Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa, Tuesday, February 25th, 8:00pm CT, FS1
- Status
I hope the guys come out and play like their season is on the line- because it is
Hand up, I'm one of the Illini basketball fans who was being a Debby downer on Saturday night, along with calling for Brad's job. Absolutely embarrassing low point for a team that you've been following all year. Plus my FIL in Florida bet on Illini basketball because he knows how much I like the team this year, definitely lost some brownie points. Really all you ask for as a fan is some kind of honest explanation for what is happening.
All that said, I'm a gold fish fan, and if those two things happen, plus we beat Purdue, I'm all the way back in haha
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Dix and Sandfort are both capable of going off on offense with their 3 pt shooting skills.........my main concern is how the Illini approach this game ........will we continue to chuck them from the cheap seats or play on getting into the paint for 2's......
the idiots have never been a defensive power , especially under franny poo and with Freeman out for the season that leaves a sizable void in their paint D........
my question is whether or not BU and staff recognize that advantage and plan their game strategy that way...........we are a terrible 3 point shooting team and must realize that before this season is over...............we need to change a lot of things for immediate success now to actually GET SELECTED FOR THE NCAA TOURNEY........
to ignore how close we are to NOT be selected is dangerous and not living in reality.........
I couldn't fathom thinking like this earlier in the season but our play and numerous other factor's has us in a precarious situation right now.....it really really does........
BTW , I listened to the Saturday podcast with Paul Klee on and said there's been a disconnect between KJ and BU based on what he has been told.......is that true ?????
the idiots have never been a defensive power , especially under franny poo and with Freeman out for the season that leaves a sizable void in their paint D........
my question is whether or not BU and staff recognize that advantage and plan their game strategy that way...........we are a terrible 3 point shooting team and must realize that before this season is over...............we need to change a lot of things for immediate success now to actually GET SELECTED FOR THE NCAA TOURNEY........
to ignore how close we are to NOT be selected is dangerous and not living in reality.........
I couldn't fathom thinking like this earlier in the season but our play and numerous other factor's has us in a precarious situation right now.....it really really does........
BTW , I listened to the Saturday podcast with Paul Klee on and said there's been a disconnect between KJ and BU based on what he has been told.......is that true ?????
Coach Brad Underwood Says Illinois Basketball 'Probably Not' Tough Enough
Underwood implied that context was needed, but he admitted that his Illini aren't "handling the moment"
www.si.com
I found this interesting....
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
We are only close to not being selected if the Illini lose out. One win is enough to get the Illini in. The last two weeks have been bad, but the Illini are still in a near lock position to get in the tourney at this point.
Now if Illinois loses out, then they have no business playing in the tournament anyway.
Win tonight, and all pressure should be off. The team just has to get back to playing fundamental basketball...something that has lacked in recent weeks.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I realized last year during all of the TSJ drama and having just had the stress and joy of being a father added to my life on December 21 just before that TSJ story dropped that the value I get from Illini basketball is way more sentimental than driven by cold hard facts. If we spend the whole year ranked, compete for a Big Ten title, get a good seed and get upset in the Second Round, that is NOT the same as being an 11 seed that barely sneaks in and gets lucky vs. a 6 seed and loses in the Second Round ... some people would say the difference is negligible, but I completely disagree. Why?? Because the former comes with status I can enjoy as a fan; it puts in the minds of casual college basketball fans (and most importantly my friends that I get to talk smack to!!) that "Illini Basketball" is a "player" or "relevant" on the national stage. After all, you can't get UPSET if you aren't good enough for it to be a huge surprise, haha.
