If we play like we did against Penn St, the boo birds will be out in full force
Pregame: Illinois vs Wisconsin, Saturday, January 7th, 12:30pm CT, ESPN2
- Status
I'm still optimistic. This team still has a really high ceiling. I think the confidence just isn't there right now. They are trying to figure things out in practice and it isn't translating to games. But if they can string together 2 or 3 wins in a row, I still think they could take over and make this a fun season. Just need to find that confidence.
Look at Michigan. They lost to CMU, and have really been struggling. All of a sudden they beat Maryland and PSU back to back.
We are still favored in the next 5 games on torvik. Let's get this thing rolling right now.
I was there..UCLA game was a fluke looking back but that Virginia game we looked legit. I think this game is very winnable (more so that Northwestern) because of how Wisconsin plays D.
I know +/- is a fairly rudimentary stat, but given how this team is prone to the ridiculous runs that they give up I wonder if there is some correlation with one or two players.
For some though I can't find a season total for it though.
For some though I can't find a season total for it though.
The last time I was this down on Illinois basketball was winter 2019.
Ayo, Trent, Giorgi, Kofi - I had high expectations for that team. They started that season needing OT to beat Nicholls St. Then went on to get beat by Arizona in November, before losing to Miami, Maryland, and Missouri in December. By January, we were sitting at 9-4 with only 1 win against a P5 opponent (albeit an impressive one over #5 Michigan). We then traveled to East Lansing on January 2 and got beat by 20. The bottom had seemingly dropped out. I was mad. I was sad. I was threatening to fire Brad Underwood if he didn't turn this thing around in the next 2 seasons. We were talented after all. We should have been winning games.
Then the next time out, 3 years ago today actually, we welcome Purdue to Champaign and absolutely dominated them, winning by 26. The following game, we go up to Madison and win by 1 thanks to some Ayo magic. We go on to finish 21-10 (13-7), capped off by Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer to beat #18 Iowa. And then covid happened.
What I didn't realize about that ugly stretch of basketball that winter, is that BU was in the midst of installing a new defensive scheme (and Ayo was blossoming into an Illini legend). After the turnaround, I felt foolish for doubting Underwood and vowed to give him the benefit of the doubt going forward.
While it's not an apples to apples comparison, I do see a lot of parallels to that season.
I have lots of doubts about where this season is heading, but for now, for at least one more game, I'm going to give BU the benefit of that doubt and trust that he'll right this mess.
Hope springs eternal.
May this be our Purdue game.
Ayo, Trent, Giorgi, Kofi - I had high expectations for that team. They started that season needing OT to beat Nicholls St. Then went on to get beat by Arizona in November, before losing to Miami, Maryland, and Missouri in December. By January, we were sitting at 9-4 with only 1 win against a P5 opponent (albeit an impressive one over #5 Michigan). We then traveled to East Lansing on January 2 and got beat by 20. The bottom had seemingly dropped out. I was mad. I was sad. I was threatening to fire Brad Underwood if he didn't turn this thing around in the next 2 seasons. We were talented after all. We should have been winning games.
Then the next time out, 3 years ago today actually, we welcome Purdue to Champaign and absolutely dominated them, winning by 26. The following game, we go up to Madison and win by 1 thanks to some Ayo magic. We go on to finish 21-10 (13-7), capped off by Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer to beat #18 Iowa. And then covid happened.
What I didn't realize about that ugly stretch of basketball that winter, is that BU was in the midst of installing a new defensive scheme (and Ayo was blossoming into an Illini legend). After the turnaround, I felt foolish for doubting Underwood and vowed to give him the benefit of the doubt going forward.
While it's not an apples to apples comparison, I do see a lot of parallels to that season.
I have lots of doubts about where this season is heading, but for now, for at least one more game, I'm going to give BU the benefit of that doubt and trust that he'll right this mess.
Hope springs eternal.
May this be our Purdue game.
Hey Josh
In my own mind, I'm a player, coach, AD, beat writer, and our #1 fan.
It's exhausting.
Which is why we need to win this game-top 15 win, would be our third on the season and that keeps our resume in tact
These guys deserve the befit of the doubt.
This is not a must win game - none are at this time of the season, but it is definitely an important one. I think if we can shoot decently, we can put them away. Last year Kofi destroyed them in Champaign, so maybe we look for Dainja as a focus.
Of course I'd love for us to win, but I just don't see how. We're a mess offensively and defensively, and not in ways you can fix in a few days. Shot selection, flow, togetherness, effort, shooting woes, attitude, coach's methods being tuned out, lack of on court or locker room leadership ... it just goes on and on.
Our losses to these so-called "easier" teams have not been close: Missouri, Penn State, Northwestern?? OMG these are not powerhouses.
Why have we fallen so far so fast? There are so many answers to this as to render the argument moot. It's a lot, and I just don't see enough components getting fixed to beat Wisconsin.
