Illini Basketball 2017-2018

#1      

Calvin

C
Calvin
Conference not looking good. Lot of soft schedules, and I don't think I saw a single notable win in the entire conference so far. Apologies for the formatting - dunno how to put tabs in to clean up the columns.

Team Overall Notable
  • Maryland 5-0
  • Minnesota5-0 -
  • Rutgers 5-0 -
  • Illinois 4-0 -
  • Ohio State 4-0 -
  • Penn State 5-1 L - Tex AM
  • Michigan 4-1 L - LSU (by 2)
  • Purdue 4-1 L - Tenn
  • Nebraska 3-1 L - St Johns
  • Iowa 4-2 L - SDST, LLafayette
  • Michigan State 2-1 L to #1 Duke
  • Northwestern 3-2 L - Creighton, (crushed by) Tex Tech
  • Indiana 2-2 L - In St, Seton Hall
  • Wisconsin 2-3 L - Xavier, Baylor, UCLA (all ranked)
 
#2      

Spoon House

Spoon House
Spoon House
Calvin said:
I don't think I saw a single notable win in the entire conference so far.
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Aside from Sparty, Minny, and probably Purdue, I see something of a power vacuum in the B1G. I think it's going to be chaos this season. A few opportunistic teams will be able to climb in the standings.

Illinois should be one of them, please!
 
#3      

IlliniCaboose

IlliniCaboose
IlliniCaboose
Spoon House said:
Aside from Sparty, Minny, and probably Purdue, I see something of a power vacuum in the B1G. I think it's going to be chaos this season. A few opportunistic teams will be able to climb in the standings.

Illinois should be one of them, please!
Click to expand...

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#6      

illiniguy24

illiniguy24
illiniguy24
A lot of teams ranked in the 20’s losing to start off this season. String together a good non conference (1 loss?) and go 2-0 in the early December B1G games and I think we COULD find ourselves cracking the top 25 with some good fortune.


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#7      

IllinoisFanAtFSU

I
IllinoisFanAtFSU
illiniguy24 said:
A lot of teams ranked in the 20’s losing to start off this season. String together a good non conference (1 loss?) and go 2-0 in the early December B1G games and I think we COULD find ourselves cracking the top 25 with some good fortune.


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Click to expand...

Considering that would have them at 13-1 (not counting Augustana), yeah I would hope that :illinois: would be ranked! If they somehow win all of the next four games, they would also be ranked at 8-0. Getting votes at 7-1 in my opinion. We will be in fantastic shape if we beat NC Central, and 2/3 of Wake, NW, and Maryland.
 
#8      

yeahyeahyeah

Y
yeahyeahyeah
I was hoping AJ would end up like one of those tough upper classman Big Ten guards where teams never really account for them but they always kill ya... so far, so good
 
#9      

blmillini

B
Bloomington, IL
blmillini
illiniguy24 said:
A lot of teams ranked in the 20’s losing to start off this season. String together a good non conference (1 loss?) and go 2-0 in the early December B1G games and I think we COULD find ourselves cracking the top 25 with some good fortune.


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Click to expand...

Let's see where we are after we actually play somebody.
 
#10      

Deleted member 631370

D
Guest
Deleted member 631370
blmillini said:
Let's see where we are after we actually play somebody.
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I really hope I'm wrong, but a week or so from now, I'm afraid we'll be singing the "man, I hope we're good enough to get an NIT bid and build for next year" tune. I can see us losing our next three.
 
#12      

Deleted member 631370

D
Guest
Deleted member 631370
yeahyeahyeah said:
you'll see those posters come out of the woodwork to bash the team
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No doubt about it, and that'll be unfortunate.

We need to keep realistic expectations in mind -- even when we're riding high at 6-0. Losing 2 of our next 3 seems like a very good probability. And if that happens -- or even worse, we lose all 3 -- we just need to remind ourselves why we were picked #11 in the conference.

We are a year away, IMO. Next year, assuming guys like Black and Finke return and assuming improvement from our younger guys, we have a team that should be able to crack the top-25 for a good part of the season. This year, in my view at least, is one of those "sit back and enjoy the ride" sort of seasons. Keep expectations fairly low, optimism for the future high, and hope that perhaps we win ahead of schedule. But if we don't.......let's not jump off the edge.
 
#13      

illiniguy24

illiniguy24
illiniguy24
blmillini said:
Let's see where we are after we actually play somebody.
Click to expand...



Yes, considering my post was talking about a hypothetical record at the end of the non conference, I think that would be what I was doing.

