Week of 3/9 Games Thread

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#676      
IllinitripleJ
RickBB said:
I’m curious about the results in the alternative universe where Tracy Abrahms doesn’t get hurt and then Groce gets the point guard that ended up going to OkSt.
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Juwon Evans was the Okie State guard and he played there for the 2015-2016 season and the 2016-2017 season. He was Brad's point guard at Okie State and was a 3rd team all-American. Without Evans I doubt Brad gets the Illinois job since without Evans Okie State wasn't even an NIT team in 2016-2017. Evans was only 6 feet tall and that might have hurt him trying to make it in the pros. When he went pro I am sure he thought he was a first round NBA pick but he was a second round pick. I don't think he did much in the pros. Before NIL you had a lot of players who should have stayed in college go pro early. Not as common today.
 
#681      
Illini in Italy
TheodoreRex said:
Biggest disappointment in watching the games this week... so many teams have dudes that play with fire in their bellies, just straight dogs... We don't have that.
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Did you ever step on a court at any level in any sport? Players at this level didn’t get here by not having the desire to win, or as you put it, fire in their bellies. Every time I stepped on a court (I played men’s club level volleyball at Illinois and professionally in Europe) my mindset was that I’m the best mfer in the world on this court today, and I tried to play to the best of my abilities with that mindset. I’m betting that these guys have the same mindset.

The common factor in all this is that your opponent usually has the same mindset, and can have equal or superior talent, and sometimes, better luck. We always blame our players, but seldom acknowledge that there is an opponent on the court who has a say in the game’s outcome.
 
#685      
Illini in Italy
I’m hoping that Dusty May gets his onions kicked up between his eyes next year by the rest of the B1G coaches for raiding (Illinois, UCLA, tOSU) or attempting to raid (Purdue) rosters to build his team this year. What a ScUMbag.
 
#686      
RML
Illini in Italy said:
Players at this level didn’t get here by not having the desire to win, or as you put it, fire in their bellies.
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I don't think you and the original poster are talking about the same thing. Yes, I'm sure everybody at this level wants to win, and wants it badly. Some, however, have something more. Brad alluded to it when he talked about just grabbing the damned rebound. Some call it "refuse to lose" mentality. In my head, I call it not just DESIRE to win, but DETERMINATION to win. Not everybody at this level has it.
 
#688      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
NCAA tournament bids clinched thus far today:

-SEC: Arkansas defeats Vanderbilt 86-75.
-Ivy League: Penn defeats Yale 88-84 in OT. It is the Quakers' first tournament appearance since 2018.
-A-10: VCU defeats Dayton 70-62.
 
#689      
Da88
TKR goes for a rebound, Michigan player ties up his arm and tries to rip his arm off, foul on TKR? Big 10 refs are just plain awful.
 
#691      
Illini in Italy
RML said:
I don't think you and the original poster are talking about the same thing. Yes, I'm sure everybody at this level wants to win, and wants it badly. Some, however, have something more. Brad alluded to it when he talked about just grabbing the damned rebound. Some call it "refuse to lose" mentality. In my head, I call it not just DESIRE to win, but DETERMINATION to win. Not everybody at this level has it.
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We can agree to disagree - you absolutely get weeded out if you don’t have that fire in the belly. There’s a dozen (or more) guys willing and able to take your spot if you lack it. What DOES happens momentary lapses in concentration. It has happened to the all time greats (think Bird, Jordan, Magic, etc.), the difference being is it doesn’t happen very often with the greats.
 
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#693      
EmeraldCityIllini
Mistakenj said:
It seems like Freaky Friday between Illinois and Purdue. At about the time we started trending down, Purdue started trending up. Both squads look like completely different teams.
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hmm. I think purdue just got to play Nebraska who is 6-6 in their last 12, and UCLA without Dent and Biladeau.

Who i'd point to? Has michigan looked that good since us?
 
#694      
Chase321
Mistakenj said:
It seems like Freaky Friday between Illinois and Purdue. At about the time we started trending down, Purdue started trending up. Both squads look like completely different teams.
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So you’re saying we’re George?

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#695      
azillini1
Michigan sure gets a lot of baskets close to the hoop. We need to have more of an inside game next year
 
#697      
Mistakenj
EmeraldCityIllini said:
hmm. I think purdue just got to play Nebraska who is 6-6 in their last 12, and UCLA without Dent and Biladeau.

Who i'd point to? Has michigan looked that good since us?
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I don't disagree, but Purdue is definitely playing with more "fire in the belly." They are moving the ball and defending better than we've done since the 1st half of the UCLA game and giving this Michigan team a run for their money.
 
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