Pregame: Illinois vs Texas Tech, Tuesday, November 11th, 7:30pm CT, FS1

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#101      
Ga65
grantlab said:
The frontcourt matchup with Toppin is the feature, but IMO, this game comes down to Boswell vs Anderson.

Also, I really like that TTech gave up 11 offensive boards to Lindenwood and 18 to Sam Houston St. I think our effort on the defensive glass is what’s going to be the difference maker.
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Would have liked healthy Tomi as Z not as good a rebounder and definitely not as strong. Seems like you are out of position to rebound when you jump to block the shot. Would be an interesting stat to know how many blocked shot rebounds end up with the offensive team.
Have had a run of healthy teams until last year. Four players out is big, particularly when 3/4 would be part of eight man rotation. 6/13 losses last year had a man missing (4 of those Tomi) and believe several more when people playing sick.
Playing short doesn’t seem to affect the rankings or end of year positioning.
 
#102      
LouHenson
NarrowJ said:
Are we talking if you can lose a home game and win a NC, or if you can lose a home game and get a 1 seed? Haven’t followed the entire convo, so just skimmed through.

Florida’s non-conference opponents last year were basically:

UNC 22-13
Wake Forest 21-11
Florida St 17-15
Virginia 15-17
Arizona St 13-19

And a bunch of cupcakes

Auburn had two home losses last year and got the top overall seed

I mean surely we can lose to a top 10 team and still get a 1?
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It’s all theory and there are no absolutes like “if you lose a home game you can’t get a 1 seed”. My whole point is that in order for illinois (historically) to make the final 4 (and by extension) have a chance for natty, they need to be a 1 seed.

Losing to TT on Tuesday would really hurt their chances of a 1 seed. Again, nothing is absolute or a “must”, but their chances are much better as a 1
 
#103      
eas23
NarrowJ said:
Are we talking if you can lose a home game and win a NC, or if you can lose a home game and get a 1 seed? Haven’t followed the entire convo, so just skimmed through.

Florida’s non-conference opponents last year were basically:

UNC 22-13
Wake Forest 21-11
Florida St 17-15
Virginia 15-17
Arizona St 13-19

And a bunch of cupcakes

Auburn had two home losses last year and got the top overall seed

I mean surely we can lose to a top 10 team and still get a 1?
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Our last #1 seed team was 9-5 in mid January with 3 losses to teams that would finish the season unranked and a 2 point win over Ohio University.
 
#104      
NASchamp
The board is saying basically that if we don’t win on Tuesday there’s no chance for a national championship this year. Must win.
 
#105      
HailtotheChief
It's still a great opportunity. I hope that if without Tomi others take time to grow and mesh. If we can win this game without Tomi that may send a message even more so to the country what we can be with him! Also, I hope Mihailo plays. Dude is cat quick.
 
#106      
I-L-L 1318
HailtotheChief said:
It's still a great opportunity. I hope that if without Tomi others take time to grow and mesh. If we can win this game without Tomi that may send a message even more so to the country what we can be with him! Also, I hope Mihailo plays. Dude is cat quick.
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Mihailo should give us a different offensive look with his ability to push the ball and facilitate. This team has so many ways they can score.
 
#108      
Guest
In regards to the debate about wins at home, etc., doesn’t the committee look more at how a team finishes rather than how they start? Or at least, they put less emphasis on the start. I don’t remember which year, but one year Illinois finished really strong and earned a decent seed. Though I don’t remember exactly how they started the year, but I don’t think it was anything particulary great, just kind of a normal start.
 
#109      
Fighter of the Nightman
Illinialldayeveryday said:
Last team we beat a top 10 type team at home?
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Piotyr said:
Purdue last March.
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Purdue was actually ranked #18 when we beat them last year. Our last victory over a top 10 team at home was vs. #10 Michigan State in 2022. We haven't beat a top ten non-conference team at home since #1 Wake Forest in December 2024. o_O In the last five years, we have had a few frustrating losses to top 10 (or almost in Arizona's case!) teams at home that could have been marquee wins. And it was even sadder because all of these games featured electric crowds and we had a chance to win every single one but faded down the stretch.

2024-2025
L 64-66 vs. #1 Tennessee

2023-2024
L 71-77 vs. #3 Purdue
L 64-71 vs. #4 Marquette

2021-2022
L 88-96 in 2OT vs. #4 Purdue
L 79-83 vs. #11 Arizona

People are probably correct that this isn't a "must win" by itself in terms of a resume ... but it IS a must win for re-establishing the aura of Champaign as a place where teams just don't come in and walk out with a victory.
 
#110      
hoopsfan47
Have not been anticipating a game like Tues. night since '05 Wake Forest. Underwood has a tall task to fit the pieces together, but these kids seem to listen and follow. With BU pulling the strings on the bench and Kylan providing the leadership and confidence to his mates on the court, there seems to be a more common buy in and goal as a team than in any other year since '05.

Of course, this could all explode if TT hits their first three from the arc and Z picks up two quick fouls. Can never predict college hoops. But the ceiling is infinite and a good 2 hours of battle should keep all Illini fans entranced. Go Illini!!!!
 
