NCAA Tournament

#226      

GallopingGhost

GallopingGhost
Denver, CO
GallopingGhost
Ok, I need some talking down. I am starting to overhype myself into Illinois going to Final Four or national champions and nothing less. I realize that, realistically, not getting there is MUCH more likely than getting there. However after seeing this team and following so devoutly for a whole season, my heart can't take anything less than another FF appearance. Beginning of February if you asked me, I would have been thrilled with a sweet 16 APPEARANCE. Now all the media and hypesters have me expecting... too much?

So please, someone slap me in the face with some reality. Could we lose to a lock-down Loyola? Will Cade Cunningham burst 80% of america's brackets as they beat us in the S16? Do we lay an egg against a WVU or Houston if we get that far?
 
#227      

Ramrod2010

R
Ramrod2010
Ironman89 said:
So, did I see this correctly? The last 2 tournaments, 5 teams were placed 8 positions or more higher than expected. All 5 lost in the first round. This years teams placed 8 or higher than expected are W Virginia and Ok St.
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That's what I'm reading too. Kind of a small sample size, but pretty interesting stuff.
 
#228      

GallopingGhost

GallopingGhost
Denver, CO
GallopingGhost
Ironman89 said:
So, did I see this correctly? The last 2 tournaments, 5 teams were placed 8 positions or more higher than expected. All 5 lost in the first round. This years teams placed 8 or higher than expected are W Virginia and Ok St.
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Which page is that data on?
 
#230      

JFGsCoffeeMug

JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
JFGsCoffeeMug
GallopingGhost said:
Which page is that data on?
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Page 9.

OverUnderSeeding.png
 
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#231      

illinicwab

I
illinicwab
GallopingGhost said:
Ok, I need some talking down. I am starting to overhype myself into Illinois going to Final Four or national champions and nothing less. I realize that, realistically, not getting there is MUCH more likely than getting there. However after seeing this team and following so devoutly for a whole season, my heart can't take anything less than another FF appearance. Beginning of February if you asked me, I would have been thrilled with a sweet 16 APPEARANCE. Now all the media and hypesters have me expecting... too much?

So please, someone slap me in the face with some reality. Could we lose to a lock-down Loyola? Will Cade Cunningham burst 80% of america's brackets as they beat us in the S16? Do we lay an egg against a WVU or Houston if we get that far?
Click to expand...
I talked myself down last night. My biggest concerns: will Ayo's injury prevent him from being his best as a closer (he was not at his best in big ten tourney); will we overlook someone early (has been a problem with this team in the past; e.g., at Nebraska)? We are legit title contenders. But also, tourney history is obviously filled with great teams that do not make the final four.
 
#232      

Keisersose

Keisersose
Keisersose
Really hope this Ga tech thing doesn’t impact us!!! How are the other team members not close contacts? If they test negative through Friday and then play Friday, and then someone tests positive Saturday, GaTech and Loyola will both be out. Right? If someone fro either team tests positive after our game Sunday (assuming we win), bad things could happen.
Someone talk me down from this ledge. Please.
 
#233      

ugottabjoshinme

ugottabjoshinme
ugottabjoshinme
Keisersose said:
Really hope this Ga tech thing doesn’t impact us!!! How are the other team members not close contacts? If they test negative through Friday and then play Friday, and then someone tests positive Saturday, GaTech and Loyola will both be out. Right? If someone fro either team tests positive after our game Sunday (assuming we win), bad things could happen.
Someone talk me down from this ledge. Please.
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A team is not out with a positive test unless there aren't 5 players left after contact tracing. I'm not really sure how you can escape contact tracing if you went through a real practice with someone who was positive.

I'm also not sure how GT can clear everyone through contact tracing after a ACC Tournament Championship celebration.
 
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#235      

louisvilleillini

L
louisvilleillini
I wonder who will be the next Va and lose to a 16 seed. Talking about Ayo not having the eye of the tiger (my term) playing in the BT tourney was difficult. This was the 2nd time playing Ia. and the third time playing OSU. Twice in the last two weeks. As they said during the post-game. They each knew each other's moves, plays, and defense. Washington went nuts during the game. What we saw with ILL was a full team effort. We didn't rely on one player to be a Michael Jordan. Go ILLINI!! Drexel sounds like a small-town pharmacy in the middle of the town. Wasn't there at one time a Rexall store?
 
#236      

Deleted member 186590

D
Guest
Deleted member 186590
haasi said:
Well deserved
www.thechampaignroom.com

Kendall Gill Punched Tim Doyle

Kendall Gill is your hero
www.thechampaignroom.com www.thechampaignroom.com
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I remember that - apparently Doyle's career went downhill after that (I don't think because of that by any means) was out of broadcasting for a while and he's now found new life doing sports betting podcasts. Gill is obviously back on CSN doing bulls analysis - so he's done well
 
#237      

dgcrow

dgcrow
Kelso, WA
dgcrow
louisvilleillini said:
I wonder who will be the next Va and lose to a 16 seed. Talking about Ayo not having the eye of the tiger (my term) playing in the BT tourney was difficult. This was the 2nd time playing Ia. and the third time playing OSU. Twice in the last two weeks. As they said during the post-game. They each knew each other's moves, plays, and defense. Washington went nuts during the game. What we saw with ILL was a full team effort. We didn't rely on one player to be a Michael Jordan. Go ILLINI!! Drexel sounds like a small-town pharmacy in the middle of the town. Wasn't there at one time a Rexall store?
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There was a McBride's Rexall Drug Store at one time. Think it was located in downtown Urbana.
 
