Are we talking pre-NIL or post? I think pre is an easier answer. . . Post-NIL in my opinion is just simply better roster building (staying old with the right pieces), and a stronger staff.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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Because defense wins championships and our staff hasn’t figured how to establish that.
Neither has painter and Purdue apparently. Or Oats and Bama
I can’t even imagine how insufferable this board would be for years to come if underwood actually had a team lose to a double digit seed (as literally every awesome program and coach has)
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Amen and thank you for the intervention.
I think maybe we just stop giving air to a dude who joined two days ago apparently for the purpose of making one singular argument (unless you also count his pro-Aiden Chiles advocacy...), and has made his point, and then re-made it again and again without improving upon it.
Id argue giving more and more data, stats and analysis showing why the big ten is overrated would be improving upon it... but hey. Not everyone is good at understanding those kinds of things.
Let me guess your stance remains " i really like brad". wow... revolutionary! Really going out on a limb around here lol.
Some people just have flat out zero sense of inhibition.
Tennessee win looking better and better. They’ve now beaten both Houston and Louisville, each of which should be quad 1A wins for them.
Nebraska loss still disappointing but a good reminder we are a good team. And I still think we are only scratching the surface of our potential. We will never be a lockdown defensive team but we should cut down on defensive mistakes with practice. Tomi and a couple of others still playing their way into shape. We took a leap after our last 8 day break and now we only have 2 games in 2+ weeks. I think we take another leap in January.
Nebraska loss still disappointing but a good reminder we are a good team. And I still think we are only scratching the surface of our potential. We will never be a lockdown defensive team but we should cut down on defensive mistakes with practice. Tomi and a couple of others still playing their way into shape. We took a leap after our last 8 day break and now we only have 2 games in 2+ weeks. I think we take another leap in January.
Lol, define "data, stats and analysis." The closest you came to "data" was when you cited the Big Ten's record in past tournaments, and either forgot that MSU made the Final Four in 2019, or forgot that MSU was in the Big Ten.
Your central thesis is that March success is the only thing that matters, and you don't think Brad will ever be able to grasp it (despite an Elite Eight appearance less than 2 years ago). I don't agree with your central thesis, which is a value judgment, so no "data" you show will convince me. Likewise no data I show you will convince you that the March Tournament is not the only thing that matters. So what's the point?
Maybe the point is that if you wanna keep meta posting/sub posting about my takes. Maybe expect a response? lol. Is that really hard to understand?
we can agree to disagree here. But I’m not the one sub posting about you right?
I’ve never seen a fanbase so beaten down that caring about March madness is considered ridiculous take.
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As if being a contrarian is a bold new territory… Wow! A guy who thinks we should fire the coach! What a revolutionary sports message board concept! You’re really doing god’s work.
I would say a more apt analogy of my fandom, since sports is purely entertainment for me, would be a TV show’ run. Just because the ending sucked doesn’t mean the show was bad. I’ve watched Game of Thrones a few times despite the ending being lousy. Does that mean I wouldn’t recommend the show, or watch the next thing they make? Not me. If I enjoyed the journey, that’s enough for me, even if I don’t like the ending. Of course I’d prefer a better ending, but it’s insanely hard to win a championship.
There are 68 teams in the big 4 conferences alone. Over twice as many as any professional league.
One goes home happy.
Brad makes good tv, doesn’t embarrass the program, and has made proud to be an Illini fan again. That is worth something to me.
The page is called “Loyalty” for a reason.
The heart of the matter is you've come in with two absolutely awful takes (fire Brad + B1G is mid-tier) and continually defend them with no added value other than the pure entertainment of watching you squirm around here and argue vehemently with every single person that dares disagree with your ridiculously jaded opinions.
Then, a 3rd awful take in another thread "Portland is really good". Portland is 216th in Kenpom.
B1G, the top rated conference this season with the #1 team and more top 40 teams than any other conference, is "mid-tier"
But, Portland, 216th, is "really good"
You've gotten more grace here than what is normally allowed with your constant hammering of the same issue with absolutely zero acceptance of other's point of views or opinions.