All that rambling is to say that I will always desperately spin a narrative to save face if I can. If we beat Iowa and somehow knock off Michigan, a 19-11 Illini team welcoming Purdue to a huge game at SFC is more than "rehabilitated" enough to get me to buy back in and craft a narrative how it was just the illness and injuries that derailed us, and now we are gearing up for March. We will be that team that is underseeded because of things out of our control, and no one wants to play a team with our kind of talent! So I agree, I will jump back in 90%, haha. That remaining 10%, unfortunately, is due to some very deeply entrenched fears I have now that this staff will never play to what I see as this team's strengths ... and the odds are HEAVILY in favor of that biting us in March Madness ... if not in the First Round, then almost certainly in the Second Round and ABSOLUTELY by the Sweet Sixteen ... there is just too little margin for error.
If there ever was a game to drive, it's this one. Should feast on the offensive glass as well.
That's how it seems beforehand. They're undermanned and undersized, but will clog the lane and leave our guys to shoot. Basically the recipe for all teams.
Orangetool
Give me back my Afta, heh heh
Coach Brad Underwood Says Illinois Basketball 'Probably Not' Tough Enough
Underwood implied that context was needed, but he admitted that his Illini aren't "handling the moment"
I found this interesting....
I found it to be a Weberesque insult of your own team.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I did not find it to be an insult at all. It is simply a fact that the team is not tough enough right now. A -78 point margin in the last 3 games is evidence of it.
He then went on to say that "he will get them there" stating that "being young and inexperience" is a large driver. That is a much better answer than saying that this is a "tough team". There would be people coming out with pitchforks.
Agreed. Unless you completely ignore the context, the message was constructive.
Who is going to feast on the glass? Usually it’s Morez but he is out. Tomi isn’t 100%.
I have a feeling these practices got them ready for tonight. We will come out with a fire and win this game. ILL
Beat Iowa, Upset Purdue, win 1+ in BTT….totally changes outlook of the teams tourney possibilities.
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Illinois is 44% ATS for the season and 53% ATS at home
Iowa is 39% ATS for the season and 29% ATS away from home
Kenpom has us winning this game 91-80
We should absolutely dominate them on the boards
Since we have a history of letting guys who aren't hot, get hot and have record games, I worry a bit about Dix.
Iowa is 39% ATS for the season and 29% ATS away from home
Kenpom has us winning this game 91-80
We should absolutely dominate them on the boards
Since we have a history of letting guys who aren't hot, get hot and have record games, I worry a bit about Dix.
Not sure if it has been posted elsewhere. If so, I apologize but it is difficult to keep track of the many different threads discussing this topic. However critical we are of Bardo's analysis - and I've been plenty critical at times - he makes a compelling case here. And I hope the staff plays this to the players prior the game tonight. Although, at this point it MAY already be too late. We shall see, I guess.
But…this team is soft. He didn’t go as far as saying that. I can only assume the NIL takes away some fire. Not meant as an insult but reality to when we have all our needs met.
Agreed. We should have the advantage even without Rez. That said, if our opponents don't pack the lane and dare us to shoot threes at this point, I'm not sure what they're doing. Plain and simple, we're just going to have to make some threes at some point.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
You just have to hope that they figure out a way to win tonight, and with the last two regular season games as spread out as they are, get healthier and get a lot of practice time to figure some things out to get ready for the end of season tournaments.
Drive and rebound/put back misses. I'm totally sick of missed 3's resulting in long rebounds by the other team.
Only problem is with the way they have been playing and their schedule the remaining three games.
Tonight looks like the only remotely winnable game. Win and you're in but Iowa is going to score so Illinois better show up.
I will say that it's likely a better matchup for the Illini than most since they aren't very athletic so guy KJ should feast and guys like Riley and Hum should be better.
If they lose tonight though it's going to be ugly since Wolf and Goldin will destroy this team inside and Smith will shred this defense.
the national
- the Front Range
Agee with Bardo here.Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I actually disagree here. That Purdue game is becoming more of a coin flip type of game by the day. Purdue will be coming into Champaign on relatively short rest compared to Illinois, and possibly losing 5 out of their last 6 or worse (they have lost their last 4 games, including the collapse in Bloomington on Sunday).
We will have a better idea of this team after tonight. I am hoping some full team practices will help, along with a consistent game plan that will play to the strengths of this unit.
- Status