Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa/Ohio State

Status
Not open for further replies.
#126      

CleverHandle1

C
CleverHandle1
LvilleILL said:
Could see that for sure. Will be interesting to see how Iowa responds after Sunday-we should be able to get to the final though minimum, even if it won't be super easy
Click to expand...
Just hearing Fran's post-conference, I sensed he was resigned to the fact that Iowa probably won't make the tournament--that this was their best chance. You may be right: Iowa may win the game. We'll see what they're made of. It won't be easy at all--I do agree, but I think there's a path:

If Iowa wins, the Illini know the Hawkeyes, and may be trailing because of overconfidence, but in the end, Illinois should cover against them.

If OSU wins, Illini are confident because of previous road win, being on a neutral court, and matching up well with them, I see Illinois covering the spread.

I think the Cornhusker's going to advance. Illinois had a double-digit lead against them in Champaign, I believe, but couldn't put them away. I think Illinois would want to prove something in this potential semifinal matchup. Again, the Illini cover.

Having typed all this and Illinois loses, I apologize in advance, and I shall stand corrected. :(
 
Last edited:
#127      

CleverHandle1

C
CleverHandle1
IlliniCub 16 said:
That could be the case, but they are 4-2 since February 17th with wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern while Illinois provided the only two losses. So it could just be that we are that much better than them and it makes it look like they are deflated. We'll see on Thursday.
Click to expand...
Great point. I am beginning to think--as you posited--that Illinois is "that much better." That definitely could be it.

Only thing holding me back 100% are the surprisingly close home games against the likes of Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan State, and then losing to Maryland--even without TS. And then, the two annoying road losses to Sparty and Paterno.
 
#128      

alaskaillini

A
alaskaillini
hoopsfan47 said:
The B1G championship belongs to Purdue. They now play for the B1G tournament title which has far less prestige and is set up to favor the teams that played well for 20 games to succeed in winning three. There is a big difference in how the two are viewed by players, coaches, media, and polls. Remember when Alford's Hawkeyes won the tournament and he declared them to be "Big Ten Champions"? He was vilified by common sense fans....all they won was a tournament title and were hardly Big Ten Champions. Many coaches could care less about playing for a tournament title and prefer the extra days of preparation if they will be playing in the dance...and that is not unreasonable. What is unreasonable is to win 3 games in a rigged tournament that is played only to make money and declare yourself the conference champions. That is earned the hard way by working through a twenty game schedule.
Click to expand...
I want the BTT title because we will probably have to beat Purdue for it and their fans need to be brought down to earth a little. And I frankly want our guys to prove that Purdue isn't that much better than we are if at all. I am more of a beat your conference foes than a NCAA tourney guy. Don't have a problem with those of you that feel the other way.
With the double bye, it is still exhausting to play 3 games, but it is not like you have to play 5 in 5 days. Push hard early in the first two games to get a lead, give the bench guys some playing time (definitely rest Hawkins and QG as much as possible), and go all out against Purdue.
You can rest when you are dead (or the season is over, whichever comes first).
 
#129      

1970 John

1970 John
1970 John
frozenrope9190 said:
A reminder that Illinois has beaten every single team in the Big Ten this year, except Penn State and Purdue. Every single one.

Onward to the finals!!!
Click to expand...
And as I say to the PSU fans here in Pennsylvania, “Was that your best game of the season? That was our worst. And you won by one point. And you wouldn’t let Illini fans into your arena.”
 
#130      

1970 John

1970 John
1970 John
HereSoIDontGetFined said:
I don't really like either of these matchups for us. Ohio State has played better since firing Holtmann. Iowa back-to-back I'm not a fan of if only because they basically get a few days to make adjustments against us and the game will be fresh in their minds. But we should win either way.
Click to expand...
We won’t get to make adjustments against them? And the game will be fresh in our minds as well. So…
 
#133      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
CharliedonSurf said:
I don't necessarily care about the btt title however this year, I'd love to grab it from purdue besting them in the final.
Click to expand...
I’ll first say that I absolutely “care” about the BTT and all Illini games … heck, I was yelling at my TV for us to beat #1 Kansas in that exhibition game! However, I get what you’re saying … focus changes by year. In 2021 after Michigan gamed the system, I wanted the BTT title badly! In 2022 after hanging a league banner, I cared a lot less. This year given finishing in second and the losing streak to Purdue, I would really love to win it. Ultimate goal remains the Second Weekend, but this group deserves to celebrate on-court with the confetti and a trophy!
 
#134      

Bigtex

Bigtex
DFW
Bigtex
HereSoIDontGetFined said:
I think we're locked to the 4 line. Beating Purdue would at this point be the only thing to possibly move us up and we'd need help from other teams.
Click to expand...
Agree. Locked in at 4 seed with 2 wins in BTT. Possible 5 seed with less than 2 BTT wins.

