Pregame: Illinois vs Washington, Thursday, January 29th, 8:00pm CT, FS1

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#154      
mysterio2525
illinoistradition said:
I'm starting to suspect that Illinois fans don't know what to do with themselves because the basketball team is in the top 10 and the football team has won 19 games over the last two years. So now it is resulting in people debating really dumb things.
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people debating dumb things about things they care about..... first time on the Internet?
 
#157      
skyIdub
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I love this team and what they are accomplishing/can/will accomplish, but comparing them to two of the greatest teams, not just in Illinois basketball history, but in all of CBB history is just flat out obnoxiously hilarious.

Keep the laughs coming Loyalty!
 
#158      
Illinirog70
Retro62 said:
I agree with most of this, but better than ‘89? I don’t know about that. That was the greatest Illinois team I’ve ever seen and should have won the title. However, I do think this team is capable of greatness when they play as you suggest.

Oh, and beat Washington.
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I love, love, LOVE the '89 team, the '05 and this team! Each has its limitations and its GREAT pluses.

The '89 team had one starter taller than 6'6" and that was Bardo the point guard (BTW they went 8 deep with Larry Smith, Marcus Liberty and Earvin Small all able to make strong contributions off the bench.) The toughness of Battle and Anderson was unmatched. Their game at Indiana was an all-time classic.

The '05 team had three great scorers in the back court and two 6'9" rebounders up front and played as a wonderful unit. But they weren't deep. Their game against Number one Wake Forest is an all-time favorite (I still watch it from time to time.)

This team is an all-time great one too with one special player. They are really deep and have given us an all-time classic already and they'll have to finish strong to match the other two Final Four teams, both of whom should have/could have won the National Championship.

One better than the others? Wow that's a tough one! Being a fan for almost 70 years, I love them all DEEPLY. Different eras. Much pleasure. I've enjoyed them all.... Glad they've made my history!
 
#160      
Hessel Blvd
Thank '89 team was freakin connected. It was ACTUALLY a team, watching them was like watching an amoeba. All part of one unit. I think they would have a tough time with this year's team, but I can't imaging that hypothetical game being anything besides a pick-em
 
#162      
bbpeoria
AirTran said:
As for the "eye test" you need to have your eyes checked.

I can proudly say that I have seen every Illini basketball game that has been televised on cable/sattelite since they started. When I lived in the Chicago area I attended 6-10 games per year. My first Illini game was Jan 29, 1967 at Chicago Stadium.

I went to 6 games in the '89 season and more than that in 2005. I have been able to meet a couple members of the '89 team and several players from '07 - '12.

So let's be clear, the '89 team only had 7 players. Same with the 2005 team. 1989 team was better than the '05 team, but that's only because college basketball overall was better in '89. The '89 group had speed, athleticism and tenacity. They could also shoot 3s when they had to and they shot them better than the '05 team and better than the 2026 team. The '89 team had the best defense we have ever had.

But the '89 team did not have depth, they didn't rebound as well as this team, they didn't shoot foul shots as well as this team and they turned the ball over far more than the 2025 and 2005 team. One other ENORMOUS Difference between the 2025 team and the other 2. Every one of the players we put on the floor can shoot 3 point shots and therefore have to be guarded. That completely changes what this team can do offensively on each possession.

BTW those are facts and my eyes are fine. This team can play inside and out and completely change their offensive set depending on the match ups they get. Neither the '05 or the '89 team could do that and that is why they lost the games they lost.

When this team has Kylan Boswell on the floor and uses 8 - 9 players, they are at times the best team Illinois has ever had. They can play lock - down defense with Boswell, Stojakovic, Mirkovic able to play serious MTM and the Ivisic bothers both able to block shots. The difference here is that the 2026 team doesn't play lock down defense for 40 minutes. That's a mystery to me.
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I’m with Germanboxers on this one. You could argue this team is the best of the Underwood era (debatable but still) but this team is not in same ballpark as ‘89 or ‘05 imo. You could argue this team is taller, deeper or possibly even better shooters ( very debatable w 05) but certainly not better as a whole
 
#163      
AirTran
Keaton played great - and the team won the game on the road. They get to show what they have on Sunday, but Thursday comes first.
 
#164      
Se Il Illini
With all things being equal, when you have the best player on the floor, you have a great chance to win. Just an observation from watching over 6 decades of basketball at all levels.
 
