People keep saying the B1G is down this year. KenPom disagrees. All 14 teams are in the top 100 and 8 are in the top 50. Still early, but something to keep track of. This could be a year where we sneak in at 18-13 or something like that. A lot of losses but none of them bad, and a few good wins. Don't give up on the tourney yet.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
Our RPI is 191 and our strength of schedule is 195. Both are really low. We have no good wins as you stated, and one of our wins is actually against a Div. III school that does not really count for much. The only way we are making it to the tournament is if we take the B1G by storm, despite starting at 0-2. Otherwise, even if we end up on the bubble, this is clearly a year where our bubble will easily burst, we are not sneaking in to the tournament.
You're right on this - comparing this year to 1999 is absolutely ridiculous.
But what's the point of all your posts? Do you already know that Underwood can't get the job done? Are you the realist that already knows what the future holds and you're here to set us straight?
Today on the Jeremy Werner show Will Leitch summarized where we are almost perfectly:
- We're struggling more than expected, but it's easy to see the future
- We've lost some games we should've won, but even when we lose it's exciting basketball
FeelTheLovie
- Louisville, KY
As long as Finke and Greg add 40 or so pounds each and grow 3-4 inches i think this team can compete for a national title
Deleted member 631370
D
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You're right on this - comparing this year to 1999 is absolutely ridiculous.
But what's the point of all your posts? Do you already know that Underwood can't get the job done? Are you the realist that already knows what the future holds and you're here to set us straight?
Today on the Jeremy Werner show Will Leitch summarized where we are almost perfectly:
- We're struggling more than expected, but it's easy to see the future
- We've lost some games we should've won, but even when we lose it's exciting basketball
Yeah, those last points are dead on.
I still think we're within the spectrum of what was expected -- albeit on the "disappointing" end of that spectrum. At this stage in the game, I figured we could be anywhere from a 7 or 8 win team to an 10 or 11 win team. Definitely not good enough to be 12-1 or 13-0, and definitely not bad enough to have 7-8+ losses.
It's really not hard to figure out. We cannot defend the rim at all -- not surprising given our front court personnel. We turn the ball over way too much -- not surprising given the inexperience and the tempo. And we foul too much -- not surprising given Underwood's style of defense.
But when you look ahead and see a 5* PG coming aboard next year and virtually the entire team coming back -- combined with Underwood's general track record of winning -- there's good reason to be optimistic.
I get it. Patience is no fun when you're the fan of one of the most dreadful P5 basketball/football teams in America right now. But there's really no other choice. I guess you can go off the deep end and whine incessantly, but we aren't even 2 months into a new era yet. Give it some time.
All good points. I would add that we miss WAY too many layups.
I think another variable to the "foul too much" scenario is that the officials have made a bigger jump in the "emphasis" this year, than with years before. Easier for teams that have been together or with simpler defensive systems.
11 last game I think Underwood said. Heck, change two missed to two made layups a game and we're practically undefeated.
Our RPI just jumped 60 spots after last night. We have no cupcakes left and a ton of opportunities for good wins (top 75). And a handful of top 25 wins. I think right now the reasonable target is to beat Grand Canyon and go 9-7 in remaining conference games. That would put as at 18-12. Win 2 in the BTT and we are squarely in the discussion. Impossible at this time to know how strong the bubble will be.
But I think we have the potential to have a winning record in conference, despite the 0-2 start. We would need 10+ wins from these games...
@Minny - L
@Mich - L
vs. Iowa - W
@Nebraska - W
@Wisconsin - L
vs. Mich St - L
vs Indiana - W
vs Rutgers - W
@ Ohio St - W
vs. Wisconsin - W
vs Penn St - W
@ Indiana - L
vs. Nebraska - W
@ Mich St - L
vs. Purdue - W
@ Rutgers - W
@Minny - L
@Mich - L
vs. Iowa - W
@Nebraska - W
@Wisconsin - L
vs. Mich St - L
vs Indiana - W
vs Rutgers - W
@ Ohio St - W
vs. Wisconsin - W
vs Penn St - W
@ Indiana - L
vs. Nebraska - W
@ Mich St - L
vs. Purdue - W
@ Rutgers - W
Ryllini
- Lombard
Trent has a long way to go to catch Dee, but what he is doing thus far gives me hope that we may have a player of the ilk. I seem to remember Dee had a hard time finishing at the rim his freshman year as Trent has shown a little so far. Crean had an excellent point last night about putting up a shot at the rim and hoping vs putting up a shot at the rim with a plan. We have to wait until Trent plays a full B10 slate, but thus far in 14 minutes less played per game he averages 3 points less per, 2.5 assists less, and hasn't quite shot it as well overall. Where I think Trent measure up already is defense, rebounding from the guard spot, and his on floor leadership. It will be interesting to see the trajectory of his career and as the other young guards develop and we put more weapons around, I feel Trent will be way more efficient and the career numbers will be very similar.
