gflore34

Thus far, Suzuki appears to be legit, has made a big difference in the lineup. I'd say lineup without Suzuki - 150% Cobs, with him 45% - 50% Cobs with a chance to be a decent team. Pitching staff made consisting primarily of soft throwers is concerning nevertheless, pleasantly surprised with this team.

I honestly am pretty surprised that the refs let Duke lose last night. Actually, the officiating was straight up, objective and not noticeable, they shockingly did a good job.

So, so glad Krzyzewski is out the picture, the media lovefest on Monday night would have been out of hand and completely nauseous. Although, I'm certain TBS will find some way to sanctify him tomorrow night.

Wished he would have stuck it out, if concussion after effects completely clear, we'll see a good player. I hope he does well, I just fear for him that the concussion, vertigo may a permanent issue. Apparently, many think his transferring is a sign they're going to get a commitment from a 5 star, PG Skyy Clark, guess assistant coach Tim Anderson has a strong connection with Clark. I have my doubts, the Illini almost never get the 5 star players they have supposed in roads with, they always end up at places other than Illinois.

I believe Arizona' going to destroy Houston, not just because they beat the Illini, the Cougars had quite a few advantages over the Illini they won't have against the Wildcats. You can bet the game is going to be called more straight up, they're not going to be allowed the excess physicality that generated TOs against the Illini. They're not facing a banged up, eyes nearly swollen shut, mistaken prone, not playing very well team and, simply, Arizona has better players. Had the Illini somehow gotten past Houston I didn't think they'd beat Arizona either but, I sure would have liked to see that game. I'm convinced had Houston been playing that Illini team that faced Arizona in December, the Illini would have won. We'll see. Don't forget this Houston team went to the Final Four last year, albeit with a very favorable bracket. Their top 5 players this year are all upper classmen, though they did lose 2 guys from last year's team to the NBA. Like it or not Kenpom is a pretty good measuring tool and Kenpom has them as the 2nd best team in the country, ahead of Arizona (by a decent amount too). I haven't watched enough of either team to know how the matchups look in a game like this but on paper Houston has a solid chance of winning IMO. You were spot on, I've should looked at the statistics, I'm guessing they're ahead of Villanova by a decent amount as well. Coupled that with Gillespie appearing to tweak his previously injured left knee giving Houston a pretty good chance at a repeat FF. Just kind of sucks that lying, cheaters such as Sampson and Self are still alive, at least, Pearl is done.

I believe Arizona' going to destroy Houston, not just because they beat the Illini, the Cougars had quite a few advantages over the Illini they won't have against the Wildcats. You can bet the game is going to be called more straight up, they're not going to be allowed the excess physicality that generated TOs against the Illini. They're not facing a banged up, eyes nearly swollen shut, mistaken prone, not playing very well team and, simply, Arizona has better players. Had the Illini somehow gotten past Houston I didn't think they'd beat Arizona either but, I sure would have liked to see that game. I'm convinced had Houston been playing that Illini team that faced Arizona in December, the Illini would have won.

You’re starting to wander from the generic homer schtick into Sulley territory here, and that’s not good for anybody. Besides, Underwood is going to be in Manhattan, KS next Monday morning. Nope, apparently KSU is set on hiring someone else, an assistant coach from Baylor, that's what's going around the Illini hoops board at 247. They're currently discussing Curbelo' merits, benefits or lack there of, many low common sense arguments completely ignoring the fact that this was a lost season for him. I don't how you can base future performance or anything else on this season, I certainly hopes he sticks it out. Based upon his freshman season there's a lot to like, I believe a healthy season from Curbelo has the potential to be something good. Don't know why I continue to read anything at that board, gobs and gobs of low intelligence nonsense. Such as many calling for Underwood to move on, I to, am disappointed at the lack of tournament results however, when you consider what he started with, he's brought the program a long way back. As long as he can continue getting them to the Big Dance the draw and matchups will eventually fall their way and they'll, at least, make a Sweet Sixteen.

Maybe, its better to say, if they make the tournament next year, I'd like to see them in bracket without Arizona or Kansas.

Let me preface this by saying the following has a hint of conspiracy - When seeding, at times, it appears the NCAA wants to maintain certain narratives or themes, for example, aligning Illinois and Arizona for a potential match up or MSU and Duke. I don't know about an MSU fan's perspective but, this Illinois/Arizona thing is getting really horsefeathering tiresome, change the horsefeathering tune NCAA.

Yep, to that point, one of many examples of that "awesome" Houston defense - [tweet] [/tweet] This happened on more than one occasion leading to turnovers and extra possessions, it's a load of horsefeathers. Both opposing coaches pretty much said we're going to foul the crap out of them aka play "physical". I can horsefeathering guarantee they'll be called for that horsefeathers vs. Arizona, this subjective, inconsistent officiating tilts the field and effects game outcomes.

I honestly don't believe its luck, its surely by design, for whatever reason the NCAA is out to horsefeathers over Illinois and I don't know why. The only thing Underwood can do is keep getting them in, one of these years, despite the NCAA' efforts, the match up dominoes are going to fall the Illin' way. Shouldn’t this be moved to the conspiracy theory thread? Yeah, point taken twice, it was an illogical over reaction on my part.

In looking at what teams remain in the South bracket is there any reason to not believe Arizona' going to roll over all of them?

