That’s fair.
Pregame: Illinois vs Houston, Thursday, March 26th, 9:05pm CT, TBS
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Most Illini fans don’t understand the dynamics of Cornhusker fans.
Nebraska is a small State population-wise. Outside of a couple of cities they have lots of corn stalks and open spaces.
Except for a short limited run of the NBA’s KC-Omaha Kings many years ago... the State has not had a Major League franchise of any kind. So the Nebraska University at Lincoln became a really big deal for most Nebraska people and families many generations ago. In fact, for many people the Huskers ARE part of their extended family.
We know how they once ruled College Football. This was an immense source of pride for them for many decades. Then about 25 years ago the football program quickly declined and the Husker fans have been suffering ever since. This was a great blow to their’s and their State’s self-esteem. Basketball has never been on the top of their dance cards.
But this year the Huskers found new success. While roundball will never supplant football in the Land of Corn... this is giving the Nebraska fan base a shot in the arm. The Huskers are matched up with Iowa which was deemed their big rivals since Nebraska entered the Big 10 so this will add another layer to what goes on in the next game.
Nothing in Corn Land has come close to the old Nebraska-Oklahoma football rivalry that boiled for decades. But this Iowa Tournament game is giving them just a slight taste of what that was fever like.
With some of College Ball’s Big Boys already gone for their Seasonal last showers... this has opened the door for all those that remain. Like Our Beloved and the Sea of Red.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I suspect fans of the winning team would be more inclined to stick around. Fans of the losing team probably head for the exits & start the trek back home. At least that's what I would do.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
In all kindness to some posters here who I admire and respect, most Illini fans DO understand the dynamics of the Nebraska fanbase, but there's an obsession about the "number of alumni" stat around here in a harmless but analytically dubious way.
Omaha also offers strong support and enthusiasm annually for the College World Series and changed the game for Olympic Swimming Trials, which were held in the city four times, before shifting to the dome in Indy for 2024.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Username checks outPretty neat that my alma mater will be playing in a building I have been in literally hundreds of times.
Let’s show these guys how we do things in Central Illinois!!
I probably understand the dynamics of Nebraska sports more than most on here. My wife's whole family live there, and I have visited at least 50 times. I went to Nebraska football games when they were hot. I have seen the pivots, and wondered how they compete against states that don't need to water. Big Red has some of the most passionate fans of any team. They still sell out football games, they averaged nearly 15,000 for basketball, and they hold the record for women's volleyball single game attendance with 92,003 in 2023. As you said, they have no pro sports teams, and outside of a few cities, very little else to claim leisure spending. It is rare to see a home without Big Red signs or banners. If the Illini don't win it all, I would love to see it be the Huskers.
Either way fewer Houston fans is a good thing. I do think we play best in hostile environments but I prefer less hostile to a full arena against us.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Logic vs. heart.
I think fans will enter the arena thinking like @Illinicpa14 . I think once the game gets going they will revert to @thefalcon5 's thinking.
So I did our offensive TO % vs teams with a comparable defensive TO% to Houston earlier in the week. For another useful datapoint I took a look at how Houston did vs teams with a similar offensive TO% to ours.
They really haven’t played a ton of teams near the top in offensive TO%. They must not take great care of the ball in the big 12. From what I can see the top offensive to% they played in conference was Arizona at 68, who they lost to twice and only forced 8 and 5 turnovers in those 2 games. Although there are stylistic differences in how we play, roster wise I think we compare favorably to Arizona with our positional size and guard play, probably a bit better even as I think our bigs our better passers and 2 of our role players have the two of the lowest TO%s in the country.
The closest comp to us in TO% that Houston has played is Arkansas who is actually top 5 in the country and who Houston did beat. However Houston won by outscoring Arkansas that game 94-85. Arkansas did turn it over 12 times but they had a positive A/TO % if only slightly (13A/12TO). And while I couldn’t find Arkansas’ TO% for that individual game, based on the score and how Arkansas plays I’m guessing it was a pretty high possession game such that they probably didn’t turn it over much above their season average. And Arkansas’ defense is 53 on KenPom vs 24 (and trending up) for us.
TL;DR - while a very small sample size, it doesn’t seem like Houston has forced teams that take care of the ball to turn it over at materially higher percentage that their averages and sports a 1-2 record, while giving up 85 points in their one win.
Again, anything could happen in one game. We did get a little flustered and TO happy vs VCU in stretches, and we will likely need a great Mirk game out of the short roll and he’s one of our more TO prone players. But past history suggests teams that take care of the ball can handle Houston’s defense without getting flustered.
They really haven’t played a ton of teams near the top in offensive TO%. They must not take great care of the ball in the big 12. From what I can see the top offensive to% they played in conference was Arizona at 68, who they lost to twice and only forced 8 and 5 turnovers in those 2 games. Although there are stylistic differences in how we play, roster wise I think we compare favorably to Arizona with our positional size and guard play, probably a bit better even as I think our bigs our better passers and 2 of our role players have the two of the lowest TO%s in the country.
The closest comp to us in TO% that Houston has played is Arkansas who is actually top 5 in the country and who Houston did beat. However Houston won by outscoring Arkansas that game 94-85. Arkansas did turn it over 12 times but they had a positive A/TO % if only slightly (13A/12TO). And while I couldn’t find Arkansas’ TO% for that individual game, based on the score and how Arkansas plays I’m guessing it was a pretty high possession game such that they probably didn’t turn it over much above their season average. And Arkansas’ defense is 53 on KenPom vs 24 (and trending up) for us.
TL;DR - while a very small sample size, it doesn’t seem like Houston has forced teams that take care of the ball to turn it over at materially higher percentage that their averages and sports a 1-2 record, while giving up 85 points in their one win.
Again, anything could happen in one game. We did get a little flustered and TO happy vs VCU in stretches, and we will likely need a great Mirk game out of the short roll and he’s one of our more TO prone players. But past history suggests teams that take care of the ball can handle Houston’s defense without getting flustered.
I will say that if Nebraska were to win the Natty this year in basketball to go along with Indiana winning it in football, I don't quite know how I'd handle that. That's some end of days type stuff. I'd assume death is pretty much right around the corner.
LMAO! I legit just talked to my wife about this after seeing Robert R's travel itinerary down there and tried to talk her into going. She proceeded to tell me she found two tickets for $450.... Guess the bar will do lol.Welp, I’m not throwing down $5-600 for nose bleeds.
Hope it drops closer to $200 game day, but not holding my breath because Houston.
The worst officiated Illinois game I’ve ever seen:
Pathetic. And certainly karma was due.
Pathetic. And certainly karma was due.
I tend to agree. I don’t think either Iowa or Nebraska wants to play Houston.
Heck Nebraska knows they can beat us since they’ve done it once already
I went to the Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight in 2022 in Chicago.
Kansas vs. Providence - high attendance from both
Iowa State vs. Miami - good attendance from Iowa State, not good attendance from Miami. I would say in general, WAY less people overall. Both sets of fans from prior game largely gone by then. Key factor is that the 2nd game starts very late.
Two days later, Kansas vs. Miami had good attendance from both.
band camp
- STL City
That 05 NC game gotta be up there in the all time rankings of !!!! officiating.
Was in the building for this travesty. Even the Kansas fans sitting around us were astonished how bad the officiating was for this game. One of many injustices inflicted on our program through the years - never to be forgotten.
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