Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan, Friday, February 27th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
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I would say they are entitled to their opinion and would understand their confidence based on some of the games we've played (Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue, USC).
The spread had us winning against Wisconsin... I think it was -10.5 in favor of Illinois.
There are weaknesses in this team that I've personally seen in some of our wins and losses and I don't think we are good enough to beat the top teams like Michigan (or other 1 seeds). I don't think our defense will be consistent enough to win- on top of how poorly we've played at home.
Obviously I know I'm going based on gut instinct- similarly to the UCLA game- at halftime I told a friend, the first 3-4 minutes will tell us if we will win or not. 3 minutes in we both looked at each other and knew we would lose. At that point- odds would've said we were going to win- but the odds didn't take into consideration the eye test in that moment.
Jake not scared to speak his mind!
I think Mirk comes back with a vengenance, he does not seem like the type to have back to back stinkers. If they have Morez on him, he will bite on his fake, and I can foresee him being in foul trouble.
Most likely is what I meant. Plugging in different results if we lose to Michigan, we will get a 4 seed due to tie breakers but we should not be worse than 4th unless we have a hiccup next week.
This is the most physical big that Mirk will play against....by FAR. He needs to be super effective shooting the three. MJJ biting on a pump fake does nothing but funnel him down to Mara. If Mirk doesn't make the three, it will be a one sided matchup because Morez is going to punish him in the post with Mirk far more likely to be in foul trouble. That's just how it works when one guy is interior based and one is perimeter based. If Mirk can pull him out of the lane and bury some shots, that would be a huge factor. If not, it's an absolutely terrible matchup for us.
I feel the same way about the Michigan guards as I do about Mirk. They have to make threes at a relatively high clip. I see us packing into a tight zone to try and eliminate disparity in front courts. If they beat us from the perimeter, we live with it. If they outscore us 36 to 8 in the paint, that would be irritating because we absolutely know their strength and we know the underbelly of what we are defensively.
Make their guards beat us and if they do, so be it.
So long has he’s not concussed I agree. He hasn’t had many bad games but has always bounced back.
The best? Nope.
There are various scenarios at play. Few of them:
If we lose to Michigan — but UCLA beats Nebraska, and Michigan State loses two more games (@Purdue, @Michigan)…. the Illini will be the 3seed.
If we lose to Michigan — but UCLA beats Nebraska, Michigan State loses two more games, AND Purdue loses one more game… the Illini will be a 2seed.
I actually think a 3 seed would be more likely than a 4seed.
You can check these scenarios out using the BIG bracket generator:
mred's Big 10 MBB Tournament Seeding Tiebreaker
Big 10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Seeding and Tiebreakers
bball.notnothing.net
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Just got around to listening.
Trotter really confident in an Illini W here with us being one of the few teams that match them in size and we can make both their bigs guard on the perimeter, which really hardly any other teams can do. Also of course citing how we don't foul and can more than match their rebounding. Yet also Cadeau is the type of guard we've struggled to contain.
Dan
Admin
FOX (Jason Benetti & Bill Raftery)
fightingillini.com
#10 Illinois Hosts #3 Michigan Friday in Top-10 Battle at State Farm Center - University of Illinois Athletics
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the matchup will be televised nationally by FOX.
fightingillini.com
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
The reality is that even with a win tomorrow night, the path to a 1 seed in the tourney is disappearing. It looks like Michigan, Duke, and Arizona are virtual locks for a 1 seed (all three of them have double-digit Quad 1 wins) -- unless one of them loses out down the stretch (Arizona does have two top 10 home matchups coming up), and UCONN has a very tight grip on the last 1 seed with their thorough demolition of St. John's last night (even with their ugly Quad 3 loss at home vs Creighton). Barring a UCONN collapse down the stretch or Michigan losing out regular season (vs us, @Iowa, and MSU), I think the first 2 seed is probably the ceiling for the Illini. Win on Friday (and the remaining two games of regular season), and the 2 seed is likely locked up regardless of BTT.
FOX (Jason Benetti & Bill Raftery)
#10 Illinois Hosts #3 Michigan Friday in Top-10 Battle at State Farm Center - University of Illinois Athletics
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the matchup will be televised nationally by FOX.
Lets Hear onions tomorrow night for the Illini. Nothing like a double order. Greatest line in college basketball.
Believe someone said after last night Torvik has UConn with a 38% chance at a 1 seed, so the door hasn’t been completely slammed shut yet
The best 2seed is extremely significant because you get the worst 1seed and the worst 3seed.
If you’re the worst 2seed, you get the best 1seed and the best 3seed.
People don’t realize this, but in 2024 Illinois WAS the best 3seed. It’s just how the s curve thing works.
If you’re the worst 2seed, you get the best 1seed and the best 3seed.
People don’t realize this, but in 2024 Illinois WAS the best 3seed. It’s just how the s curve thing works.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
That is probably correct. I think I was focused on Illini's chances of passing UConn (due to the loss head to head). Iowa State likely has the best chance of nabbing the last 1-seed (outside of UConn) -- they have two huge ranked games coming up (Texas Tech and @Arizona). Houston is working their way backward and out of contention.
Almost everything has to align perfectly for the Illini to get a 1 seed at this point (including us possibly winning out). The door may not be completely slammed shut yet, but it is becoming a long shot (even with a win tomorrow night).
IMHO — UConn needed to lose yesterday for us to have a realistic shot at jumping them. Them beating us at MSG is an additional factor.
Agree with you on most of this but think a win tomorrow would move the needle quite a bit. Wisconsin losing last night was actually pretty bad for us though, need that to be a Q1 loss and it moved them down a couple spots.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Get a good nights rest guys, tomorrow is consequential
"Tomorrow is consequential" goes kinda hard.
Might have to start telling myself this every day. Right after I assure myself that today is inconsequential.
I'm pretty sure that cancels out the rest of your post. The only enjoyment I'll get from this game is if we destroy scUM/Morez (plus a Wagler triple-double?)
Hitting the road in 12 hours - I L L
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