#165      
rjeffreys
Short answer. TBD, lets circle back at season end. If Natty, then definitely yes the best.
 
#166      
Germanboxers
AirTran said:
As for the "eye test" you need to have your eyes checked.

I can proudly say that I have seen every Illini basketball game that has been televised on cable/sattelite since they started. When I lived in the Chicago area I attended 6-10 games per year. My first Illini game was Jan 29, 1967 at Chicago Stadium.

I went to 6 games in the '89 season and more than that in 2005. I have been able to meet a couple members of the '89 team and several players from '07 - '12.

So let's be clear, the '89 team only had 7 players. Same with the 2005 team. 1989 team was better than the '05 team, but that's only because college basketball overall was better in '89. The '89 group had speed, athleticism and tenacity. They could also shoot 3s when they had to and they shot them better than the '05 team and better than the 2026 team. The '89 team had the best defense we have ever had.

But the '89 team did not have depth, they didn't rebound as well as this team, they didn't shoot foul shots as well as this team and they turned the ball over far more than the 2025 and 2005 team. One other ENORMOUS Difference between the 2025 team and the other 2. Every one of the players we put on the floor can shoot 3 point shots and therefore have to be guarded. That completely changes what this team can do offensively on each possession.

BTW those are facts and my eyes are fine. This team can play inside and out and completely change their offensive set depending on the match ups they get. Neither the '05 or the '89 team could do that and that is why they lost the games they lost.

When this team has Kylan Boswell on the floor and uses 8 - 9 players, they are at times the best team Illinois has ever had. They can play lock - down defense with Boswell, Stojakovic, Mirkovic able to play serious MTM and the Ivisic bothers both able to block shots. The difference here is that the 2026 team doesn't play lock down defense for 40 minutes. That's a mystery to me.
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My eyes are fine. You seem to have taken offense and written a rambling defense of your argument. I graduated in 89. I played in a couple of pickup games with several from the team (Nick, Gill, Bardo, Smith) including one featuring a Nick vs. Mitchel Wiggins battle.

None of that has any bearing on my contention that the ‘89 team had an alpha factor that allowed them to beat top level teams even when the shots weren’t falling. You could feel (and see) it with the ‘89 team if you were there. They were downright intimidating. This team hasn’t shown that yet.

Mirk has the attitude (in spades!), but lacks the athleticism to impose his will. Keaton has that calm confidence. Boswell can be a dog when he locks in. For the rest, I’m not so sure. They all seem to have a high IQ. They like each other. They have fun. Can they get nasty on the defensive end or will the narrative be “it wasn’t our night” when the shots aren’t falling?

Again, I love this team and how it’s constructed. I love their personalities…likable guys. But will they impose their will in a game in which the shots are not falling? That’s what is needed to win a championship because *at least* one game in the tournament will feel like there’s a lid on the basket. That’s what I want for them and for us fans. I’m pretty sure that’s what they want.

I worry that this team’s offensive potential *can* route them, in the heat of the battle, into a belief that they will win by scoring more…even when the shots aren’t falling. If they don’t develop that alpha attitude on the defensive end, their tourney success can be easily upended in any round when the shots aren’t falling.

And I’ll say it again…I love this mf’ng team!!! :):hailtotheorange:
 
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#167      
hoopsfan47
Germanboxers said:
My eyes are fine. You seem to have taken offense and written a rambling defense of your argument. I graduated in 89. I played in a couple of pickup games with several from the team (Nick, Gill, Bardo, Smith) including one featuring a Nick vs. Mitchel Wiggins battle.

None of that has any bearing on my contention that the ‘89 team had an alpha factor that allowed them to beat top level teams even when the shots weren’t falling. You could feel (and see) it with the ‘89 team if you were there. They were downright intimidating. This team hasn’t shown that yet.

Mirk has the attitude (in spades!), but lacks the athleticism to impose his will. Keaton has that calm confidence. Boswell can be a dog when he locks in. For the rest, I’m not so sure. They all seem to have a high IQ. They like each other. They have fun. Can they get nasty on the defensive end or will the narrative be “it wasn’t our night” when the shots aren’t falling?

Again, I love this team and how it’s constructed. I love their personalities…likable guys. But will they impose their will in a game in which the shots are not falling? That’s what is needed to win a championship because *at least* one game in the tournament will feel like there’s a lid on the basket. That’s what I want for them and for us fans. I’m pretty sure that’s what they want.

