RockRaines

Pitchford again with contact after the whistle. When is that a T?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) Another example of "locks" being a bunch of nonsense. OSU was supposed to be a final four contender. They're not even a top 25 team. A first round loss wouldnt be surprising if they faced someone like Mercer. We lose defense and "heart" but add a lot of shooting. Our offense "should" be better.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:43 PM) We rarely meet or exceed expectations. Depends on whose expectations. They are about what most people thought they would be this year.

Dont even bother with evening out the calls, its too late. Just keep the game moving.

At least this took my attention away from this horrific team that "should" have been better this year. Ugh.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:32 PM) So it's wishful thinking because they haven't made much noise since 2005, with 6 of those years coming under a completely different coach. Got it. Completely disagree with the question marks. The starting lineup returns for a team that won 5 out of their last 7 including 3 road wins against 3 likely tournament teams and was a blown bunny away from beating #8 michigan. No we are skeptical because of that. And that was my point from the get go.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:29 PM) How many teams have brought in more talent? And would you take a 4 star freshman over a guy like Cosby who has already performed at a big east school? Other teams might be bringing in better freshmen talent, but I wouldn't be shocked if the newcomers for illinois have more impact in comparison to some other teams freshmen. So you dont think anyone has brought in better recruiting classes? We are bringing in 2 top 25 kids, to me that's more talent.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) Which part of that post was wishful thinking and please explain why you think so. You don't have to, obviously, but it just seems like you're being dismissive and condescending without actually discussing the roster. I'm not being condescending at all, just saying that calling something a lock when there are so many question marks and so much improvement needed is silly. Look at the "predictive formula" that is being applied to Illinois that is never looked at in regards to the rest of the conference that they have to play day in and day out. I am being skeptical since the program and the players havent made much noise since about 2005. I dont understand why there is such a problem with me being skeptical.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:08 PM) Lol. It is called using predictive models and there is no wishful thinking with respect to Cosby. If he isn't really good that would be stunning considering he was really good in a comparable conference. You want to bet on Illinois being better than OSU if Ross goes pro? Cause Illinois will be. Ross is definitely leaving, but I'll put my chips on Thad Matta every day of the week. Even in a down year we are a lock for the tournament. But I want you to apply your predictive models to the OSU squad real quick and tell me how good we will be.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 02:03 PM) We have two of the best 6 or 7 freshmen in the conference and the best freshman in the conference will be going pro. Hill and Nunn are clearly going to be very good players. Aaron Cosby was a damn good player in the Big East and becomes eligible next year. We have two other transfers becoming eligible that are proven solid college players and Paul will also likely benefit from essentially undergoing a freshman to sophomore jump. We lose very few senior minutes. Not that hard to predict. So that to me looks like wishful thinking and I wouldnt call anything a lock. But hey, good to be positive.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:57 PM) How about a basic understanding about indicators of what a team will do the next season? Illinois has a bunch of guys making freshman to sophomore jumps which is a huge predictor of improvement. They are losing very few senior minutes. They have 3 guys who have proven to be good college players becoming eligible next year. And like i said before, why cant we be skeptical when we've heard this from Illinois before? I dont see anything that says absolute lock for the tournament in what I saw this year. If you are trying to say that I lack basic understanding of college basketball then maybe you need to take a deep breath.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:52 PM) The f***? They were always going to be worse this year. You lost 2 starters that played a ton of minutes along with 2 other seniors that played a good amount, had no freshmen to sophomore jumps to expect, and no instant impact freshmen. Nunn and Hill are going to be all conference type players eventually and they have 3 proven college talents eligible next year with a potential very good freshman in Black coming in. So that to you points to tournament LOCK?

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) Apparently context means nothing. LOL. What about the team says they are a lock for the tournament? The Big Ten was way down this year and they didnt make it. Other teams in the conference are bringing in and have brought in more talent. Connect the dots for me here

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) Nothing to show for it? They improved greatly last year after losing a lottery pick. They've improved greatly over the course of this season also. Groce has been here two years, so anything beyond those two years is a different issue. Yes, nothing to show for it. No challenge at the conference title or tournament and an NIT berth. Last year they were 23-12 8-10 in conference. This year they are 19-14 7-10. What have they shown?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) Bingo. Look, I want Illinois to be dominate again as much as the next fan, but this expectation for next year is akin to the NC talk back when Richmond committed. It's great to think so positively, but being a realist isn't a bad thing either. The reality is next year's team is still going to rely on a PG that isn't a true PG and doesn't have a great offensive game (Abrams), a SG that can go off for 30 but also be held to 2 (Rice), and a center that is basically a non factor on one end of the court (Egwu). Nunn and Hill hopefully take a leap, and hopefully Crosby and Starks can be immediate impact guys. But we'll have to wait and see. If they pulled in the #1 class in the country or even just Alexander I would be on board. But its just not the case.

2 moving screen calls huh? wisconsin better hope they dont get this crew.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:15 PM) Not according to some on this board. Haven't you heard? Illinois players won't improve. They've been called to improve for years with nothing to show for it. Who can blame the skepticism? On top of that its not like they are pulling in top 10 recruiting classes.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 01:01 PM) Glad Groce switched to man That was moronic IMO.

Choke.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) They'll lose in sweet 16 IMO. Sounds about right to me as well unless they get hot or a good matchup.

A 777 would be one of the last planes you would want to steal. HUGE, hard to hide.

Well, did we make any deals this offseason? So....what did we trade?

Horford and Morgan are foul magnets. Luckily they have two of them.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 12:13 PM) Rice lucky to not get the taunting technical there I didnt think that was blatant. Little trash talk, bout it.

Im interested to see how Michigan plays when they have an off shooting game, do they have toughness, rebounding and defense to grind one out? I'm not so sure.