I honestly don't believe its luck, its surely by design, for whatever reason the NCAA is out to horsefeathers over Illinois and I don't know why. The only thing Underwood can do is keep getting them in, one of these years, despite the NCAA' efforts, the match up dominoes are going to fall the Illin' way. I mean, no, but also, noooooope I know the part about Illinois purposely getting screwed over by the NCAA is a far fetched overreaction however, the thought if Underwood can keep getting them in the Tournament one of those is going have favorable match ups is not so bizarre.

I honestly don't believe its luck, its surely by design, for whatever reason the NCAA is out to horsefeathers over Illinois and I don't know why. The only thing Underwood can do is keep getting them in, one of these years, despite the NCAA' efforts, the match up dominoes are going to fall the Illin' way.

Houston' good, playing with 3/5 of team, without question Frazier right eye was still affecting him, result not so surprising. Let's see how Houston fares on the offensive boards vs the length of Arizona, Houston fouls and goes over the back quite a bit. And that ridiculous T on Melendez hurt quite a bit, I am so sick of the Illini getting fucked over time and again in the NCAA, seeding, BS calls. By the way, I didn't think either of these teams has much of a chance vs. Arizona.

Underwood should strongly consider leaving Williams and Grandison on the bench in favor of Goode and Melendez. Williams and Grandison at this point, are next to useless, one has no offensive game and the other is still injured, makes no sense for either of them to see the floor. He won't do it, it'd require some risk taking and balls, instead, because of foolish loyalty, he'll go with Williams and Grandison far too long.

How refreshing would it be if the Illini weren't team that's over hyped and comes out flat? Is allowable that they could be the that team plays fast and loose having fun instead of playing like their collective jocks are in a noose? Could it just horsefeathering happen once, just horsefeathering once?

Very frustrating to watch him offensively. Glad his career didn't end with that game. But, on the bright side he still defended very well and that alley-oop to Hawkins late in the game is not getting talked about enough. Underwood said during today's press conference that Frazier was unable to see out of his right eye during the game, which not only affected his perception on shots, but also made it so he couldn't see the ball when he was dribbling in his right hand. During the Chattanooga pregame PC's it appeared his right eye was almost swollen shut hopefully, it'll be cleared up or at least significantly improved today. It really sucks that injuries, illness, etc. have robbed this Illini team of what could have been, at one point Friday the Illini were +15 with Curbelo on the floor, think about what they may have been with a healthy Curbelo all season. If he sticks around and some NIL money can be found to entice Kofi to return, they could be special next season.

You’re starting to wander from the generic homer schtick into Sulley territory here, and that’s not good for anybody. As I was writing thought I should have added "the following is tongue in cheek..." nevertheless, I believe the Illini have good chance tonight. Given how inconsistent and mistake prone they've been coupled with that crappy game in the BTT its understandable Chattanooga is a trendy upset pick.

Thus far, Kentucky and Iowa are the most surprising, of course, didn't see these coming, hell, Iowa, if you put any stock in what Andy Katz, et al were preaching, was supposedly the hottest team in the history of college basketball. While it sucks for the Big Ten' image as "the best conference in college basketball" I was happy to see Iowa go down. No more Jordan Bohhannon...ever has a nice ring to it for us Illini fans. Speaking of the Illini I don't know why they're bothering to show up for tonight' game, all of the "experts" have Chattanooga winning quite easily, think Underwood should just forfeit and go back to Champaign?

Good for Adams he cashed in while the iron was hot, for the Packers is it really going to be that much of a loss? They'll be someone else who emerges simply because Rodgers is at QB maybe, someone they draft with the picks coming back, seems everything they touch, at least in the regular season, turns to gold. And it horsefeathering sucks...

Lately, it seems, teams with early exits from the BTT have performed better in NCAA, leaves you to wonder the utility of the BTT besides it being a money making venture. Wouldn't be shocking at all to see the Illini and other teams that lost early in the BTT go further in the NCAA than Iowa or Purdue. Having experienced 2017 and 2018 Michigan I still have a hard time seeing this as a thing, but there you go...Iowa goes down. Of course Richmond also had to win 4 games in 4 days in their conference tournament. I don't know, several times the announcers said Iowa looked gassed, they were short on quite a few open 3's but, as you said Richmond had to win 4 in 4 days.

Lately, it seems, teams with early exits from the BTT have performed better in NCAA, leaves you to wonder the utility of the BTT besides it being a money making venture. Wouldn't be shocking at all to see the Illini and other teams that lost early in the BTT go further in the NCAA than Iowa or Purdue.

That and I strongly believe Ayo was still feeling the after effects of his concussion which got re-aggravated towards the end of the BTT Championship game. Pink eye? What's next for the Illini? Measles, mumps, chickenpox? This season has been ridiculous with injuries, illness, suspensions, etc. can't make this horsefeathers up. The early BTT exit and extra rest certainly won't hurt and, do not know if this means anything but, lots of people are jumping on the Tennessee-Chattanooga band wagon, that idiot from CBS has them going to the Sweet 16. You'd think the Illini just barely got in or something.

Seth Davis crapping all over the Big Ten except for Wisconsin? Hugh? They, along with the Illini, are most likely to have early exits in my opinion. I'm really down on the Illini after that horsefeathers show on Friday, would not shock me one bit if they get their asses kicked. With Frazier and Plummer going 3-16 from 3 while Frazier inexplicably throws the ball away on several occasions.