They're so sick and tired of it that they pooled the money together to give him basically a lifetime extension
You're dululu
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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They're so sick and tired of it that they pooled the money together to give him basically a lifetime extension
You're dululu
This has to be a meme at this point…
You know what I’d like… if we do ultimately find our way to the sweet sixteen after ALL of this, can I link this thread’s past few pages as well as the Nebby postgame in the postgame thread of our tourney win? This team will absolutely deserve a look back at this fairytale. The reaction to this loss genuinely might be the worst to a single game I can remember here (yes, I’m aware that’s a high bar): worse than Loyola, worse than UConn, worse than any game last year (mayyybe Duke?), maybe even worse than the Penn State blown lead. Matter of fact the first two were more-so grief, not exactly a full swath of naysayers. All for a buzzer beater loss in mid December to a top 20 team. And it’s not like we’re Marquette either: this is after quad 1 wins over Tennessee, Texas Tech, and a road win over Ohio State and STILL being ranked #18 in today’s poll.
My honest opinion is that this is due to it being Nebraska. If this were same team, same personnel, same record, ranking, etc… just change the jersey to Michigan State, I don’t think people would react this way.
And lastly, how… just how is this “1 in 9” saying literally ANY credible? This year… this current year… is Brad’s 9th season at Illinois. So… to make this any relevant, we are either a) labeling whatever happens this season as somehow irrelevant or b) declaring it a lost season, and a no shot to make a sweet sixteen. How on god’s green earth is that a fair judgement on the behalf of Brad?
And it still wouldn’t make any sense because the 2020 season was cut short due to the pandemic - we were a projected 4 seed and would’ve been a favorite, at least seed wise, to make the second weekend.
I promise all of this is not directed at the mere one post above, as there have been plentiful making consisting of the exact same remarks and ideologies. It’s just this is the latest to pop in my notifications.
I’m just hopeful all the vehement criticism - both here and elsewhere and in the locker room - can somewhat lend the team in the positive direction, at least from a motivation standpoint. A repeat of one of our 2021 or 2023 Mizzou blowouts would be oh-so sweet
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I came here to read about our new player and instead just find dumb posts about our coach? Like Brad is here forever find a new team if you don’t like it. So sick of fans creating constant negativity
Feel free to share any links you’d like! Honestly, I’m not sure message board motivation will make much of a difference with this group. Saying “1 in 7” seems fair to me. The Covid-year team was really strong, but I’m just not seeing that level right now. We’re in year nine of BU, and these kinds of debates should probably be behind us. I know Narrow J (pretty sure that’s Tyler Underwood, by the way) will argue these conversations shouldn’t even be happening.This has to be a meme at this point…
You know what I’d like… if we do ultimately find our way to the sweet sixteen after ALL of this, can I link this thread’s past few pages as well as the Nebby postgame in the postgame thread of our tourney win? This team will absolutely deserve a look back at this fairytale. The reaction to this loss genuinely might be the worst to a single game I can remember here (yes, I’m aware that’s a high bar) - worse than Loyola, worse than UConn, worse than any game last year (mayyybe Duke?), maybe even worse than the Penn State blown lead. Matter of fact the two in the tourney were more-so grief, not exactly a full swath of naysayers. All for a buzzer beater loss in mid December to a top 20 team. And it’s not like we’re Marquette either: this is after quad 1 wins over Tennessee, Texas Tech, and a road win over Ohio State and STILL being ranked #18 in today’s poll.
My honest opinion is that this is due to it being Nebraska. If this were same team, same personnel, same record, ranking, etc… just change the jersey to Michigan State, I don’t think people would react this way.
And lastly, how… just how is this “1 in 9” saying literally ANY credible? This year… this current year… is Brad’s 9th season at Illinois. So… to make this any relevant, we are either a) labeling whatever happens this season as somehow irrelevant or b) labeling this year as a lost season as a no shot to make a sweet sixteen. How on god’s green earth is that a fair judgement on the behalf of Brad?
And it still wouldn’t make any sense because the 2020 season was cut short due to the pandemic - we were a projected 4 seed and would’ve been a favorite, at least seed wise, to make the second weekend.
I promise all of this is not directed at the mere one post above, as there have been plentiful making consisting of the exact same remarks and ideologies. It’s just this is the latest to pop in my notifications.
