Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Saturday, April 4th, 5:09pm CT, TBS

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#426      
My sister hypothesized if he would do something characteristically goofy and wear some sort of split Illini / UConn shirt, haha. I'm sure he will just support his son (as is totally understandable ... he'll absolutely be rooting for us hard on Monday if we were to win!), but that would be kind of awesome. I will be curious to hear any answers he might give to the media this week if asked, given he was such a public and memorable component of our last Final Four run!
Right, I remember how big of a figure he was in that period. Who knows what he would do if they advance to Monday
 
#427      
Sorted Torvik from beginning of season through the UConn game. UConn is 3 and we’re 20.

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Then sorted from the day after that game through now. We’re 3 and UConn is 9.

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So we’ve gotten quite a bit better and they’ve gotten a little worse?
 
#428      
In my opinion Andrej has more than earned the starting spot back.

I know he’s playing starter minutes anyway and is closing games, but after being so huge for us in Houston this weekend, he deserves to start again.
Don't mean to be disagreeable, but I love having a player like Andrej coming off the benxh. Has a opportunity to completely change a game tempo/flow. Now, even on the defensive side.
 
#429      
This is a revenge tour. We started out with Frans' UPenn as a warm up. I don't know why VCU happened but Then we beat Samscum revenging the IDKWTI thing. For some divine reason, we played Iowa in front of Pearl when he was forced to say good things about us. Now we get UConn and they will be the next casualty. Even though I wanted AZ, I think we are meant to play Micheegan in the championship game. We will see.
Now I figured it out. We were supposed to revenge UNC rather than VCU but UNC totally screwed it up. They are now searching a HC. 🤣🤣🤣
 
#430      
Would love to go to see the Final Four live in person but god those tickets are so expensive(they've gone up more than when I saw them at before the game). I wonder what the game experience is like watching a game in the upper levels at a football stadium as compared to a regular basketball arena? I worry that it is not as good of a viewing experience as an NFL game would be because the size of a basketball court is way smaller than the size of an football field. Anyone have experience seeing a college bball game at an NFL stadium? Is it worth it or better to just find an Illini affiliated bar in the city or suburbs of Chicago?
I just can't imagine watching a sporting evrnt that way. Expecially BB in 70k+ seat stadium. I wish some streaming network would cuta deal to providea "Skycast" type game broadcast, similar to selected CFP games the last couple years. Every once in awhile I get teased, for a few seconds, with an elvated, over a court end corner angle shot. Then it goes back to the traditional center court side. You can see the game so much better from that angle. I even buy tickets for BB and FB with that viewline in mind.
 
#433      
This is ridiculous. I think most would agree that they are the two most powerful teams, and they accordingly have the best odds. But the most powerful team doesn't always win. Illinois or UConn winning it all would be way less shocking than Villanova in 1985 (8 seed) NC State in 1983 (6 seed), or even UConn in 2014 (7 seed).

Anything can happen on a given day.
I'm not disagreeing with you that we have a shot and perhaps I worded it poorly. My point was that the two best teams(with all due respect to Duke) all year have been Arizona and Michigan. Pretty sure that's an undeniable fact. We just got steamrolled, at home, by Michigan. It is what it is, it's in the past, we're playing much better now. The also lost a key player to injury. IF we win, we'd be significant underdogs to either. Again, those are factual statements.

HOWEVER, we don't have to play them both and for ONE night, we can be special and play the best game that we've played all year.

The question was, who would you rather play and I said Michigan because we know what they bring to the table. We could come up with a game plan based on real life experience vs video/scouting. The devil that you know is better than the one you don't at this point.

Again, based on what we do know, at this current second, is that the two best teams in the country will be playing each other. Facts. That does not mean that we couldn't pull off an upset. UCONN is in the exact same boat as we are.
 
#435      
What is this, some sort of early April fools Day joke? I just checked and Yukon University doesn't even HAVE a basketball team. Although, if they did, it would definitely be called the Huskies.
 
