Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#1,303      
HoopsterMan
dewda said:
This may be ringing hollow, but by us beating both, by how much may decide their rank!
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We shall see - the voodoo dolls in Storrs make them practically immune to losing games out of the Big Least. Last year, despite being down Reed and Mullins early season in stretches, they still figured out how to win most of those games and almost pulled off beating Arizona with no Mullins or Reed. They got the sauce. So even though Duke has the roster, they don't have the coach (or sauce).
 
#1,304      
NarrowJ
HoopsterMan said:
We shall see - the voodoo dolls in Storrs make them practically immune to losing games out of the Big Least. Last year, despite being down Reed and Mullins early season in stretches, they still figured out how to win most of those games and almost pulled off beating Arizona with no Mullins or Reed. They got the sauce. So even though Duke has the roster, they don't have the coach (or sauce).
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Duke had a better record, was ranked higher, seeded higher and also had to play a stretch late in the season without multiple rotation players. And it required bone headed play of the century plus a low percentage deep 3 for UConn to beat them in 100% lockbox fashion.

The “sauce” is a made up thing that doesn’t exist.

There is no parallel universe where playing Duke was preferable.
 
#1,306      
EmeraldCityIllini
Honestly, I'd be thrilled if we went 2-1 in the Duke, UCONN, Michigan trio. I guess, I'd prioritize Michigan because conference play. But with Boynton, I think I'd value the MSU win more.

Between Tech, UCONN, UNC, and Duke the over/under is 2.5 i think.
 
#1,307      
Bucktown
Illinisnake said:
Feel like he will bring a Trent Frazier type energy on defense and is crazy athletic. He will get a ton of playing time because his ability to defend and make winning plays.

People are way too focused on who is going to play point or what qualifies as a PG now haha People stuck in the early 2000's.
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I keep thinking he reminds me of Luther Head.
 
#1,308      
HoopsterMan
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Duke was the #1 overall seed. They beat Michigan head to head.

In almost every measurable category, Duke was a better team than UCONN.
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Other than their head to head......

Not sure what the record is exactly, but UConn has some ungodly record out of conference the last 4 years, including 18-2 in the NCAA tournament. Their preseason OOC slate is ridiculously good too. I'm sure Duke will be favored in that matchup. I thought I heard Hurley say it was something like 56-4 over the last 4 years, including the tourney. I remember them losing to Kansas a Phog a couple years ago with no Castle, then the AZ loss last year with no Reed or Mullins.
 
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