Illini in Chgo: how much excitement?

it'll defnitely be a very big deal, but still nothing on the level of the cubs or bulls or bears going the distance. chicago just isn't a huge college sports town. our deepest passions lie with our pro franchises.

^I agree. Obviously, there are more U of I alums, parents, and casual fans in Chicagoland than anywhere else, so the story is a big deal. But too many Chicagoans are alums of other colleges for it to be as big a deal as with one of the pro teams.

It is going to be a big deal, but it certainly won't be as big as any pro sports franchise we have in Chicago exclusively. It is interesting to exlpore just how connected U of I is to Chicago and vice versa. I would say there is a strong Chicago influence at Illinois, but we do share that school with the rest of the state so it dilutes the excitement to an extent.

I think when the Illinois basketball team showcases more Chicago area talent (as they are doing this year with Brown, Head, Powell, and Agustine), Chicago feels a stronger connection to them than during the periods where they relied almost exclusively on Peoria and downstate Illinois.

Only a delusional nutcase would give UW Milwaukee a prayer against the Illini on their home turf.

Call me a delusional nutcase. I think the Panthers will pull it out in a close game.

In the event UW Milwaukee loses, well, I'll move on to other delusions.

milwaukeeunseen said:

Only a delusional nutcase would give UW Milwaukee a prayer against the Illini on their home turf.

Call me a delusional nutcase. I think the Panthers will pull it out in a close game.

In the event UW Milwaukee loses, well, I'll move on to other delusions.

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Are you sure you aren't referring to UW-Madison?

Go UWM! **** the Illini and their bandwagon fans!!

MCC said:

Go UWM! **** the Illini and their bandwagon fans!!

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It's amazing what one year with no Indiana team in March Maddess can do to the sanity of state whose sanity has always been in question.

You want to bring up sanity? The assholes at the Rosemont think it's OK to have ice under the court this late in the season. They showed UWM's leading shot blocker fall on his face doing a lay-up before the game. He's out today.

^ Like it would have mattered. He plays 10 minutes a game and UW-M lost by 14. Having ice under the court is nothing new. Any NBA/NHL arena does the same thing (when the NHL is actually playing games).

I wouldn't expect them to keep ice under the floor in a game this big.

Illinois really isn't that good. I never really watched them until today but it's obvious they have no inside presence. I doubt they'll go all the way. Watch them lose to UNC or another team that can score down low and get to the line. They will get their loss.

Congratulations to UMW for a great season and for their tough game tonight.

Now...GO ILLINI!!

MCC said:

I wouldn't expect them to keep ice under the floor in a game this big.

Illinois really isn't that good. I never really watched them until today but it's obvious they have no inside presence. I doubt they'll go all the way. Watch them lose to UNC or another team that can score down low and get to the line. They will get their loss.

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So you never really watched them and you can come to that conclusion in one game?
James Augustine is an "inside presence" and Roger powell is one of the best defenders in the paint, they need not be big scorers.

MCC said:

I wouldn't expect them to keep ice under the floor in a game this big.

Illinois really isn't that good. I never really watched them until today but it's obvious they have no inside presence. I doubt they'll go all the way. Watch them lose to UNC or another team that can score down low and get to the line. They will get their loss.

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You're right, they're not all that good. They've been the #1 team in the country for 15 weeks. They stand at 34-1 right now. If they beat Arizona, they get to the final four.

Most college teams lack a major inside presence. I agree that UNC would give them problems with Sean May, but James Agustine has really come on as of late and is doing a great job on the boards. I don't know where all of your bitterness towards Illinois is coming from.

Regarding the ice: What the hell did you want them to do? Melt the fucking ice?

MCC: llinois really isn't that good. I never really watched them until today but it's obvious they have no inside presence. I doubt they'll go all the way. Watch them lose to UNC or another team that can score down low and get to the line. They will get their loss.

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Illinois "really isn't that good"? You're saying this based on the ONE game you watched today. Well, I can admit Augustine didn't play that well and had only 11 points, but he's been outstanding lately, picking up the slack while Brown, Head, and Williams weren't shooting their best. And tonight, when Augustine wasn't at his greatest, the guards went crazy and scored a combined 54 points. This team always finds a way to win, that's why their NUMBER ONE. If you'd seen more than one game, then you'd know this. Until you have a basis for passing judgment, keep quiet.

Please

The big men are pathetic, and getting outrebounded by a 12 seed is embarrassing. I can't imagine what Arizona will do to them.

Teams with just good guards always fall apart eventually because they can't shoot when the pressure is on. You have to have forwards and centers that can get to the line and shoot high percentage shots to carry the team.

Do you expect them to play with absolute perfection in all respects of the game? That's impossible. Even if they were out-rebounded, they still remained in firm control throughout the entire game and won easily. Also, they weren't even out-rebounded that badly; UWM had 33 rebounds and Illinois had 28.

You say "teams with just good guards always fall apart eventually because they can't shoot when the pressure is on." Um, hello, Illinois is 35-1!! I get the feeling that you're someone who wants to hate on Illinois just for the sake of hating.

The Big Ten is weak, Illini big men are weak.. I've heard it ALL from people who just turned on the TV today and have no clue what comes out of their ass. Talk is weak, period.

MCC said:

The big men are pathetic, and getting outrebounded by a 12 seed is embarrassing. I can't imagine what Arizona will do to them.

Teams with just good guards always fall apart eventually because they can't shoot when the pressure is on. You have to have forwards and centers that can get to the line and shoot high percentage shots to carry the team.

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^WTF?
so... a championship team must have shitty gaurds and instead have fwds and centers that carry the team, gaurds eventually fall apart because of pressure, and the Illini big men are pathetic....yes, you are ignoramus of the week for that one.

chiphile said:

The Big Ten is weak, Illini big men are weak.. I've heard it ALL from people who just turned on the TV today and have no clue what comes out of their ass. Talk is weak, period.

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I'm sure that explains Illinois in the Elite Eight and Wisconsin and MSU in the Sweet Sixteen.

Don't fool yourself about the Big 10. The big 10 teams have yet to be tested.

Michigan State: Beat Old Dominion and Vermont
Wisconsin: Beat Northern Iowa and Bucknell
Illini: First real test comes Saturday.

Those teams got into the Sweet Sixteen so easily. UWM's Sweet Sixteen run is much more impressive than any of those overrated Big 10 teams'.

Chiphile, I didn't say anything about shitty guards. I just think championship teams need a good inside and outside game if the long shots aren't falling.