Illinois basketball fans

[TheGame414]

Illinois gets a twelve seed, to get smashed by VTech. Indiana with a 7 seed? what you think of that?

If we can keep it in the halfcourt against VTech, we should be fine. If they get out and running, with their athleticism, we're in trouble. It's a good matchup for Pruitt because of their lack of size- he usually beats up on smaller teams- which hopefully in turn opens up our perimeter looks. Gordon and Dowdell do a good job taking care of the ball, but aside from Southern Illinois and arguably Duke, they haven't faced a defense as nasty as ours. (I realize UNC is ranked No. 2 nationally in defensive efficiency- Illinois is No. 3- but I think that's a bit deceiving because most of that has to do with how fast they play offensively, which is far faster than almost anyone else is comfortable, or capable of, playing, thus leading to bad possessions. With the way our offense struggles, we earn every stop we get defensively.)

[ThaKing]

This is the first time I can ever remember seeing this thread on page 2. Anyways good luck against V-Tech. I really hope you, or SIU, can beat them because I think they can beat Kansas. They've already beaten a similar team in UNC twice this year. Honestly I think you guys match up about as well against them as we do( to a certain extent). Good luck Illini, I hope we can see each other in the Sweet 16.

[TheGame414]

If that does happen, it'd be the rubber match for Illinois/Kansas in the Sweet 16 this decade.

I wonder if that's ever happened: the same two teams played each other in the Sweet 16 three times in a decade.

What's funny is that Joe Lunardi, after saying we'd miss the tourney in a rare miss for him (how many did he end up missing this year, anyway?), now is picking us to advance to the Sweet 16.

If we do make it to the second weekend, I won't even be upset when Kansas beats us by 20 points. That'd be an amazing accomplishment considering the unbelievable amount of stuff this team has been through.

[wang4three]

I have Kansas losing to Nova, but that just shows my horrible bias for Nova as a team.

[ThaKing]

^ Nova and V-Tech are two teams I'm hoping will lose. I just feel better playing the other teams in our bracket.


Props to Luther last night. Big shot, I like Houston.

[IBall280]

i have nova losing to kentucky... than kentucky losing to kansas.

[ballinhun8]

After seeing their press conference, it made me wonder, damn, Chester Fazier looks like a mini-Dee Brown. I mean appearance wise. Although he has the passion for the game and I love that out of him. I think this tourney we're definately gonna miss Jamar's outside game. His ability to hit the outside shot is what would be able to give us an advantage. I can remember, from at least the last 7 years that we've had the outside game. From the likes of Cory Bradford, Sean Harrington, Dee/Deron/Luther, heck, even Jack Ingram and Nick Smith could drain them, all these guys seemed to always be at the right place at the right time to make a key 3 and I think Jamar would've definately help us out in that area for the upcoming game against Va. Tech.

[TheGame414]

I've heard for two years from everyone how Chester looks like Dee, and other than being black and having cornrows I just don't see it at all.

[ballinhun8]

Maybe it was the angle from the camera and the fact that it looked like Frazier had his head leaning forward to hear some of the questions that made it look like him

[Moose]

Ouch what a loss

[ThaKing]

[statman32]

If you guys wanna join me in shooting myself it would be appreciated.

[IlliniFan]

If you guys wanna join me in shooting myself it would be appreciated.

Gladly.

[FireMcFailPlease]

*steps in*

ouch, terrible officiating at the end.

*steps back out*

[hippos]

*pulls out gun*

*watches MSU play another day*

*pulls out gun again*....but hopefully not. lol