I still like Lucas starting the games off and Trent being the spark plug off the bench and the closing point guard at the end of halves and games. Lucas does a great job rebounding from his position, forcing turnovers, and he sees the floor really well. I think both players foul way too much and I think Te'Jon turns it over more. Te'Jon is going to have to get better from deep, but this kid is efficient in and around the rim.
We have a great problem on our hands with our guards and we add a damn good one next year. I hope we can add some quality ready to contribute depth up front and Leron and Mike both stick around next year, because this could be a break out team in the near future.
I still like Lucas starting the games off and Trent being the spark plug off the bench and the closing point guard at the end of halves and games. Lucas does a great job rebounding from his position, forcing turnovers, and he sees the floor really well. I think both players foul way too much and I think Te'Jon turns it over more. Te'Jon is going to have to get better from deep, but this kid is efficient in and around the rim.
We have a great problem on our hands with our guards and we add a damn good one next year. I hope we can add some quality ready to contribute depth up front and Leron and Mike both stick around next year, because this could be a break out team in the near future.
@Minny - L
@Mich - W
vs. Iowa - W
@Nebraska - L
@Wisconsin - L
vs. Mich St - L
vs Indiana - W
vs Rutgers - W
@ Ohio St - W
vs. Wisconsin - L
vs Penn St - W
@ Indiana - L
vs. Nebraska - W
@ Mich St - L
vs. Purdue - W
@ Rutgers - W
9 Wins if we get lucky...that wont do it 9-9...conference is being touted as being way down this year.
Winning record in the conference means nothing in the eyes of the committee. Not a determinant for getting into the tournament. Our rpi did jump because Mizzou was artificially high, they will most likely drop when they get into SEC play without M. Porter Jr. Mizzou does not look like a guaranteed tournament team at this point.
You are also describing a scenario with 10 wins, yet other than Purdue, does not really have any marquee wins. For the Illini to make it into the tournament they will have to get some wins against some of the better teams, Michigan State, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue, etc. Just winning against Purdue @home will not do it. The scenario that you are describing is not likely a "tournament" selection scenario. JMO.
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/spo..._medium=social&utm_source=twitter_WCIA3sports
Underwood "You've got a guy like Trent, you know you have a shot"....."he'll eventually make a couple of those layups..." Coach... he's a funny guy. Yet serious at the same time.
Underwood "You've got a guy like Trent, you know you have a shot"....."he'll eventually make a couple of those layups..." Coach... he's a funny guy. Yet serious at the same time.
Comparison
Top 5 scorers 16-17 vs 17-18 YTD
MH 17.2 pt. 5.1 Rb. LB 14.4 pt 5.5 Rb
MM 9.9. 4.5. MF. 11.6. 6.0
LB. 8.1. 6.3. KN. 9.1. 5.2
TA. 8.6. 2.9. TF. 9.2. 1.6
JCL. 8.0. 2.3. AJ. 11.3. 3.6
Total. 51.8. 21.1. 54.6 21.6
Only MH scoring not matched but others were out scored and total rebounds exceeded. Also TA's scoring went way down in conference play.
Top 5 scorers 16-17 vs 17-18 YTD
MH 17.2 pt. 5.1 Rb. LB 14.4 pt 5.5 Rb
MM 9.9. 4.5. MF. 11.6. 6.0
LB. 8.1. 6.3. KN. 9.1. 5.2
TA. 8.6. 2.9. TF. 9.2. 1.6
JCL. 8.0. 2.3. AJ. 11.3. 3.6
Total. 51.8. 21.1. 54.6 21.6
Only MH scoring not matched but others were out scored and total rebounds exceeded. Also TA's scoring went way down in conference play.
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We only play Minny once this season. Can't waste that game. It would look great as a league road win. Everything to win here. Minny is beatable. I believe it starts at the coaching level. I think BU can out coach Li'l Ricky. I think we really need to pick off as many road games as possible from here on out to build the resume
I think this is a road game we can steal.
With 4 of 5 BTT games on the road coming up, a win will set us up nicely.
Wow...you really think we'll get Purdue??? I know its at SFC...but they're going to kill us on the boards
If we can put together two halves like the Missouri first half and the Maryland second half we can neat Minnesota. Anything less and we're going home with an L. They're good. Murder on the boards and athletic everywhere. Both of their bigs Murphy and Lynch are susceptible to foul problems so that's probably the key to this one. They're both all around scorers, shot blockers and rebounders.
I agree that our X's and O's game is better but our Jimmy's have to execute against their Joe's.
A combination of those two halves beats darn near everyone! Need to play with that fire, though.
I don't understand the logic here. If he is the better guard and we want him in there to close the halves and end of games, shouldn't he be starting and let Lucas me the spark plug?
ChazzReinhold
Mom! The Meatloaf!
We out rebounded the best rebounding team in the country (UNLV).
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
or starts passing off to the inevitably open man as soon as he's doubled.
Grand Canyon by year end will boost our RPI/SOS, as will New Mexico State, hell they already are, and by tournament time they will be included for sure.
Not sure what Lofton kid's deal is 4 schools in 5 years, but man he can play...he will be in the NBA for sure.