Illini Basketball 2024-2025

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#177      
skyIdub
PlayDeeBrownNote said:
I think there is just a lot of lighting reflecting on the orange thread and from further away it looks gold or yellow. If you zoom in, it looks a lot more orange.
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The back strap seems to confirm this

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#178      
Fly Illini Fly!
BTN guys talking about this... IMO the chances either the RU freshman win FOY are slim to none if they miss the BTT. You can have all the stats... at some point winning matters, especially in a conference with guys like KJ and Queen.

As of right now, it'll be between Queen and KJ (especially if RU continues this current trajectory - under .500, on pace to finish bottom 3)
 
#179      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Fly Illini Fly! said:
BTN guys talking about this... IMO the chances either the RU freshman win FOY are slim to none if they miss the BTT. You can have all the stats... at some point winning matters, especially in a conference with guys like KJ and Queen.

As of right now, it'll be between Queen and KJ (especially if RU continues this current trajectory - under .500, on pace to finish bottom 3)
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I'm with you. Rutgers might finish the season 0-8. Not a whole lot teams worse than them right now.

It's splitting hairs - totally 50/50 - but if I had to pick one, I'd probably go with Queen at this moment. But totally a toss up.
 
#181      
Brosky
Not sure which thread to post this, but I see our women's team is 20-5 now. I wonder what kind of crowds they're drawing at home. The bad news I see is that nearly all rotation players are seniors and won't be back next year.
 
#182      
OrangeBlue98
sulli said:
You can’t always guarantee it will work out, but you could also give up a home game for two home at homes with lesser major conference opponents too. Like a Georgia Tech and Miami or something like that. You’d be trading a little revenue for a much better resume especially in years where you end up near the bubble.
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That was my idea about the home and homes. Programs like that would often be a Quad 1 road win opportunity. These will also be the programs that won't draw 20,000 to the United Center.

FOTN's idea of the Thanksgiving Day game is really interesting. Given Underwood doesn't like multi-team events like the Maui Invitational or the Battle 4 Atlantis, this could be a good idea. Or maybe you make this a Black Friday game. The only question I would have is can you get 20,000 to this game.

Whatever Illinois wants to do with the United Center game, the bottom line is that you have to pretty much guarantee that this game has 20,000 or more. A game at the United Center with 8,000-10,000 will be a bad look.
 
#183      
oldmanindian
Fly Illini Fly! said:
BTN guys talking about this... IMO the chances either the RU freshman win FOY are slim to none if they miss the BTT. You can have all the stats... at some point winning matters, especially in a conference with guys like KJ and Queen.

As of right now, it'll be between Queen and KJ (especially if RU continues this current trajectory - under .500, on pace to finish bottom 3)
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I saw this discussion. My takeaway: Andy Katz is a real !!! AND Robbie really does not like him!!
 
#190      
Fighter of the Nightman
OrangeBlue98 said:
That was my idea about the home and homes. Programs like that would often be a Quad 1 road win opportunity. These will also be the programs that won't draw 20,000 to the United Center.

FOTN's idea of the Thanksgiving Day game is really interesting. Given Underwood doesn't like multi-team events like the Maui Invitational or the Battle 4 Atlantis, this could be a good idea. Or maybe you make this a Black Friday game. The only question I would have is can you get 20,000 to this game.

Whatever Illinois wants to do with the United Center game, the bottom line is that you have to pretty much guarantee that this game has 20,000 or more. A game at the United Center with 8,000-10,000 will be a bad look.
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I would also like the Black Friday idea, but you have more competition with college football. What was so great about the Arkansas game this year is that we were just in our own spotlight RIGHT after the NFL, and we drew crazy ratings because of it. Also, while I agree we can't afford small crowds at the UC, 20K is still probably too high for a "par" for it to be worth it, IMO. I think you need to at least eclipse what attendance would be in Champaign (i.e., 15.5K or more), and you should be pushing 20K often. Just as an example, this was an attendance of 18,136 vs. Auburn in 2012-13:

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Place looks packed, 18k is more than enough to make it loud and (most importantly) the fans there are in orange - not 30%+ Marquette or something like that. I think there is a LOT of value in "standing out" as a unique program in some way, and this tradition paired with Braggin' Rights would be so unique and cool to us. When it comes to recruits, potential fans and general exposure, there is nothing worse than being bland or forgettable. For me, a basketball program like Iowa is a great example of bland ... bland uniforms, bland arena, no particularly noteworthy annual traditions/series, etc. If it became common knowledge that Illinois is "that school" that plays a Thanksgiving game in Chicago and a Christmas game in St. Louis, that would be super cool. Just as people always wearing Santa-themed Illini/Mizzou gear and the intro music always being a dramatic version of Carol of the Bells gives Braggin' Rights a clear vibe of festivity in the Christmas holiday season, this UC game could take on a similar type of unique tradition. Something like KJ enjoying that post-game big turkey leg on national TV or fans dressed in funny pilgrim gear could become an annual tradition. We could market it as the "Windy City Thanksgiving Invitational" or whatever, and and it could evolve into an arrangement that other programs are chomping at the bit to sign up for, as it would clearly benefit them immensely. If you can keep the opponent as big as or bigger than Arkansas each year, I can guarantee you CBS will be interested in nabbing that game up every Thanksgiving season!
 
#195      
rtbritt
https://twitter.com/x/status/1890543725631139875

What Brad says about Jake, is exactly what I tell/told guys in barber school (I started a new career at 36 years old…went to barber school and opened my own shop almosr 3 years ago, but I maintain a relationship with the school and the guys)..

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays in barber school, we’d cut each others’ hair. Almost all the other students would come to me for cuts, and one guy was offended why no one asked him and everyone waited on me; he had been in school longer than me and had more experience… I told these guys (most were younger than me, so I could pass on wisdom), that one of my main skills was that I never messed up.

I took my time, was consistent, understood and asked questions to be sure what they wanted, and I never had that “oh crap” moment when I cut hair. There were guys who could fade a little better (maybe), or line it up a little crispier, or seem more confident, but I always gave a solid cut, no matter what, and that wasn’t true of some of the other guys.

Sometimes, you don’t have to have that amazing “wow” skill, you just need to be consistent, do what is asked, and don’t screw up.
 
#198      
Illini4Christ
For the 25th player in NBA draft in 1st round$2,260,100 annual salary

For the 5th player in 1st round$6,871,100 annual salary four-year contract

If Will stays here another year, he adds at least $4.5 million to his annual salary.
 
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#199      
From the cheap seats
Not exactly sure where this goes, but wanted to share something nice that KJ did. A co-worker of my son-in-law recently had to have a kidney transplant. He is a big Illini fan, but not a donor or anything like that. In fact, not sure he's ever gotten to see a game in person. Nonetheless, he received a very nice short video message from KJ wishing him a speedy recovery from himself and his teammates...ending with KJ saying "ILL!" Not sure how KJ heard about this, but a very classy gesture on his part and something the young man in the hospital was so excited to get.
 
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