Pregame: Illinois vs Indiana, Friday, March 11th, 10:30am CT, BTN

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#126      

Illinisteve25

Illinisteve25
Champaign
Illinisteve25
I don't understand anyone who says they don't care what happens in the BTT. I get that the main goal is a deep run in the NCAA tournament but are you going to tell me you didn't enjoy last years BTT Championship and the banner that goes with it? Also if you don't care does that mean you wont be watching? I sure as heck cant wait for Friday and another opportunity to watch this team! I strongly dislike both Michigan and Indiana and any time we play I want to kick their butts idc if its an exhibition game..... Lets get this W!
 
#127      

Illinir1

Illinir1
Camdenton, MO
Illinir1
Sorry if this has already been discussed......Why is the #1 seed in the B1G Tournament slotted in the 10:30 a.m. time slot on Friday and then the #2 and #3 seeds get the evening prime time slots? One would think the #3 and #4 seeds would play in the morning/afternoon session and the #1 and #2 seeds would get the evening prime time slots.
 
#128      

FloridaMan

F
FloridaMan
Illinisteve25 said:
I don't understand anyone who says they don't care what happens in the BTT. I get that the main goal is a deep run in the NCAA tournament but are you going to tell me you didn't enjoy last years BTT Championship and the banner that goes with it? Also if you don't care does that mean you wont be watching? I sure as heck cant wait for Friday and another opportunity to watch this team! I strongly dislike both Michigan and Indiana and any time we play I want to kick their butts idc if its an exhibition game..... Lets get this W!
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Haven't read all the comments you are referring to; but in my opinion, while I did tremendously enjoyed last year's BTT Championship and banner, I think it came at a great cost. I think it physically and mentally took its toll. Those were some tough games, especially on Sunday against OSU. We have our banner this year, if we lose after Friday I am not going to be upset that we have a couple days of additional rest and recovery to prepare for the following weekend in the tournament that really counts this year. JMO
 
#129      

Illinisteve25

Illinisteve25
Champaign
Illinisteve25
Illinir1 said:
Sorry if this has already been discussed......Why is the #1 seed in the B1G Tournament slotted in the 10:30 a.m. time slot on Friday and then the #2 and #3 seeds get the evening prime time slots? One would think the #3 and #4 seeds would play in the morning/afternoon session and the #1 and #2 seeds would get the evening prime time slots.
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Usually the better matchups for this round are in those games.... I also would hate Purdue's time slot Late night game Friday night and mid day game Saturday would seem rough...
 
#130      

SuperintendentChalmers

SuperintendentChalmers
SuperintendentChalmers
Illinir1 said:
Sorry if this has already been discussed......Why is the #1 seed in the B1G Tournament slotted in the 10:30 a.m. time slot on Friday and then the #2 and #3 seeds get the evening prime time slots? One would think the #3 and #4 seeds would play in the morning/afternoon session and the #1 and #2 seeds would get the evening prime time slots.
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I believe putting the #1 team in the first slot is meant to give them an advantage by putting them in a morning game against a team that played the previous day. Also, though it often works out differently, the 1-8 game is ostensibly the biggest mismatch so it would be less likely to draw neutral viewers.
 
#131      

Bucktown

B
Bucktown
SuperintendentChalmers said:
I believe putting the #1 team in the first slot is meant to give them an advantage by putting them in a morning game against a team that played the previous day. Also, though it often works out differently, the 1-8 game is ostensibly the biggest mismatch so it would be less likely to draw neutral viewers.
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Also the #1 seed gets the most rest for its Saturday game.
 
#132      

Longtimelurker

L
Longtimelurker
Illinisteve25 said:
I don't understand anyone who says they don't care what happens in the BTT. I get that the main goal is a deep run in the NCAA tournament but are you going to tell me you didn't enjoy last years BTT Championship and the banner that goes with it? Also if you don't care does that mean you wont be watching? I sure as heck cant wait for Friday and another opportunity to watch this team! I strongly dislike both Michigan and Indiana and any time we play I want to kick their butts idc if its an exhibition game..... Lets get this W!
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I agree, but I think it has to do with giving the lower seeds rest between games.
 