I just suggest toning it down just a bit (and I'm probably the last person on here who should suggest this, by the way, most people would agree
)
Speaking of data, stats and analysis, a while back I wrote about the uncanny (and probably coincidental) ability of Illini teams to end up ranked between 14th - 19th in KenPom by 12/15 in the season, no matter how high or low they start:
www.illinoisloyalty.com
I wanted to share an update to this, that our current 12th ranking is the 2nd best ranking in the past 6 seasons by this point, the best NetRTG by far, the best offensive rating by far, and then the worst defensive rating. Make of this what you will, but I personally still have a lot of hope for this season:
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
I could be misinterpreting, but I think 2025 shows the "loophole" to this rule with Tennessee and Kentucky getting the 2 and 3 seeds in the same region because the SEC had so many good teams (Auburn, Alabama, and Florida ranked ahead of them). So there is a path, it's just unlikely and requires...
www.illinoisloyalty.com
I wanted to share an update to this, that our current 12th ranking is the 2nd best ranking in the past 6 seasons by this point, the best NetRTG by far, the best offensive rating by far, and then the worst defensive rating. Make of this what you will, but I personally still have a lot of hope for this season:
You of all people talking about not accepting others opinions is HILARIOUS.
The big ten can’t be a top tier conference when it hasn’t won a title in 25 years. It’s simple. I’m not sure exactly what else needs to be said lol.
The big ten can’t be a top tier conference when it hasn’t won a title in 25 years. It’s simple. I’m not sure exactly what else needs to be said lol.
Strictly my opinion …
When Gentry and Chester were here … Solid … Even if all Chester brought was that toughness that rubbed off on our guys …
Since they’ve been gone … Not so much …
Hamer shouldn’t be on staff … Tyler needs to branch out on his own … And I hear the whole Tyler has had such a great offense argument … Anyone can run great offense with our talent … It’s about him being Brad’s son and needing to get out of the nest … The sooner the better … Otherwise we jack around and get ourselves into a situation like Auburn or Houston and have to promote the freaking kid …
We’re paying Geoff and O huge money to recruit … Then we need to go find ELITE X&O guys and pay them huge money … Let Brad be CEO and find some assistants who can flat out get it done … Money isn’t the issue here …
Hurley is one crazy dude … But he’s got Luke, Kimani and Tom Moore … 3 guys who can flat out coach the game …
Mark Few … Always had very, very good coaches around him that make up for his weaknesses … That’s why they’re always good …
Brad’s major flaw IMO … His staff is not good enough … If you’ve got 2 guys whose job is to solely recruit … Fine … But you better have at least 2 other ELITE coaches … I wouldn’t put Tyler or Crocker and definitely not Hamer in that category …
I like Brad … He’s a good coach … No matter who the coach was, I’d have things I’d say I’d like to have that be better … I’m not saying hey let’s fire everyone … However - I do think with some tweaks, we could take that next step … And that’s what I think everyone is truly wanting …
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#2 offense in America ...
And now Antigua is chopped liver, I guess
Coming from the guy who sold everyone on Crocker mere months ago
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
120 years old here. I was around for the perfect 12-0 season of 1915, and I expect nothing less from these sons a vic's!
No one’s debating that we have a good offense … I also think we’d have just as good of an offense with someone else running it …
The problem isn’t the offense … Tyler needs to branch out on his own … It’s about him being Brad’s son and needing to get out of the nest … The sooner the better …
Otherwise we jack around and get ourselves into a situation like Auburn or Houston and have to promote the freaking kid when Dad’s ready to retire … Illinois is not a first HC job for anyone … And I don’t want the expectation to become that when Brad is done, it’s Tyler’s job … That’s unacceptable … I think Tyler himself would also benefit a lot from learning from someone else …
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I mean if me saying Crocker is a good dude who knows ball is having people think he’s the Savior then I’m one heck of a salesman …
Antigua is a great recruiter, great relationship builder … I don’t think he’s an elite X&O coach … That’s not a knock on him … That’s just what it is … USF record will tell you that …
I did not claim you called him a savior, if saying you sold everyone on him isn’t accurate then I take it back
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