We will likely have the 3 best players on the court. And I didn't make this up.
Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa State, Thursday, March 28th, 9:09pm CT, TBS
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If you got a rabbit's foot, root for Northwestern to win today, or us and SDSU/Yale to win Thursday and go for the final. UConn's about an 80-minute drive and has a rabid fan base that's been pretty sure they'd be here for a long time.
Retro62
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I remember in 2002, when we were in the Sugar Bowl vs. LSU, and their fans were saying we won’t have any answer for Josh Reed…we didn’t. Well, I feel the same way about TSJ against ISU.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
FWIW RE: game time, it looks like these were the Thursday Sweet Sixteen slots last year (all CST):
4:15 pm on CBS
5:30 pm on TBS
8:00 pm on TBS
8:45 pm on CBS
And here are the four matchups:
EST GAMES
#3 Illinois vs. #2 Iowa State
#5 SDSU/#13 Yale vs. #1 UConn/#9 NU
PST GAMES
#3 Baylor/#6 Clemson vs. #2 Arizona
#4 Alabama/#12 GCU vs. #1 North Carolina
So, since we are two teams from CST playing in Boston (EST), I’d bet on us being one of the earlier times!
4:15 pm on CBS
5:30 pm on TBS
8:00 pm on TBS
8:45 pm on CBS
And here are the four matchups:
EST GAMES
#3 Illinois vs. #2 Iowa State
#5 SDSU/#13 Yale vs. #1 UConn/#9 NU
PST GAMES
#3 Baylor/#6 Clemson vs. #2 Arizona
#4 Alabama/#12 GCU vs. #1 North Carolina
So, since we are two teams from CST playing in Boston (EST), I’d bet on us being one of the earlier times!
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I've got SDSU beating Uconn in the Sweet 16. FWIW
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NASchamp
- Atlanta
Nobody should be talking UConn yet I think you mean.
I doubt on us being the early time. I would be willing to bet that UConn gets the early tip time, especially with the crowd they'll draw.
Also, I'm not sure where you're getting those tip times from. The SI article I found for the Sweet 16 had the tip times for last year as:
-5:30 PM CT, TBS
-6:15 PM CT, CBS
-8:00 PM CT, TBS
-8:45 PM CT, CBS
Not sure how that could happen since they're on the same side of the bracket.
IlliniMike_Aurora
Straight outta Champaign
it doesn't make sense that the 2 games would be 3hr 45 min separated, does it
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Fixed it. I meant to get to the E8.
Yeah, i think the idea that he needs to chirp to get an edge is fairly weak. It seems, as you imply, to be more of a distraction than anything.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I think I must have been quite distracted when I looked this up (on my phone), so thank you!
Iowa State is good. Our squad is better. I feel the Fighting Illini (emphasis: Fighting) are rounding into shape. God, I hope my judgement here is right, for once. This School, this program deserves to win after so many set-backs over so many decades.
It should be OUR time. The PLAYERS on this squad are the ones who deserve it most; the staff too. I critique the coaching staff rather critically at times but I believe Coach Underwood et al. are making it happen. They deserve the accolades that seem to be coming.
And we, the residents of East Central IL, the graduates of the School (me and Mrs Orange Krush), the teens from across the state of IL or elsewhere across this land; and the teens (I once was one, my doll too, and so were many, many, many here who bleed Orange and Blue) will kneel down upon their tender knees in joy; and with each step forward that OUR squad (OUR state!) takes forward our hearts will thump proud.
I hoped for a Sweet Sixteen berth, since last May. Got it. I am very grateful. Greedy, I now hope for even more. TSJ .... Marcus, where did you come from? ... Coleman, ha ha, the black sheep, the Pied Piper. And Coach Underwood: fierceness is a word that only barely describes his desire to win.
There is more to come, and should our guys prevail (please!) I will be thrilled. The fellas deserve it, and their (sappy warning! --- loving) coaches deserve it too. So do their families. And we, the tens of thousands who have given full-throated cheer across chill and sometimes cold, snowy winters in support of the Fighting Illine - we too might deserve at last a measure of joy from the basketball gods.
Maudlin, I know. But sincere
LET'S GO!
ILL ...
It should be OUR time. The PLAYERS on this squad are the ones who deserve it most; the staff too. I critique the coaching staff rather critically at times but I believe Coach Underwood et al. are making it happen. They deserve the accolades that seem to be coming.
And we, the residents of East Central IL, the graduates of the School (me and Mrs Orange Krush), the teens from across the state of IL or elsewhere across this land; and the teens (I once was one, my doll too, and so were many, many, many here who bleed Orange and Blue) will kneel down upon their tender knees in joy; and with each step forward that OUR squad (OUR state!) takes forward our hearts will thump proud.
I hoped for a Sweet Sixteen berth, since last May. Got it. I am very grateful. Greedy, I now hope for even more. TSJ .... Marcus, where did you come from? ... Coleman, ha ha, the black sheep, the Pied Piper. And Coach Underwood: fierceness is a word that only barely describes his desire to win.
There is more to come, and should our guys prevail (please!) I will be thrilled. The fellas deserve it, and their (sappy warning! --- loving) coaches deserve it too. So do their families. And we, the tens of thousands who have given full-throated cheer across chill and sometimes cold, snowy winters in support of the Fighting Illine - we too might deserve at last a measure of joy from the basketball gods.
Maudlin, I know. But sincere
LET'S GO!
ILL ...
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It’s the only chance they’ve got.This was on USA Today re this year:
How to watch Sweet 16 for men's March Madness
The men's Sweet 16 will be broadcast on CBS and TBS, with the first game of the day on Thursday and Friday starting at 7 p.m. ET. Tip-off times will be staggered throughout the evening, with the final games slated to begin at 10 p.m. ET.ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
There are benefits to going to a zone for Iowa State,. However, the negative is the impact on defensive rebounding, especially against a team like Illinois, who does extremely well rebounding offensively. This will be a good game.
ISU fan here visiting your board. It's great to see a forum presence for an Iowa State opponent in the tournament and can hopefully have some civil discussion before Thursday.
To this point above, there is next to zero chance Iowa State plays zone. They have players that have shown they can match up man to man against some of the best teams in the country. Their defense is elite and has been the last 3 years (5th in 2022, 8th in 2023, Currently 2nd in 2024) under Coach Otz, zone isn't going to start in the Sweet 16. The thing that has changed in the last 3 years is the offense they went from 171 to 114 to this year at 48.
This Iowa State team will probably be the second or third best team Illinois has played this year.
Told me in Iowa City that CH made her start wearing 33 again after she switched jerseys for a game this year. I think. I was several beers in.
IMO, same game plan as Duquesne except against better, more disciplined players. ISU is no joke but brother, neither are we.
Punch them in the mouth offensively early, get Dain going, and don't overpass. Play decisive. Get after every loose ball.
Punch them in the mouth offensively early, get Dain going, and don't overpass. Play decisive. Get after every loose ball.
We are the late game Thursday. 910p CT
Clearing my Friday morning.
Wow, that’s a late game. 10:10 pm or so start.
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