I think Brad should have a very good shot at coach of the year. If I remember correctly we were not ranked at the beginning of the year and most people were predicting us to be middle of the pack in the Big Ten. Considering we finished with a #12 ranking, 2nd in the Big all without a pg that everyone said we had to have. Pretty remarkable.
Illinois 73, Iowa 61 Postgame
We were preseason 25 I believe
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
My concern with DGL is that he seems to feel he has to score to earn more playing time when his scoring attempts are so out of sync they put him right back on the bench.
In the B10 this year, it's going to go to Hoiberg (most surprising to the masses) or Painter (sheer dominance). I agree that Illinois certainly overperformrd expectations this year and holding the team together after the TSJ suspension should be taken into account, but I just can't see Underwood winning it. Just not how the COTY award voting tends to work.
I don't know what more Nico has to do to get significant PT. I can''t find the box score, but I'd guess about 2-3 minutes. He did everything right--passes sharp and quick, made the only shot he took, getting a nice 17 foot jumper, and not turning the ball over. I hope in our next game Underwood figures this out and gives him serious minutes.
Yeah, the game threads usually start and end in the septic tank, where it seems only negative and stupid takes are allowed. I stopped going there a long time ago, and games have been really enjoyable and stress free.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Amen, brother. Any other season that probably nets a share of the reg season title.
Sandfort will forever awake in a flop sweat from a nightmare in which his feet are encased in concrete and the Concorde bearing an Air Shannon logo opens up throttles for takeoff with him directly in its exhuast stream.
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What's Nebraskas road record? Not good enough for coy
So to have Brad win coy we have to suck 1 year and be decent the following year? Not worth it. We can all pitch in and buy Brad the trophy he deserves
That’s an interesting interpretation? I’m saying he should have won it by now already…based on what he’s already accomplished.
Man, you got to feel good. Great use of the bench, solid defense and balanced play, great win. Need to get Coleman heeled up and we're looking really good at the right time
Iowa played great defense, the officiating again was dismally lopsided, and the Illini just ran Iowa out of gas, great bench play kept our legs fresh
Iowa played great defense, the officiating again was dismally lopsided, and the Illini just ran Iowa out of gas, great bench play kept our legs fresh
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Another fantastic regular season for Illinois. The level of success Underwood has had here in the last several years feels like a return to the standards we have held this program to for so long. I know some might be concerned about his lack of tournament success, but I believe he should coach out his career here and we will get there eventually. Hopefully this year!
This was a weird game. No one could buy a bucket in the first three minutes, and then Iowa went into the under 16 with no points. I'm not sure I have ever seen that in a Big Ten game, even in the bizarre years under Groce and Weber. Then we started to make some buckets and looked like we might win 100-50. But both teams regressed to their means a bit, road game syndrome took over and things tightened up. Crazy to think it was the defense that won us this game, especially with Iowa so explosive, handing Tony Perkins one of his worst games ever, and the only guy really productive for Iowa being Sandfort.
Was really interesting to see Coach bench Hawkins for extended time. Still ended up with 25 minutes, but it definitely felt like he was struggling.
This was a weird game. No one could buy a bucket in the first three minutes, and then Iowa went into the under 16 with no points. I'm not sure I have ever seen that in a Big Ten game, even in the bizarre years under Groce and Weber. Then we started to make some buckets and looked like we might win 100-50. But both teams regressed to their means a bit, road game syndrome took over and things tightened up. Crazy to think it was the defense that won us this game, especially with Iowa so explosive, handing Tony Perkins one of his worst games ever, and the only guy really productive for Iowa being Sandfort.
Was really interesting to see Coach bench Hawkins for extended time. Still ended up with 25 minutes, but it definitely felt like he was struggling.
Late to this board so I apologize if this has been said, but two quick notes from being at the game yesterday:
1. Harding and Freeman are going to be a problem for years. Harding is one of the best passers I've seen in quite a while.
2. Who would want to play at Iowa? For being "sold out," many empty seats and the student section has got to be one of the absolute worst.
That's all. I L L!
1. Harding and Freeman are going to be a problem for years. Harding is one of the best passers I've seen in quite a while.
2. Who would want to play at Iowa? For being "sold out," many empty seats and the student section has got to be one of the absolute worst.
That's all. I L L!
And Sandfort for another year.
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
Underwood has the personnel to be able to slow down the game offensively. We have several guys who can break down the defense late in the shot clock. It's a nice luxury.
I think some of that is barred by b10 officiating, just look at Nebraska's foul differential on the road.
