Illini Basketball

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#301      
Kenny67
LvilleILL said:
There is zero desperation. They are in a great spot to add two really nice pieces. What may look like desperation to a fan right now is not the same to where the staff is at. Also these computer projections don't factor in overseas kids or freshman very well, so I take those with a grain of salt.
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Projections miss the chemistry aspect of team play. Which is important with nearly the whole team being restaffed with different players each year. The true efficiency and winning effectiveness of a college bball team now surfaces and exposes its merits or demerits around mid January ...
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#302      
Mobi
NarrowJ said:
I wasn't able to find all of the B1G preseason media polls from the last 5 years (missing 20-21, for whatever reason I can't find it).

However, you were nearly correct:

2019-20 picked 7th and finished 4th
2020-21 can't find the poll but finished 2nd (Michigan was given the reg season conf title despite not playing all conf games)
2021-22 picked 4th and finished 1st
2022-23 picked 2nd and finished 7th
2023-24 picked 4th and finished 2nd

Also, re: "firm consensus belief that we have been regularly and systematically proving national & conf level objective prognostications wrong)-- I also am unsure if you just have 90% of the members here blocked or something, because I have the opposite experience here.
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To me, this is a fun topic so I spent a little bit time digging out the T-rank at preseason and at the end of the regular season (till the game before the playoff) for a comparison. I exclude the NCAA tournament games b/c I think it has a lot to do with the draws.

T-rank Preseason End of the regular season (T-rank/standing)
2023-24 28 (3rd B1G) 12 (2nd B1G / 2nd B1G)
2022-23 14 (2nd B1G) 46 (8th B1G / 5th B1G)
2021-22 5 (1th B1G) 16 (3rd B1G / 1th B1G)
2020-21 Can't find it 4 (1th B1G / 2nd B1G)
2019-20 14 (4th B1G) 29 (6th B1G / 4th B1G)

If you compare the preseason T-rank B1G standing with the end-of-the-season real B1G standing, T-rank is relatively accurate (except for 22-23 and we know why). It will be more accurate once we are done recruiting this year. But still I think with the expansion and all the new players plus the European player, this year is more like a crap shoot. If you want my crystal ball, I think we finish toward the middle of the B1G.
 
#303      
Fighter of the Nightman
This is shaping up to be as good of a non-conference slate as we have had in a very long time, IMO:

vs. Tennessee in Champaign (our "marquee home game" that we have not had since Arizona in 2021-22)
vs. Duke at Madison Square Garden (it's simply undeniable that playing here vs. a Blue Blood is the very definition of "great exposure" for the program!)
vs. Alabama in Birmingham (exciting not-quite-road game vs. another great program with the added bonus of a promised United Center game next year!)
vs. Missouri in St. Louis (it really doesn't matter if Mizzou is improved or not ... there is no atmosphere like Braggin' Rights!!)
 
#304      
Umit9
Fighter of the Nightman said:
This is shaping up to be as good of a non-conference slate as we have had in a very long time, IMO:

vs. Tennessee in Champaign (our "marquee home game" that we have not had since Arizona in 2021-22)
vs. Duke at Madison Square Garden (it's simply undeniable that playing here vs. a Blue Blood is the very definition of "great exposure" for the program!)
vs. Alabama in Birmingham (exciting not-quite-road game vs. another great program with the added bonus of a promised United Center game next year!)
vs. Missouri in St. Louis (it really doesn't matter if Mizzou is improved or not ... there is no atmosphere like Braggin' Rights!!)
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I agree with all and am excited. I’d consider Marquette in November of ‘23 pretty marquee.

Go Illini
 
#308      
PopChampaign
IMG_4990.jpeg
 
#315      
jimbo72
With all respect. I enjoy seeing my OnB win end of season tournament. This year's run in NCAA tournament was a absolute blast. Well let me get to the point. I want outright Conference Titles. Every year! Call me hopeful, to high expectations, etc.. Conference Titles 🙏
 
#322      
illini510

Really nice Dee Brown interview that Fox32 Chicago did a couple weeks ago that I just happened to come across(30 mins long too). It's clear in this interview why he is still an all time fan favorite and my favorite Illini player personally
 
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