#439      
Last week, I liked that we had lots of preparation time for Houston. This week, I don't like the U Conn has lots of preparation time for us.
 
#440      
I just can't imagine watching a sporting evrnt that way. Expecially BB in 70k+ seat stadium. I wish some streaming network would cuta deal to providea "Skycast" type game broadcast, similar to selected CFP games the last couple years. Every once in awhile I get teased, for a few seconds, with an elvated, over a court end corner angle shot. Then it goes back to the traditional center court side. You can see the game so much better from that angle. I even buy tickets for BB and FB with that viewline in mind.
Others who have done it seem to say it is worth the experience as for some it is a bucket list to at least say you were there to witness the Final Four live but the diminished views certainly make me wonder if it's actually worth it. I'm someone that's fine purchasing upper level seats around mid-court at regular basketball arenas and the views are still good enough but it is to another extreme being at a football stadium with the court being smaller than a regular football field and the seats being significantly higher/steeper up than at your normal basketball arena. The prices seem reasonable for championship level games(probably in the 600s/700s/800s right now) but the views leave a lot to be desired.
 
#441      
We are soo back.

Biggest sports podcast in America and they have had our football and basketball coach on in the last 6 months. Couldn't ask for more
Well, I can think of one more thing to ask for. 🙂
 
#442      
Would love to go to see the Final Four live in person but god those tickets are so expensive(they've gone up more than when I saw them at before the game). I wonder what the game experience is like watching a game in the upper levels at a football stadium as compared to a regular basketball arena? I worry that it is not as good of a viewing experience as an NFL game would be because the size of a basketball court is way smaller than the size of a football field. Anyone have experience seeing a college bball game at an NFL stadium? Is it worth it or better to just find an Illini affiliated bar in the city or suburbs of Chicago?
wondering about exactly the same thing…except i would be flying out of NYC for it.

as it currently stands, i am leaning towards sitting this one out. The two weekends I spent in Greenville and then in Houston are easily the best moments I have ever had as an Illini fan without a doubt. My streak is still prefect - Illinois has not lost when I see them in person!!! I will take all the credit i can get🤣…but convincing my wife to let me go again this weekend (she did come with me on the Greenville trip fwiw) and managing PTO/remote work for next Monday and Tuesday are gonna be a challenge…
 
#443      
This is a revenge tour. We started out with Frans' UPenn as a warm up. I don't know why VCU happened but Then we beat Samscum revenging the IDKWTI thing. For some divine reason, we played Iowa in front of Pearl when he was forced to say good things about us. Now we get UConn and they will be the next casualty. Even though I wanted AZ, I think we are meant to play Micheegan in the championship game. We will see.
I actually looked at the possibilities before the brackets were announced, and thought how I would love seedings that allowed the Illini to defeat Kentucky (1984), North Carolina (2005), Houston (IU Sampson), Michigan (1989), and Arizona (2001). Throw in UConn just because of Hiurley and I still believe they were the only team we couldn't beat in 2024. On a scale: UNC, AZ, MI, KY, IU, UConn. It could have been close.
 
#444      
I would REALLY love to see the following lineup out there - i think this could be dominant:
Wagler
Andrej
Mirk
Z
T

Obviously only a short period of time, but that lineup could give their defense serious fits. Everyone can shoot the 3 except Z, but he can hang around the rim for lobs when we post up (either T or Mirk), and Drej can slash and (hopefully) dish/lob.
 
#445      
Andrej? His d has been fantastic.
He absolutely has been fantastic, but it's a big of a pick your poison because Ball really, really hurt us in the first game and Demerey is also a problem in the backcourt. We're not going to shut down all three. Karaban isn't going to kill us by beating us off the dribble and getting to the rim. Ball most definitely can and Demerey can do more, across the board, than Karaban. If I had to guess, Drej and KB are going to draw those assignments.

Karaban is a problem because coming off a screen, he'll hit the open look. Can't go under it with him. He's very much like Sandfort, where you don't worry about a blow by, but if he gets on a heater....it's not ideal.