#134      

PIT_ILL

P
PIT_ILL
Illinisteve25 said:
I don't understand anyone who says they don't care what happens in the BTT. I get that the main goal is a deep run in the NCAA tournament but are you going to tell me you didn't enjoy last years BTT Championship and the banner that goes with it? Also if you don't care does that mean you wont be watching? I sure as heck cant wait for Friday and another opportunity to watch this team! I strongly dislike both Michigan and Indiana and any time we play I want to kick their butts idc if its an exhibition game..... Lets get this W!
Click to expand...
Yes but last year was a unique case in that the team deserved the regular season title and didn't get it. This year they are already B1G champs. I also think the team last year was emotionally drained following the BTT.

And of course everyone will watch the BTT but not devastated with a loss like the Loyola game last year. The only game I personally would get very invested in would be a title game against Purdue.
 
#135      

danielb927

danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
Rochester, MN
danielb927
FloridaMan said:
Haven't read all the comments you are referring to; but in my opinion, while I did tremendously enjoyed last year's BTT Championship and banner, I think it came at a great cost. I think it physically and mentally took its toll. Those were some tough games, especially on Sunday against OSU. We have our banner this year, if we lose after Friday I am not going to be upset that we have a couple days of additional rest and recovery to prepare for the following weekend in the tournament that really counts this year. JMO
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Keep in mind that last year the team stayed in Indy between the BTT and NCAA tourney due to the COVID bubble protocols. Easy to imagine how the stress and emotion of the Big Ten tourney would pair weirdly with being stuck in a hotel for another week instead of getting to celebrate, relax, and reset at home.
 
#136      

Ga65

G
Ga65
PIT_ILL said:
Yes but last year was a unique case in that the team deserved the regular season title and didn't get it. This year they are already B1G champs. I also think the team last year was emotionally drained following the BTT.

And of course everyone will watch the BTT but not devastated with a loss like the Loyola game last year. The only game I personally would get very invested in would be a title game against Purdue.
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Winning never seemed as draining as losing to me.
 
#137      

Illinisteve25

Illinisteve25
Champaign
Illinisteve25
We always talk about how great Fletch is at his job, so being drained or tired is not going to be and excuse come tournament time no matter how many games we play this weekend.... These games matter, the higher the seed the easier the path in the NCAA tournament. Huge difference between a 3 or 4 seed...
 
#138      

jumpingjack

J
jumpingjack
Illinisteve25 said:
We always talk about how great Fletch is at his job, so being drained or tired is not going to be and excuse come tournament time no matter how many games we play this weekend.... These games matter, the higher the seed the easier the path in the NCAA tournament. Huge difference between a 3 or 4 seed...
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I think it's probably more that emotional aspect. We were in "we're gonna prove you screwed us" mode during the BTT, I hypothesize... And once we reached that particular mountaintop, I believe there might have been a little dropoff in motivation. Just my supposition. Being in constant 'fight' mode isn't easy, physically or emotionally, no matter what age you are.
 
#139      

destindog

D
destindog
Last year this team went into the B1G tournament on I believe a 5-6 game winning streak or something like that. They won three more games then first game of NCAA 's. Then got beat. This year they have a two game streak and if they win the B1G Tourney it will be a five game streak entering the NCAA tourney.. It will very had to win an additional six games. They seem to refocus after a loss so I think losing the Sunday game or maybe even the Saturday game might help them focus a little more.
 
#140      

CubsIlliniFan

C
CubsIlliniFan
jumpingjack said:
I think it's probably more that emotional aspect. We were in "we're gonna prove you screwed us" mode during the BTT, I hypothesize... And once we reached that particular mountaintop, I believe there might have been a little dropoff in motivation. Just my supposition. Being in constant 'fight' mode isn't easy, physically or emotionally, no matter what age you are.
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I agree as they came out flat against Drexel last year then against Loyola. They were emotionally drained last year. This year they know how to react and prepare for the tourney.
 
#141      

Illinisteve25

Illinisteve25
Champaign
Illinisteve25
Got bored and decided to look up how well teams that win the big ten tournament do in the NCAA tournament that year. Here is the last 10 teams:
21' ILL lost 2nd round
20' Canceled
19" Msu lost in final4
18' Mich Lost in Champ Game
17' Mich Lost in sweet 16
16' Msu lost in 1st round
15' Wisc Lost in Champ game
14' Msu Lost in Elite 8
13' Osu Lost in Elite 8
12" Msu Lost in Sweet 16
11' Osu Lost in Sweet 16
Seems like most of us have making the sweet 16 to be our expectation this year. Overall most conference tournament champions did quite well..... Just did quick google search so I apologize if any of this info is inaccurate.....
 
