Winning the BTT and a good showing by Kofi could really help towards big ten player of the year
Pregame: Illinois vs Indiana, Friday, March 11th, 10:30am CT, BTN
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OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
I know some (not all) of you will say we don't need to make it to Sunday but could that be the difference between a 4 and a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament? If we win the whole thing could possibly get a 2, but I think a lot of things would have to happen.
Illini Nation.
We come from different parts of the World. We live in different parts of the World. We are different ages. We are different skin colors. We have different beliefs. Mostly, we head in different directions.
But as Illini Nation, we come together in appreciation and celebration of the great basketball tradition and legacy of Illinois. And as we do, we are all brothers and sisters.
And, Illini Nation includes all those who have previously worn the Fighting Illini colors that retain that sense of brother and sisterhood. Wherever the fortunes have taken them.
We have all seen the heights. We have experienced the depths. We have soared with joy and been crushed by defeats. We live and die with the fortunes of young men who honor us by choosing to represent the Orange and Blue over all the countless places they could have embraced with their precious years of youth and roundball talent.
A young man like Trent Frazier who left the warmth and safety of the Southern Sunshine to take on the challenge of the sometimes cold prairies of a strange Midwestern land called Illinois.
A young man like Ayo Dosunmu who was not seduced by the lure of playing elsewhere that has claimed so many other Chicago talents but who instead took on the challenge of restoring the great legacy and success of Illinois ball.
A young man like Damonte Williams who found different ways to contribute to winning games each and every time on the floor. And who honored his Father’s Illini legacy with his play.
A young man like Kofi who brought his big smile and physical eminence out of the hot tropics to warm our hearts and burn his opponents.
The young men who transferred to Illinois to add their considerable talents to the mix and their special spice to the program.
The young men in Orange who have waited patiently for their turn to release their talents and show the World what they can do.
And of course, the coaching and leadership maestros who take all these separate pieces and turn them into an Illinois sporting symphony.
It’s wonderful thing when a dream and a plan and hard work come together to produce a Championship. And yet, there is much important work yet straight ahead.
But as least for a moment, we can step back and breathe a bit and say without further comment to the World... WE ARE ILLINI NATION.
And then... we’ll do the rest of our talking out on the FLOOR.
Nope. The Saturday and Sunday games are meaningless. All decisions by the selection committees have been made by that point, other than Cinderella entrants.
It probably would if those awards weren't getting announced before the conference tournament (tomorrow I think).
I have heard it said in years past that the brackets are set by Sunday. Only way would be if someone like Nb or Nw won the BTT. We will be a 3 or 4 seed. Hope they keep us in the midwest. It will bring out a good fan base for tickets. I would hope we will be the highest seed BT team which could mean a 2 seed for us. How much by winning the IA game and WI losing to NB help or hurt. Have to wait till Sunday to see. Living in Louisville, Ky I hope they keep on a downhill slide for more years. They are talking that it could be Musselman or if Nick Cronin wants to get back in the area. Go ILLINI!
Or the Illini in ‘99
My apologies if someone else posted this already but I didn't realize how good Hawkins' defense was last night:
Sorry if this has already been discussed, but why are some conference tournaments over 3+ days before ours even begins? why do those conferences' regular season schedules end so much earlier? a lot of other teams will be getting significantly more rest than BIG teams before the NCAAs
I thought the same thing actually
Plain and simple. It comes down to money. For a lot of the low and mid major conference, this is the most exposure they'll get on a national level.
And the rest isn't as much of an advantage in the NCAAs as you would think.
I personally think a lot of us on here knew he had the ability to be this good. He just needed to play hard yet emotionally under control.
I think his ceiling is not even close to being met. Live with Fletch every minute and listen to coach and it will all work out.
I Believe!!!
I really wish there was a break after the b10 tourney.
OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
Is anyone going to be in Indianopolis?
My hazy memory -- which could be wrong. When the Big10 tourney was earlier and the top team lost in the finals, they sometimes dropped a line or two. The Big10 decided to protect their top seeds by playing the game late enough that the results could not reasonably be included in the seeding.
I agree that the lack of rest can be an issue, especially for the teams that have to play 4 games. It is really brutal for any teams that draw a last 4 in slot on Tuesday.
I don't recall that happening at all. And when was the Big 10 tourney earlier outside of the year they played a week earlier before selection Sunday?
Couldn't agree more. BTT is fun, challenging and great to win, but laser focus of the team, coaches, Illini Nation needs to be on the big dance and getting to the 2nd weekend
Incredibly written post! The Rock and I agree 100% with it.
Lets show the rest of the Big Ten and the entire NCAA why we are named the FIGHTING ILLINI!
I find this interesting cause I feel like we haven’t been playing our best. The good news the sign of a good team is still being able to win when you don’t play your best.FWIW here's the three-week trend in the top half of the conference entering the BTT.
My complex insights: WISC and Iowa have been hot. MSU, kind of a hot mess. Michigan loses every other game.
Illinois, BTW, are BT Champs.
View attachment 16036
But to see everyone has at least 2 losses really eases my concern a bit. We were 2-1 on the road and split vs ranked teams at home. None of that is truly inexcusable.
I know people want Indiana or Michigan for all their different reasons.
Which one is best for our resume? If we are looking to secure a 3 seed at the worst, who helps us do that the most if we play them?
Which one is best for our resume? If we are looking to secure a 3 seed at the worst, who helps us do that the most if we play them?
Both are neutral court Quad 1, so probably no difference.
Oof. I was afraid of that when I saw the sling.
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