BruceDouglas

OK, well conference record is even less relevant for seeding. B12 teams benefit having only 10 teams in that league which really means less awful teams and inflated metrics. Helps having all those conference games as Q1/Q2. Big Ten was like that last year but it's every season in the B12.

Conference records aren't (and can't be) used. Unbalanced scheduling, plus it's data that's contained by just looking at a team's overall body of work. So if IU finishes 9-11 in the Big Ten they should stay home while an 11-9 Virginia or Virginia Tech dances? I saw Lunardi was suggesting this as well and quite frankly anyone referencing conference records should have their bracketology license revoked. 😁

Schedule helped out Iowa with 2 games vs Nebraska and 1 each w/ Minny and MD. Road win at Ohio St was impressive though. Ugh, had to cheer for IU a while back now I have to say "Boiler Up!" for Tuesday. 😱

Bosmans-Verdonk in concussion protocol, another game with a reduced roster but what else is new....

Kevin Warren is such a joke of a commissioner. 2 years ago he decided Alan Griffin should sit out for 2 games after he stepped on Stefanovic. And not only that, but a "public reprimand"! Here's his statement on that: Now that "hostile and unsafe" environment that he was concerned about happens in Madison and guys throwing multiple punches get 1 game. Let's compare the statement for today: I guess more learning experiences and teachable moments are needed In the meantime, if a brawl breaks out just make sure you don't step on anyone!

LOL, fair enough.

Didn't Howard use that up last year yelling that he was going to kill Turgeon?

All guard are not equal. Curbelo is a PG, right now his role is a change of pace and to give Frazier some rest. He's also come in for Plummer at times because Phons is a terrible defender and teams have been attacking him. Melendez is a 6'7" wing who's earned more minutes in the rotation subbing in for Grandison or Williams. He can play a small ball 4 at times but is really a true 3. So again, there's zero overlap in their minutes. Hey how about that Juwan Howard, eh?

Plummer is a grad xfer but Grandison was not. He was an old school, sit out a season guy. Sat one and this is his second season playing for the Illini. Have already added a mid year guy, Dain Dainja from Baylor. Illini are full up on scholarships, so any other additions will depend on who comes back or not. Grandison, Hutcherson and Kofi all could come back but there are 3 incoming recruits signed already so....? Have a feeling this offseason roster juggling is going to become the norm. They do have a good young core with Curbelo, Hawkins, Goode and Melendez but yeah it will be rough without more help.

Huh? They play completely different positions and are not competing for minutes.

Left at the half and didn't come back out. "Not feeling well" was the reason. Hope he's OK.

Well, at least PSU came through. I actually think they are fairly similar to MSU. Sparty has a little more talent but neither team really has "the guy". That's typical for PSU, not so much MSU.

Ugh, have to be an IU fan again tonight.

Just caught wind of that on twitter but didn't really read more since our game was at the same time. Tough to have that hit when you're trying to get an NCAA bid. Any news on how long those guys are out?

Thanks we were all very happy to see Trent OK and get back in the game. Not sure it was wise to play him, but... Thinking more about the end of game, Purdue is trying for a 1 seed so maybe Painter just wanted to try to see if they could get that 20 point margin. 😁 Watched an interesting discussion between the Miller brothers and Ken Pomeroy. Starting about 26 min through they are talking about how great offense has become more important than great defense. But Ken does think Purdue needs to improve their D to make the Final Four.

I think they had words about why the hell Purdue doesn't have functional shot clocks. @Stlboiler23 Kofi was on the bench and Brandon Lieb was in along with the rest of the Illini bench. Edey was still trying to score against him and Ivey was as well. Not a big deal but looked a little strange. Illinois and Purdue are pretty similar teams except they have Ivey, which is a pretty significant thing.

Michigan making us play 2 days earlier than scheduled....thanks again Juwan.

Would have maximized the Illinois/Indiana karma ratio for a single day.

As I mentioned in the pre-game the match up that worried me most was Williams on Thompson and Da'Monte did a really good job there. TJD taking himself out with a silly foul (and Woodson benching him for the half) seemed significant at the time but Illinois really didn't take advantage and Durr did a nice job filling in. And can't blame your coach for leaving TJD on the bench given the way thing went, but sometimes when a player sits that long he never gets back into the flow. Having said that, not sure it would have made a difference as he just can't seem to do much against Kofi. Underwood mentioned that Bo told him they missed the tripping call. Not sure if he said the same to Wooson or not on the one they missed later? Grandison started off the game poorly and only had 6 points but those might have been the biggest 6 of the game. Also I guess your PG was talking a lot of trash to the Illini bench, maybe not a good move? Frazier loves that stuff and he's pretty good at it himself. 😁

Illinois didn't survive @ Maryland. That one could hurt. Even without Kofi it should have been a win. Probably, but Wisconsin and Ohio St have easier schedules remaining so can't rule them out. I do think MSU is a long shot at this point.

Georgia and Mizzou?

Wow, a week off is clearly too much free time for you guys. 🤣 The match up I'm interested in is Thompson. I assume Williams will guard him as he's too big/strong for Grandison. Those types have given Illinois some problems, like Wahl in the first half last night. Kofi and TJD probably neutralize each other like they have previously. Think the Illini have the edge with the guards so will need Thompson to come through.

Purdue ended up with 2 terrible shots at the end of regulation and the first OT against Illinois. They seem to get really good looks off their regular offense, maybe they should just stick with that?

Conference standings/record aren't (and can't be) a criteria. Unbalanced scheduling means you can't compare conference records within the same league, much less between other leagues. Last year Purdue was 13-6 in the B1G and got a 4 seed. Ohio St was behind them at 12-8, got a 2 seed Similar examples almost every season. Indiana's remaining schedule looks pretty tough as well. Yes, you are competing with Illinois....and 356 others. Aside from the conference champs, conference affiliation means nothing to the committee.