That is an incredible pic haha. Hawkins is in complete awe of King Kofi and that Misery player looks completely terrified. Love it
That is an incredible pic haha. Hawkins is in complete awe of King Kofi and that Misery player looks completely terrified. Love it
The problem with the UC games were the requirement to return the game when you get a top team. If you couldn't get two teams going at once you'd have a situation where you'd be short a home game. A tough scheduling issue.Not to get into old sh*t, but we know how that went. Started off well enough with some marquee matchups in front of a packed house, but devolved into us playing New Mexico State with 5,695 fans (looked it up to be exact) in 2017. Not great. Meanwhile, we can reliably fill our side of the gym when we play Mizzou. While it's not my blood rivalry due to being from the east coast, I totally get the border war and think it's a dope and unique game that's well worth playing every year.
Probably because UK is over in Lexington. Louisville is much closer.Always easy to understand the 'intense dislike' for... Indiana from the Eastern side of Illinois... Iowa and Missouri for the Western side of Illinois... Wisconsin for the Northern Side of Illinois. And Michigan and Michigan State for... everybody in Illinois.
But I've always wondered why there isn't more of a big dislike for Kentucky for Southern Illinoisans. Kentucky has always been a better powerhouse than Mizzou over the years. Southern Illinois has a great ball tradition going for it. Why is Mizzou more of a dislike for Southern Illinois folks than Kentucky? Or does Southern Illinois have more of a respect for them than dislike?
It's not a national game NOW because both teams have sucked for the last decade before BU got here. Now just one team sucks.But it isn't a national game, not anymore and I think there is some reasoning behind that for the major networks. It doesn't mean much to anyone but Illinois and Missouri fans which is fine. Reasons, well I think I have gone on long enough on my reasons. But I guess it basically boils down to Illinois can do better. And I was more interested in the existential reason(s) as far as why Missouri? Why not a duck? (any Marx brothers fans here should get that reference). But seriously folks, why not someone else? Someone a step up from Missouri. I think we, well, most of us, would soon forget the Braggin' Rights games after 20 or so games with Kentucky over a span of the same number of years (that is just an example, I actually have no idea who could or would replace Missouri). We would adapt. Humans are quite adept at adapting.
I think your example of the Apple Cup is completely different. That is a game between Washington State and Univ. of Washington the two biggest state schools. Heck, if I lived in Washington I would probably like to see that every year, too. I just think it is different kind of deal. But aside from that example of being one sided and that plenty of rivalries are one sided, do you have more examples, at the major college level? Or maybe I should limit it to basketball college level. I can already think of one example in football; just about anyone Notre Dame plays every year, like Navy. Although I am not sure you would call that a rivalry. It may be just typical Notre Dame year in and year out playing the softest schedule they can.
Also, some of the responses to my posts have mentioned about how it is a fertile recruiting zone. Which I get. But how many St. Louis area players have we gotten over the years? I have no idea as I don't follow recruiting very much. So maybe a lot for all I know but I don't see anyone from that area currently on the team. Illinois did pretty well with Tilmon, Pickett and Smith all from the St. Louis area all committing before BU came and then two de-committed so that was kind of wash. Also, Illinois emphasis has always been Chicago (and Peoria). Hasn't always worked, of course.
But like I said earlier I don't really care one way or the other. It's fine if we keep playing Missouri but I just think we can do better (as I have said almost ad nauseum now). After all, there was a big rivalry game between Illinois and Missouri in football, the Arch Game?, that went from 1975 to 2010. It even engendered the Braggin' Rights series. That one was stopped, albeit I know it is going to be resurrected in a few years. I do not know why it was stopped although Illinois did not fare well. Maybe that was why although I am sure no one in an official capacity would admit that.
13K for the UIC game in 2010. We were ranked 12. Usually the attendance numbers are inflated and actual bodies in the seats are much lower.Why are people acting like we wouldn’t pull a huge crowd at the UC last year (without COVID) or this year? We drew between 15-20k+ every year before the literal depths of the Groce years and the early stages of Underwood digging us out. It’s not some scary hypothetical, we regularly got bigger crowds than in Champaign when we were good and/or drew a decent opponent.
Don’t ever delete from vcr just like last year’s Michigan game. Enjoy over and over!I decided to re-watch the game incase there was a play that I missed. Yep........ the beatdown was just as enjoyable the 2nd time
Where can I see a replay of the game?I decided to re-watch the game incase there was a play that I missed. Yep........ the beatdown was just as enjoyable the 2nd time
VCR? You from Missouri?Don’t ever delete from vcr just like last year’s Michigan game. Enjoy over and over!
