Illinois #23 in preseason AP Poll
- Status
Feels fair if you ask me. Way too many new faces to be ranked much higher, though I highly doubt 22 teams have more talent than us.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Hopefully the obvious Michigan and Indiana ranking errors are rectified quickly.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Fait accompli
That’s about where I expected.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Just for some context, on January 23, 2019, less than four years ago, basketball was sitting at 5-14 (1-7 B1G) after going 14-18 (4-14 B1G) in Underwood's first year, while football had only recently lost 63-0 at home to Iowa and stood at 9-27 (4-13 B1G) in three seasons under Lovie.
From New Year's Day 2008 to that moment we were by an objective measure the single least successful Power Five athletic program.
And lets be selfish for a second. We, the obsessive weirdos of this fanbase, always deserved so much more, and now we have it. And with where we've been I definitely do not take it for granted.
Well said
Think about what Josh Whitman has done in 6 years... Resurrecting basketball was a tall order (mission accomplished), but football?? I'm still wondering if this is real life... I was reluctant to get my hopes up, even after the first couple wins, but this team is legit. Legendary stuff.
Over the summer, I told my 73 or 74 year old grandpa that we were entering the greatest era of Illinois basketball of his lifetime. It seemed like a hot take at the time given the highs of the late 80s and early 2000s, but entering the season in the top 25 for the 3rd consecutive year is another one of those milestones that proves there's something special going on here. As long as BU is at the helm, the 20s belong to the Illini.
It's kind of shocking to see the highest ranked Big Ten team at #13. And I'm not even sure Indiana will be that good. I understand it...but it's still strange!
It seems like Underwood really wants to get the team battle tested early and often. Kind of a gauntlet to start the season and I, personally, love it!
Everything is preparation for March when you want to win national championships. I think that’s what Brad is building.
Oct. 22 - #5 Kansas - “Secret” scrimmage - St. Louis
Nov. 18 - #8 UCLA - Vegas
Nov. 20 - #5 Baylor OR #18 Virginia - Vegas
Dec. 6- #12 Texas - NYC
This reads like a tourney bracket challenge to me. May be some bumps along the road, but also so big-time upside for March. It’s going to be an exciting season. Can’t wait!
Everything is preparation for March when you want to win national championships. I think that’s what Brad is building.
Oct. 22 - #5 Kansas - “Secret” scrimmage - St. Louis
Nov. 18 - #8 UCLA - Vegas
Nov. 20 - #5 Baylor OR #18 Virginia - Vegas
Dec. 6- #12 Texas - NYC
This reads like a tourney bracket challenge to me. May be some bumps along the road, but also so big-time upside for March. It’s going to be an exciting season. Can’t wait!
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
The hiring decision is the most important one in any organization. I've often used the example of Univ of Wisc president Donna Shalala hiring a new AD in ~ 1989, former Miller brewing exec IIRC. Out-of-the-box hire who proceeded to hire Alvarez and promote Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan from within the UW system. Game changing for the Badgers for 30 years now.
I have long hoped Josh would transform our programs similarly. And he has, in a much shorter time than occurred with Wisc hoops.
LGIllini
- La Grange, IL
Would have loved top 20 to start off the season but no complaints being 23 with so many new faces. Little surprised only 3 big ten teams ranked and Purdue/ OSU aren't ranked but big ten has lost its glimmer because of the tourney fails.
Guess we are a football school now but don’t tell the bb recruits.
Absolutely a “down” year by big ten standards. I think the fact that there isn’t a clear cut best team also hurts the rest, kinda makes everyone else look more average, if that makes sense.
Ironically this feels like the type of year the league might get a few teams into the S16 or further as larger seeds.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Pretty crazy that this down year for the conference will be the year a B1G team—us—finally breaks the streak and wins a National Championship.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As alluded to in an earlier post, we will DEFINITELY have the opportunity to jump way up early in the season if we deserve it! Here are our top 25 games before the holidays...