I worry that this team’s offensive potential *can* route them, in the heat of the battle, into a belief that they will win by scoring more…even when the shots aren’t falling. If they don’t develop that alpha attitude on the defensive end, their tourney success can be easily upended in any round when the shots aren’t falling.

And I’ll say it again…I love this mf’ng team!!! :):hailtotheorange:
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This team always has been and will come up short when compared to the top defensive teams. They are the tallest team in the entire NCAA muddle of over 330 teams. They do not have, especially without Boswell, the ability to stay in front of quick guards....but they are pretty darn good at blocking shots. They are not great at chasing guards with quick feet, excellent handle, and good shooters over screens. But they are getting close to being as effective of a defensive TEAM as they can be by covering for each other, working hard to guard their guy, closing out with as much speed as possible without fouling, and BLOCKING a handful or moire and forcing shots way off target every game.

Early in the season, they were trying to learn to play effective team defense and the shortcomings were noticeable. What we saw against Purdue was a much more effective defense....against the best offensive team in the country not name the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.

Credit and respect for the effort of this team to improve is offered by me. It may not be good enough, but it also is getting closer to the best it can be. Meanwhile...I sincerely hope we can appreciate the offense...it is nothing at which to sneer.
 
#168      
AirTran
Alot of what you say I agree with. Keep in mind one thing. Different from 1989 and 2005, these guys weren't recruited together and they did not have the opportunity to jell as a team over the off season(s) like the '89 and '05 teams. So they have had to learn (as a team) how to play Tyler's (if that's who is really running it) offense and a switching MTM / Zone defense in practice and in games. What impresses me is:

(1) the rebounding at both ends - which comes from positioning, baskeball IQ and following both the offensive and defensive schemes,
(2) Take a look at the shot charts at the end of the game (offensive and defensive) it shows which team is impressing its will on the other,
(3) The low number of turnovers (and the few number of steals) given that this team has only been together for a few months,
(4) When these guys are locking down on defense (and that is not all the time), they can actually keep the opponent from getting a shot off.

But most of all the growth as a team over the past 3 months has been quite impressive. I really can't speak to the Alabama game. But if they played UCONN at the Garden today or Nebraska at home - today, different outcome.

One last thing, no one lost their focus or composure and the team kept communicating in West Lafayette. I know we have seen that before with but its been quite a long time.
 
#169      
Grandpa
This team has already lost more games than the 2005 team. You sure they are better?
 
#172      
Bucktown
Illinirog70 said:
The '89 team had one starter taller than 6'6" and that was Bardo the point guard (BTW they went 8 deep with Larry Smith, Marcus Liberty and Earvin Small all able to make strong contributions off the bench.) The toughness of Battle and Anderson was unmatched. Their game at Indiana was an all-time classic.
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Earvin Small made a play or two, but man we were in trouble if he was playing significant minutes.

He was the package deal with Nick from Simeon.
 
#173      
Fly Illini Fly!
Illinirog70 said:
The '89 team had one starter taller than 6'6" and that was Bardo the point guard (BTW they went 8 deep with Larry Smith, Marcus Liberty and Earvin Small all able to make strong contributions off the bench.) The toughness of Battle and Anderson was unmatched. Their game at Indiana was an all-time classic.
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This is not even close to true. Bardo, Liberty, Anderson, Battle, Hamilton were ALL 6"6 or taller.
 
#174      
RML
Piotyr said:
Hey, due to tonight's results, if Illinois wins Thursday, they'll be tied for first in the B1G.
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In some past years, we would lose a game like this. I think this year's team is different.
 
#175      
PNWIllini
illinoistradition said:
I'm starting to suspect that Illinois fans don't know what to do with themselves because the basketball team is in the top 10 and the football team has won 19 games over the last two years. So now it is resulting in people debating really dumb things.
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So how did Hoosier fans handle it.

Is Nebraska’s fanbase in a wave of doubt now that they’ve lost a game?

I dont know. I live in Seattle, the fanbase is going to the Super Bowl, and there isn’t a single naysayer I know of.

When teams win out here, people jump on. No questions. Whether it’s the Huskies or Zags, Mariners, Seahawks or even the Sounders or Storm. The Cougs if you’re a Coug. People just celebrate winning.

My old home town always had a reluctance to do this, and I am seeing some of that play itself out in this very thread.

Just enjoy it guys. You’re winners. The floor needs to be raised. The view becomes a lot better.
 
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