Illini Basketball

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#301      
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.
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      
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.
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      
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      
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!!)
I agree with all and am excited. I’d consider Marquette in November of ‘23 pretty marquee.

Go Illini
 
#308      
IMG_4990.jpeg
 
#315      
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      

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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