Friday, February 18, 2005
The Frightening Illini!
So you're all wondering why I haven't made a post about the Illini when they're 26-0, 2/3s of the way to a perfect season. Wait, you're not wondering about that? Well, then you are sure to be disappointed by this post.
Anyway, I actually have been watching a decent amount of Illini games (or I had been until we got our cable and thus, ESPN, disconnected). There are a few things I have noticed about this team.
1) They are a step above the rest of the pack, including Kansas, UNC, Wake, and yes, Syracuse, Derek. This is made obvious enough by the No. 1 ranking, the undefeated record, the throttling of Wake, etc. Some naysayers think they play in an easy conference, but I say give the Big Ten a little credit- It may not be the deepest conference, but the games are usually tough. And even if it is true, you can't fault the Illini for having an easier schedule: it's not like they've lost any easy games.
2) They thrive under pressure, evidenced by big games against Wake and Wisconsin. Down by 8 midway through the second half against Wisconsin, they pulled out a 10 point victory and ended their 38 game home winning streak. Against Wake, they wanted to prove they were No. 1, and they blew right past their guards, putting an end to the question of whose guards were better.
3) They will finish the regular season undefeated. All they have left is the Big Ten tourney to worry about. And since they've dominated the other two contenders in the conference, I can't see a letdown like they have had in previous years.
4) So fitting- they will make the Final Four. Because this team is so used to pressure, getting to the Final Four will be a relative cakewalk. The last two games are, of course, always a toss-up, but the odds are strongly in the Illini's favor, with the game in St. Louis and only a 2 hour drive from Champaign. That said, I'm picking the Illini to go undefeated simply because they are playing the best team basketball in the nation. Sure, UNC may have a better inside presence, but they don't always play on the same page; teams like Wake and Syracuse lack consistency, Duke is overrated. In fact, the team the Illini should be most worried about is Kansas, not only because of Bill Self, but also because Kansas is also a short hop away from St. Louis and because they seem a little more consistent (though they did just lose again) than UNC.
Admittedly, if the Illini have a bad game against one of those teams, they'll be going home. But who would you rather go with? The teams that have had several bad games and lost some of them? Or the team that has had several bad games but managed to pull them all out?
Of course, the one year that the Illini are going to win the tournament, is the one year everyone believes in them. So I probably won't clean up in my pools because other people will pick the Illini. So feel free to pick against them. And bet against me. Derek? What do you say?
Anyway, I actually have been watching a decent amount of Illini games (or I had been until we got our cable and thus, ESPN, disconnected). There are a few things I have noticed about this team.
1) They are a step above the rest of the pack, including Kansas, UNC, Wake, and yes, Syracuse, Derek. This is made obvious enough by the No. 1 ranking, the undefeated record, the throttling of Wake, etc. Some naysayers think they play in an easy conference, but I say give the Big Ten a little credit- It may not be the deepest conference, but the games are usually tough. And even if it is true, you can't fault the Illini for having an easier schedule: it's not like they've lost any easy games.
2) They thrive under pressure, evidenced by big games against Wake and Wisconsin. Down by 8 midway through the second half against Wisconsin, they pulled out a 10 point victory and ended their 38 game home winning streak. Against Wake, they wanted to prove they were No. 1, and they blew right past their guards, putting an end to the question of whose guards were better.
3) They will finish the regular season undefeated. All they have left is the Big Ten tourney to worry about. And since they've dominated the other two contenders in the conference, I can't see a letdown like they have had in previous years.
4) So fitting- they will make the Final Four. Because this team is so used to pressure, getting to the Final Four will be a relative cakewalk. The last two games are, of course, always a toss-up, but the odds are strongly in the Illini's favor, with the game in St. Louis and only a 2 hour drive from Champaign. That said, I'm picking the Illini to go undefeated simply because they are playing the best team basketball in the nation. Sure, UNC may have a better inside presence, but they don't always play on the same page; teams like Wake and Syracuse lack consistency, Duke is overrated. In fact, the team the Illini should be most worried about is Kansas, not only because of Bill Self, but also because Kansas is also a short hop away from St. Louis and because they seem a little more consistent (though they did just lose again) than UNC.
Admittedly, if the Illini have a bad game against one of those teams, they'll be going home. But who would you rather go with? The teams that have had several bad games and lost some of them? Or the team that has had several bad games but managed to pull them all out?
Of course, the one year that the Illini are going to win the tournament, is the one year everyone believes in them. So I probably won't clean up in my pools because other people will pick the Illini. So feel free to pick against them. And bet against me. Derek? What do you say?
# posted by Stuart @ 8:59 AM 
