Pregame: Illinois vs Texas/Xavier

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#378      
On upset talk, it makes perfect sense. We are a high variance team. We play like we did in the Iowa/Michigan/Purdue/Iowa games, we advance to the round of 32 and I think we have a great shot at getting by Kentucky to the S16. We play like we did against Maryland or name any other number of stinkers, we likely go home.

From what I’ve seen, 11 seeds coming out of play in games have about a .500 record in the round of 64. But you get past maybe the 4 seed line, I think most games are toss ups. Can’t really ask for better than a 50\50 shot at advancing.
 
#379      
He shouldn’t even be on the team …

Embarrassment to the program …

Shouldn’t be allowed to wear #0 …
Ice Cube Movie GIF
 
#381      
I haven't gone before, but having looked into it I'm fairly certain that a session ticket gets you both games in that time slot (either the two earlier games or two later games in that location).
I got tix for evening session on Friday and it includes both games. Nice part is that the Illini are the second game. As an aside I hate all the fees through Ticketmaster
 
#384      
On upset talk, it makes perfect sense. We are a high variance team. We play like we did in the Iowa/Michigan/Purdue/Iowa games, we advance to the round of 32 and I think we have a great shot at getting by Kentucky to the S16. We play like we did against Maryland or name any other number of stinkers, we likely go home.

From what I’ve seen, 11 seeds coming out of play in games have about a .500 record in the round of 64. But you get past maybe the 4 seed line, I think most games are toss ups. Can’t really ask for better than a 50\50 shot at advancing.

All this upset talk is making me upset.
 
#385      
That is crazy

One other thing I noticed is that from 1983-2007 (25 year period) we only missed the tournament 4x (and 2 of those seasons we were ineligible, whereas also one could argue missing in 96 & 98 were due to the recruiting restrictions that were also part of the NCAA 'punishment')
Illinois had a pretty good run of coaches with Henson, Kruger, Self, Weber (I know the latter half of that tenure is considered debatable)
 
#390      
The one thing I've never understood with Booth is that when he signed we all questioned why he would leave a starting role at ND to come be the 9th or 10th guy here (which was obvious where he would stand). I gave him credit for wanting to come to a better program and work hard at his game and for playing the long game to be better in 2 years and earn playing time down the road

But when he wasn't getting playing time from the jump it seems he was disgruntled right away - so that theory was out the window. So he must have thought he would be getting a lot of minutes here this season for some reason. And when his name was called due to injury, he clearly wasn't ready to play
 
#391      
The one thing I've never understood with Booth is that when he signed we all questioned why he would leave a starting role at ND to come be the 9th or 10th guy here (which was obvious where he would stand). I gave him credit for wanting to come to a better program and work hard at his game and for playing the long game to be better in 2 years and earn playing time down the road

But when he wasn't getting playing time from the jump it seems he was disgruntled right away - so that theory was out the window. So he must have thought he would be getting a lot of minutes here this season for some reason. And when his name was called due to injury, he clearly wasn't ready to play
Booth was one of the first recruits last season following the mass portal exit. He probably saw only two returning starters and figured he was a shoo-in to start. Of course, Brad wasn’t gonna stop recruiting there, obviously needing to fill the roster.

I think Booth is actually a good candidate for a development player, should he choose to stick around — much like a Chris Gandy or Warren Carter. But in this day and age, NIL and the portal matter. Development players at one program are going to become rare beasts.
 
#392      
Booth was one of the first recruits last season following the mass portal exit. He probably saw only two returning starters and figured he was a shoo-in to start. Of course, Brad wasn’t gonna stop recruiting there, obviously needing to fill the roster.

I think Booth is actually a good candidate for a development player, should he choose to stick around — much like a Chris Gandy or Warren Carter. But in this day and age, NIL and the portal matter. Development players at one program are going to become rare beasts.
Not sure he's been a strong character presence on this team from the sounds of it. It's one thing to struggle but accept your role and work to develop your game for future opportunities. It's another thing to be a negative presence. Doesn't bode well for his future here or anywhere.
 
#393      
To be fair, Brad wasn't the only person to get the eval wrong on Booth... lots of guys talked him up this past summer... 0440 had a post on May 29th saying NBA scouts really liked Booth, Indy said on April 12th that he had a higher ceiling than Hansberry, DB11 on April 9th said he has 'legit NBA talent', and I don't recall too many on this board being against taking him on

Dad is NBA exec
Long, lengthy 4
Apparently some ability from three (only .293 as a FR, but Shrews obv extended the green light given his # of attempts)
Started for most of the season at a P5 school as a FR
Was also pursued in the portal by programs such as Texas & Ohio State
Was originally #82 player (4 star) in his HS class

In any event, just because others got the eval wrong, doesn't create any useful excuse for Brad - he's the guy who has to get them right
 
#394      
In any event, just because others got the eval wrong, doesn't create any useful excuse for Brad - he's the guy who has to get them right
I don't think missing on Booth has hurt us one bit.

It took too long to get Morez real minutes as it was, and now we are in solid shape to keep Morez as he was deservedly unhappy before finally getting his shot at real minutes.
 
#395      
I don't think missing on Booth has hurt us one bit.

It took too long to get Morez real minutes as it was, and now we are in solid shape to keep Morez as he was deservedly unhappy before finally getting his shot at real minutes.

That's fair as well. You can't get every eval right, AJ Storr and Dante Maddox - just to name a couple - seem to be guys that also didn't do what I thought they'd do in their new situations.
 
#396      
I think Booth is actually a good candidate for a development player, should he choose to stick around — much like a Chris Gandy or Warren Carter. But in this day and age, NIL and the portal matter. Development players at one program are going to become rare beasts.
Agree skill-wise, but not attitude-wise.
 
#397      
I think the Booth miseducation is a bit overblown. Yes he hasn’t panned out. But like just about every other p5 team (Sparty excepted), we were never going go more than 7-8 deep. One of Tomi/Morez/Ben/Booth was always going to wind up the 9th or 10th guy and essentially be our Brandon Leib emergency big. Booth’s shortcomings have hurt more due to the injuries/illnesses we’ve suffered in our front court but there aren’t many teams that are going to look good if their 10th man/emergency big has to play a rotational role and that usually doesn’t happen.

Kid has tools. We tried it out. For whatever reason it hasn’t worked out. But I don’t think he was ever going to play in front of Tomi Morez and Ben so was due for a limited role this year regardless.
 
#399      
To be fair, Brad wasn't the only person to get the eval wrong on Booth... lots of guys talked him up this past summer... 0440 had a post on May 29th saying NBA scouts really liked Booth, Indy said on April 12th that he had a higher ceiling than Hansberry, DB11 on April 9th said he has 'legit NBA talent', and I don't recall too many on this board being against taking him on

Dad is NBA exec
Long, lengthy 4
Apparently some ability from three (only .293 as a FR, but Shrews obv extended the green light given his # of attempts)
Started for most of the season at a P5 school as a FR
Was also pursued in the portal by programs such as Texas & Ohio State
Was originally #82 player (4 star) in his HS class

In any event, just because others got the eval wrong, doesn't create any useful excuse for Brad - he's the guy who has to get them right
Booth may not be a miss…. IF he sticks around through his senior year. But, that’s a big if.
 
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