This is PROBABLY a game where Ben is going to have to play a key role? I don't see Jake being overly playable on the defensive side of things.

UCONN can lose to literally anyone, which we've seen this season. They can also beat anyone, which is also what we've seen this season. Their game vs Duke is a microcosm of who they are. In the first half, they looked like the team that lost to St. John's by 40. In the second half, they looked like the team that beat St. John's by 40. Actually, their game vs Michigan State was another example. They were beating the brakes off of them in the first half, they coughed it all up and it was a barnburner. They also lost to Marquette.

It's a weird team. Very volatile.
 
#446      
He absolutely has been fantastic, but it's a big of a pick your poison because Ball really, really hurt us in the first game and Demerey is also a problem in the backcourt. We're not going to shut down all three. Karaban isn't going to kill us by beating us off the dribble and getting to the rim. Ball most definitely can and Demerey can do more, across the board, than Karaban. If I had to guess, Drej and KB are going to draw those assignments.

Karaban is a problem because coming off a screen, he'll hit the open look. Can't go under it with him. He's very much like Sandfort, where you don't worry about a blow by, but if he gets on a heater....it's not ideal.

This is PROBABLY a game where Ben is going to have to play a key role? I don't see Jake being overly playable on the defensive side of things.

UCONN can lose to literally anyone, which we've seen this season. They can also beat anyone, which is also what we've seen this season. Their game vs Duke is a microcosm of who they are. In the first half, they looked like the team that lost to St. John's by 40. In the second half, they looked like the team that beat St. John's by 40. Actually, their game vs Michigan State was another example. They were beating the brakes off of them in the first half, they coughed it all up and it was a barnburner. They also lost to Marquette.

It's a weird team. Very volatile.
I had a dream last night where he made a key three down the stretch in a tie ball game with less than 3 seconds remaining in game from a kickout by Wagler.

I have a fandom problem...
 
#448      
wondering about exactly the same thing…except i would be flying out of NYC for it.

as it currently stands, i am leaning towards sitting this one out. The two weekends I spent in Greenville and then in Houston are easily the best moments I have ever had as an Illini fan without a doubt. My streak is still prefect - Illinois has not lost when I see them in person!!! I will take all the credit i can get🤣…but convincing my wife to let me go again this weekend (she did come with me on the Greenville trip fwiw) and managing PTO/remote work for next Monday and Tuesday are gonna be a challenge…
You being able to witness the games in Houston have given you your money's worth then. Those are incredible memories that you'll always have. I saw them in Milwaukee last year and was happy with the first game but then saddened by the 2nd round with the Kentucky loss. I am a 3.5-4 hour drive away from Indy so it's definitely do-able but those views have me hesitating. I have never seen a basketball game in a football stadium and from what I hear, the views aren't great but the atmosphere is definitely electric. So, it comes down to preferences and what you're willing to put up with and what you're not
 
#449      
wondering about exactly the same thing…except i would be flying out of NYC for it.

as it currently stands, i am leaning towards sitting this one out. The two weekends I spent in Greenville and then in Houston are easily the best moments I have ever had as an Illini fan without a doubt. My streak is still prefect - Illinois has not lost when I see them in person!!! I will take all the credit i can get🤣…but convincing my wife to let me go again this weekend (she did come with me on the Greenville trip fwiw) and managing PTO/remote work for next Monday and Tuesday are gonna be a challenge…
So, doable.
 
#450      
18 straight wins after the first weekend, and also in their program history they had 7 Final Fours and 6 National Titles entering the season.

Michigan State playing in Detroit with Draymond Green, Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, etc is the only team to ever beat UConn at a Final Four. They're 12-1 all time.
Over the course of a long enough time span this statistical anomaly will have to regress to the mean. Let's go out there and be a data point contributing to that regression!

And yes Brad, if you want my help with motivational halftime speeches, please feel free to reach out.
 
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