Illinois #10 in 1/22 AP Poll
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
The first Illini game I really remember watching with my dad was our 2001 Elite Eight loss to Arizona. The first significant Illini memory I have where I felt like I was no longer watching our team as a "kid," so to speak, was the 2008 season where we set a school record for losses after 8 straight NCAA Tournaments. So, needless to say, I grew into my fandom with a lot of winning.
The reason I bring this up is because my default perspective of a program's "worth" or whatever as a kid was the following:
- Not making the NCAAs = you suck.
- Being a Bubble team = below average.
- Being in the top 25 = respectable program.
- Being in the top 20 = you are "good."
- Being in the top 15 = you are a "contender" in some way.
- Being in the top 10 = you were legit, and for some reason having a single digit ranking next to your name was even cooler, haha.
Needless to say, my standards dropped SIGNIFICANTLY from 2010 to 2019, haha ... and it feels SO good to be back to EXPECTING us to be ranked and being only truly ecstatic when we get back into the top 10. It gets stated over and over again, but it's becoming even more clear that our 2022-23 season is indeed the outlier as far as Underwood goes. We all want more Tournament success, but we are now at the point where his string of good seasons is twice as long as the rebuilding years ... just amazing and so lucky to have this staff and group of players.
The reason I bring this up is because my default perspective of a program's "worth" or whatever as a kid was the following:
- Not making the NCAAs = you suck.
- Being a Bubble team = below average.
- Being in the top 25 = respectable program.
- Being in the top 20 = you are "good."
- Being in the top 15 = you are a "contender" in some way.
- Being in the top 10 = you were legit, and for some reason having a single digit ranking next to your name was even cooler, haha.
Needless to say, my standards dropped SIGNIFICANTLY from 2010 to 2019, haha ... and it feels SO good to be back to EXPECTING us to be ranked and being only truly ecstatic when we get back into the top 10. It gets stated over and over again, but it's becoming even more clear that our 2022-23 season is indeed the outlier as far as Underwood goes. We all want more Tournament success, but we are now at the point where his string of good seasons is twice as long as the rebuilding years ... just amazing and so lucky to have this staff and group of players.
They are a final 4 caliber team with consistently elite defense playing in arguably the best basketball conference in the country (and more than fitting into it their first year).
appreciate the continuation into this week of your great display of need to know info
I used to be a guy who would always rip apart Houston's resume. I thought they were a joke who never beat anyone.
Then we played them in the tournament....and I will never say another negative word about them!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I remember thinking that if we could survive a letdown vs. Chattanooga (which we barely did...), we would beat Houston. I just kept wondering why that team didn't seem invincible at times ... want to double team Kofi? Fine, we'll rain threes on you. Want to guard the perimeter? Fine, we will give it to the best center in America, and good luck stopping him. Houston shattered that illusion.
sacraig
- The desert
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Thanks for your efforts!
This is a BIG WEEK! And the more we win, the bigger each week becomes.
We will see if they survive this week - @BYU. They only have 1 road win to date.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
I will. Because Samscum.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
If Trent could actually see in that game (poor dude) and Belo was pre-concussion Belo I still say we would have beaten them. But alas...
I had kind of opposite thoughts going into that tournament. I felt like we were limping into March. Like Maximus at the end of the Gladiator, they mustered up just enough strength to give us a conference championship, but they didn't have much left in the tank after that. They gave us all they had, and for that particular team, that was enough for me. Far cry from the team that proceeded them.
Anyway, I'm inclined to give Houston the benefit of the doubt until shown otherwise.
illinifan31
Former Krush Cow
- South Bend, IN
Hard to move up much more with 4 losses unless we beat someone big, especially with FAU collapsing and having lost to Tennessee and Purdue. Unfortunately the only ranked games we have left are 2 of our last 3. Just gotta keep winning and move up due at attrition.
DeCock had a hard time finding the right slot to put in our 'Wood.
I hate myself for writing this.
Very very good metrics but no haven't really played a tough schedule are 3-2 in the Big10. I expect the metrics to come down a bit but their only 2 good wins are Dayton and Texas Tech but I don't think either of those teams are world beaters.
Samsleaze can flat out coach though. He’s got a lot better with time. IMO
But you got me thinking…
What specifically, is it about that Indiana job that makes it such a meat
grinder…? I mean I know what part of it is I think? The Legend Of Bob Knight looming over everything…BUT:(the Bob Knight contingent finally got their guy and that’s mostly been a mixed bag thusfar)
*Honestly , I think the guy that had the most Post season success was Davis…and they HATED! Hated Hated that guy.
Samson didn’t have anything close to the success there he’s having now…even with all the cheating when it was still (wink-wink) illegal…lol
The place is especially hard on hotshot mid major coaches….
Tom Crean…good god! People were patient after that rebuild…but then… good-god! What an epic implosion of a career! Also…Archie Miller’s tenure was ended unceremoniously as well.
Why is Indiana like managing the Yankees?
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DeonThomas
- South Carolina
And for reference, your 2001 starting point would be quite similar to someone who started following the program 20 years earlier in 1980-81. The trough (in Lou's final years) just wasn't as deep nor nearly as long.
Thanks for the information. I am not questioning the prowess of the Big 12. My point is they haven't played any of the better teams yet, excuse me-TCU beat them.
Have you looked at the top 10
UNC 3 loses
Tennessee 4 loses
UK 3 loses
KU 3 loses
Arizona 4 loses. Including to FAU
We have a tough stretch of games and you only move up if you take care of your business. One misstep by one of the teams listed above we can easily jump them. If we slip up we can easily drop to 20
That is how close the field is
illinifan31
Former Krush Cow
- South Bend, IN
Yes, this is exactly what I said. Arizona is the only one you can argue we could be ahead of right now. My other point is we don't have any flagship matchups for the rest of the season till March so there probably won't be any huge jumps, just slowly climbing as other teams lose.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Yeah. They really WERE limping into the tourney. Literally everyone on the team had either been sick or injured that season and Trent, Belo, and I think even Grandy still weren't healthy going into the tourney that year. Yet somehow that team STILL managed to win the conference title. They won that with all heart, and for that reason I'll always have fond memories of that team.
I was thinking the opposite. We were so beat up at that point that I figured we'd get blown out. Nothing close to the team we were earlier that season.
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