The Final Four
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This this this! If we don't win, I'd rather AZ win it all than Michigan. Forget the conference loyalty, I don't want Michigan to win anything. I despise them so much.
What if Michigan gives us the better chance of winning?This this this! If we don't win, I'd rather AZ win it all than Michigan. Forget the conference loyalty, I don't want Michigan to win anything. I despise them so much.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
From a pure resell market, I want Arizona to beat Michigan. It might drive down ticket costs for champ game, assuming we also win.
Kalshi, BetMGM, FanDuel, and DrafKings all have UM slightly favored over AZ. But Kalshi and DraftKings give them equal odds to win the championship (Kalshi even has AZ slightly ahead at the moment, but it's bouncing around being essentially tied).
That implies AZ would be more favored in the championship game than UM would be (as a weighted average of facing us or UConn), so while that doesn't tell us anything for sure, it at least casts some doubt on my initial assumption that UM would be slightly more favored.
Since it's close enough, my desire to see UM lose as soon as possible will guide my rooting
That implies AZ would be more favored in the championship game than UM would be (as a weighted average of facing us or UConn), so while that doesn't tell us anything for sure, it at least casts some doubt on my initial assumption that UM would be slightly more favored.
Since it's close enough, my desire to see UM lose as soon as possible will guide my rooting
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Those odds aren't about who these firms think is the better team. Those are odds are based on money bets (bids/offers) and there is no implication as it relates to the championship game. Betting spreads are determined by how much money is bet on either team. Bookmakers are in the business of inducing a bet (getting you or I to open our wallet) that they (a) can either lay off on the other side with spread or (b) can fill out their book ($ bet on each team). "The good part, William, is that, no matter whether our clients make money or lose money, Duke & Duke get the commissions."
They went back and forth because one guy said Keaton was #2 and the other dude didn’t even have him ranked 
This team makes me believe again!!! To being young, for having dreams, and giving an old man hope again thank you my ILLINI!!! ILL let's goo
sacraig
- The desert
More specifically, I want Morez to watch us play for a natty on TV.
sacraig
- The desert
I mean, Mirk donned a cowboy hat and climbed on the lockers. Let the kids have fun.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
To me, when you get this close only winning the whole thing matters. Of course if we lose Saturday or Monday, I'll look back fondly on this team as I do 89 & 05. But maybe, it's just me, but every time I think of those teams the one lingering thought is they got painfully close & just didn't quite finish the job.
I hate for that to sound negative & I don't mean it like they choked or anything. The 89 teams haunts me to this day. Maybe it's just the way I am wired. But they were the best team no doubt in my mind. They just came up short.
When you get this close to something this hard to accomplish you need to approach it like you are ready to kick the door down. I've been very pleased with what I have heard out of Brad & the various players. Even in the post game presser Saturday. Everyone was very happy & pleased (as well they should be) but they all seem to have this quite determination that "we ain't done yet".
Hopefully in a week this conversation can be rendered to the dust bin of history as we all celebrate.
It's hard to take it too seriously when a coach calls his current job his dream job. My knee jerk reaction anytime I heard BU say it has always been skepticism. But I've come around to thinking it's actually true, and here's some compelling witness testimony:
We are lucky. We are living in a golden era of Illinois basketball, with a top-2 all-time Illini coach.
We are lucky. We are living in a golden era of Illinois basketball, with a top-2 all-time Illini coach.
Missed out on IFund tickets, time to start the hunt for a decent seat at a decent price. Hope prices start to drop.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It was WAY before my time, but I’ve seen people post that we really could have won a title in 1942 if not for the draft? Can’t recall. 1989 was also before my time, but hearing my dad / posters here talk about that squad plus seeing highlights, I’m certainly convinced they were the best team in the nation. And I don’t care what anyone says about the talent on UNC in 2005, we WERE the best team in the nation and we win that game if it’s played again.
I don’t think we are “better” than Arizona or Michigan, and I don’t think it’s 100% clear if we are “better” than UConn … but our best can beat any of those teams. And it’s time we got the breaks necessary to cut down the nets!
I don’t think we are “better” than Arizona or Michigan, and I don’t think it’s 100% clear if we are “better” than UConn … but our best can beat any of those teams. And it’s time we got the breaks necessary to cut down the nets!
Before my time too. But this was the Whiz Kids. Best team in the country that year and once they lost players to the draft, they decided not to participate in the tournament out of respect for those guys.
Different times, man. Can't even imagine.
I'm not sure championships from that era really do much, by themselves, for current program status. In 1942 Stanford won the title (by beating Dartmouth). Nobody thinks of Stanford as a blue blood. I think those championships only help if you can add them to modern championships to boost total numbers. For example, Kentucky gets a boost from its four 1940s and 1950s titles, but they added titles in the 70s, 90s, and 2010s to stay relevant. MSU has more "status" due to their two titles (1979 and 2000) than programs with the same number of titles like Oklahoma St.'s (two titles in the 40s), San Francisco (two titles in the 50s), or Cincinnati's (two titles in the 60s).