But hey, it’s just a thread talking about predictions of the season, what was I thinking.

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#14      

alaskaillini

A
alaskaillini
Verified Insider said:
No doubt about it, and that'll be unfortunate.

We need to keep realistic expectations in mind -- even when we're riding high at 6-0. Losing 2 of our next 3 seems like a very good probability. And if that happens -- or even worse, we lose all 3 -- we just need to remind ourselves why we were picked #11 in the conference.

We are a year away, IMO. Next year, assuming guys like Black and Finke return and assuming improvement from our younger guys, we have a team that should be able to crack the top-25 for a good part of the season. This year, in my view at least, is one of those "sit back and enjoy the ride" sort of seasons. Keep expectations fairly low, optimism for the future high, and hope that perhaps we win ahead of schedule. But if we don't.......let's not jump off the edge.
Click to expand...

i think you are being a little too rational.
 
#15      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
Verified Insider said:
No doubt about it, and that'll be unfortunate.

We need to keep realistic expectations in mind -- even when we're riding high at 6-0. Losing 2 of our next 3 seems like a very good probability. And if that happens -- or even worse, we lose all 3 -- we just need to remind ourselves why we were picked #11 in the conference.

We are a year away, IMO. Next year, assuming guys like Black and Finke return and assuming improvement from our younger guys, we have a team that should be able to crack the top-25 for a good part of the season. This year, in my view at least, is one of those "sit back and enjoy the ride" sort of seasons. Keep expectations fairly low, optimism for the future high, and hope that perhaps we win ahead of schedule. But if we don't.......let's not jump off the edge.
Click to expand...
I don't think that the team would agree with your "realistic" assessment. I realize that the competition has not been great, but I expect improvement throughout the season. With the non-con, I would expect 1 loss, maximum. Anymore, would be a disappointment, though 2 would still be workable. In conference play, something around 500 is reasonable. I think the culture has changed enough, that we will not lose games we are supposed to win. We have seen some evidence already this year. Freshman maturation will be huge on this team. I expect the tourney, and that will be fun! OK, yes, I am drinking the kool-aid.
 
#16      

kuhl84

K
Orlando, FL
kuhl84
Illwinsagain said:
I don't think that the team would agree with your "realistic" assessment. I realize that the competition has not been great, but I expect improvement throughout the season. With the non-con, I would expect 1 loss, maximum. Anymore, would be a disappointment, though 2 would still be workable. In conference play, something around 500 is reasonable. I think the culture has changed enough, that we will not lose games we are supposed to win. We have seen some evidence already this year. Freshman maturation will be huge on this team. I expect the tourney, and that will be fun! OK, yes, I am drinking the kool-aid.
Click to expand...



With a relatively weak non con schedule and the over all poor performance of the B1G so far, a 9 - 9 finish in the B1G will not likely not result in a tourney appearance.


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#17      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
kuhl84 said:
With a relatively weak non con schedule and the over all poor performance of the B1G so far, a 9 - 9 finish in the B1G will not likely not result in a tourney appearance.


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Click to expand...


21 (22) - 10. going into the B1G tourney, I think that would be on the right side of the bubble, likely 8-10 seed.
 
#18      

kuhl84

K
Orlando, FL
kuhl84
Illwinsagain said:
21 (22) - 10. going into the B1G tourney, I think that would be on the right side of the bubble, likely 8-10 seed.
Click to expand...



Possibly, but as poorly as the B1G has shown , at 9 - 9 we would likely have no good wins, a terrible RPI, and that record would have been ninth place in conference the last 2 years.

Unless the B1G starts getting some quality wins (best opportunity this week), there is a good chance only 5 or 6 teams from the B1G make the tourney.



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#19      

Deleted member 631370

D
Guest
Deleted member 631370
Illwinsagain said:
I don't think that the team would agree with your "realistic" assessment. I realize that the competition has not been great, but I expect improvement throughout the season. With the non-con, I would expect 1 loss, maximum. Anymore, would be a disappointment, though 2 would still be workable. In conference play, something around 500 is reasonable. I think the culture has changed enough, that we will not lose games we are supposed to win. We have seen some evidence already this year. Freshman maturation will be huge on this team. I expect the tourney, and that will be fun! OK, yes, I am drinking the kool-aid.
Click to expand...


Now, losing only 1 game in the OOC positions us well for March.

I'm working on the assumption that we lose at least 2. @ UNLV, and at least one of Mizzou and Wake.

But I hope I'm wrong.
 
