I figure the NCAA wants the arena to be full so if they make put Houston in the 2nd game, people will stick around for it. I suspect it will be Florida-Nebraska in the early game and Illinois-Houston as thr 2nd game.
Pregame: Illinois vs Houston, Thursday, March 26th, 9:05pm CT, TBS
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I figure the NCAA wants the arena to be full so if they make put Houston in the 2nd game, people will stick around for it. I suspect it will be Florida-Nebraska in the early game and Illinois-Houston as thr 2nd game.
We've come out on the short end of these types of games way too often. It's time for us to overachieve! And we have the ability to do it if we play with effort and IQ like we did this week. We can impact the game with our size. This is the game we need to use it, defensively especially.
We have to limit turnovers against this team and hope they have a poor shooting night. Weather the storm(s) and keep it within reach and continue our second half performances.
We have to limit turnovers against this team and hope they have a poor shooting night. Weather the storm(s) and keep it within reach and continue our second half performances.
The Illini clearly need you in Houston. Make it happen
What does “these types of games” refer to? We beat Iowa State 2 years ago to advance to the E8. That was a very similar team to Houston stylistically.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Dee_4_Three_83
- Mahomet, IL
I understand what you are saying, I just like the offensive balance that we have when Boswell and AS rotate for each other. The substitution wouldn't be davis, it would be in place of Boswell. I don't think that is what happens. I think of him as the leader of the 2nd unit, and I don't want them to change that. It's such a nice 1-2 punch with AS, Ben, and Big Z in the 2nd group.
Playing a favored team later in the tournament. You mention probably the one example where we haven't come up short.
I will start with the example of the 1984 game as a #2 against #1 Kentucky on their floor. While that situation is no longer allowed the committee saw fit to set Houston up with a Sweet 16 game 4 miles from their campus. Seems like an advantage.
Then there are the following examples:
1985 as a #3, lost to #2 Ga Tech 53-61
1993 as a #6, lost to #3 Vandy 68-85
2002 as a #4, lost to #1 Kansas 69-73
2004 as a #4, lost to #1 Duke 62-72
2024 as a #3, lost to #1 Uconn 52-77
2025 as a #6 lost to #3 Kentucky 75-84
Those types of games are what I'm referring to.
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I think Brad has told everyone he doesn’t really care about who starts games unless he’s trying to send a message.
Personally, I’d be stunned if Andrej starts in this spot. And I’m totally fine with it.
Personally, I’d be stunned if Andrej starts in this spot. And I’m totally fine with it.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Identical opposites
Oh no. Sounds like OT.
Loyalty questioning if Brad is the right guy for the job. Brad’s response…
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Locals, yes, but also all the other fans of teams who think they'd face the lower seed.Not ideal to play an aggressive defensive team in front of a local crowd that will loudly boo every foul call. Can only hope that they call at least one of every five fouls. (On Houston. Ya know they'll call every one on us, to keep the total fouls calls even on each side.)
There will be fans of other teams cheering us on, too. It won't be entirely pro-Cougars
like that conceptually, but this team doesn't do well when 3's fall early and they jump out to a big lead. a little hardship early seems to be the recipe to get their heads into game mode.
Yeah there are alot of similarities to this team and the 1985 team... Actually no, there aren't.
Now if I am not mistaken in 2024 Illinois was a 3 seed and played Iowa State (a 2 seed) How did that game work out?
None of the players other than Tomi, Bam and Hummer played against Kentucky last year. And we aren't playing last year's Kentucky team, we are playing this year's Houston team. I am going to go out on a limb here and say all 3 are larger contributors to our success this year than last year.
Would love to understand where you are coming from. But the players that take the floor on Thursday have absolutely nothing to do with games played over the past 40 years.
Against Iowa State, literally IL was the #1 offense and ISU was the #1 defense. Game did not go to overtime, Illinois won and was clearly the better team (shouldn’t have even been close if it weren’t for the missed FTs).
Cook
- Richmond, VA
We have to expect Houston will have a large energy, momentum, crowd advantage at the start of the game. We can't let that take hold throughout and need to match, weather and then flip all that our way. NCAA crowds really start to pull for underdogs and upsets no matter the location.
It was within our power to avoid this with a win at UCLA or beating Wisconsin in round one of the BTT. It is what it is. We aren’t victims. We gave ourselves a little hardship but now it’s up to us to meet the moment and overcome it. I-L-F’n-L.
band camp
- STL City
You must.
Illinois when giving up 82 or less: 26-1 (UCONN)
Illinois when giving up 83 or more: 0-7.
Houston has scored 83 or more only 7 times this season
Illinois when giving up 83 or more: 0-7.
Houston has scored 83 or more only 7 times this season
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