Purdue finished 7-5 down the stretch once teams started pressuring their guards.
Plus they were a poor 3 point shooting team.
It wasn't that their guards were freshman.
It was because they were not athletic enough.
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
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Plus they were a poor 3 point shooting team.
It wasn't that their guards were freshman.
It was because they were not athletic enough.
Everyone loves to crap on Smith and Loyer. I’d personally love to have either.
We are a fanbase of irrational extremes. Either the incoming freshman the only one and done not to be a McDAA (only because he committed to UI of course) or he will never see the floor and we should laugh at anyone who suggests otherwise. Neither is ever accurate.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I think it's all of these things. I do think purdue would beat fdu most times in a rematch but also the big ten adjusted to their style and sped then up. They also didn't make people pay from 3 like they did early. But overall you have to say they got a lot out of their freshman guards..... Much more than they expected preseason
Tennessee, Marquette, and FAU in the non-conference so far. I like it.
Dont forget Mizzou, they will be good too. Next year's schedule is very tough but we have an old roster that can hopefully get through it.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It's so funny that FAU is a big-time matchup at MSG, but here we are!
Last year's team literally saved its Tourney bid with a few huge wins during a tough non-conference schedule ... I'm all for this. The old Syracuse model is so lame, and I genuinely believe that it helps teams to play as many games as possible in neutral/NBA arenas. It can ONLY make you more comfortable come Tournament time (last year's team had its own issues).I wish these MSG games were ever on a weekend, I would love to attend!
We better have a point guard or we might get beat down. That team returns all 5 starters and only lost 1 guy on the entire roster.
Nobody's crapping on them but they are, in fact, the reason that Purdue struggled down the stretch. That's all. The comp is that we could(stress could) have the same issue.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Gotta admit, I did not have pretty darn excited about playing Florida Atlantic on my bingo card a year ago. I love this. They'll be a top-10 team. Great test on a big stage.
Tophe
- Middle TN
This article about the Illini playing FAU in the Jimmy V Classic also says our MTE opponents are Ohio, Wright State and NC A&T.
sacraig
- The desert
This seems to have almost no upside.
Yes, what could we possibly stand to gain by beating a preseason top 10 team that’s coming off a Final Four run? /s
It's national TV versus a team that was in the Final Four, had 30+ wins, would have beaten the brakes off of last year and returning just about everyone from their roster. After last year, they're going to be a good draw wherever they play. We probably won't be the favorite.
What's the downside?
Couldn't agree more....I will be surprised and disappointed if DGL doesn't contribute this season....will also be surprised and ecstatic if DGL (rather than others as well) is the answer to the PG deficiencies on this team. His lack of size isn't that much of a concern to me....(see Trrent Frazier) if he has that dawg mentality especially on defense
Well if we go with the current roster we will definitely find out if we any deficiencies at the point gaurd position.
sacraig
- The desert
You're assuming we win. And regardless of their ranking, they're still a mid-major and the optics aren't great.
If we lose, we lose to a mid-major that most people will consider overrated regardless of rankings and last year's result. If we win, everyone will then know FAU were overrated.
I'm not saying those people would be right, but those would be the optics.
I just don’t agree those would be the optics. If this was last season, sure.
but not only did they win 30 games, they went to the Final Four. They proved they’re not overrated, and anyone saying they are this year, with almost the same exact team, would be objectively wrong.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Esp Loyer
Baloney
Agree to disagree. We are going to be underdogs in that game. The team is good. Really good. They were underseeded with 30+ wins because of your exact train of thought. They're just a mid-major team. FAU was what, 30 seconds from playing in the National Championship game. The only people, under any circumstance, that think that they'd be overrated because of a loss are people that you shouldn't care about their opinion for one second. If we don't get our guard situation figured out ...that mid major team is going to turn us over and run us out of the building.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
Downside is we get smashed, then FAU just becomes a middle of the pack AAC team that doesn't even come close to making the tournament.
A non power 5 team just doesn't have the same pedigree as a power 5 team regardless of how they finished last year and who is returning from that team.
Now will that happen? probably not
point is the variation of how this game will look come end of season is huge.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Bad optics was 12/18/10 at the United Center. I refuse to state the team that no. 14 Illini lost to, as it still irks me.
This would not be the case playing a likely top 15 team at MSG. JMO.
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