Watched this after my comments and that's my coach. I'd run through a brick wall to play for that guy.
Wagler probably led the BT in free throw attempts. He shot A TON of free throws. More than Fears. Wagler might have set an Illinois record for most free throws ever.I’m 100% saying that the officiating did not materially impact this game. However, a recurring theme of this season was Wagler getting nowhere close to the whistle that other players of his ability and stature got. He got mugged all season and hardly ever complained while Fears would act like he was shot every time someone breathed on him and convinced officials to call fouls.
It would have been interesting to see how many more times Wagler would have been at the line this season had he got the same type of whistle that Fears gets.
Agreed. If Keaton felt like running it back, who am I to argue? But it shouldn't happen.Love the kid. Love his toughness. Love how steady he is. Love that he doesn’t complain when he gets mugged. Love that he doesn’t sell fouls. Love that he is emotionally invested in the Illini. Love that he chooses his words carefully….
He should go live his dream, and test himself against the best in the world. He has earned it. He is too good for college basketball. He has nothing left to prove at this level.
I hope you find faithThanks God for the loss. I guess?
Bill Murray is a fraud Illini fan. Lol.
INI brother, great post.It's a thin margin between agony and jubilation. This very easily could've been a night where we made our shots and they missed theirs and we'd be moving on. But that's basketball.
It's a thin margin between taking your dad to the national championship game in Indy 23 years after he took you to your first Illini game in Indy and having to list your Natty tickets on stubhub. But that's basketball.
This isn't our last shot. We'll be back sooner than later under Brad. But I recognize some fans don't have the luxury of the margin between sooner and later. And I'm heartbroken for them. That's basketball.
It's a game won in the margins. But really, being a fan isn't about the margins. It's about ignoring the margins.
I'll mourn this season. But I won't hang my head too long. I'm proud of these guys. I'm proud of Brad and Josh and the university. It's been a great ride filled with tons of memories.
ILL
Also, I hate UConn.
How can we not be proud to have him as our coach?
Starting 2 freshmen don’t forget -great seasonDon't hang your heads young men. You took us to our first final four in over 20 years. You played your hearts out but our shots weren't falling and they were getting all the lucky bounces. The Illini nation is proud of you and all that you have accomplished this year. I am confident that we will make our way their again soon with Brad and his coaching staff leading the way.
I don’t understand why no one is acknowledging this. He CLEARLY swipes the net.