowa and Purdue. No excuse for SFC not to be rocking every one of those games and for Krush to do its part and live up to the standard set by their peers in the Paint Crew, Izzone, etc.
6 out of our 7 home games vs. major conference opponents have been sold out, with the only one that fell short being vs. PSU. Subjectively, however, I would say our crowds were pretty much like this...
B+ vs. Wisconsin
A- vs. Tennessee
C+ vs. Penn State (no students)
C- vs. USC (no students)
B- vs. Maryland (not much to cheer about, lol...)
B vs. Northwestern
B+ vs. Ohio State (finally saw some "juice" back in the crowd for this one)
Examples of a solid A would be the Purdue home game last March, and examples of a legitimate A+ would be our 2021-22 home games vs. Arizona and OSU (the Brad ejection/Fake Comeback game). We need those types of atmospheres. Good crowds legitimately tip the balance of an even game in the favor of the home team, and we need that down the stretch.
EDIT: One bizarre thing I have noticed over the years is that Illini crowd contingents AWAY from Champaign are often rowdier than those in SFC.
6 out of our 7 home games vs. major conference opponents have been sold out, with the only one that fell short being vs. PSU. Subjectively, however, I would say our crowds were pretty much like this...
B+ vs. Wisconsin
A- vs. Tennessee
C+ vs. Penn State (no students)
C- vs. USC (no students)
B- vs. Maryland (not much to cheer about, lol...)
B vs. Northwestern
B+ vs. Ohio State (finally saw some "juice" back in the crowd for this one)
Examples of a solid A would be the Purdue home game last March, and examples of a legitimate A+ would be our 2021-22 home games vs. Arizona and OSU (the Brad ejection/Fake Comeback game). We need those types of atmospheres. Good crowds legitimately tip the balance of an even game in the favor of the home team, and we need that down the stretch.
EDIT: One bizarre thing I have noticed over the years is that Illini crowd contingents AWAY from Champaign are often rowdier than those in SFC.
Bigtex
- DFW
my YTTV also has BTN down here in Texas.
band camp
- STL City
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
*Feel free to combine with my "EDIT" section of this post, I just ran out of time!*
I do not mean this as a knock on the Champaign fans at all ... they're objectively the most loyal portion and beating heart of our fan base. It was more meant to point out that I am always pleasantly surprised just how active, energetic, engaged, loud and sometimes comically rowdy our traveling fans are away from Champaign. As one example of the rowdy types, it was so hilarious and awesome to see our fans being INTENSE in taking over Vegas two years ago and seeing videos of us parading around the concourse with "I-L-L!" chants. Another is Braggin' Rights ... the two years I went, the Illini fans (and Mizzou fans, to be fair) there were just straight-up having a ball, lol. Drinks were flowing, saw at least two people perform hysterical drunk falls while trying to get over a railing and they are loud all game long. I've seen similarly loud Illini fans for games in Iowa City and Evanston. Not sure if it's just that these chances to see Illinois play are more "special" or unique to those fans so they're more jazzed up, but we need that energy at SFC! I'll do my part this Saturday.
I think it's kind of like going on vacation and meeting someone from your hometown / home state. "Wow! Small world! Let's get drinks at the swim up bar and talk about the place we're currently taking a vacation from!"
But if you were to randomly see those same people in your hometown / home state, you probably don't even acknowledge them.
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