Well, actually I already did. But I also stated that I don't have a good answer to that as well. I suggested Kentucky playing somewhere like Louisville (although I think Louisville fans would not like that very much). And BretMyBeachHouse above had several good suggestions. It just seems as if people cannot fathom the idea of discontinuing this series like it has been written in stone since Moses. It hasn't. Someone in 1976 (or 75?) decided to schedule a game between Illinois and Missouri and it became a great game at least during the 80s and 90s when both teams were consistently good, made the NCAA tournament regularly so there was more to the game than just playing each other. A Missouri writer, Sam Snelling said in a recent post (SB Nation),You keep saying we can do better. Here is your chance to specifically state the opponent and the location that would be "better"
Not sure. I had it saved on DVRWhere can I see a replay of the game?
If I were an opposing player and Kofi drove the lane toward me I'd repair to the concession stand briefly for refreshment until the moment of mortal peril had passed.That is an incredible pic haha. Hawkins is in complete awe of King Kofi and that Misery player looks completely terrified. Love it
That's a good suggestion. I'm from Central Ohio. The problem is that Kentucky (as a basketball program and a state) just doesn't occur at all to most Ohioans, except for Appalachian emigres, though perhaps I'm wrong about Cincinnati natives. It just never comes up in the basketball conversation there in my experience. Indiana and Michigan have always been the big hoops rivalries for OSU (when its program wasn't in the tank).I'd like to see Ohio State play Kentucky in Cincinnati. That would be a near duplicate of our Bragging Rights game in St Louis. That would be on national TV every year.
A few additional points. Rivalries are great in part because they don't depend on the teams being great. Yes, Cub Cardinals game are better when they are both sitting at 90 wins a week out. but we still care when they're both at 70 wins a week out. They evolve over time to become important and generally don't stop.Well, actually I already did. But I also stated that I don't have a good answer to that as well. I suggested Kentucky playing somewhere like Louisville (although I think Louisville fans would not like that very much). And BretMyBeachHouse above had several good suggestions. It just seems as if people cannot fathom the idea of discontinuing this series like it has been written in stone since Moses. It hasn't. Someone in 1976 (or 75?) decided to schedule a game between Illinois and Missouri and it became a great game at least during the 80s and 90s when both teams were consistently good, made the NCAA tournament regularly so there was more to the game than just playing each other. A Missouri writer, Sam Snelling said in a recent post (SB Nation),
"Officially the “Braggin’ Rights” part of this game came around in the early 80s, with the two programs at a crescendo of success. Illinois and Missouri were two of the more consistently good programs from 1980 to the late 1990s. Illinois missed the NCAA tournament just four times from 1980 to 2000. While Missouri missed the tournament just five times in that same span.
But since the 2000-01 season, Missouri has just 7 wins in the series, and three of those were over the previous three years. The previous four games came when Mike Anderson was revving up at the same time Bruce Weber had lost Bill Self’s recruits, and eventually turned the program over the John Groce.
I’m not sure the point of this intro really. I think I’m just avoiding talking about the game. But while the last three wins were nice, Illinois’ upswings in more recent seasons have been more up than Missouri’s, so while Illinois is on a bit of a high point... the Tigers are most definitely not."
Seems even Missouri fans realize that there is a discrepancy between Illinois and Missouri. I don't think Snelling wants to discontinue the series because I suspect it would hurt Missouri more than Illinois.
So, again, I seem to have to repeat myself. If we started playing a better team, say Kentucky just as an example, I think that if Illinois is not blown out every year but rather makes the games close and maybe even wins once in a while that will put the Illinois program on a higher level. It would definitely be a national game every year and people and recruits will see that Illinois has "arrived". But, only if the Illini win sometimes which I think thry can do. And after 10 or 20 years of that series no one will even remember that we used to play Missouri. Well, that last part is probably a little hyperbolic. I am sure people will remember but will they really care to resume the series after playing someone like Kentucky year after year?
Having said that, I think this topic has pretty much run its course. I mean, feel free to respond but I think I have exhausted my points which basically are just saying that I think we could do better than Missouri and that I think it would be beneficial overall and over time for the Illini to do so. But it is just my opinion. And I guess I just can't understand why people are so locked into having Missouri as Illinois' great rival. All things must pass. I just think it is something to consider.
Also, I would like to thank everyone for treating my suggestions/questions with respect and civility. I imagine that given what I have written someone or more than just one could have jumped down my throat and made all sorts of unkind comments. But everyone has been polite and courteous and have offered interesting well thought out responses to my post. Thank you.
