Season Predictions Thread

[Govoner Vaugn Fan]

The Illini will have an undefeated season. If any game appears to end with the opponent having more points, we will claim victory anyway, saying the game was obviously 'rigged' and get the courts to order the NCAA to review the game tape doing a manual recount of the points scored, and point out any fouls called, or not called that should have gone in favor of the Illini. Failing to get the NCAA to reverse the outcome, Illini attorneys will demand the game be replayed.
Never mind. I may have been watching too much cable news in the off season...............

 

[chudaman]

I like the guy with 31-0. Seems like quite an intelligent prognosticator. Probably also drinks a lot of scotch which raises intelligence with every drink.

scotch and crack with a fentanyl chaser

 

[theNewGuy]

With the first (exhibition) game here, I thought it would be good to over-react, under-react, or show off our knowledge of the league in the run-up to Nov 7. Dare to go on the record with your predictions? We got ranked clashes, conf games, post season, and the league race

For your reference (* neutral location):

ESPN experts say Indiana

Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT
Mon, Nov 7	vsEastern Illinois
Fri, Nov 11	vsKansas City
Mon, Nov 14	vsMonmouth
Fri, Nov 18	vs 8 UCLA *
Sun, Nov 20	vs 6 Baylor / 18 Virginia
Fri, Nov 25	vsLindenwood
Tue, Nov 29	vsSyracuse (Day 2 of the challenge)
Fri, Dec 2	@Maryland
Tue, Dec 6	vs 12 Texas *
Sat, Dec 10	vsPenn State
Sat, Dec 17	vsAlabama A&M
Thu, Dec 22	vsMissouri *
Thu, Dec 29	vsBethune-Cookman
Wed, Jan 4	@Northwestern
Sat, Jan 7	vsWisconsin
Tue, Jan 10	@Nebraska
Fri, Jan 13	vsMichigan State
Mon, Jan 16	@Minnesota
Thu, Jan 19	vs13 Indiana
Tue, Jan 24	vsOhio State
Sat, Jan 28	@Wisconsin
Tue, Jan 31	vsNebraska
Sat, Feb 4	@Iowa
Tue, Feb 7	vsMinnesota
Sat, Feb 11	vsRutgers
Tue, Feb 14	@Penn State
Sat, Feb 18	@13 Indiana
Thu, Feb 23	vsNorthwestern
Sun, Feb 26	@Ohio State
Thu, Mar 2	vs22 Michigan
Sun, Mar 5	@Purdue

3 Straight home losses light a fire under this team and then go on an 11 game win streak to end the regular season.
26-5 (17-3). B1G Champions.

 

[Champaignheat]

23-8 and 14-6 in the Big Ten. I really am trying to be more with my head instead of my heart because if I didn't I would say 26-5 and 17-3.

 

[Birdus]

21-10. 12-8. Big Ten Tournament Champion. Elite 8. They jell late in season to make a run.

 

[Ga65]

BU said defense was ahead of offense and that seemed to be the case in this game. Frosh look way ahead of typical but that may be due to their athleticism. Defense reminds me of 88-89 team, not so much offense.

 

[jjv0004]

scotch and crack with a fentanyl chaser

Don't drink scotch and probably would not have been alive to type my prediction after the fentanyl..............

 

[LvilleILL]

23-8 (15-5 Big ten). Team will get hot late. The defense is going to be special with this group, but the offense will take some time. This team has final four potential-crazy athleticism. Let's just hope we finally get a decent draw in march

 

[PizzaHutParkingLot]

23-8 (15-5 Big ten). Team will get hot late. The defense is going to be special with this group, but the offense will take some time. This team has final four potential-crazy athleticism. Let's just hope we finally get a decent draw in march

Would love to be the dark horse/trendy upset pick knocking off the higher seed for a change!

