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Michigan 78, Illinois 68 POSTGAME
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<blockquote data-quote="Illest" data-source="post: 1175946" data-attributes="member: 2139"><p>1) The '98 team had a terrible Big Ten record, but the Big Ten was by far the best conference in the country that year, and we nonetheless managed to make the final of the BTT, beating a Final Four team (Ohio State) along the way. In kenpom's ranking (which sadly is no longer available), I believe we were ranked 50-something in the country at the end of the year. This year's team is currently ranked 119th.</p><p></p><p>2) Yes, we have a lot of injuries. But we would not have been a good team, even healthy. Last year's team was ranked lower by kenpom than all but the last Weber squad. We were ranked 60th in kenpom's preseason ranking, which indicates that a tourney bid would most likely have been an uphill struggle. This, after already missing the tourney two consecutive years. From 1983 to 2007, we were too mediocre for the tourney in a grand total of three seasons.</p><p></p><p>3) Our defensive problems are not simply a result of injuries. Abrams is our only injured player who is an above average defender. Groce has not been an exceptional defensive coach; last year's team was already only 49th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, which is worse than every Weber team but one. Our only genuinely good defensive team under Groce was his second squad.</p><p></p><p>4) Recruiting is not a source of hope. If anything, we are only becoming less competitive for the level of players required to return to our historical quality. There have been way too many filler players on our roster ever since Groce's arrival.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Illest, post: 1175946, member: 2139"] 1) The '98 team had a terrible Big Ten record, but the Big Ten was by far the best conference in the country that year, and we nonetheless managed to make the final of the BTT, beating a Final Four team (Ohio State) along the way. In kenpom's ranking (which sadly is no longer available), I believe we were ranked 50-something in the country at the end of the year. This year's team is currently ranked 119th. 2) Yes, we have a lot of injuries. But we would not have been a good team, even healthy. Last year's team was ranked lower by kenpom than all but the last Weber squad. We were ranked 60th in kenpom's preseason ranking, which indicates that a tourney bid would most likely have been an uphill struggle. This, after already missing the tourney two consecutive years. From 1983 to 2007, we were too mediocre for the tourney in a grand total of three seasons. 3) Our defensive problems are not simply a result of injuries. Abrams is our only injured player who is an above average defender. Groce has not been an exceptional defensive coach; last year's team was already only 49th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, which is worse than every Weber team but one. Our only genuinely good defensive team under Groce was his second squad. 4) Recruiting is not a source of hope. If anything, we are only becoming less competitive for the level of players required to return to our historical quality. There have been way too many filler players on our roster ever since Groce's arrival. [/QUOTE]
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Michigan 78, Illinois 68 POSTGAME
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