What is going on with Illinois basketball? University of Illinois has been, by and large, bottom feeders in both football and men's basketball for the last 30 years. All of a sudden, they are ranked #4 (as of today) and just blew out #2 Michigan. What caused this sudden turnaround this season?
Can't speak about Illinois football, but basketball in Cham-bana hasn't been that bad that long.
QuoteBill Self (2000—2003)
2000—01__Bill Self 27—8 13—3 1st(T) NCAA Elite Eight
2001—02 Bill Self 26—9 11—5 1st(T) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002—03 Bill Self 25—7 11—5 2nd NCAA 2nd Round
Bill Self: 78—24 35—13
Bruce Weber (2003—2012)
2003—04 Bruce Weber 26—7 13—3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2004—05 Bruce Weber 37—2 15—1 1st NCAA Runner-Up
2005—06 Bruce Weber 26—7 11—5 2nd(T) NCAA Round of 32
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on March 03, 2021, 12:23:44 AM
Can't speak about Illinois football, but basketball in Cham-bana hasn't been that bad that long.
QuoteBill Self (2000—2003)
2000—01__Bill Self 27—8 13—3 1st(T) NCAA Elite Eight
2001—02 Bill Self 26—9 11—5 1st(T) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002—03 Bill Self 25—7 11—5 2nd NCAA 2nd Round
Bill Self: 78—24 35—13
Bruce Weber (2003—2012)
2003—04 Bruce Weber 26—7 13—3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2004—05 Bruce Weber 37—2 15—1 1st NCAA Runner-Up
2005—06 Bruce Weber 26—7 11—5 2nd(T) NCAA Round of 32
The last 15 years have been trash though. And Illinois should be a perennial powerhouse due to Chicago, but they've been having trouble recruiting there.
Just because a school is close to Chicago doesn't mean it is going to be good by default athletically (Northwestern...). Most of the more name brand Big Ten schools at least have a recruiting presence out of state, Illinois really never has. But I would also add that in terms of Basketball Illinois definitely has been far more competitive than have been in Football.
UIUC responded to Northern Illinois going to the Orange Bowl/BCS by hiring Lovie Smith to head the football program in Champaign. That worked out really well...
Illini football is pretty sad when the MAC Husky program out-recruits the Chicagoland in-state talent compared to the Flagship State University in the Big Ten
Basketballwise - If I'm good and from the city or even the near burbs, why not stay in the city and go to Loyola or DePaul, especially when on scholarship?
Quote from: ilpt4u on March 06, 2021, 12:09:57 PM
UIUC responded to Northern Illinois going to the Orange Bowl/BCS by hiring Lovie Smith to head the football program in Champaign. That worked out really well...
Illini football is pretty sad when the MAC Husky program out-recruits the Chicagoland in-state talent compared to the Flagship State University in the Big Ten
Basketballwise - If I'm good and from the city or even the near burbs, why not stay in the city and go to Loyola or DePaul, especially when on scholarship?
Hate to be overly nitpicky, but as far as NIU goes, the singular for Huskies is Huskie.
As for Illinois basketball, they have always been a sleeping giant who hasn't always put it all together at once, and the same goes for their football team.
The Illini are my best pick to win it all.
Quote from: thspfc on March 15, 2021, 08:07:59 PM
The Illini are my best pick to win it all.
I have Alabama and Illinois in the title game, and I've picked Illinois to win it all in my serious brackets. Begrudges me a little, but to have a transitive national title, it could be worse.
Quote from: thspfc on March 15, 2021, 08:07:59 PM
The Illini are my best pick to win it all.
That was my bet at the sportsbook I go to. I got them at 1800 and the last I saw, they were 750.
Merge this with the basketball thread perhaps?
Quote from: cabiness42 on March 16, 2021, 03:26:52 PM
Merge this with the basketball thread perhaps?
No need anymore, sadly.
Chris
Ramble on