I’m just hopeful all the vehement criticism - both here and elsewhere and in the locker room - can somewhat lend the team in the positive direction, at least from a motivation standpoint. A repeat of one of our 2021 or 2023 Mizzou blowouts would be oh-so sweet
That said, from what I’ve seen in bars across the Midwest and in conversations with Illini fans, there’s a growing sense of discontent. Maybe not among die-hards on message boards, but casual fans? They’re bored. You don’t have to agree, but the average fan isn’t thrilled about a roster full of Euros going 22–13.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
I guess whatever it takes to entertain us is fine.
Some facts though;
1) BU is going to be here at least 4 or 5 years.
2) See #1
Personally though;
1) He needs to learn how to protect the home court like it's Fort #@$%ing Knox.
2) He needs a streak of postseason successes.
3) He needs to have a streak of being ranked in the Top 10 to begin a season and pretty much maintain it through the season.
Some facts though;
1) BU is going to be here at least 4 or 5 years.
2) See #1
Personally though;
1) He needs to learn how to protect the home court like it's Fort #@$%ing Knox.
2) He needs a streak of postseason successes.
3) He needs to have a streak of being ranked in the Top 10 to begin a season and pretty much maintain it through the season.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I looked it up and found a graph which I didn’t fact check but there were 9 teams listed. Seems a reasonable expectation that IL could be on the fringe of that kind of list. And we were in 2000 to 2005 where we went E8 S16 R32 S16 and title game in a 5 year stretch. It can be done. Maybe 3/10 is more realistic but we aren’t hitting that either given the 1/5 hit rate so far with brads tourney teams.
Observing the threads over the past few days, a big thanks to these 5 posters: @the juiceman cometh, @Fly Illini Fly!, @NarrowJ, @EmeraldCityIllini, @Second place is 1st loser.
Without you all this board would be an abject disaster at the moment, as they seem to make up majority of the lone posters with a somewhat practical line of thought, and actively working to maintain a rational atmosphere on this forum.
Without you all this board would be an abject disaster at the moment, as they seem to make up majority of the lone posters with a somewhat practical line of thought, and actively working to maintain a rational atmosphere on this forum.
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There really isn't much reliable info on NIL at all, and even that article mentioned they're leaving teams out that should be on that list. There's not much transparency with this stuff, but I do know Illinois basketball has great support and our finances put us on a playing field above most other D1 programs.
For reference, in the last 70 years, we have made the Sweet Sixteen a total of 13 times. We have reached the Sweet Sixteen a total of 4 times in a decade twice in those seventy years (80's and 00's). In the other 50 years, we made it a total of five times all together for a once a decade average, which BU has already met. If BU makes it once in the next four years, he will have outperformed the Illini in 5 of the last seven decades preceding his time here. BU has also taken us to the tourney 6 times (if you include Covid year) this decade, which puts him in third place for tourney appearances out of the last 9 decades and he has four more seasons to go (I understand that the tourney field was smaller pre-mid 80s).
BU has already won as many conference tourney championships as his predecessors combined. You talk about other coaches - let's talk Painter - he lost to a 13, 15 and 16 seed in 3 consecutive NCAA tourneys. Brad has lost to a lower seed - once. And Purdue just got shellacked by 40 on their home court. If Painter was the Illini head coach, he would be gone by the standards people set here. Painter in one game ahead of BU in B1G play from the 2020 season to date considering our loss to Nebraska. They are both more than 10 conference wins ahead of Izzo (another of your allegedly superior coaches) during that time.
IMHO anyone that complains about the state of Illinois Men's Basketball has too high of expectations. We had an exceptionally great run in the Kruger, Self early Weber era, for which I give Lon Kruger a lot of the credit, but catching lightning in a bottle is not the year in year out expectation.
Are we talking about all time accomplishments or who is better now/within the last five years? Because originally we were talking about since COVID, more importantly, comparing BU to who we could hire to replace him. A lot of the people you listed are 1) not realistic hires for a variety of reasons or 2) guys who did a thing many years ago but have been worse than BU in recent years.
OK. Do you think we can hire him? Also, this is his last 3 seasons:
Yes. Chances we can hire him?
He available?
Yeah he had a great run with FAU. Granted.
And he could well eclipse BU one day. But he's one season into his tenure at UM. There was a time where it looked like Juwan Howard might end up being more successful than BU too.
Yep, sure. Any chance we can hire him?
Besides the fact that this is essentially the same accomplishment listed twice, it took him 19 seasons to reach that height. Also, sure I'd hire him. Do you think that's realistic?
Pre-Covid. Since then, he has accomplished less than BU. Even missed the tourney entirely twice.
Sure, but in last 2 seasons it's looked a lot like he's lost his mojo and his team is not looking better than us so far this year.
Ok, can we get him?