A possibility I guess would be for ONE or (God help us) TWO of our shooters to get hot. That and a stellar effort on defense could do it for this game. One can only hope because my expectations are in the dump.
Our losses to these so-called "easier" teams have not been close: Missouri, Penn State, Northwestern?? OMG these are not powerhouses.
Why have we fallen so far so fast? There are so many answers to this as to render the argument moot. It's a lot, and I just don't see enough components getting fixed to beat Wisconsin.
A possibility I guess would be for ONE or (God help us) TWO of our shooters to get hot. That and a stellar effort on defense could do it for this game. One can only hope because my expectations are in the dump.
I think this would be smart. When Dainja does get the ball it almost seems like it was by accident rather than the players making a concerted effort to get him the ball. Wouldn't mind seeing him become a more focal point of our offense. Especially since we're struggling to drive it right now. We need to get some inside out action somehow.
I’m hoping we are up for this game, but Wisconsin backs people down in the post to draw fouls and also runs good actions off ball to get open shots for their shooters.
We are currently a foul machine prone to falling asleep defensively, particularly off ball.
Could see this as a repeat of NW with a parade to the free throw line, but with a much better 3 pt shooting team.
We are currently a foul machine prone to falling asleep defensively, particularly off ball.
Could see this as a repeat of NW with a parade to the free throw line, but with a much better 3 pt shooting team.
If we come out and shoot 15 3's in the first half (like we've been doing the last 5 games), we lose this one by 20+ and the coaching staff definitely needs to be placed on the hot seat. This is a game we should make feeding the ball to Dainja and driving to the basket the game plan. If not, I don't know what else to tell them. Can they implement that in two days? I have my doubts.
OnlyOrange
- Belleville, IL
75-52 UW
Confidence? Nah. But the game of basketball is goofy sometimes. It's possible that Mayer drops 6 threes and TSJ isn't bad on Saturday, somehow leading to a W.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Yep. We will get hot in game soon and look really good. Our poor shooting really affects our energy. I'm just not sure this team has it in them to live or die by the 3 because we are mostly dying by it and I don't understand why Underwood doesn't recognize that. Goode coming back soon will help, but if we have 5 guys standing around 30 ft from the basket, he won't get any good looks either.
I agree. Our only "bad" loss is a conference loss at home. We could probably go 10-10 and still make the tourney. Nothing to write home about, but it gives you a shot. I would much prefer a hot streak and a 14-6 type finish, but who knows with this group.
Ehhh, plenty of quality wins left on the schedule to say we need this one for the resume.
Wisconsin is NET 54th. Our last game against NW (NET 58) and our next game at MSU (NET 57) would actually be better resume builders.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Lol, and yet it's true! The real story is that, with each new loss, the ceiling for our season drops even further.
Winning last night in Evanston and looking competent could reinvigorate our conference championship hopes ... after all, 1-2 in-conference really isn't that big of a hole, and a road win like that could spark some momentum. Because we lost, I think most of us now view that as a pipedream barring an absolutely astounding turnaround that seemingly comes out of nowhere.
The new stake seems to be getting ANY kind of decent Tournament seed (staying out of the 8/9 games...), and I think we need to score this Quad 2 win at home on Saturday to (1) keep our resume afloat and (2) prove to ourselves that we can get a win when our backs are TRULY against the wall...
Keep it up, and we will eventually be playing to stay off the Bubble ... then to stay on the right SIDE of the Bubble. I don't even want to think how bad it will be if we are to the point of having no shot at the Tournament. That's pretty scary.
CAIllini
- West Coast
Man, I'm torn. I love the Illini, especially hoops, but don't like how it impacts my mood/day at this point. While it can bring great joy, it also heaps on the sorrow...a bit of a self-reflection post below. Wondering how others Illini fanatics "deal" with it, and when/how you chose to step back a bit in your fandom or lean deeper into it?
I think I'm going to look at hoops games differently going forward this season starting this weekend with Wisconsin as my expectations have changed a good deal, even though all hope is not lost. I no longer expect us to challenge for the BIG, nor go super deep in the tourney (hope I'm wrong!) A good goal should be to return to respectable basketball the team and fans can be proud of again and make the post season. For now I'm hoping to see some improvement in team ball and effort/hustle from game to game.
Probably similar to many others on here I'm thinking I can't get as hyped up so much pre-game as the inevitable emotional crash and in-game watching frustration/depression is unhealthy with the current incarnation of this team.
I'm planning to go into what had traditionally been my "Illini football mode" by every mid-season in losing years, where I'll DVR the game and start sometime mid game or even after the result and fast forward through each snap/commercial (the hoops version skipping the free-throws/timeouts). Less emotional build-up; less frustration. Looking for positive signs to be happy about, and hopefully not impacting the rest of my day which emotional losses can tend to do. I've never reverted to this in a hoops season, but it may be time.
