Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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I wouldn't say that. There's a good argument that we have actually been better than UConn for the majority of seasons this millennium.
It's just that somehow half the time UConn has a good team, they win a National Championship or go to a Final Four.
Doesn't change your point though that it's not relevant for the upcoming season.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
I mean, nobody calls the Flyin' Illini "the 1988 Team" or the Deron-Dee-Luther FF team as the "2004 team". They are named for the year they went to the FF. Same with E8 teams, or even S16 teams. And graduating classes are named for the year they finish, not start...
That's why I said "almost every year." 2005 obviously and a few other years are exceptions. We had a painful decade in there where we flat out sucked.
You do make a good point about UConn. When they get to the FF, they usually win it all, which I struggle to figure out. Not sure, but I think they're 6 of 7 in Finals games since they started their ridiculous run in the late 90s.
Torvik does use prior seasons in various ways in his pre-season rankings (mostly defense though):
(from this link)
- He used to use school historical rating for both offense and defense, but I think that's just for defense now
- He also uses a program "momentum" metric (whether a program is rising or falling) for both offense (still) and defense
- He also makes adjustments for coaches in their 3rd season or less at a school
Separate from any of that, I'm pretty sure none of Tovik/KenPom/EvanMiya have any adjustment for coaches' NCAAT over/under-performance, and I agree with that since sample sizes are way too small for 99% of coaches. But if there's a 1%, it's Hurley.
Yes, 6-0 in NC games until last year... wild
All of that big time success with 9 missed tournaments sandwiched in doesn't seem real
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The 9 misses are what gets forgotten about with UConn. They had some bad years like us. And if you were to just go year by year over the last 30 years, you'd probably say Illinois had the better season around half the time.
But this is the crazy part. By my count, since 1999, they have finished in the top 25 15 times. 8 of those 15 times ended in a Final Four or a Natty. 53% of their "good" seasons have ended in the Final Four.
Compare that to us in the same time frame. 12 seasons finishing in the top 25 with 2 Final Fours. 17%
Or even compare it to a blue blood like Kansas. 27 seasons finishing in the top 25 with 6 Final Fours. 22%
It just makes no sense.
Anyway, hopefully we can get some much needed revenge this year.
For what it's worth, with the dust settling on the NBA draft and transfer portal etc., The Illini have settled in at number three in Kalshi over the past week.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
If Illinois were to have celebrity courtside seats, who would be the five biggest non-athletes Illini fan stars to have a spot? I’m guessing they’d be:
1. Nick Offerman
2. Alan Ruck
3. Betsy Brandt
4. Ang Lee
5. Andy Richter
Top 5 Athlete stars
1. Deron Williams
2. Kendall Gill
3. Ayo
4. TSJ
5. Dee Brown
Non-Hollywood, non-athletes
1. Shad Khan
2. Larry Gies
Thoughts? Disputes?
1. Nick Offerman
2. Alan Ruck
3. Betsy Brandt
4. Ang Lee
5. Andy Richter
Top 5 Athlete stars
1. Deron Williams
2. Kendall Gill
3. Ayo
4. TSJ
5. Dee Brown
Non-Hollywood, non-athletes
1. Shad Khan
2. Larry Gies
Thoughts? Disputes?
The definition of a feast or famine program
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Buy stock in Will Riley, like, yesterday...I think he's going to be a superstar in 5 years.
Hugh Hefner would probably get some folks riled up...
Larry Ellison, 3rd richest guy in the world went to U of I for a couple years... (never did get a degree...from anywhere...)
Jerry Colangelo
Suzie Orman
Athletes:
Dick Butkus- I mean, c'mon...He's got a National award named after him...
Eddie Johnson (probably had the best NBA career of anyone not named Deron Williams, but his Illinois teams weren't great)
Derek Harper (same as Johnson. Odd stat: He and Eddie played exactly the same number of NBA games, 1199)
His Royal Frankness
I'd throw Luke Altmeyer in there as a crowd favorite right now...
(if graduating isn’t a stipulation) Gene Hackman…then Offerman….
Didn't know we could include the deceased...
Fictional AND deceased: Colonel Blake
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I guess I should’ve stipulated we don’t want corpses on the sideline.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Fictional and alive would include Cam from Modern Family.
It's strange that Kalshi odds have deviated so much from traditional books (all of which according to VegasInsider have us #5 except one where we're T-#4 w/ UConn). The biggest difference is Michigan, which is still a clear #3 at all the books.
Very good point. Arbitrage opportunity?
Tom Hanks would probably oblige since his brother is a professor here and he’s been spotted at Jarling’s just a stone throw away from the State Farm Center
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