College Basketball 2025-2026

[Old Style]

Time to update that IG handle, my dude. 

[Old Style]

59 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Apparently he didn't want to hold it (or was told not to hold it) because UConn had the possession arrow and they didn't want a tie up in the back court to give them an opportunity to win it.  That pass was about 2" from ending the game.  It was the right play, just not well executed enough.

It was idiotic to try to throw over the double team. Full stop. 

[Tryptamine]

Well early on everyone seems to have UConn winning a close one. The game plan needs to be almost entirely focused on controlling Reed. Also, Illinois cannot win if they put up another 18% from 3 stinker. 

[gflore34]

14 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Well early on everyone seems to have UConn winning a close one. The game plan needs to be almost entirely focused on controlling Reed. Also, Illinois cannot win if they put up another 18% from 3 stinker. 

All the metrics say Illinois is the better team, I know what's on paper doesn't always play out on court.  Nevertheless, the Illini are better in nearly every statistical category, guess it could be all that tournament "pedigree" BS is why everyone is picking UConn.

[mul21]

47 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Well early on everyone seems to have UConn winning a close one. The game plan needs to be almost entirely focused on controlling Reed. Also, Illinois cannot win if they put up another 18% from 3 stinker. 

Reed is definitely going to be a problem.  He's probably a little too tall for Mirkovic to guard effectively (and I'm not sure I'd want him expending that much energy on defense when he's so important to the offense anyway) and he's a little beefy for either of the twins to handle even with the height advantage they have.

[gflore34]

25 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Reed is definitely going to be a problem.  He's probably a little too tall for Mirkovic to guard effectively (and I'm not sure I'd want him expending that much energy on defense when he's so important to the offense anyway) and he's a little beefy for either of the twins to handle even with the height advantage they have.

Don't know about that, Reed is listed at 6-10, Mirkovic at 6-9.  Mirkovic might actually be taller than 6-9, post game when's standing with either of the twins it appears they don't have much on him, just a couple of inches.  Of course, it's television and what we're seeing is not entirely accurate. 

[gflore34]

 Maybe, it's a good thing no one is giving them a chance in face of the data suggesting the opposite.

[Old Style]

Michigan-Illinois is my final pick. 

[mul21]

5 minutes ago, Old Style said:

Michigan-Illinois is my final pick. 

I've thought UConn was overrated all season and yet here we are.  UConn +110 is the easiest emotional risk management bet I've ever made.  There should be 3 pretty fantastic basketball games played to decide it.

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, mul21 said:

I've thought UConn was overrated all season and yet here we are.  UConn +110 is the easiest emotional risk management bet I've ever made.  There should be 3 pretty fantastic basketball games played to decide it.

Looking at the numbers they suggest UConn may have benefited from a very top heavy Big East.  It was no where near as good and deep as the Big Ten hence, leading UConn' somewhat inflated numbers.

Edited March 30 by gflore34

[gflore34]

T-Rank would have an Illinois - Arizona final based on tournament play - 

[Derwood]

It took 30+ years, but finally some karmic balance for Laettner's shot

[Soul]

8 hours ago, Old Style said:

Michigan-Illinois is my final pick. 

I want to see that, and I want the Illini win so I don’t have to hear my Michigan alum sister freaking out.  Had enough of that when they won in football.

[The_Achiever]

13 hours ago, Soul said:

I want to see that, and I want the Illini win so I don’t have to hear my Michigan alum sister freaking out.  Had enough of that when they won in football.

It's amazing how much my mood will be altered by losing to a conference opponent.  I felt no stress for Houston but was sick before the Iowa game.  Similarly I am confident and excited for UConn but if we win and match up against Michigan I'll really be going through it.  

[mul21]

9 minutes ago, The_Achiever said:

It's amazing how much my mood will be altered by losing to a conference opponent.  I felt no stress for Houston but was sick before the Iowa game.  Similarly I am confident and excited for UConn but if we win and match up against Michigan I'll really be going through it.  