Would like to see coach with a good showing / results in win or go home tournaments. History hasn’t been good (BTT and NCAAT)
 
#135      

hodgesonfire

H
hodgesonfire
Bigtex said:
Agree. Locked in at 4 seed with 2 wins in BTT. Possible 5 seed with less than 2 BTT wins.

Would like to see coach with a good showing / results in win or go home tournaments. History hasn’t been good (BTT and NCAAT)
Click to expand...
2021 I think we won?
 
#136      

rbse

R
rbse
I see the this team peaking at the absolute right time, baring injuries, they present more of a threat than Purdue. Purdue does not want to face them again
 
#140      

Illini2010-11

I
Sugar Grove
Illini2010-11
Bigtex said:
Agree. Locked in at 4 seed with 2 wins in BTT. Possible 5 seed with less than 2 BTT wins.

Would like to see coach with a good showing / results in win or go home tournaments. History hasn’t been good (BTT and NCAAT)
Click to expand...
I do not agree with this. I think the Illini are almost already a lock for a 4 seed going into the BTT (the win in Iowa City was the clincher IMO). A win on Friday will solidify that further, especially if Ohio State becomes a Quad 1 game (Ohio State needs to move up 5 spots in NET). The only way we move off the 4 seed line is if the Illini move up to a 3 seed (factoring in other tourneys).
 
Last edited:
#146      

CleverHandle1

C
CleverHandle1
Brosky said:
I'd like another shot at PSU, that's for sure. We are better than PSU, but it's hard to get that wretched taste of the final minute out of my mouth.
Click to expand...
There's a part of me that thinks BU and players will remember some of these games with the hope of impending revenge. I like their chances against PSU for sure.
 
#147      

ptgrd23

ptgrd23
ptgrd23
My BTT bracket wish list

1. Iowa beats OSU in quadruple OT 125-124 so they only have 18 hour rest before our game
2. Michigan beats Penn State Indiana and Nebraska so they are playing us as their 4th game in 4 days (added bonus this makes sure Juwon is not fired)
3. Wisconsin wins 3 straight to reach the Finals where they meet Illinois with tired legs. I think we match up very well vs Wisconsin.
4. Illinois beats Wisconsin 80-50 in finals so Brad can play Nico, Luke, Dain, Amani and DGL the entire 2H. Luke goes 10 for 12 from 3 point land.

:chief::chief::chief::chief::chief::chief::chief::chief::chief::chief:

1710363366023.png
 
#148      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Didn't know where else to put this (feel free to move to a general Big Ten Tournament thread, Dan!), but it's interesting to look at conference teams as we head into the BTT in the lens of only the last 8 games (theoretically 4 weeks).

Purdue: 7-1 (only loss at Ohio State)
Illinois: 6-2
Ohio State: 6-2 (won 4 in a row)
Nebraska: 6-2 (won 6 of last 7)
Iowa: 5-3
Northwestern: 5-3
Indiana: 4-4 (won 4 in a row)
Michigan State: 4-4 (lost 3 of last 4)
Wisconsin: 3-5
Minnesota: 3-5 (lost 4 of last 5)
Penn State: 3-5
Maryland: 2-6
Rutgers: 2-6
Michigan: 0-8

Obviously, OSU and Nebraska (two teams in our path to Sunday) are playing quite well. Iowa is no slouch, either, given that the only thing standing between them and a 6-2 record in this timespan is our very own Fighting Illini. Of course, it cannot be discounted that Illinois is also relatively hot, winning 6 of 8, with the only losses being to the projected overall #1 seed in a close game and a relatively fluke collapse in a one-point loss at PSU.

Winning at least two games in the BTT will make me feel really good about this squad getting hot at the right time before March Madness. We are going to play against some quality opponents who are coming into their own right now, and I still feel confident. And that is awesome! To know you have some tough tests coming up and still feeling that you should win is what it's all about!
 
#149      

ptgrd23

ptgrd23
ptgrd23
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Didn't know where else to put this (feel free to move to a general Big Ten Tournament thread, Dan!), but it's interesting to look at conference teams as we head into the BTT in the lens of only the last 8 games (theoretically 4 weeks).

Purdue: 7-1 (only loss at Ohio State)
Illinois: 6-2
Click to expand...
Excellent point - contrast with last year meltdown where we entered BTT 4-5.
1710366727122.png
 
#150      

Calvin

C
Calvin

Coleman sounded like he was just waking up. Hope these guys are hungry come game time --they're really going to wish they gave everything they could in the last games of the year.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.