#20      

Ol Dirty Gamer

O
Ol Dirty Gamer
Verified Insider said:
No doubt about it, and that'll be unfortunate.

We need to keep realistic expectations in mind -- even when we're riding high at 6-0. Losing 2 of our next 3 seems like a very good probability. And if that happens -- or even worse, we lose all 3 -- we just need to remind ourselves why we were picked #11 in the conference.

We are a year away, IMO. Next year, assuming guys like Black and Finke return and assuming improvement from our younger guys, we have a team that should be able to crack the top-25 for a good part of the season. This year, in my view at least, is one of those "sit back and enjoy the ride" sort of seasons. Keep expectations fairly low, optimism for the future high, and hope that perhaps we win ahead of schedule. But if we don't.......let's not jump off the edge.
Click to expand...

It’s hard to predict where these guys will land in wins and losses. BU said these guys are behind schedule from where he wanted them as far as installing more of the offense.
The amount of wins and losses will likely hinge on how many dimensions of the system they can pick up on as the season progresses. I would have picked them to finish 11th in the conference too because of all the unknowns with this team.
They have shown flashes of how unstoppable the freshmen guards can be, but also have looked very beatable at the same time.
Either way, i’m extremely excited with where this team is going; and these guards will be one of the best back courts in the country a year or two down the road.
 
#21      

blmillini

B
Bloomington, IL
blmillini
Verified Insider said:
I really hope I'm wrong, but a week or so from now, I'm afraid we'll be singing the "man, I hope we're good enough to get an NIT bid and build for next year" tune. I can see us losing our next three.
Click to expand...

Gut feel is this entire season is going to be a roller coaster ride. I think we will get a couple good wins, some bad losses and much of the same (record wise) as we have seen the last several years. That said, we are on our way back! It is just going to take a little time.
 
#22      

yeahyeahyeah

Y
yeahyeahyeah
Verified Insider said:
No doubt about it, and that'll be unfortunate.

We need to keep realistic expectations in mind -- even when we're riding high at 6-0. Losing 2 of our next 3 seems like a very good probability. And if that happens -- or even worse, we lose all 3 -- we just need to remind ourselves why we were picked #11 in the conference.

We are a year away, IMO. Next year, assuming guys like Black and Finke return and assuming improvement from our younger guys, we have a team that should be able to crack the top-25 for a good part of the season. This year, in my view at least, is one of those "sit back and enjoy the ride" sort of seasons. Keep expectations fairly low, optimism for the future high, and hope that perhaps we win ahead of schedule. But if we don't.......let's not jump off the edge.
Click to expand...

What I'd like to see is improvement, if i'm not seeing W's. I think we are riding a bit high. I'm excited as heck but grounded enough to not let new expectations color my feelings for this team.
 
#23      

FC Illiniman

F
FC Illiniman
blmillini said:
Gut feel is this entire season is going to be a roller coaster ride. I think we will get a couple good wins, some bad losses and much of the same (record wise) as we have seen the last several years. That said, we are on our way back! It is just going to take a little time.
Click to expand...

To some degree, ups and downs should be expected. The difference will be the fact that BU has a firm grasp of the situation. Do you see the guys when they come to bench at the game. They know where they stand, if they do something good there is praise, if something wrong, they don't get, "That's okay better next time", there is correction , sometimes no conversation at all. BU is the coach, and not the friend. He has the respect, and there is no doubt who is in charge.

The culture has already changed, the attitude of guys on the floor, and on the bench, they are involved and pay attention to what is going on. Finke has really taken a leadership role, hopefully Alstork, Black, TJL and Kipper continue to improve with same mentality. We lose 2non con games, would be a good pre-B1G schedule warm up, with a split or better in our NW/MD games. .500 B1G record might be good enough to Dance , but I see us 10-8, which would put us firm 6-8 seed b4 the NYC tournament.(Which we shouldn't be doing).

We are heading in the right direction, time to see how far we are on BU schedule.;):illinois:
 
#24      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Will see some ups and downs but this team is so much better than last year do not see how we will not end up with a better record. Black and Finke will out score Hill and Morgan and play better defense. Jordan, Nichols, and Frazier off the bench are far, far better than Tate, JCL, and Nichols. We beat some good teams last year but aggressive, competitive level is entirely different under this coach. Not a top national team but will be competitive in BIG.
 
#25      

drwillini

D
drwillini
Very excited about this stretch. @WF, @NW, and MD at home will tell us a lot about where this team is going to end up. An upper division Big 10 team wins them.