Pregame: Illinois vs Wisconsin, Tuesday, December 10th, 8:00pm CT, Peacock
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FWIW....
Torvik does projected conference records and this is how tight he has it. I didn't feel like writing out the teams, mainly because it's so early that who is where will fluctuate.
13-7 2 teams
12-8 5 teams (including us)
11-9 2 teams
That's 9 teams at the top only separated by 2 games. If our goal is 13-7, an easy way to see if we are staying on track is separate the schedule into 5 game blocks. We need to go 3-2 in 3 of the blocks and 4-1 in 1 block. Here is our current 5 game block.
@NW
Wisconsin
@Oregon
@Wash
PSU
With all the road games I'd say 3-2 is good for this block, there are couple easier blocks to go 4-1 in. I definitely don't want to count on getting a win in Eugene, so to stay on schedule we really need to beat Wisconsin.
Torvik does projected conference records and this is how tight he has it. I didn't feel like writing out the teams, mainly because it's so early that who is where will fluctuate.
13-7 2 teams
12-8 5 teams (including us)
11-9 2 teams
That's 9 teams at the top only separated by 2 games. If our goal is 13-7, an easy way to see if we are staying on track is separate the schedule into 5 game blocks. We need to go 3-2 in 3 of the blocks and 4-1 in 1 block. Here is our current 5 game block.
@NW
Wisconsin
@Oregon
@Wash
PSU
With all the road games I'd say 3-2 is good for this block, there are couple easier blocks to go 4-1 in. I definitely don't want to count on getting a win in Eugene, so to stay on schedule we really need to beat Wisconsin.
That's a fair way to look at it. The next block of games includes back to back road games at IU and MSU. Possible if not probable that we're looking at 6-4 or 5-5 before we get on track in late January.
Yes NU got the game to be played at the pace that favored them with the officials help. By allowing them to play so physical and not calling fouls for the first ten minutes it really slowed the game down.
When I was young I knew that one day I’d be too old for this, too. So I took Horace Greeley’s advice …
Fortunately I'm retired and don't have to be anywhere until 10:00.
Ben H will go 5-8 in the first half, and then spend most of the second on the bench. It sometimes feels like that kind of year as well.
Gastby’s a decent place to watch the Illini. Birds Nest better bar but haven’t seen what the Illini set up looks like. Great restaurant/Bar with awesome screens is actually Hey Nonny, but less barry than restraunty set up. Cortland’s garage will have games on but food is weak
Awesome, thanks so much!
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
I fear an 0-2 start to the BIG season.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Just turned 75 in Florida. Fell asleep midway second half of NW, but that can be a blessing. Hard to fall asleep AFTER a NW loss, better to get the bad news in the morning
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
After Friday night, I don't expect that for any game moving forward.
I think the Wisconsin game will tell us what these guys are made of. The upcoming schedule with Oregon, Tennessee and Mizzou will define their season. Watched Mizzou a couple of times this year, had mixed feelings about them until the Kansas game. They are physical, run well and hit the boards. Not sure the Illini can handle them.
Remember its futile to use single game results as transitive to season-long performance. Mizzou also lost to a Memphis team that got boatraced by Arkansas State at home, barely beat a 2-8 Eastern Michigan team and also nearly lost to a sub-100 Cal team. Northwestern is on the cusp of Q1, and will undoubtedly climb up there. That one is not going to be a bad loss.
Random thought as I think of this game:
Are we overmatched physically? Outside of Morez, I'm trying to think of how many 'and-1' attempts we have had. Granted, taking lots of threes hinders these chances (tho early on Riley kicked his legs out on threes to draw them).
We are young. Underwood can want grit, but when you are physically out matched, grit only gets you so far. Seems NW was just too tough and banged their way to victory. Thiero for Arkansas was dominant physically. We are just more finesse.
I haven't watched a Wisconsin game yet this year, but if they are mature, "grown men" I think we will have our hands full.
Are we overmatched physically? Outside of Morez, I'm trying to think of how many 'and-1' attempts we have had. Granted, taking lots of threes hinders these chances (tho early on Riley kicked his legs out on threes to draw them).
We are young. Underwood can want grit, but when you are physically out matched, grit only gets you so far. Seems NW was just too tough and banged their way to victory. Thiero for Arkansas was dominant physically. We are just more finesse.
I haven't watched a Wisconsin game yet this year, but if they are mature, "grown men" I think we will have our hands full.
Ugh these 8pm starts are just brutal for old hags like myself!!
These are great for those of us with kids! I still have to start the recording at 830
(and keep my phone off)This game is big. I get that it's early and only one game but if we lose tomorrow night it's not hard to begin seeing a bubbilicous rest of the year such as...
Tennessee - L
Missouri - L
Chicago St - W
@Oregon - L
We'll be 7-6 starting the year and the path to the end of the year starts looking like 18 wins.
Tennessee - L
Missouri - L
Chicago St - W
@Oregon - L
We'll be 7-6 starting the year and the path to the end of the year starts looking like 18 wins.
Appears Brad has been reading what everyone on Loyalty has already stated
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Bigtex
- DFW
The question the reporter should have asked not specific to Ben H. In the future when you have a shooter not making shots, will you make any changes in playing time for that game?
Also the comments on this board is how horrible Ben was/is on defense. Coach said "Ben played great. Our highest rated Defensive guy"
I agree that 1-3 in those 4 games you highlighted is a very real possibility. And not to beat a dead horse, but I think we just need to be patient and see what we look like in late Januray or early Feb. That's when I expect that we'll either turn the corner and look like a legit threat to make a deep run in March or...we won't.
I'm expecting an arc similar to 2020. We were 9-5 on January 2 and finished the season ranked ap #21. Of course the 2023 arc still looms as a possibility, too.
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