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

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#1,078      
A classic.
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#1,079      
This pregame thread now has 144,000 views. @Dan, is that the most views on a pregame thread ever? Scrolling through, I don’t see any pregame threads this year with more views. And the pregame thread for the Tennessee bowl game had just 92,000.
Views are complicated because old threads can still gain views over time & search engine volatility can give a random boost here & there.

That being said, this is most replied pregame thread in board history 🏆

Go Illini 🔸🔹
 
#1,085      
Keep hearing about Big10 not having won since MSU in 2000, so wanted to review. Interesting facts...

* Big10 has had more distinct teams (7) in the Championship game than any other conference
* Unfortunate 0-8 record for Big10 (though includes the scrubbed Louisville win over MI); 8 teams and 0-9 if including UCLA
* Big East with a remarkable 9-0 record in the final since 2001, echoing the oft-repeated stat Re: UConn's current "Sweet 16 or later" win streak


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That's interesting stuff. Thanks for pulling it together
 
#1,087      
Loved the exchange that started around 1:15 where Mirk looks like a wide-eyed teenager, ends with him mildly scolding Brad "Family-friendly content Coach!"
Elbows Jake Davis in the face. Mirkaos. We’re here for it. Just getting Jake ready for Tarris.
 
#1,096      
Man the Hurley and UConn clutch lore is so strong. This team lost once to MSU in the Final Four semi in 2009. Every other time (99, 04, 11, 14, 23, 24) once they made the Sweet 16 they win the whole damn thing. Doing the math that means 2nd/3rd weekend record is 26-1 since 1999 (that MSU ‘09 F4 loss).

We’d be running up against the most winningest modern program and Hurley who’s the last coach to repeat since Donovan Gators. If there was any Illini team it would be this one with its length and recent defensive effort (holding our 2nd weekend opponents to < 60).

But Houston and Iowa are NOT prolific offenses. UConn very much can be as we saw in first half of MSU game and second half of Duke game.

Pundits had us unanimously written off vs. HOU. And seeing basically same trend now. Will come down to Reed and Karaban. So many nightmares of strong big men (Sean May, Clingan, Mara/Morez) embarrassing us in big games. And Karaban is the winningest player in modern NCAAs - dude is 2 games from 3 titles.

Odds are astronomically low but if the Illini go 2-0 this weekend, it would be the most epic way to earn a title and provide catharsis 40 years in the making. This is the epitome of sports drama/spectacle.
 
#1,098      
I know today was awesome for the open practice but to put some perspective we had 31,500 people at the 04-05 one. I hope we have a huge crowd tomorrow.
 
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