Not really certain how AA teams are chosen, but if TSJ’s court case isn’t dropped or won by time voting takes place, right or wrong I think he might need an incredible second half to garner AA status.
Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Sunday, January 21st, 12:00pm CT, BTN
- Status
UConn has a pretty different look with Clingan and Newton vs our Hawk and Ty. Karaban vs Q would seem pretty even but like TJ and Marcus over Spencer and Castle. Think they do have more depth with Johnson, Diarra, and Ball but Dain, Harmon and Luke probably equivalent. Be nice if Hansberry was healthy because he would be more interchangeable with Hawk vs difference with Dain.
Houston is scary good. Statistically their defense is an outlier.
UConn is a good team so is Purdue so is Kansas.
I’d probably place those 4 as 1 seeds, but could see an SEC team, Tennessee, or Auburn displace one of the two Big 12 teams. Just don’t believe Arizona is all that good even though statistically they are.
To me, finish strong and UI is a 2 seed.
Play like they did against Maryland again and who knows how far the team drops. With only Wisconsin and Purdue being top ranked teams bad losses will really hurt their seeding….
Bottom line must destroy Rutgers!
UConn is a good team so is Purdue so is Kansas.
I’d probably place those 4 as 1 seeds, but could see an SEC team, Tennessee, or Auburn displace one of the two Big 12 teams. Just don’t believe Arizona is all that good even though statistically they are.
To me, finish strong and UI is a 2 seed.
Play like they did against Maryland again and who knows how far the team drops. With only Wisconsin and Purdue being top ranked teams bad losses will really hurt their seeding….
Bottom line must destroy Rutgers!
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Yep, that’s where it boils down!
Dan
Admin
Brad Underwood previews Rutgers press conference, this morning around 10:30am CT
fightingillini.com
Brad Underwood Press Conference
Video: Brad Underwood Press Conference. Men's Basketball
fightingillini.com
Houston is a good team but they don't scare me a ton because they're midgets. Illini would have a ton of matchup problems for them. Also they played a cupcake non-conference schedule.
I respect the confidence and Coleman has been playing his best ball the last few weeks but any good team with a dominant big man is a bit of a matchup problem. Luckily there isn't a ton of great bigs though.
Some examples though would be UCONN with Clingan, UNC with Bacot, Creighton and Kalkbrenner, etc.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
He won't start. He hasn't been to team practices in nearly a month. I'll take the under.
Especially with all the short turn around games coming up. Need to be smart about getting TSJ back up to game speed and endurance.
Good news is it is Rutgers - great team to ease back one of the best players in the country. This is great timing as he will be back to all American status for the home stretch and March Madness. Couldn’t have timed this ruling any better.
This could be a trap game. Rutgers always gives us fits, and the club might be pretty distracted with tsj's return and how each one fits into the offense now that papa bear has returned. We're inserting a 20+ game scored into a mighly meshed team that really has it rolling. Stepping back and deferring would not result in a good outcome.
Stay focused Illini! Don't need another Maryland...
Stay focused Illini! Don't need another Maryland...
He just isn't interested enough in the Illini to pay attention or watch any of our games ... he was saying similar stuff last year, with the same "kid giving a book report who obviously hasn't read the book" vibe
Galvanized. Mature. They don't have enough firepower.
Illini: 90
Rutgers: 64
Illini: 90
Rutgers: 64
Very excited to see him play tomorrow
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
I will take the over, but only by a minute
)
To start or not to start. I believe TSJ will play (and probably play starter's minutes or close to) but I don't think he will start and the reason is a very mundane one. I believe that most teams have certain team rules and one of them is that if you don't make practice(s) you don't start. No excuses (except possibly if one is sick and produces a doctor's note). But he will come off the bench soon enough. Unless, of course, they make this an exception to the rule. Or he files for an injunction against the team rule. Just kidding. However, I would think one of the insiders would have mentioned something about any team rule concerning missing practice that would preclude starting.
I'm more interested in TJ as a stopper on defense than an impact on offense right now.
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