Most people are going to agree with you. My take is not the most likely thing to happen. But it is possible given the way that Guerrier has come on strong lately as a talented veteran (the new Alpha?) And Hawkins still has more in his game to give. So does Goode. And we’ve seen what Domask is capable of in breaking loose.
Maybe be the Illini won’t be able to compete at a Final Four level. We'll soon get an idea. But there is no reason why they cannot go Sweet Sixteen at least. And once you’re at that level you still have a chance.
Coach U has known about this situation for a while according to reports. And if so, you know he’s been thinking about how to handle this and what to do with his roster. Probably for a good while now.
As they say, you can’t always control what’s going to happen to you in life (as a Team here, that is). But you can always have control over how you respond to it.
Play and fight like hell on the court, Illini. Give it your best without excuses. Make Illini Nation proud, and yourselves. That is what’s required here.
TSJ was by far the best player on the team this year. It was underappreciated how good he was defensively. Losing him absolutely means we are now a bubble team. No one else on the team can score the ball the way he does which opened up scoring opportunities for others who lack strong ability to create their own shots off the dribble.
It's amazing how snake-bit our program is! Here's a short list just quickly thinking about it:
1. Ben Wilson
2. Deon Thomas
3. J Smith/Brian Carwell
4. Kendrick Nunn
5. Dickie Beal not getting called for over the back at the half court corner in the 1984 elite 8 game at Rupp( I was there and had sight-line to the play)
6. Horrific officiating in the 2005 championship game( also at that game, 5th row along baseline) with phantom fouls called on us any time someone breathed on Sean May yet Roger Powell got hammered repeatedly down low with no calls- All because it was "Good Old Roy Williams deserves to get a national championship." In complete honesty- if the referring were more balanced- I think we had a 50% chance of winning that game- teams were evenly matched.
7. I recall there being a missed foul call along the baseline near the end of the game in which one of Groce's teams made the tournament- a first round game that would have gotten us into at least the next round- don't recall the specifics.
8. I'm sure there are others.
This is devastating news for the program.I'm so bummed- loved this team and it's chances to go to FF.
Even if TSJ found innocent- this will change the trajectory of his entire life. Not sure how the program won't take a big step backwards. Can't see any way he's gonna play for us going forward.
One would think these athlete's would have hammered into the how to avoid situations such as this- as others have said, what is the meaning of actual informed consent. Sounds crazy but if a one night stand scenario is about to take place- that the athlete would need to have the consenting party verbalize into the athletes phone their informed consent and that they are not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc that would alter their decision making process. Sounds crazy but in this day and age.....
