Illinois wins as ugly a basketball game as I've seen this year against Tulsa to take the South Padre Championship and remain perfect. Tisdale wins tourney MVP as he (hopefully) is coming into his own. NIU's basketball team is making me sad yet again, so hopefully Illinois makes the winter fun. Another opportunity to take a big step in a few days against Clemson at the Assembly Hall.

Edited November 30, 200817 yr by whitesoxfan101

Illinois is impressing me this year. The game today looks like it was miserable, but they still found a way to win. I'm not sure last year's team could have done that. They probably would have been 4-2 or 5-1 right now. The Clemson game will be big for this team... Btw, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale are gonna be a force in 2 years.

Illinois is impressing me this year. The game today looks like it was miserable, but they still found a way to win. I'm not sure last year's team could have done that. They probably would have been 4-2 or 5-1 right now. The Clemson game will be big for this team... Btw, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale are gonna be a force in 2 years.

When those guys are seniors in the '10-'11 season, this Illinois team is gonna be ridiculously good.

 

PG-McCamey/Richarson

SG-Legion/Head

SF-Paul/Richmond

PF-Davis/Griffey/Cole

C-Tisdale/Leonard/Simpson

 

A lineup where two 5* prospects don't start is pretty good. When Richmond comes in, I could see Illinois going 3 guards, a wing and a big. It will be nice to have this team in two years. Final Four caliber.

Somehow we're 7-0. I'm shocked we won back to back games against Cinci and Cal in Vegas. NU up next.

ISU with another tourney winner, now 7-0. 4 more to go until we run through our s***ty nonconference schedule undefeated. UIC looks to be the toughest match up of the bunch.

This is going to be a rough year for college basketball in my opinion. The freshman suck, the 2009 NBA draft class sucks, and even a lot of the top players (here's looking at you Tyler Hansbrough, Hasheem Thabeet, Kyle Singler, Luke Harangody, etc) are guys that have little to no shot at being worth a damn at the next level, something that sticks in my mind if I watch a guy who is a great college player.

 

I dont know how you can throw Thabeet in there. He's 7'3", has been playing basketball for about 5 or 6 years, is remarkably athletic for someone his size, has put on weight and muscle in each of the past two years, and has been touted by Calhoun as a player who has improved season to season moreso than anyone he has ever coached. He has a knack for blocking shots with timing, not just his height, and for a big guy, he actually shoots FTs at a ~70% clip which shows he has some touch.

 

IMO, i'd say Thabeet has a legit chance of becoming an NBA regular. He will only get better.

 

The annual Big Ten Beatdown courtesy of the ACC starts tonight. I really wish the Big Ten would win one of these sometime or at least keep it close. The last couple of years have been blowouts. Unfortunately, I think the ACC will probably dominate just as much if not more this year.

 

My predictions...

 

Monday

Virginia Tech over Wisconsin

 

Tuesday

Miami over Ohio State

Boston College over Iowa

Illinois over Clemson

Duke over Purdue

Minnesota over Virginia

 

Wednesday

Wake Forest over Indiana

Georgia Tech over Penn State

Maryland over Michigan

North Carolina over Michigan State

Northwestern over Florida State

 

Big Ten: 3

ACC: 8

I think Sconsin hangs on here. I'm thinking the Big Ten gets 5.

 

Sick Tyus Edny-esque finish. 1-0 Big Ten.

That was a great game! Vassallo could not miss anything. It might have gone the other way had Allen not committed all those stupid fouls. Anyways, it was a big win for Wisconsin in a tough environment.

Ugh one of my best friends who now goes to Tech was at that game, poor guy. Heck of a game though, neither team really played any defense and the comeback was exciting to watch. It was fitting that the game was decided by a shot made possible by horrible defense though. Great win for Wisconsin, reminds me of their win at Texas last year in terms of the ending (although I think the ending was slightly different in that game, hit a 3 I think).

 

I dont know how you can throw Thabeet in there. He's 7'3", has been playing basketball for about 5 or 6 years, is remarkably athletic for someone his size, has put on weight and muscle in each of the past two years, and has been touted by Calhoun as a player who has improved season to season moreso than anyone he has ever coached. He has a knack for blocking shots with timing, not just his height, and for a big guy, he actually shoots FTs at a ~70% clip which shows he has some touch.

 

IMO, i'd say Thabeet has a legit chance of becoming an NBA regular. He will only get better.

 

He definitely has the best shot, but his lack of an offensive game makes me think he'll be nothing more than a defensive specialist in the NBA. He is giving himself a chance though, seems like a smart kid as he realizes you can't learn on the job at the NBA level and is staying in school. I'd stay next year and graduate while getting more experience too if I were him, he needs all 4 years.

Edited December 2, 200817 yr by whitesoxfan101

The annual Big Ten Beatdown courtesy of the ACC starts tonight. I really wish the Big Ten would win one of these sometime or at least keep it close. The last couple of years have been blowouts. Unfortunately, I think the ACC will probably dominate just as much if not more this year.

 

My predictions...

 

Monday

Virginia Tech over Wisconsin

 

Tuesday

Miami over Ohio State

Boston College over Iowa

Illinois over Clemson

Duke over Purdue

Minnesota over Virginia

 

Wednesday

Wake Forest over Indiana

Georgia Tech over Penn State

Maryland over Michigan

North Carolina over Michigan State

Northwestern over Florida State

 

Big Ten: 3

ACC: 8

 

 

I had the same predictions. Now that the ACC is 0-1, I guess going 7-4 is still good. That FSU/NU might be a huge one for bragging rights.

I'll be rooting hard for Purdue to Boiler Up tonight against the Dookies. I hope E'twaun can stay dominate and light up Coach K's boys. I was a bit surprised to see rivals rank E'twaun as the #1 shooting guard in the nation to this point, but I do think you have just seen the tip of the iceberg with him. Anyway, go Boilers and the same for my Tarheels tomorrow night against Sparty.

 

 

I will still go with 8-3 for the ACC overall as my prediction. Wisky plus only two more will be tough, but that's my fearless forecast.

Edited December 2, 200817 yr by JuiceCruz16

we better beat SLU. Go Dawgs!

Awful refs here in the early going, doesnt help the bucks cant shoot.

 

At least the whole team wont go pro like last time we got good recruits.

Illinois state.

 

i know, 4 people care, whatever.

Gophers face off against Virginia tonight in our first real game of the season. I'm heading out in a few minutes here, can't wait for this one to start!

Illinois state.

 

i know, 4 people care, whatever.

Hey, I'm not the only one anymore, please help me out more often. Got to hold off these SIU boys.

Miami must have watched the Wisconsin- VTech game and decided they want to learn how to let opponents back into games just like Wisconsin does.

Miami must have watched the Wisconsin- VTech game and decided they want to learn how to let opponents back into games just like Wisconsin does.

OSU also started actually making shots which helps.

Miami must have watched the Wisconsin- VTech game and decided they want to learn how to let opponents back into games just like Wisconsin does.

 

 

doesnt help when our best player acts like a f***ing moron and slaps a player.

this is the first time i've seen the illini this year. Good god mike davis, where did this come from?

SIU playing defense. Nice.

WTG Buckeyes.

 

/Runs and takes a shower for feeling dirty

Big 10 was one craptastic play by Iowa away from being 3-0 right now.

 

Illinois needs to win this game at home.

WTG Buckeyes.

 

/Runs and takes a shower for feeling dirty

Ha, it helped a Cane decided to thug it up. But still a good road win for a young buckeyes team. Even Turner just took over the game after the team shot in the 20's in the first half.