Illini Basketball 2022-2023

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#103      
Really hope the (VERY much) rumors of the return of the United Center game are true. That was a cool statement by our program, and the game drew great crowds when we, ya know, didn’t suck. Lol.

The Chicago college doubleheaders were legendary for decades beginning in the ‘40s. The NBA was not much of a thing back then, and in Chicago for along time the NBA wasn’t a thing at all. And it took the Bulls several years before they began to catch on thanks to Chicago-style toughness guys like Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier and Chet ‘The Jet’ Walker.

The Chi-town City ball energy was poured into the great college matchups on West Madison Street which featured the Illini and other area big-school programs.

With the Illini becoming ‘Elite’ again... the Chicago game (whether as part of a doubleheader or not) is a great foothold into the talent-rich Chicago area of great young players. And who wouldn’t want to play where The Greatest Player Of All Time did his magic and made Chicago a real basketball powerhouse at the pro level?

And, the Illini need to have a game every year in Ayo’s Home Town. That's reason enough right there. It’s only right and proper for the man who helped to make the Illini Elite again.

The main State university simply needs a strong presence in the State’s biggest City.
 
#104      
#105      
Sorry didn't realize that it was only accessible to subscribers. Here is the part concerning BR.

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#107      
Hadn’t seen this posted yet. 247 article on the upcoming year and roster building…

“The sheer Xs and Os of it, I don’t know yet,” Underwood said. “I’m looking at a lot of things. I’m more concerned right now with what we’re doing defensively than offensively. How those changes might benefit us. I’ve gone back to things I liked in 2010, 2013 and watching clips of different teams and styles and things I’ve done. You try to pair your current team and roster, what it is right now, to something you’ve liked over the years and see if it fits and works. We’ll piece it together. We’ve got a little time yet, but it’s never very far from the forethought of what we do every day.”


Sounds like some elements of pressure defense might be back. Excited to see which elements. Offensively I'd to see us go to some 5 out Nuggets style stuff with Jokic or Warriors style stuff with Draymond. And then A LOT of alley oops!
 
#108      
“The sheer Xs and Os of it, I don’t know yet,” Underwood said. “I’m looking at a lot of things. I’m more concerned right now with what we’re doing defensively than offensively. How those changes might benefit us. I’ve gone back to things I liked in 2010, 2013 and watching clips of different teams and styles and things I’ve done. You try to pair your current team and roster, what it is right now, to something you’ve liked over the years and see if it fits and works. We’ll piece it together. We’ve got a little time yet, but it’s never very far from the forethought of what we do every day.”


Sounds like some elements of pressure defense might be back. Excited to see which elements. Offensively I'd to see us go to some 5 out Nuggets style stuff with Jokic or Warriors style stuff with Draymond. And then A LOT of alley oops!
I'd like to see that Celtics defensive style...
 
#109      
The Chicago college doubleheaders were legendary for decades beginning in the ‘40s. The NBA was not much of a thing back then, and in Chicago for along time the NBA wasn’t a thing at all. And it took the Bulls several years before they began to catch on thanks to Chicago-style toughness guys like Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier and Chet ‘The Jet’ Walker.

The Chi-town City ball energy was poured into the great college matchups on West Madison Street which featured the Illini and other area big-school programs.

With the Illini becoming ‘Elite’ again... the Chicago game (whether as part of a doubleheader or not) is a great foothold into the talent-rich Chicago area of great young players. And who wouldn’t want to play where The Greatest Player Of All Time did his magic and made Chicago a real basketball powerhouse at the pro level?

And, the Illini need to have a game every year in Ayo’s Home Town. That's reason enough right there. It’s only right and proper for the man who helped to make the Illini Elite again.

The main State university simply needs a strong presence in the State’s biggest City.
I even remember going to a triple header at the Chicago stadium where the Illini beat Austin Carr-led Notre Dame, Southern Illinois beat Marquette, and UCLA (Kareem Jabbar et al) beat De Paul. What a great night!
 
#110      
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game
 
#111      

IlliniwekKDR

Colorado Springs, CO
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game
I agree with all of this except for the idea of getting rid of Josh Whitman and replacing him with some guy named Jay
 
#113      
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game
Kentucky is a border state and I just always felt like we should play them every year anyway. We literally play every other border state.
 
#114      

WingedWarriors

Leesburg, FL
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game
I'm betting it is Kentucky in The United Center. Just an educated guess.
 
#115      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game
Josh
 
#116      
We need to bring back the December TV mega-game in United Center

first few games were awesome - we invited

#6 Duke
#24 Cal
#24 UCLA
#17 Clemson
#17 Duke
#8 Kansas

Look for the hottest team in prior year not in ACC B East challenge

If I was Jay Whitman I would call

Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and offer them a home and away or neutral game

We could potentially have a loaded non conference schedule. It will be interesting how the Gavitt games and ACC challenge view the B1G. I would think they see us as one of the top teams, maybe even the favorite if we land Nance. So we could potentially see something like...

-Nova or Creighton
-UNC
-Vegas tourney
-Big neutral site game
-Mizzou? They might actually be solid this year. Torvik's way too early projections have them at 54.

There is potential for 4 or 5 top 10 caliber teams.
 
#117      
Kentucky is a border state and I just always felt like we should play them every year anyway. We literally play every other border state.

I'd rather stay away from Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, etc. When they started the Champions Classic years ago it just felt elitist IMO. Doesn't help that they play at the UC a lot too, which is what we should be doing.

Now that the program is rolling again, I would rather get other programs involved instead of the blue bloods. Give me Baylor, Auburn, Texas Tech, Houston, Gonzaga, Nova etc. Anybody but Duke, Kansas, UNC, Kentucky.
 
#118      
I'd rather stay away from Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, etc. When they started the Champions Classic years ago it just felt elitist IMO. Doesn't help that they play at the UC a lot too, which is what we should be doing.

Now that the program is rolling again, I would rather get other programs involved instead of the blue bloods. Give me Baylor, Auburn, Texas Tech, Houston, Gonzaga, Nova etc. Anybody but Duke, Kansas, UNC, Kentucky.
I understand what you’re saying about the elitist stuff for sure. I just think we’re sitting on a potentially huge gold mine with 2 basketball crazy border states.

From a basketball perspective, Kentucky stays pretty young with their 1 and done model. They are usually extremely talented but catching them early in the year would be a good time to grab a W, and the game would receive tons of media coverage now that we’re good again.

As a bonus, we could even play a game in Kentucky, and have a loyalty party at Pru’s house. This is a multi level win-win.
 
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#119      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
I understand what you’re saying about the elitist stuff for sure. I just think we’re sitting on a potentially huge gold mine with 2 basketball crazy border states.

From a basketball perspective, Kentucky stays pretty young with their 1 and done model. They are usually extremely talented but catching them early in the year would be a good time to grab a W, and the game would receive tons of media coverage now that we’re good again.

As a bonus, we could even play a game in Kentucky, and have a loyalty party at Pru’s house. This is a multi level win-win.
We always welcome new party goers to our humble abode , but living in Paducah , it is over 4 hours to the cesspool of Lexington ....I guess maybe a big bus with heavily tinted windows might work...........................

cw08.gif
 
#125      

illini80

Forgottonia
Believe it was last Saturday Fletch was on Sat Am and talked about Sky and how they evaluate his knee. Was impressive the technology they use. Bottom line is the injured knee has some things things they want to address/strengthen that are not things you can see visually. Excited to see what he will become.
 
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