To be clear, I'd much rather be in peak live/die with every moment, watch evert minute live with the game thread up, soak in all the pre/post game content mode that I had hoped this team would make enjoyable...but for now I think I need to manage my blood pressure
Here's hoping I can get back to full-viral fan mode by the end of the season as our chemistry and effort improves, but if it doesn't well things could easily go further off the rails. Up to the players and coaches from here I suppose as usual; as a fan I might need to ratchet my commitment back a bit...
Anyone else struggle with this dynamic of wanting to fully support vs. managing mental health? I know many of your are much more involved/passionate so can only imagine your mood swings. Tips on staying positive & engaged from any die-hard super-fans out there?
I'm sure Pru will recommend the herb
I think I'm going to look at hoops games differently going forward this season starting this weekend with Wisconsin as my expectations have changed a good deal, even though all hope is not lost. I no longer expect us to challenge for the BIG, nor go super deep in the tourney (hope I'm wrong!) A good goal should be to return to respectable basketball the team and fans can be proud of again and make the post season. For now I'm hoping to see some improvement in team ball and effort/hustle from game to game.
Probably similar to many others on here I'm thinking I can't get as hyped up so much pre-game as the inevitable emotional crash and in-game watching frustration/depression is unhealthy with the current incarnation of this team.
I'm planning to go into what had traditionally been my "Illini football mode" by every mid-season in losing years, where I'll DVR the game and start sometime mid game or even after the result and fast forward through each snap/commercial (the hoops version skipping the free-throws/timeouts). Less emotional build-up; less frustration. Looking for positive signs to be happy about, and hopefully not impacting the rest of my day which emotional losses can tend to do. I've never reverted to this in a hoops season, but it may be time.
To be clear, I'd much rather be in peak live/die with every moment, watch evert minute live with the game thread up, soak in all the pre/post game content mode that I had hoped this team would make enjoyable...but for now I think I need to manage my blood pressure
Here's hoping I can get back to full-viral fan mode by the end of the season as our chemistry and effort improves, but if it doesn't well things could easily go further off the rails. Up to the players and coaches from here I suppose as usual; as a fan I might need to ratchet my commitment back a bit...
Anyone else struggle with this dynamic of wanting to fully support vs. managing mental health? I know many of your are much more involved/passionate so can only imagine your mood swings. Tips on staying positive & engaged from any die-hard super-fans out there?
I'm sure Pru will recommend the herb
You mean besides a couple years back when Lando Tucker tried to take it over and Gard lost a season? These seasons can happen to anyone.
Hell K and Roy missed the 2020 tournament.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Man, I'm torn. I love the Illini, especially hoops, but don't like how it impacts my mood/day at this point. While it can bring great joy, it also heaps on the sorrow...a bit of a self-reflection post below. Wondering how others Illini fanatics "deal" with it, and when/how you chose to step back a bit in your fandom or lean deeper into it?
I think I'm going to look at hoops games differently going forward this season starting this weekend with Wisconsin as my expectations have changed a good deal, even though all hope is not lost. I no longer expect us to challenge for the BIG, nor go super deep in the tourney (hope I'm wrong!) A good goal should be to return to respectable basketball the team and fans can be proud of again and make the post season. For now I'm hoping to see some improvement in team ball and effort/hustle from game to game.
Probably similar to many others on here I'm thinking I can't get as hyped up so much pre-game as the inevitable emotional crash and in-game watching frustration/depression is unhealthy with the current incarnation of this team.
I'm planning to go into what had traditionally been my "Illini football mode" by every mid-season in losing years, where I'll DVR the game and start sometime mid game or even after the result and fast forward through each snap/commercial (the hoops version skipping the free-throws/timeouts). Less emotional build-up; less frustration. Looking for positive signs to be happy about, and hopefully not impacting the rest of my day which emotional losses can tend to do. I've never reverted to this in a hoops season, but it may be time.
To be clear, I'd much rather be in peak live/die with every moment, watch evert minute live with the game thread up, soak in all the pre/post game content mode that I had hoped this team would make enjoyable...but for now I think I need to manage my blood pressure
Here's hoping I can get back to full-viral fan mode by the end of the season as our chemistry and effort improves, but if it doesn't well things could easily go further off the rails. Up to the players and coaches from here I suppose as usual; as a fan I might need to ratchet my commitment back a bit...
Anyone else struggle with this dynamic of wanting to fully support vs. managing mental health? I know many of your are much more involved/passionate so can only imagine your mood swings. Tips on staying positive & engaged from any die-hard super-fans out there?
I'm sure Pru will recommend the herb
I guess the good thing about this jekyll & hyde team is our seeding really shouldn't matter too much. We have the talent to make a Final 4 as a 9 or 10 seed, if we can get clicking. And on the flip side, we have the inconsistency to get upset by a 14 seed.
- Status