11/18 - vs. #8 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV)
11/20 - vs. #5 Baylor or #18 Virginia (Las Vegas, NV)
12/6 - vs. #12 Texas (New York, NY)
If this team can gel early, our SOS this year will be through the roof, so some key non-conference wins could REALLY propel us into a crazy-high seed in March. With that said, I am expecting a hiccup or two early, but I REALLY want at least one of those three games. We will then also have two games with #13 Indiana and one with #22 Michigan in conference play, of course. Purdue (x1), Michigan State (x1), Ohio State (x2), Iowa (x1) and Rutgers (x1) all are receiving votes, as well - six more potential games vs. ranked opponents.
P.S. This is the first time we have been ranked preseason for three seasons in a row since 2003-04 through 2005-06 (#13, #5 and #17) and 1999-00 through 2001-02 (#16, #8 and #3). Both of these, as well as our current streak and one from 1984-85 through 1986-87 (#2, #7 and #14) are tied for the longest streaks in program history. Not being ranked preseason in 2002-03 (we finished #11 and got as high as #7) kept us from an astonishing 7-year streak from 1999-00 through 2005-06.
11/18 - vs. #8 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV)
11/20 - vs. #5 Baylor or #18 Virginia (Las Vegas, NV)
12/6 - vs. #12 Texas (New York, NY)
If this team can gel early, our SOS this year will be through the roof, so some key non-conference wins could REALLY propel us into a crazy-high seed in March. With that said, I am expecting a hiccup or two early, but I REALLY want at least one of those three games. We will then also have two games with #13 Indiana and one with #22 Michigan in conference play, of course. Purdue (x1), Michigan State (x1), Ohio State (x2), Iowa (x1) and Rutgers (x1) all are receiving votes, as well - six more potential games vs. ranked opponents.
P.S. This is the first time we have been ranked preseason for three seasons in a row since 2003-04 through 2005-06 (#13, #5 and #17) and 1999-00 through 2001-02 (#16, #8 and #3). Both of these, as well as our current streak and one from 1984-85 through 1986-87 (#2, #7 and #14) are tied for the longest streaks in program history. Not being ranked preseason in 2002-03 (we finished #11 and got as high as #7) kept us from an astonishing 7-year streak from 1999-00 through 2005-06.
Kinda feel like the conference is stronger than that, but because there's been so much turnover folks don't know which teams will wind up on the top of the stack. (Like, these guys are so used to just penciling in Wisconsin somewhere around #20 that they can't figure out which team is going to replace them.)
Anyway, my personal opinion is that the only thing less important than the media polls during the season are the pre-season ones. Let's go out and prove it.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
I think there's a chance we struggle through the regular season, but firmly believe this team will be better equipped to win in March. It's a totally different game than the B1G, so I could see us having a tough time guarding the star centers of the B1G but really thriving in the post-season. We shouldn't be too upset if we don't finish the season in the top 25. Tim Anderson touched on it in his practice presser, they built this team to win in March even if it means sacrificing their B1G standings.
As alluded to in an earlier post, we will DEFINITELY have the opportunity to jump way up early in the season if we deserve it! Here are our top 25 games before the holidays...
11/18 - vs. #8 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV)
11/20 - vs. #5 Baylor or #18 Virginia (Las Vegas, NV)
12/6 - vs. #12 Texas (New York, NY)
If this team can gel early, our SOS this year will be through the roof, so some key non-conference wins could REALLY propel us into a crazy-high seed in March. With that said, I am expecting a hiccup or two early, but I REALLY want at least one of those three games. We will then also have two games with #13 Indiana and one with #22 Michigan in conference play, of course. Purdue (x1), Michigan State (x1), Ohio State (x2), Iowa (x1) and Rutgers (x1) all are receiving votes, as well - six more potential games vs. ranked opponents.
P.S. This is the first time we have been ranked preseason for three seasons in a row since 2003-04 through 2005-06 (#13, #5 and #17) and 1999-00 through 2001-02 (#16, #8 and #3). Both of these, as well as our current streak and one from 1984-85 through 1986-87 (#2, #7 and #14) are tied for the longest streaks in program history. Not being ranked preseason in 2002-03 (we finished #11 and got as high as #7) kept us from an astonishing 7-year streak from 1999-00 through 2005-06.
- Status