Elite 8 is better, no?
A million years ago. His 2-seed team made it exactly as far us last season, and the last time he made the second weekend was a full decade ago (and that got vacated).
And terrible start this season, also he's not available.
Ok, realistic for us to go after him?
And has failed to make the second weekend the last 4 seasons, finished 7th in the Big 12 last season.
He's not leaving Duke to come here so it's kind of a moot point but could he recruit here like he does there?
Since Covid, you taking this over BU's results?
Sure, I mean that FF was over 20 years ago, but more importantly I don't think we're in a million years hiring a 71 year old coach to replace BU
Sure, but no conference titles in the time frame BU won 3. Do those mean nothing to you?
Attachments
Which is why when people say "Illinois is top 15 in NIL" like it's a fact, they're just making it up. And that was my point.
And there's a vast gulf between "great support...above most other D1 programs" and "top-15." If the bar is, are we performing better than "most other D1 programs," BU clears that bar with miles to spare.
He definitely does. But as long as we are chasing that elusive championship, we're gonna hear it lol, and i really dont have a problem with that as long as it stays respectful. Brad is a great ambassador. He set the standard himself and so did Whitman. We want to chase natty's.
I would like to thank all the commenters here who agree with my opinions, because if it weren't for you, everyone here would be wrong about everything all of the time.
The biggest thing is that BU is far above most of those guys in terms of year in and year out consistency. The "just a top 25 team every year" that folks complain about - it's what you need to even have a CHANCE at those lofty F4, E8, S16 expectations in the first place. If you're missing the tournament, or simply squeaking in as a 10 seed, you're likely no where near sniffing those lofty goals.
But making it in every year as a top 5 seed almost CERTAINLY guarantees a breakthrough. Simply too many bites at the apple. And he's got a trip to the E8 to begin with (not even a full two years ago).
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There is a reason we had to give up on Sarr, Constanza, etc., and it is not because we have an unlimited NIL.
Or, more likely, both.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
" And another one gone, and another one gone . . . Another one bites the dust"
3 second weekends per decade is a good benchmark for our program. I actually don't think 4 is unreasonable.
Slush fund scandal nuked the program in the 70s.
Then we recovered and went to four second weekends in the 80s.
Then the Pearl sanctions nuked the program in the 90s.
Then we went to four second weekends in the 2000s.
Then Weber, Groce, and Mike Thomas nuked the program in the 2010s.
Now, here we are. Stable again at last. Our history suggests that we should be able to get to four second weekends this decade. COVID took away 2020 so, three second weekends in reasonable.
Anyone who thinks that is an unreasonable expectation has a super pessimistic opinion of this program.
Id be curious to see that graph. I legitimately I am curious the number.
I wonder how fans now would handle the 2005 final four team, I actually think quite a few would hold it against Brad as “underachieving” since we were the tourneys first overall seed but finished second
I guess whatever it takes to entertain us is fine.
Some facts though;
1) BU is going to be here at least 4 or 5 years.
2) See #1
Personally though;
1) He needs to learn how to protect the home court like it's Fort #@$%ing Knox.
2) He needs a streak of postseason successes.
3) He needs to have a streak of being ranked in the Top 10 to begin a season and pretty much maintain it through the season.
I've been curious... does anyone know how our home record over the past few years compares to other teams?
To me it seems like home court advantage isn't as big as it used to be for many teams around the country. But I could be wrong.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Too many folks here have stupid high expectations. Expect in one hand and in the other and see which one fill up first. JFC, the outright stupidity/ignorance of some of the posters here is mind boggling.
in the other and see which one fill up first. JFC, the outright stupidity/ignorance of some of the posters here is mind boggling.College Basketball Win-Loss Records In Home Games (2020-2021, Big Ten Conference) | BetIQ
What is every Big Ten Conference team's straight up win-loss record at home in the 2020-2021 season?
betiq.teamrankings.com
A cool tool to filter data.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Welp, here's a few facts for you . . .
Illinois as the home team is 73-15 (83%) at home against all opponents since 2020. In the B1G, Purdue leads the way (makes sense because, well, Edey) at 77-7 (91.7%), followed by UCLA at 72-11(86.8%) and Michigan State at 70-14(83.3%). Purdue being the outlier, there's not much difference between the next three. In the P4 conferences, Illinois is #19 in terms of home winning %. NO ONE is undefeated at home over the past 5 seasons. We'd all love to relive the 'House of 'Paign' years, but I'd like the winning Powerball numbers for the $10B draw, thank you. It just ain't gonna happen.
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