 

[PIT_ILL]

Cosigning the 25-6

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

23-8 (15-5 Big ten). Team will get hot late. The defense is going to be special with this group, but the offense will take some time. This team has final four potential-crazy athleticism. Let's just hope we finally get a decent draw in march

I know what you're saying about "decent draw" but let's take on who they give us and come out on top.

Our two final four runs didn't have particularly good draws and the one bit of "luck" we had sent Satan into our path.

No excuses.

 

[Bbuck21]

This is easy. 40-0

 

[hoopsfan47]

The loss of Kofi, Trent, and Plummer cannot be replaced...period. However, they can find other ways to take advantage of their talent and depth....in time. The loss of Plummer coupled with Kofi missing in the paint will lead to more scoring droughts. Plummer could erase a 10 pt. deficit in a minute against any team. Hopefully, his defensive liability can be replaced with a big plus....but no one can fire in 3 or 4 from the arc like he could. Youth will show from time to time as will more diversity and rebounding provide a plus. Nevertheless, I will predict 19-12 in trying to fool the hoops gods...taking one for the team here to fool them. I expect better, but don't anyone tell them that.

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

21-10 with 2 heartbreakers in the closing seconds. Runner-up in B10 Tourney, someone gets hot...it won't be IU. Elite Eight in the tournament as our senior transfers brings the chemistry together for a late push.

 

[Battle89]

22-9, 14-6.

 

[GrayGhost77]

22-9, 14-6.

My prediction, as well. I think we just miss winning the B1G regular season, but are angry and win the BTT and then make it to the Elite 8 (finally), narrowly losing to a team who makes it to the NC game.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Had a hard time actually picking losses. Too much kool-aid. 9-2 non-con, 17-3 con, 26-5. B1G tourney champs. Final 4, controversial ending in semi's cost us. NCAA changes a rule to correct in the future.

 

[Battle89]

Had a hard time actually picking losses. Too much kool-aid. 9-2 non-con, 17-3 con, 26-5. B1G tourney champs. Final 4, controversial ending in semi's cost us. NCAA changes a rule to correct in the future.

The ask was for predictions, not sure things.

 

[doowink]

I predict we'll win considerably more games than we lose....we will lose some we should win....and win some that we should probably lose....I pretty sure we'll play Friday in the B10 tourney....and will play either on a Thursday or Friday in the NC2A tourney in March.....and yes this season will be fun!

 

[SCMART Illini]

I'll go on record with 21-9 overall and 14-6 in the conference. 31-0 would be fun, but only if it turned into 40-0 with a National Championship.

 

[Jimbo]

We’ll look terrible some nights in November, somewhat dysfunctional in December, some fans (including me) will question Underwood’s ability to coach, we’ll look better in January, good in February, get in the dance as a 7 seed, get to the round of 8 and lose a close game to a Kansas or NC type.

 

[fulton steamer]

24-7, although I'm going to have to spend a lot of time praying.

 

[Vinegarben]

22-8 Non conference 14-6 Big [2nd]
They will struggle at times in November and early December but will start to jell and go on a run. They will lose to UCLA, BAYLOR [close] upset Texas and Indiana.
By tournament time this will be a dangerous team #2 seed in Big lose in championship
NCAA-#6 seed-run to elite 8

 

[Zorak]

I'm feeling 20 wins and a little sweating on the bubble before the team puts it together in February.

 

[alaskaillini]

8-3 Non-conf
13-7 Big Ten
3-1 Big10 Tourney
24-11 #5 Seed in NCAA

We miss Kofi in the paint and Frazier/Plummer from beyond the arc. Interestingly, we end the season just where we started in the first AP Poll.

Close to what I would predict.

7-4 Non-conf
14-6 B1G
3-1 B1G tourney
24-11 #6 seed in NCAA

I'll go with this until the team shows me a little more than they did against Quincy. I think BU has his work cut out for him in finding the right style and combinations to be successful. Hopefully I am underestimating the team and coaching staff here.