#143      

zentrails

Z
zentrails
Illinisteve25 said:
Usually the better matchups for this round are in those games.... I also would hate Purdue's time slot Late night game Friday night and mid day game Saturday would seem rough...
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Yes, assuming we win Fri, that gives us all aft and evening to rest and watch film of our potential second game opponents
 
#144      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
I'm predicting 2 of the bottom 5 teams will make it to Friday. Not sure who but if I had to guess, it would be Northwestern beating Iowa and PSU beating OSU.

Also thinking MSU will make the semis if Johnny Davis is out or less than 100%.
 
#145      

Bacon Butkus Swanson

B
Bacon Butkus Swanson
OrangeLife said:
Michigan should never win another game in football or basketball again. Shamed, they will withdraw from both sports and concentrate on badminton.
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Is there a handshake line after badminton?
1646764319280.png
 
#147      

SuperintendentChalmers

SuperintendentChalmers
SuperintendentChalmers
destindog said:
Last year this team went into the B1G tournament on I believe a 5-6 game winning streak or something like that. They won three more games then first game of NCAA 's. Then got beat. This year they have a two game streak and if they win the B1G Tourney it will be a five game streak entering the NCAA tourney.. It will very had to win an additional six games. They seem to refocus after a loss so I think losing the Sunday game or maybe even the Saturday game might help them focus a little more.
Click to expand...
This. They were the hottest story in college basketball going into the tournament last year. Friends who never give a second of interest to college basketball until the brackets come out were texting me about how the Illini were going all the way. They had abused Michigan in Ann Arbor without Ayo and their only recent bad moment was that terrible administrative decision by the B1G.

Here, they're got a lot more bruises, starting with last year's NCAA flame-out. This year, we had the all-new staff, the Kofi suspension, getting embarrassed by Cincy, etc., etc. Lost a home game in the last two weeks that seemed to doom our title hopes, then got down 15 in a game where a loss would have been our version of Duke blowing Coach K's finale.

Hopefully, the adversity serves us better than the victory march.
 
#148      

BillyBob1

BillyBob1
Champaign
BillyBob1
Illinir1 said:
Sorry if this has already been discussed......Why is the #1 seed in the B1G Tournament slotted in the 10:30 a.m. time slot on Friday and then the #2 and #3 seeds get the evening prime time slots? One would think the #3 and #4 seeds would play in the morning/afternoon session and the #1 and #2 seeds would get the evening prime time slots.
Click to expand...
The #1 seed then gets the most rest. The teams that play in the evening have to come back on not much rest.
 
#149      

altgeld88

altgeld88
Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
SuperintendentChalmers said:
This. They were the hottest story in college basketball going into the tournament last year. Friends who never give a second of interest to college basketball until the brackets come out were texting me about how the Illini were going all the way. They had abused Michigan in Ann Arbor without Ayo and their only recent bad moment was that terrible administrative decision by the B1G.

Here, they're got a lot more bruises, starting with last year's NCAA flame-out. This year, we had the all-new staff, the Kofi suspension, getting embarrassed by Cincy, etc., etc. Lost a home game in the last two weeks that seemed to doom our title hopes, then got down 15 in a game where a loss would have been our version of Duke blowing Coach K's finale.

Hopefully, the adversity serves us better than the victory march.
Click to expand...
It seemed to me at the time that the BTT final v. Ohio State was the most intense one I'd seen in many years. It had the energy of an Elite 8 game. Someone I know who doesn't follow the BT watched it and told me he thought it was on par with the more intense NCAA tourney games he'd seen.
 
#150      

bootsy1974

B
bootsy1974
SuperintendentChalmers said:
This. They were the hottest story in college basketball going into the tournament last year. Friends who never give a second of interest to college basketball until the brackets come out were texting me about how the Illini were going all the way. They had abused Michigan in Ann Arbor without Ayo and their only recent bad moment was that terrible administrative decision by the B1G.

Here, they're got a lot more bruises, starting with last year's NCAA flame-out. This year, we had the all-new staff, the Kofi suspension, getting embarrassed by Cincy, etc., etc. Lost a home game in the last two weeks that seemed to doom our title hopes, then got down 15 in a game where a loss would have been our version of Duke blowing Coach K's finale.

Hopefully, the adversity serves us better than the victory march.
Click to expand...
Hopefully we can use 2019 Virginia as the model of how to bounce back from previous tournament failure. I really like what Trent said in the postgame Sunday about forgetting about the win over Iowa and turn the page towards bigger and better things going forward.
 
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