It's kind of like how in football nobody cares that we are 5-time national champions, since the most recent one was in 1951.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Good news is the best team does not always win the natty (as we saw in 89 and 05). That is why I feel really good about this weekend. We have the most favorable matchup on Saturday (UCONN would say the same thing).
Michigan looks really good, but they have had a very clean and underwhelming bracket so far. I have a feeling that losing Cason might show up this weekend.
Arizona looks like the best team, but maybe some behind the scenes coaching drama will impact them.
UCONN is very good but not in the elite territory. If the Illini come out focused and continue to crash the boards, we will have a fighter's chance. Saturday will be about effort, but Monday is going to require a very good shooting night (we are due for one of those).
Illini are the third best team in Final 4, but they can absolutely win the whole thing.
Smart of him to take the high ground in battle.
Depends how you defined "kick in the balls" I guess. But a 3 seed (us) losing to a 2 seed (UConn) or a 1 seed (Ariz/Mich) isn't a kick in the balls.
This team has already surpassed reasonable expectations (preseason #15 I believe). I really want to win two more, but it's been a great year regardless.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
Agreed - a loss here most likely won't haunt like I mentioned 1989 does (and 2005 to a lesser degree) but one never knows how often these chances come around. I hope the team approaches it with a reckless abandon like it's the opportunity of a lifetime that you can't let slip by. Let it all hang out.
The duality of the play styles of the two games that will happen on Saturday is going to be interesting. Arizona and Michigan are both in the top 20th percentile in terms of pace/tempo, whereas Illinois and UConn are in the bottom 20th percentile in terms of pace/tempo.
I was also getting a kick out of the fact that the Illinois/UConn side of the final four is fan bases that were fully imploding, "not sure if we'll make a second weekend" as of two weeks ago following conference tournaments, whereas Michigan/Arizona had to be more in the camp of "anything less than a national championship appearance is a disappointment".
I was also getting a kick out of the fact that the Illinois/UConn side of the final four is fan bases that were fully imploding, "not sure if we'll make a second weekend" as of two weeks ago following conference tournaments, whereas Michigan/Arizona had to be more in the camp of "anything less than a national championship appearance is a disappointment".
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
On the "this year feels different" aspect for our Illini, I propose the following thresholds for "clearly exceeding expectations" by seed for Power Conference teams, a cutoff I had to try to avoid judging Mid-Majors going on Cinderella Runs, etc. Keep in mind, these are intentionally harsh / ambitious, as it would be CLEARLY exceeding expectations ... that doesn't mean failing to meet these standards is some sort of failure, but I'm trying to make a point here.
#1 Seed = National Championship
#2 Seed = Final Four (I really do think the drop-off from #1 to #2 warrants this, personally)
#3 Seed = Final Four (the #2 vs. #3 seed Elite Eight setup is enough of a wash to make these the same)
#4 Seed = Elite Eight (meaning you likely knocked off a #1)
#5 Seed = Elite Eight (same path as #4 seed)
#6 Seed and Below = Sweet Sixteen (don't care your seed, making the Second Round is just never THAT cool, lol.
By that metric, Illinois has never "clearly" exceeded seed expectations until this year. We have had everything from massive disappointments (e.g., First Round loss as #3 seed in 1987 or Second Round loss as #1 seed in 2021) to mildly disappointing endings (e.g., our countless Second Round losses as a #4 seed) to great seasons that met clear ceilings (e.g., making the Elite Eight as a #3 seed in 2024 before losing handily) to elite teams meeting their elite expectations but failing to win it all (e.g., #1 seeds in 1989 and 2005 having amazing seasons that fell just short).
I don't want to jinx us OR take away from the fact that we are a very, very good basketball team. However, this is the first time I have ever watched the Illini in March Madness - INCLUDING 2005, even after the Arizona comeback! - that I have had this weirdly optimistic feeling that the basketball gods just might be on our side. Let's go win two more!
#1 Seed = National Championship
#2 Seed = Final Four (I really do think the drop-off from #1 to #2 warrants this, personally)
#3 Seed = Final Four (the #2 vs. #3 seed Elite Eight setup is enough of a wash to make these the same)
#4 Seed = Elite Eight (meaning you likely knocked off a #1)
#5 Seed = Elite Eight (same path as #4 seed)
#6 Seed and Below = Sweet Sixteen (don't care your seed, making the Second Round is just never THAT cool, lol.
By that metric, Illinois has never "clearly" exceeded seed expectations until this year. We have had everything from massive disappointments (e.g., First Round loss as #3 seed in 1987 or Second Round loss as #1 seed in 2021) to mildly disappointing endings (e.g., our countless Second Round losses as a #4 seed) to great seasons that met clear ceilings (e.g., making the Elite Eight as a #3 seed in 2024 before losing handily) to elite teams meeting their elite expectations but failing to win it all (e.g., #1 seeds in 1989 and 2005 having amazing seasons that fell just short).
I don't want to jinx us OR take away from the fact that we are a very, very good basketball team. However, this is the first time I have ever watched the Illini in March Madness - INCLUDING 2005, even after the Arizona comeback! - that I have had this weirdly optimistic feeling that the basketball gods just might be on our side. Let's go win two more!
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