Pregame: Illinois vs Grand Canyon, Saturday, December 30th, 3:00pm CT, BTN Plus

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#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Illinois vs Grand Canyon
Saturday, December 30th
3:00pm CT
BTN Plus

:illinois:
 
#2      
JIllini
GCU is the local team where I live now, so I gotta cheer for them to do well. But let's crush 'em anyway. This is a potential trap game though coming off the Mizzou win so no letdowns please.
 
#3      
mdonsbach
Remember anyone who has the BTN plus subscription don't forget to cancel it after this game.
 
#4      
PJD86
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard Grand Canyon was expected to give NMSU a run for their money in the WAC, and we lost to NMSU, so let's be ready to play....
 
#5      
jrichisamazing
PJD86 said:
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard Grand Canyon was expected to give NMSU a run for their money in the WAC, and we lost to NMSU, so let's be ready to play....
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It's going to be another tough one. GCU is a decent team. We should win but they're not the prototypical BTN+ cupcake game. Add in the fact that we just came off the high of winning Braggin Rights, the B1G is just around the corner, and the players will have a couple days off to spend with family for Christmas. Wouldn't be surprised to look a little lackadaisical in this one. I will be pleasantly surprised if it's anything more than an ugly, sloppy, grind it out game.
 
#7      
sdfidaho
This game worries me.
GCU is a very good defensive team. They will probably give UI all they can handle and more if the boys don’t show up to play.
 
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#8      
FeelTheLovie
Watched them yesterday and they’re pretty good. Take care of the ball and shoot very well
 
#12      
Ol Dirty Gamer
PJD86 said:
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard Grand Canyon was expected to give NMSU a run for their money in the WAC, and we lost to NMSU, so let's be ready to play....
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GCU has a ways to go to get on NMSU’s level, considering they beat the #6 team in the country.
Regardless of opponent, we should always be ready to play.
 
#13      
Gunner23
IIRC, this series is set up as two home games for us and one for GCU. Not sure if that is accurate or not.
 
#15      
alaskaillini
Sal Iacuzzo said:
Completely agree. The worst part is I'm pretty confident we will play them on the road within the next few years.
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Even when GCU was D2, they drew really well. I think it would be a good warm up for B1G road games. While any team can win on any given night, I am not too worried about GCU over the next few years. If we can't take care of business against them, then we deserve whatever is coming to us as a result.
 
#16      
FeelTheLovie
They have one of the best crowds in the country per arena size. Louisville played there last year and Ricky P called it the toughest environment he had seen.
 
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#17      
Deleted member 182960
sacraig said:
We shouldn't be playing this game and legitimizing GCU. Literally nothing to gain here.
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GCU is already legitimate so not really sure what you’re getting at. They are eligible for the NCAA tourney this year. Also, playing Illinois doesn’t legitimize anyone at this point...
 
#18      
kuhl84
KingK said:
We will be playing them in Phoenix next year as part of the home and home. Same thing they did with Louisville
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It’s not a home and home...it’s two home for us, 1 for them. 3 games total.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#19      
FeelTheLovie
Maybe the wrong thread here, but does anyone know how it works if we’re given tickets in the Traditions Club section in terms of access to amenities?
 
#20      
Illinimobile
Sal Iacuzzo said:
For profit education is an evil scam and I don't want my school associated with it.
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I think you paint with too broad a brush.
https://www.denverpost.com/2015/05/01/hilker-why-grand-canyon-university-is-thriving/

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ausing-stir-division-hoops-college-basketball

An effort to convert back to not-for-profit status was recently blocked:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mon...editor-blocks-conversion-non-profit/81285724/

Also, we're already associated with them, at least tangentially:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mon...s-name-grand-canyon-business-school/16192267/
 
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#21      
Deleted member 182960
blmillini said:
I'm pretty sure 70-80% of basketball fans have never heard of GCU and playing any school as well known as Illinois brings recognition to the former, so I believe his point is valid.
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The point isn’t valid. GCU has played better programs than Illinois and 70-80% of fans haven’t heard of North Carolina Central or Longwood either. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have played those teams because people haven’t heard of them. This is basically a favor to Jerry Colangelo since the GCU business school has his name on it
 
#22      
HTT
We played Augstana/NCCU when we needed to prepare for tougher games. That was the mistake and we did come out under-prepared for Wake and early B1G games. Now we played plenty tough games and just needed an easier one to refresh our energy for upcoming B1G games. I do not see this one as a big mistake and actually GCU is not an easy opponent.
 
#23      
BillyBob1
FeelTheLovie said:
Maybe the wrong thread here, but does anyone know how it works if we’re given tickets in the Traditions Club section in terms of access to amenities?
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You have access to the Traditions Club and buy alcohol, very expensive alcohol! $8 for a beer. They also have a buffet dinner for purchase. Enter via new East Main area.
 
#24      
alaskaillini
blmillini said:
I'm pretty sure 70-80% of basketball fans have never heard of GCU and playing any school as well known as Illinois brings recognition to the former, so I believe his point is valid.
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Not sure a game on BTN+ is going to educate that big of slice of that 70-80%. Just don't get the animosity to GCU. It may not be the U of I, but it is not some fly by night school out to bilk the unsophisticated like some for profit schools. One way it is different than public schools is that no alcohol is allowed on campus, but I don't think that is a reason for the boycott of a basketball game.

I also want to see the Finke brothers to at least get to play each other if they are not going to play together.
 
#25      
blmillini
alaskaillini said:
Not sure a game on BTN+ is going to educate that big of slice of that 70-80%. Just don't get the animosity to GCU. It may not be the U of I, but it is not some fly by night school out to bilk the unsophisticated like some for profit schools. One way it is different than public schools is that no alcohol is allowed on campus, but I don't think that is a reason for the boycott of a basketball game.

I also want to see the Finke brothers to at least get to play each other if they are not going to play together.
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Maybe I missed the issue. I thought the discussion was related to why scheduling GCU was not good for illinois and I think that is true. It is similar to playing ISU. There is just no upside for Illinois and because they are pretty good, there is a better chance that we lose, especially when we play there. When you schedule those kind of games you want to make sure you are going to win them. Otherwise, schedule higher profile opponents.
 
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