Illinois 21 fta Houston 2 I know I know like half of those were intentional fouls but what did I say that was incorrect and 2 fta in a game coming with 3 mins left in the second half is still highly suspect even if your entire team has the shot selection of lamelo ball.
I think they’ll get by Iowa, but you never know since it’s a big 10 showdown. More likely by Duke or UConn in the final 4 I don’t really care when it happens, just that it happens.
Going to miss the departing kids. Flemings and Cenac are no longer lottery locks. With NIL I don’t know why they would not return. Hope we can do better next year.
Flemings is a lock and Cenac will be a first rounder based on potential alone. I think the staff knew from day one that Cenac was gone after a season and thats why they recruited that 5 star center as hard as they did
To get directly to the point. Yes, I do not think Illinois is going to win the national championship… so I’ll some point I’ll happily drink their tears of unfathomable sadness.
Lol, it is about putting urself on the map for better players actually for minor schools......the championship is fine but obtaining players on regular basis is key for any College Program. That is accomplished with an Elite 8 or Final Four accomplishment.
One of my favorite college teams of all time was the 1989 Illini...the the "Positionless Clones": everyone was 6'4-6'9 Kendall Gill Kenny Battle Steve Bardo Nick Anderson Marcus Liberty Lowell Hamilton They lost in the Semi's...up there with Phi Slama Jama as the best team I've ever seen that didn't win it. Oh, eta: the other best team that couldabeen: the Syracuse team that got beat by Indiana (Keith Smart)
As much as we glazed Kingston, dont forget just how awesome of a player Emanuel Sharp was for us. Streaky at times but never lacking in effort and class. One of the toughest players we've had. I wont forget you, buddy
I picked Illinois to beat us in my bracket. Went pretty much exactly as I feared. Their length made rebounds and easy buckets hard to find. We shot awful and they didn't. Add in no fast breaks and giving up 24 PITP and that's an easy GG. Something felt off this year. Hard to put a finger on it. But IMO it was the lack of consistent interior offense and rebounding. Jojo did his level best there, but J'wan was simply not replaceable.
Last year hurts worse now, and the year before. Great season regardless. Hope Coogs remain very relevant .