13k is pretty good for UIC, who should literally never be scheduled there again. We drew over 20k+ for #25 Gonzaga while we were unranked, too. We also drew over 20k+ to play an unranked Auburn in 2012-13. If you replaced the St. Francis (PA) game with a Saturday afternoon date at the UC vs. a quality opponent (e.g., even like Oklahoma or something), I guarantee there would have been around 18k there again.13K for the UIC game in 2010. We were ranked 12. Usually the attendance numbers are inflated and actual bodies in the seats are much lower.
The scheduling issues had already begun back then. Hard to find a good team to come in to the venue. Teams love their home games and the revenue generated.
13k is pretty good for UIC, who should literally never be scheduled there again. We drew over 20k+ for #25 Gonzaga while we were unranked, too. We also drew over 20k+ to play an unranked Auburn in 2012-13. If you replaced the St. Francis (PA) game with a Saturday afternoon date at the UC vs. a quality opponent (e.g., even like Oklahoma or something), I guarantee there would have been around 18k there again.
I agree scheduling will be tough, but you would think we could stagger it. Maybe something like this example:
2022-23: vs. Oklahoma at the UC, at Arizona (in Phoenix)
2023-24: vs. Arizona at the UC, at Oklahoma (in OKC)
I’m all for big games in Champaign (like the Challenge and the Arizona game), but I think we’re back to the point as a program where we should be seeking out more big games. We made it work with the UC quite successfully for 20+ years, and I think it’s a cool recruiting tool.
Well, actually I already did. But I also stated that I don't have a good answer to that as well. I suggested Kentucky playing somewhere like Louisville (although I think Louisville fans would not like that very much). And BretMyBeachHouse above had several good suggestions. It just seems as if people cannot fathom the idea of discontinuing this series like it has been written in stone since Moses. It hasn't. Someone in 1976 (or 75?) decided to schedule a game between Illinois and Missouri and it became a great game at least during the 80s and 90s when both teams were consistently good, made the NCAA tournament regularly so there was more to the game than just playing each other. A Missouri writer, Sam Snelling said in a recent post (SB Nation),
"Officially the “Braggin’ Rights” part of this game came around in the early 80s, with the two programs at a crescendo of success. Illinois and Missouri were two of the more consistently good programs from 1980 to the late 1990s. Illinois missed the NCAA tournament just four times from 1980 to 2000. While Missouri missed the tournament just five times in that same span.
But since the 2000-01 season, Missouri has just 7 wins in the series, and three of those were over the previous three years. The previous four games came when Mike Anderson was revving up at the same time Bruce Weber had lost Bill Self’s recruits, and eventually turned the program over the John Groce.
I’m not sure the point of this intro really. I think I’m just avoiding talking about the game. But while the last three wins were nice, Illinois’ upswings in more recent seasons have been more up than Missouri’s, so while Illinois is on a bit of a high point... the Tigers are most definitely not."
Seems even Missouri fans realize that there is a discrepancy between Illinois and Missouri. I don't think Snelling wants to discontinue the series because I suspect it would hurt Missouri more than Illinois.
So, again, I seem to have to repeat myself. If we started playing a better team, say Kentucky just as an example, I think that if Illinois is not blown out every year but rather makes the games close and maybe even wins once in a while that will put the Illinois program on a higher level. It would definitely be a national game every year and people and recruits will see that Illinois has "arrived". But, only if the Illini win sometimes which I think thry can do. And after 10 or 20 years of that series no one will even remember that we used to play Missouri. Well, that last part is probably a little hyperbolic. I am sure people will remember but will they really care to resume the series after playing someone like Kentucky year after year?
Having said that, I think this topic has pretty much run its course. I mean, feel free to respond but I think I have exhausted my points which basically are just saying that I think we could do better than Missouri and that I think it would be beneficial overall and over time for the Illini to do so. But it is just my opinion. And I guess I just can't understand why people are so locked into having Missouri as Illinois' great rival. All things must pass. I just think it is something to consider.
Also, I would like to thank everyone for treating my suggestions/questions with respect and civility. I imagine that given what I have written someone or more than just one could have jumped down my throat and made all sorts of unkind comments. But everyone has been polite and courteous and have offered interesting well thought out responses to my post. Thank you.
I watched it again yesterday on the Foxsports app on Roku (can't remember if it is the Foxsports app or FS1 app). But I don't know how long they keep the replays accessible. You may have to sign in with your service provider (comcast, or whatever) credentials.Where can I see a replay of the game?