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Maryland 62, Illinois 56 POSTGAME
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<blockquote data-quote="LibertyIllini" data-source="post: 1264815" data-attributes="member: 17447"><p>Went out to dinner with my dad's side of the family the other night (precursor: they're big Wisconsin fans). They can't believe how far Illinois basketball has fallen. They also can't believe how our fans have so easily accepted mediocrity. It's hard for me to fault them. Year after year, Wisconsin runs the same system. Year after year, Wisconsin recruits to this system. Year after year, Wisconsin plays with pride and toughness. Year after year, Wisconsin refuses to beat themselves.</p><p></p><p>In comparison to our beloved Illini, Wisconsin blows us out of the water. I remember when we used to go toe to toe with these guys and now we're an absolute door mat. Let me repeat: a door mat. They've been to five out of the last six sweet sixteens. Yes, five out of the last six sweet sixteens. Yet our fan base at this point just clings to the hope of MAKING the NCAA tournament. Groce has had more than enough time to either a) accrue the right pieces for his system or, b) adjust his system to fit the pieces he currently has on the roster. He has done neither.</p><p></p><p>It's been rehashed enough on here. Groce is a likable guy. We want him to succeed. But, when it comes down to it, Illinois Basketball deserves more. We are a basketball school. We are supposed to be in the top 4 of the Big Ten year in and year out. That's what blows my mind is how people have lost this vision of what Illinois Basketball is supposed to be. It's obviously been awhile (a decade!!!) but there are enough of us on here that remember the good ol' recent past. Every time we took the court, it was a given that our guys were going to be gamers and that they were going to compete. We could also expect to win 80-85% of the time. It's absolute madness to me that we now hope to just MAKE the tournament these days. We don't hope to make a run in the tournament. We hope to just make the tournament.</p><p></p><p>Craziness abound. I know we like to look east (at Indiana) when thinking about our rivalries, but more attention should be paid to the north. Bucky consistently gets it done with what is less talent on paper. To top it off, this year they have an Illinois kid by the name of Ethan Happ who is arguably a top 25 player in the entire nation.</p><p></p><p>TL;DR... Illinois Basketball is supposed to be good. We are not currently good and do not appear to be going on the right trajectory. Our fanbase deserves better.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="LibertyIllini, post: 1264815, member: 17447"] Went out to dinner with my dad's side of the family the other night (precursor: they're big Wisconsin fans). They can't believe how far Illinois basketball has fallen. They also can't believe how our fans have so easily accepted mediocrity. It's hard for me to fault them. Year after year, Wisconsin runs the same system. Year after year, Wisconsin recruits to this system. Year after year, Wisconsin plays with pride and toughness. Year after year, Wisconsin refuses to beat themselves. In comparison to our beloved Illini, Wisconsin blows us out of the water. I remember when we used to go toe to toe with these guys and now we're an absolute door mat. Let me repeat: a door mat. They've been to five out of the last six sweet sixteens. Yes, five out of the last six sweet sixteens. Yet our fan base at this point just clings to the hope of MAKING the NCAA tournament. Groce has had more than enough time to either a) accrue the right pieces for his system or, b) adjust his system to fit the pieces he currently has on the roster. He has done neither. It's been rehashed enough on here. Groce is a likable guy. We want him to succeed. But, when it comes down to it, Illinois Basketball deserves more. We are a basketball school. We are supposed to be in the top 4 of the Big Ten year in and year out. That's what blows my mind is how people have lost this vision of what Illinois Basketball is supposed to be. It's obviously been awhile (a decade!!!) but there are enough of us on here that remember the good ol' recent past. Every time we took the court, it was a given that our guys were going to be gamers and that they were going to compete. We could also expect to win 80-85% of the time. It's absolute madness to me that we now hope to just MAKE the tournament these days. We don't hope to make a run in the tournament. We hope to just make the tournament. Craziness abound. I know we like to look east (at Indiana) when thinking about our rivalries, but more attention should be paid to the north. Bucky consistently gets it done with what is less talent on paper. To top it off, this year they have an Illinois kid by the name of Ethan Happ who is arguably a top 25 player in the entire nation. TL;DR... Illinois Basketball is supposed to be good. We are not currently good and do not appear to be going on the right trajectory. Our fanbase deserves better. [/QUOTE]
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Maryland 62, Illinois 56 POSTGAME
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