Pregame: Illinois vs Minnesota, Saturday, February 4th, 3:00pm CT, BTN

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#1      

Dan

Admin
Illinois vs Minnesota
Saturday, February 4th
3:00pm CT
BTN

:illinois:
 
#3      
Well, this is another chance for a decent win, but I think Lynch shuts down Mav, and Coffee/Mason are the best guards on the floor easily. Hard for me to be optimistic.
 
#4      

GortTheRobot

North Bethesda, Maryland
Just listened to Greg Gard's postgame with Jon Crispin: He demonstrated more BBall knowledge in 20 seconds than I have heard from our staff all year.
 
#8      
We beat Minny or it's curtains.
I'm no bracketologist, but I had already internalized the notion that we had already passed the point of no return. Taking a second look at our remaining schedule and considering the national love NW is getting, I do see I have to backtrack on that.

If we can't do it during the regular season, then there's always the BTT. =PPP
 
#11      
Is it sad that I am still looking at the schedule thinking we can get ourselves in? As long as the team is still playing hard I will remain optimistic. 7-1 is our goal. I'll predict our 1 loss is @NW on a buzzer beater.

But if we lose this one I promise I will stop.
 
#12      
Will be another loss. Team is completely lost and the lack of any coaching is showing more and more with each passing game.
 
#13      

blmillini

Bloomington, IL
Is it sad that I am still looking at the schedule thinking we can get ourselves in? As long as the team is still playing hard I will remain optimistic. 7-1 is our goal. I'll predict our 1 loss is @NW on a buzzer beater.

But if we lose this one I promise I will stop.

It is good to dream
 
#14      
Is it sad that I am still looking at the schedule thinking we can get ourselves in? As long as the team is still playing hard I will remain optimistic. 7-1 is our goal. I'll predict our 1 loss is @NW on a buzzer beater.

But if we lose this one I promise I will stop.

I'll have some of the kool aid you are drinking. Make it a double.
Much better chance of going 1-7 with most of the games being no competition.
 
#15      

BlindLoyalty

FartNoiseMotivation
Gophers are on a 5 game losing streak and have 1 week to prepare. Minnesota has the easiest schedule the rest of the way. Groce vs Pitino ladder match.
 
#17      
Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I don't recall seeing it.
"Tourney or bust" is the mantra I've heard bandied about. It would be interesting to see what those voices started to proclaim in the unlikely scenario that we do end up continuing to soil the sheets in the conference season but win the BTT.

Personally, I'm going to stick with the "tourney or bust" gun. Even considering the mediocrity of the past several seasons, firing a coach on a hot streak with a great incoming class would at least feel pretty rotten.
 
#18      

Deleted member 11241

D
Guest
Making the 3 hr trip up this weekend. Please, Illini, make this trip worth my time
 
#19      

illini80

Forgottonia
I'm in the minority I guess, but I think we win this one. Minny is struggling and on the road I think we can keep them there.
 
#20      
If there was any year for a lower seed to win the BTT, this is it. Outside of Rutgers, everyone has enough to at least compete. Plus there are no elite teams. Why not us?

And to add on....what if we end up under .500 in conference but win the BTT? Does Groce keep his job? Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I don't recall seeing it.

Maybe this has been basketball genius JG's plan all along..... Take a team with some talent and experience and make them look totally inept for an entire Big Ten schedule. Make it look like we are unable to play defense and run a vanilla offense that has no scheme or fluidity.

We then go into the BTT and totally tear it up!! We go into the NCAA's on a roll and teams are totally on their heels as none of their Illini film from this year looks like the juggernaut JG has unleashed on college basketball.... We sweep through the tourney and win our first national title with Tate hitting six 3's, our defense has 9 blocks, and Mav dunking at will in the championship game!! Groce win's coach of the year and a statue is erected outside SFC.

Nevermind...... :tsk::tsk::tsk:

Minny 70- Illini 62
 
#21      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
I've tried to remain optimistic at this same point of each of the last 3 seasons. Not anymore. We're done and may not win 2 more games. This could be one of them, but this team is unlikely to play after the BTT.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#22      
Going to the game.

If they lose this one, I will not watch a game the rest of the year. I don't care how much people think Minny has improved. They won 8 games last year total. There is no way an above average recruiting class and that baby faced oversized child roaming their sidelines can fix that in one year.
 
#23      
2 Coaching lightweights going at it. We are at home. I think we win it.
 
#24      

Konnie

Western Suburbs
Coming down from Chicago for the game. Planning on two good things: a late lunch at Papa Del’s and an Illini victory.
 
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