ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
This.
Rutgers 62, Illinois 59 POSTGAME
This.
You nailed it, thanks.
Your account name shows your age
Yep. After 40 years of cheering from the sidelines, shouting at the tv and lurking on the forums I needed to get an account and join the revolution. The beloved have not had 4 straight years this disappointing since Lou took the job.
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The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
Thanks, Bruce Weber!
Deleted member 8632
D
Guest
You guys are hilarious. Groce isn't going anywhere.
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
I keep hearing there should have been no excuses to not make the tourney.
Not to pick on you, Chris, but why do you feel that way?
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Interested in why you've been posting this. Please explain.
FightingIllini09
- Belleville, IL
1. Year 5, hasn't been to the tournament in 4 years
2. Experienced team
3. Probably the most talented team we've had in a while, so the NIT is an absurd underachievement.
4. The B1G is not good this year.
I worry about the recruiting class coming in, but frankly, if he couldn't even MAKE the tournament with these players, what makes you think he'd ever go further after losing one of the better players to ever play at Illinois?
Ugh. The last four minutes of the same terrible offense counting on MH to make the game winning shot he's never made the past four years was the perfect ending to the Groce era.
Back in the 70s it was always 4 on 4 at IMPE.
Well then a lot of long-time fans will be.
Oh! Well, I'll be doggoned. Interesting.
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
1. I agree that it's year 5 and our expectations for where the program should be are high. It has been debated many times the factors that made this a long climb back up.
2. Outside of Hill, which of our experienced players were you counting on being above league average this year? Mav was serviceable at the end of last year, and didn't really step up until the second half of this year. Thorne couldn't even occupy minutes without killing the team. Abrams was coming off of a two year lay-off and was a no-show for most of B1G. Tate is a non-factor at this level. Simply put, our experience was overrated.
3. Don't disagree, but recent years have been down due to bad transfers and/or injuries. This year's "more talented" bunch was still predicted to finish in the bottom 3rd by everyone that closely follows this conference.
4. It's the fourth best conference, ahead of the SEC and Pac12. That means the top of the conference is down, but we are still deep in quality teams.
I DO NOT disagree that Groce should be likely begone, however I do feel he has had a REALLY bad shake on many things out of his control while he's worked to rebuild this program. The timing and severity of Tracy's injuries really crippled the way Groce recruited the PG position, which is the position that has totally held back any success. Heck, even the injury TJL suffered leading into this year set the team back in the 1st half of this season.
So while excuses are weak, there are certainly plenty of them available.
MrOizo
- Chicago
Better than I could have said it:
https://twitter.com/YahooNoise/status/838128471859585024/photo/1
Regarding the stall ball employed down the stretch: "Only Eugene from "The Walking Dead" could've appreciated such cowardice."
https://twitter.com/YahooNoise/status/838128471859585024/photo/1
Regarding the stall ball employed down the stretch: "Only Eugene from "The Walking Dead" could've appreciated such cowardice."
Hell yeah. Winners stick. Win 3 or 4 in a row. Head to the bars. Exaggerate everything that just happened. Do it again the next day.
I would question those "fans" loyalty then. For any of those "fans," stay gone then. If/when this ship gets turned (by Groce or another Coach) don't come back. Go root for Duke, UNC or some other blue blood.
Sure is easy being a fan in '05, Bill Murray comes to mind. True character is shown when the chips are down.
Ah....the same fans who left in droves during the end of Zook through the Beckman era should stay away too, right? Some people have a lower tolerance for watching garbage products than you casual. Attendance and $$$ from alums seem to have an impact. Are all of the alums that have stopped filling Assembly Hall bad fans too?
:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
Sure, there's excuses that can be made for anything. They don't matter anymore. Groce needs to be gone.
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
Absolutely. Well said.
I say we will lose first round of the BTT and then first round of the NIT. If Groce stays, we have another mediocre year with the top in state talent. And that, my friends, will lead to a very difficult and dark place for us to ever climb out of. The message will be sent to all potential in state talent that we can not win even with the best from the state. And the "win with the state school" will be a thing of the past.
Shirts and skins, make and take. When you talk about all afternoon (we don't need no stinkin' classes), bars at night, repeat the next day, you were me.
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
Inexplicable. That's the word that applies to John Groce going for the hold-the-ball routine. Our section of the stands in the RAC, full of Alina, was groaning as we could see this game being pissed away Right in front of our eyes. That "prevent defense" never ever works.
You don't have to be a basketball expert to have seen that. Why didn't Groce? I just can't believe it. To be cocky like that, and think you could hold onto a two point lead, and have it blow up was so embarrassing walking out in front of all the Rutgers fans.
God bless my wife for not counting the number of times I said "I can't believe it" on our drive home.
John Groce May be a great coach, but not here and not today.
You don't have to be a basketball expert to have seen that. Why didn't Groce? I just can't believe it. To be cocky like that, and think you could hold onto a two point lead, and have it blow up was so embarrassing walking out in front of all the Rutgers fans.
God bless my wife for not counting the number of times I said "I can't believe it" on our drive home.
John Groce May be a great coach, but not here and not today.
Ulysses my friend . . . You just brought some good feelings for me in the middle of a crappy day. I am going to log off and drink to hoop dreams past and future. There will be better days ahead for the Orange and Blue.
I-L-L