Who do you think wins over him? Probably only Painter in that conversation.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Considering most pundits had Nebraska as finishing at or around 12th out of 14 teams this season, I think finishing 3rd in the conference definitely nets you COY, regardless of the road record. No offense to Painter (I think he is a great coach), but he had the reigning POY returning. It would have been an absolute disappointment for Purdue not to win the conference. I think the job that Hoiberg has done in Lincoln deserves the COY for this season.
I seriously doubt Harding and Freeman are going to be a problem for years lol come on
In what way? They going to have average performances while we beat them by 12 in their own building and that's gonna be a problem?
Look, I get that Freeman is probably the B1G Freshman of the year, but there aren't any really good freshmen this year. Mbako is okay, I guess. Outside of those two? Dain punished Freeman yesterday. Amani is better than Freeman and if he played for Iowa he would and could likely be putting up similar #s. Freeman looked overmatched against our backup center. He's not a guy I would want at all given what we have now and what's coming in. Jakstys is rated higher than Freeman by 247 and many don't think he's good enough for us.
Harding, while he's going to be a nice gadget/change of pace type of player and maybe eventually a starter, I highly doubt he morphs into a star there.
Not saying these two kids can't play in the B1G or anything outlandish like that, but they aren't takes here with what we've been doing and the players we're bringing in and about to bring in based on our reportedly having the top NIL in the conference now. They can certainly play in the B1G... for Iowa. Not for us. I have my sights set much higher. Jmo.
In what way? They going to have average performances while we beat them by 12 in their own building and that's gonna be a problem?
Look, I get that Freeman is probably the B1G Freshman of the year, but there aren't any really good freshmen this year. Mbako is okay, I guess. Outside of those two? Dain punished Freeman yesterday. Amani is better than Freeman and if he played for Iowa he would and could likely be putting up similar #s. Freeman looked overmatched against our backup center. He's not a guy I would want at all given what we have now and what's coming in. Jakstys is rated higher than Freeman by 247 and many don't think he's good enough for us.
Harding, while he's going to be a nice gadget/change of pace type of player and maybe eventually a starter, I highly doubt he morphs into a star there.
Not saying these two kids can't play in the B1G or anything outlandish like that, but they aren't takes here with what we've been doing and the players we're bringing in and about to bring in based on our reportedly having the top NIL in the conference now. They can certainly play in the B1G... for Iowa. Not for us. I have my sights set much higher. Jmo.
I found an old newspaper article by Mark Tupper. He wrote, "It was a contest in which the Illini never trailed, but were tied twice - at 7-7 and again at 44-44 with 13:49 to play".Potential First Time Accomplishment for the 2023-24 Illini.
Illinois lead from wire-to-wire yesterday vs the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It may very well be the first time ever an Illini team has accomplished that feat since the building opened in in 1983.
The only game I don't have data about is Illinois' 76-64 win in in 1998 at CHA. I can't find any game details about that. (Interestingly enough, I was a that game and rememeber Illinois leading most of the way, but I can't remember if the Illini ever trailed or if the game was ever tied beyond 0-0.)
In 2004, Illinois lead 2-0 then Iowa tied it at 2-2. Illinois then went ahead 5-2 and never trailed. But because of the 2-2 tie, they did not lead wire-to-wire.
Other games at CHA Illinois either lost or did not lead wire-to-wire in their victories.
Illinois has won 14 times at CHA: 1984, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2022 and 2024.
If anyone can find the details about the 1998 game, we'll know if the 2024 Illini have accomplished another first.
I was wondering the same thing and since no one has responded yet, I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, "The winner is selected by the Big Ten media association and conference coaches." Now my question is, who are the members of the Big Ten media association?
You rock! So the Illini did in fact accomplish a first yesterday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena! Take THAT, Hawks!"Down 38-32 at the half, Iowa fought back to a 44-44 tie before Heldman hit a three..."
ILLINOIS 76, IOWA 64
Actor James Earl Jones disappeared in Iowa in the popular baseball movie “Field of Dreams.” That’s nothing. Illinois’ Fighting Illini seem to do it here almost every year. B…www.chicagotribune.com
Perfect! Thank you!
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Coleman had 4 points (on 6 shot attempts), 10 boards, 3 assists and a block in those 25 minutes. Not his best effort, but hardly what can fairly be called “struggling.”
His nagging injury is the more likely reason BU limited his minutes…
We had the lead wire to wire, with more important games ahead.
Tracking live, they didn’t get their first offensive rebound until 7:25 left in the first half. When you consider all the bricks they threw up that was impressive.
The key to everything is consistency. Can we bring that defensive effort, literally for the rest of the year?
The key to everything is consistency. Can we bring that defensive effort, literally for the rest of the year?