pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
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illini55
- The Villages, FL
I followed those DePaul teams thru the years. Meyer‘s teams had as much talent as anyone, but they played hero ball. That is exactly what happened to us last year. I just don’t think there’s any way Underwood allows that again. Even more telling, the players he has put on the roster this year have a much different approach to playing basketball. Domask will definitely bring stability to the lineup. The assists column will look very much improved. Can’t wait.
It was amazing how they kept washing out year after year. But Meyer was such a beloved figure that the media and fan criticism was quite muted if at all. And yes, squads that were not nearly as talented as De Paul but who played as a team (and did not panic during the game like the De Paul teams did) prevailed in most tournaments.
When De Paul realized during a game that their opponent was not awed by them... and the game began to slip away from the Demons... De Paul began to play tight and frenzied. No one stepped up to change the game momentum for the better. And once you play like that in the roundball game... you are finished.
You come in at or near Number One and you quickly wash out. A Texan (like a former Illini from Austin) would call that being All Hat and No Cattle.
Coach with another year of experience and seasoning. Perhaps a new game-approach with the squad as well. New players who don't know and don't care what the team may have done before (except for Shannon and Hawkins who WILL remember and care and want to respond much better.)
One of the very best things to me about basketball is the Punch-And-Counterpunch ebb and flow of the Game. Your opponent gets on a roll and you have to step up your game and respond -- or else. And if you get on a roll yourself... you try to keep that going as long as possible because a counterpunch (or two or three or more) will be coming along somewhere most games..
If you fail to step up your game and respond it's humiliating and deflating both to your team and your fan base: One team gets challenged and punched in the mouth and they don't or can't respond. And that stings. And that begins to creep into the team mindset for the next time this happens.
But if you get heavily challenged and you DO respond with force and energy... it's a thing of beauty! Even better than a blowout win.
Kinda fun to think about a whole new generation of unique numbers.
NCAA block/charge rules in men's hoops tweaked
The NCAA is tweaking how block/charge calls are made in men's basketball.www.espn.com
Also change charge block and players can wear any number from 0-99
My Dad & Uncle loved to talk about those teams! Dad would be 86 if he was still with us.
I hate that new rule where a coach can get a timeout taken away if a coach requests something to be reviewed under 2 minutes. I mean if someone is trying to pick up a cheap time out I get it but there are several calls a yr in the last 2 minutes that get reversed. I thought it was automatic if close previously??
They were the real "Hoosiers".
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Trotter's Take on the 2023-24 Big 10 Tiers........after the portal dust has essentially now settled:
Title Favorites - Purdue & MSU
Contenders - MD, Illini, Wisky
NCAA Tourney Probables - NW, Iowa, OSU, Nebraska, Rutgers
Outside the NCAA Bubble - Michigan and Indiana
Cellar Dwellers - PSU and Minnesota
Title Favorites - Purdue & MSU
Contenders - MD, Illini, Wisky
NCAA Tourney Probables - NW, Iowa, OSU, Nebraska, Rutgers
Outside the NCAA Bubble - Michigan and Indiana
Cellar Dwellers - PSU and Minnesota
AGATUCCI'S Pizza. (Great thin crust pizza & ran by an Illinois grad.)
Good info. thankyou.
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They were honestly overrated and probably a achieved what was expected. They were basically a really good mid major with the independent schedule they played. They made the tournament a bunch and won a few games but weren't making deep runs.
The most talented team was the Aguirre freshman year team that still had Garland and Watkins and they nearly beat Larry Bird to go the championship game.
The rest of the teams were still good teams with some talented players but they were never super deep and definitely not as talented as the blue bloods back then.
I think you're being a little bit unfair to DePaul.
They were honestly overrated and probably a achieved what was expected. They were basically a really good mid major with the independent schedule they played. They made the tournament a bunch and won a few games but weren't making deep runs.
The most talented team was the Aguirre freshman year team that still had Garland and Watkins and they nearly beat Larry Bird to go the championship game.
The rest of the teams were still good teams with some talented players but they were never super deep and definitely not as talented as the blue bloods back then.
I know Wisconsin is returning a bunch of players but I just don't see them having a super high ceiling.
I think Indiana has some talent that could gel as the years goes same with OSU plus I expect Iowa to continue to be a pest as they keep recruiting the never ending line of McCaffrey's.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I was born in Peoria and try to get back sometimes ... Agatucci's is easily the most underrated pizza in this state!!!! When including sentimentality as well as actual taste, it's probably my favorite pizza in the country. The "dive" atmosphere adds to the charm!
Avanti's is a good choice and a Peoria classic. Shaun Livingston's favorite place when he comes back. There is one not too far away from the softball fields. North Knoxville, maybe 5 minutes off the Route 6 bypass
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
^ And for dinner, I cannot recommend Paparazzi in Peoria Heights if you are like me and love simple, great Italian. Owners remembered my parents' last name on the reservation after literally two decades last summer, haha.
Hearth in Peoria Heights is awesome! Small place, great atmosphere, and phenomenal Whiskey selection! I would highly recommend!
You cannot recommend it or you cannot recommend it enough?
My friend who’s connected with the SIU program says the Salukis are not playing in the MTE tournament. Is he correct? Is it possible we’re playing SIU-E?Welcome to the Illini Basketball & College Basketball thread
Preseason
10-day foreign trip to Spain (details are to be determined, these trips are typically taken in early August).
Schedule
Illinois vs Oakland, Fri, Nov 10th
Illinois vs Marquette (Gavitt Games), Tue, Nov 14th
Illinois MTE with Valparaiso, WIU & SIU, Nov 17-25
Illinois at Tennessee, Sat, Dec 9th
Illinois vs Missouri (Braggin' Rights in St. Louis), date TBD
Illinois vs FDU, Fri, Dec 29th
Illinois' schedule rotation for the 2023-2024 Big Ten season:
Home Only – Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska
Away Only – Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Home & Away – Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers
Not saying he’s wrong or right… but he’s usually not wrong about this stuff.
Edit: looks like we’re playing Southern University, not SIU.
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Mr and Mrs Nightman?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It was a long week, lol. I can and do absolutely recommend that place.You cannot recommend it or you cannot recommend it enough?
Yeah it's Southern University. Would not have made sense for it just to be listed as Southern, since almost no one outside of this state would have referred to it as that. Either way though, that MTE is a bit cupcakey.
Yeah… the teams aren’t great. But maybe we’ll get a chance to play the Rev at Valpo. Either way, he gets to come home for a couple of games.
Just out of curiosity, how does the scheduling process (noncon) work at this level? Is it more head coach or AD pulling the strings? Some kind of shared Outlook calendar of all D1 schools that shows who is available and when? A Tinder-like app where you swipe if you're interested in playing that team?
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