At this point, for me, it's all gravy.  I'd be ecstatic if they somehow win the whole thing but this run after how they looked toward the end of the season has been beyond my wildest expectations.

[jb10194]

It's kind of crazy looking at the box score against UConn back in November and seeing that Wagler and Mirkovic (32) combined for nearly as many minutes as Lee and Petrovic (29). I think that was the last game Lee and Petrovic saw significant minutes. 

On the other hand, Reed and Mullins combined for 25 minutes that game, so they weren't at full strength either. This Illini team is just so much different now than four months ago.

Edited March 31 by jb10194

[Soul]

1 hour ago, mul21 said:

At this point, for me, it's all gravy.  I'd be ecstatic if they somehow win the whole thing but this run after how they looked toward the end of the season has been beyond my wildest expectations.

Must’ve been saving stamina for the tournament I guess.  If it was my team I’d be more and more wracked with anxiety every game.  That’s how I always felt with the Bulls and the same when the Badgers made the championship game.

[gflore34]

48 minutes ago, jb10194 said:

It's kind of crazy looking at the box score against UConn back in November and seeing that Wagler and Mirkovic (32) combined for nearly as many minutes as Lee and Petrovic (29). I think that was the last game Lee and Petrovic saw significant minutes. 

On the other hand, Reed and Mullins combined for 25 minutes that game, so they weren't at full strength either. This Illini team is just so much different now than four months ago.

Watched some of the highlights, the Illini played very poorly, really bad defense, let UConn push them all over the place.  Malachi Smith, a meh player, had the game of his UConn career.  Don't think any of that is going to happen again.

Edited March 31 by gflore34

[mul21]

18 minutes ago, Soul said:

Must’ve been saving stamina for the tournament I guess.  If it was my team I’d be more and more wracked with anxiety every game.  That’s how I always felt with the Bulls and the same when the Badgers made the championship game.

I said this earlier, but I really think the Boswell and Stojakovic injuries had a lingering effect on guys like Wagler and Mirkovic.  They were both playing tons of minutes when those two were out and it changed how they were playing.  The defense they've played in the tournament is light years better than anything else I've seen from them this year and those guys having the legs to maintain that effort level is huge.  Tomi is finally fully healthy and playing more minutes as well and I really like that Stojakovic has remained a bench guy even though he's playing starter minutes.  

[gflore34]

32 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I said this earlier, but I really think the Boswell and Stojakovic injuries had a lingering effect on guys like Wagler and Mirkovic.  They were both playing tons of minutes when those two were out and it changed how they were playing.  The defense they've played in the tournament is light years better than anything else I've seen from them this year and those guys having the legs to maintain that effort level is huge.  Tomi is finally fully healthy and playing more minutes as well and I really like that Stojakovic has remained a bench guy even though he's playing starter minutes.  

As much as many of us loathe Duke, I believe injuries are the primary reason why UConn made it to the FF.  They were no doubt worn down by the lack of depth.  That Duke team which beat Michigan a month+ ago would have wiped the floor with UConn.  Turned out good for the Illiini, UConn is far more beatable.

Edited March 31 by gflore34

[17 Seconds]

i don't follow college hoops closely. is dan hurley a crazy person?

[Old Style]

1 hour ago, 17 Seconds said:

i don't follow college hoops closely. is dan hurley a crazy person?

Extremely. He’s a certified psycho. 

[mul21]

1 hour ago, 17 Seconds said:

i don't follow college hoops closely. is dan hurley a crazy person?

I don't think he's crazy, but he's definitely an entitled whiny douchebag.

[Old Style]

2 hours ago, mul21 said:

I don't think he's crazy, but he's definitely an entitled whiny douchebag.

Did you miss what he did with the ref after the GW shot against Dook? And then how he tried to explain it? He’s a few beers short of a six pack. 

[gflore34]

20 minutes ago, Old Style said:

Did you miss what he did with the ref after the GW shot against Dook? And then how he tried to explain it? He’s a few beers short of a six pack. 

His explanation of an official coming over to chest pump is ridiculous.  No official in his right mind is going to publicly celebrate with a coach.