College Basketball 2025-2026

[Irrelevant Dude]

As the week goes on, I'm getting more and more excited for Saturday night.  This is a  game that Illinois can win, and I think they will.  Then it gets much more difficult, but not impossible.

There are 2 sporting events I have always hoped to see in my lifetime.  A Cubs World Series was #1, and Illinois basketball winning the National Championship would be a very close 1a.

A Cubs World Series always felt like it was going to happen eventually, and it did.  Surviving the NCAA tournament to win a college basketball championship just feels so much more unlikely for a non "blue blood" school.  Maybe Illinois has 1 team every 10 years with a legitimate shot of winning, but one bad night or one tough match-up and it's all over.

Whatever happens, it was a great season, but I can't help but think of what it might become.

 

[gflore34]

4 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

As the week goes on, I'm getting more and more excited for Saturday night.  This is a  game that Illinois can win, and I think they will.  Then it gets much more difficult, but not impossible.

There are 2 sporting events I have always hoped to see in my lifetime.  A Cubs World Series was #1, and Illinois basketball winning the National Championship would be a very close 1a.

A Cubs World Series always felt like it was going to happen eventually, and it did.  Surviving the NCAA tournament to win a college basketball championship just feels so much more unlikely for a non "blue blood" school.  Maybe Illinois has 1 team every 10 years with a legitimate shot of winning, but one bad night or one tough match-up and it's all over.

Whatever happens, it was a great season, but I can't help but think of what it might become.

 

Without question the Illini are better than UConn, the Illini also have the best player on the floor.  Hopefully, these factors will translate to a win.

[gflore34]

Thus far, it's a heavy UConn slant from the media, almost all the "experts" are picking the Huskies.  Many of them think it's still 2024 or because UConn beat the Illini 3+ months ago, it applies to tomorrow, some citing the Illini' "easy" path to the FF, all of them ignoring the metrics suggesting Illinois is 5+/2+ (KenPom/TRank) better than UConn.  No one has mentioned UConn beat a battered injury riddled worn down Duke team, it's all about Hurley' coaching genius.  The Illini are the big underdog and no one is giving them much of a chance.

Edited April 3 by gflore34

[Brian707]

Vegas has Illinois as 1.5 favorites.  I think they win something like 72-65

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Not to look past the next three days but Illinois just landed a commitment from Quentin Coleman, who seems like an ideal Wagler replacement.

 

I want to run it back with as much of this year’s rotation as possible, but prioritize Stojakovich and Mirk and I’ll be feeling really really good regardless of what else happens.

 

[Brian707]

Man, I am pumped for tomorrow.  Im on a cruise but they have a sports bar with wings and onion rings.

[gflore34]

11 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Man, I am pumped for tomorrow.  Im on a cruise but they have a sports bar with wings and onion rings.

Anything decent on tap?

[gflore34]

Apparently, for the Illini's practice, on one side, the stands are nearly full of Orange.  Mind you, this is just a practice.  One thing is for certain both Big Ten teams are going to have overwhelming crowd support.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

55 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Apparently, for the Illini's practice, on one side, the stands are nearly full of Orange.  Mind you, this is just a practice.  One thing is for certain both Big Ten teams are going to have overwhelming crowd support.

[gflore34]

38 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Love it, some have mentioned how well UConn and Arizona fans travel, I knew they had no chance.  It was going to be all Big Ten crowd.  Imagine if Purdue or MSU had made it, for Purdue I'm thinking purchases by state would have been 60% Indiana, 39.5% Illinois/Michigan

[Brian707]

4 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Anything decent on tap?

Not really.  Terrapin or voodoo ranger

[gflore34]

17 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Not really.  Terrapin or voodoo ranger

Not much there nevertheless, hope you have a great time rooting for the Illini.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Uconn women on the verge of losing finally 

[Old Style]

Geno Auriemma is a lying scumbag sore loser. 

[gflore34]

Someone pointed this out earlier - previous two games with UConn were at very UConn friendly venues with a big time pro-UConn crowd.  Tonight it's a 180, almost a home game for both the Illini and Michigan.

Edited April 4 by gflore34

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2 hours ago, Old Style said:

Geno Auriemma is a lying scumbag sore loser. 

Always has been one.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[gflore34]

32 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

All Big Ten men's final and UCLA beats USC for a Big Ten sweep of basketball and football championships.  That'll send the SEC and others conferences howling for changes.

[Old Style]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Always has been one.

Guess I never realized how bad it was. He was busy after their loss last night telling two flat out lies like he was a MAGA politician as both are clearly seen on video. 

[gflore34]

Regardless of what happens tonight I believe Brad will build on this, make more FF's and who knows, maybe finally break through with a NC.  The seal has been broke, that was the biggest obstacle. 

As for tonight, I believe the Illini are indeed playing with house money, hardly no one is giving them a chance vs. UConn.  If there's any pressure it's on UConn, they're expected to move on.  Also, believe the Wolverines can play free and lose, for reasons that escape me, most are pro Arizona.

 

A side note, saw a video with Derrick Rose discussing his recruitment, he said Calipari took the time to make an in home visit.  Whereas, Weber did not, now, I suspect there was quite a bit more to Rose' recruitment but, not taking the time to make an in house visit seems like a big mistake.  Always liked Weber as an X's and O's coach however, he sucked at everything else.

Edited April 4 by gflore34

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

As for tonight, I believe the Illini are indeed playing with house money, hardly no one is giving them a chance vs. UConn.

Vegas is, and they know more than the media talking heads.

[gflore34]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

Vegas is, and they know more than the media talking heads.

Same with Michigan.

[Brian707]

Alright boys. An hour before game time. See you on the other side.  Hopefully a berth in the championship 

[gflore34]

I'm thinking the shooting sight lines are better on one side of the court than the other.  Illini missing is one thing, but, they're missing badly.  Glad they're going the other way in 2nd half.

[Tryptamine]

Their 3 point shooting the last nearly 2 games has been absolutely pathetic.