#240      

westcoastillini

W
westcoastillini
robjilla said:
Not concerned at all. I just want to see what the hype is about and how he has developed. I need Kofi to just play good defense. Guarding position, with hands straight up. No reaching, no cheap fouls. That is the #1 key for the whole tournament. He has to stay out of foul trouble. My plan would be to attack him in the paint and get him in foul trouble. He has gotten 1 to 2 cheap ones a game that are his fault and the refs then add on to that by calling another one that is questionable.
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Agree. Kofi: don’t reach!!
 
#242      

Deleted member 186590

D
Guest
Deleted member 186590
GallopingGhost said:
So please, someone slap me in the face with some reality. Could we lose to a lock-down Loyola? Will Cade Cunningham burst 80% of america's brackets as they beat us in the S16? Do we lay an egg against a WVU or Houston if we get that far?
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I'll give it a go - we lost to Maryland at home who is a 10 seed, to Missouri (who as it turns out is not very good at basketball this year afterall), and more recently got handled by MSU who is an 11 seed, so we are capable of losing to inferior teams - we've shown that this year, we only need one of those performances to rear it's ugly head to be sent packing

But you are not wrong to have your hopes up - we are the most tested team in the country and now we have Belo playing at a high level, or bench is capable of saving the day if some of starters have an off night. We have the best closer in the game and a Center that can dominate on any given night, we have shooters, we have guys that can get to the rim, we make our free throws when they matter, we have a close knit team that pick eachother up - We have an ALL IN mentality and WE WILL NOT BE GOING HOME without the trophy in our hands! dang it. . . see there I go
 
#244      

Ramrod2010

R
Ramrod2010
ChiefKingfisher said:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/spor...0210316-5ndl2sbejvearci2vi453ueukm-story.html

We're in trouble guys...
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Honestly, Georgia Tech will give me more pause than Loyola. We have shown that we aren't good against the zone. In fact, according to that huge google doc, we are below average.

Also according to that doc, Georgia Tech plays zone the sixth most out of all tournament teams....with Oklahoma State being tied for 4th most.

It also has Iowa as third most and we all know how that defense holds up (though I don't recall them playing a lot of zone against us).
 
#246      

JW

JW
Vancouver
JW
haasi said:
great article in today’s Washington Post about Giorgi, Kofi and the Illini’s culture ❤️


Don’t worry, i will send to Wally Szczerbiak.
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I was just about to post this. Great for the team and great for the university. A Jamaican Cockburn and Georgian via Vienna Bezhanishvili, Puerto Rican Curbelo and the son of Nigeran immigrants Ayo.

There was a time when it was all about getting player from the CPL.

If you walk around campus, particularly engineering side, a lot of faces from all over the world. That diversity is reflected on the basketball team and is part of our strength.
 
#248      

illiniapolis

I
illiniapolis
GallopingGhost said:
Ok, I need some talking down. I am starting to overhype myself into Illinois going to Final Four or national champions and nothing less. I realize that, realistically, not getting there is MUCH more likely than getting there. However after seeing this team and following so devoutly for a whole season, my heart can't take anything less than another FF appearance. Beginning of February if you asked me, I would have been thrilled with a sweet 16 APPEARANCE. Now all the media and hypesters have me expecting... too much?

So please, someone slap me in the face with some reality. Could we lose to a lock-down Loyola? Will Cade Cunningham burst 80% of america's brackets as they beat us in the S16? Do we lay an egg against a WVU or Houston if we get that far?
Click to expand...
It's the tournament, no team has better odds than the field. I would consider this season a failure if we miss the elite 8, and disappointing if we miss the final 4. I've been going back and forth on how excited I should be between complete enthusiasm and utter despair at an early exit.

I'm a huge pessimist so I'm not the best person to ask, but I think we have a not insignificant chance of a 2nd round or s16 loss. I'm trying to prepare myself in case that happens but I know it'll be crushing no matter what. I'm constantly worried about Oklahoma state, a team with almost as many Q1 wins, another player of the year candidate, a solid zone D, and that just beat Baylor.
 
#249      

RML

R
RML
lstewart53x3 said:
Fast forward a couple of weeks & we’re in the final four ...

Would you rather play OSU for a fourth time or Baylor for a second?
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Baylor. When BU was interviewed a couple weeks OK, he seemed to be hinting he wanted a rematch. He talked about Miller making a ton of defensive mistakes in that first game, mistakes that he no longer makes now.
 
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#250      

Deleted member 747903

D
Guest
Deleted member 747903
illiniapolis said:
It's the tournament, no team has better odds than the field. I would consider this season a failure if we miss the elite 8, and disappointing if we miss the final 4. I've been going back and forth on how excited I should be between complete enthusiasm and utter despair at an early exit.

I'm a huge pessimist so I'm not the best person to ask, but I think we have a not insignificant chance of a 2nd round or s16 loss. I'm trying to prepare myself in case that happens but I know it'll be crushing no matter what. I'm constantly worried about Oklahoma state, a team with almost as many Q1 wins, another player of the year candidate, a solid zone D, and that just beat Baylor.
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I feel like we are the team of destiny this season especially with the way we have played of late. A couple moments stand out from the B10 tourney championship game:

In overtime, OSU had two critical turnovers where they simply shot themselves in the foot. Liddell losing the ball on the drive without anyone touching it and Sueing throwing the ball away when he had a pretty clear passing lane. Granted, in both these situations we had the lead but we are getting breaks in moments like this where previously we never would.