#111      
band camp
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Purdue was actually ranked #18 when we beat them last year. Our last victory over a top 10 team at home was vs. #10 Michigan State in 2022. We haven't beat a top ten non-conference team at home since #1 Wake Forest in December 2024. o_O In the last five years, we have had a few frustrating losses to top 10 (or almost in Arizona's case!) teams at home that could have been marquee wins. And it was even sadder because all of these games featured electric crowds and we had a chance to win every single one but faded down the stretch.

2024-2025
L 64-66 vs. #1 Tennessee

2023-2024
L 71-77 vs. #3 Purdue
L 64-71 vs. #4 Marquette

2021-2022
L 88-96 in 2OT vs. #4 Purdue
L 79-83 vs. #11 Arizona

People are probably correct that this isn't a "must win" by itself in terms of a resume ... but it IS a must win for re-establishing the aura of Champaign as a place where teams just don't come in and walk out with a victory.
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'04?
 
#113      
LouHenson
Has there been any further information on Tomi’s knee injury? You would think there would be a better knowledge of the severity at this point?
 
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#114      
foby
Doesn't matter if it is or not a must win...

Make it a just win.
 
#115      
GrayGhost77
band camp said:
'04?
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Forget it he's rolling.

with GIF
 
#116      
PasadenaIllini
NarrowJ said:
Are we talking if you can lose a home game and win a NC, or if you can lose a home game and get a 1 seed? Haven’t followed the entire convo, so just skimmed through.

Florida’s non-conference opponents last year were basically:

UNC 22-13
Wake Forest 21-11
Florida St 17-15
Virginia 15-17
Arizona St 13-19

And a bunch of cupcakes

Auburn had two home losses last year and got the top overall seed

I mean surely we can lose to a top 10 team and still get a 1?
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It might be important to note that Florida and Auburn finished 1 and 2 in a conference that included:

# 5 Tennessee
# 6 Alabama
# 12 Kentucky
#18 Ole Miss
# 19 Texas A &M
#20 Arkansas

Not to mention NCAA tourney teams Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi State

Our conference is decent, but it doesn't include anywhere near this sort of strength of schedule.
 
#117      
NarrowJ
PasadenaIllini said:
It might be important to note that Florida and Auburn finished 1 and 2 in a conference that included:

# 5 Tennessee
# 6 Alabama
# 12 Kentucky
#18 Ole Miss
# 19 Texas A &M
#20 Arkansas

Not to mention NCAA tourney teams Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi State

Our conference is decent, but it doesn't include anywhere near this sort of strength of schedule.
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Actually, as someone just posted, ESPN is calling B1G the best conference this year. No issues there imo.

We also loaded up in the non-conf slate… opposite of what they did it seems… best of both worlds.

Florida had 6 ranked teams in total on their regular season schedule, we have 9.

Don’t think we’ll have any issues with SOS.
 
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#119      
lstewart53x3
PasadenaIllini said:
It might be important to note that Florida and Auburn finished 1 and 2 in a conference that included:

# 5 Tennessee
# 6 Alabama
# 12 Kentucky
#18 Ole Miss
# 19 Texas A &M
#20 Arkansas

Not to mention NCAA tourney teams Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi State

Our conference is decent, but it doesn't include anywhere near this sort of strength of schedule.
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Last year, Florida played 20 Q1 opponents. Including non-con, we’re scheduled to play (a projected) 17 Q1 opponents. So the B1G isn’t quite as strong as last year’s SEC, but when you combine our non-con, we’ll play a very similarly difficult schedule.
 
#120      
hoopsfan47
Can someone tell me if it is Tues night yet? If not, how much farther is it Daddy? I really am having a tough time waiting for this one....and for Tomi to say "feelin' great coach, put me in"!!!!!
 
#122      
Todd99
RandyfromTuscola said:
How is this game not a sell out? There are still a TON of tickets left. Granted, they are the upper 3-4 rows in most sections, but this is our premier non-conference home game. Maybe Texas Tech is not a sexy team even as a top-10 match-up. If this was unranked Duke, it would've sold out in 1 day.
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Sucks being a football school doesn’t it 🤣 just kidding.

I was looking at SeatGeek earlier, $25-$35 a seat for this game is a steal. I’m sure it will be a packed house.
 
#123      
BrownTown
HailtotheChief said:
He is uber quick and while he may not be a great defenders vs a lot of guards. He does have the speed and quickness to hopefully give Braden Smith a few issues.
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I'd love to have a guard duo of physicality with Boswell, then lightning quick with Mihailo that make Braden guard for the entire 40. (Don't remember him coming out last year).
 
#124      
BrownTown
Anyone else feeling Illinois winning big Tuesday?

Without Tomi and with Andrej and Mihailo just barely getting back into the fold their is little reason to feel as optimistic as I do. But darn it...this team is gonna have a Veteran's day statement win.
 
#125      
GrayGhost77
BrownTown said:
Anyone else feeling Illinois winning big Tuesday?

Without Tomi and with Andrej and Mihailo just barely getting back into the fold their is little reason to feel as optimistic as I do. But darn it...this team is gonna have a Veteran's day statement win.
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I feel like e are going to be surprised as well - in a good way.
 
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