Illinois to the "Big Show"

6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#1
#1
Illinois has never, never, ever played in the NCAA championship game.....nope, not ever. I am soooooooo proud of the orange and blue.

Congratulations, Fighting Illini!!

So now, who will be their opponents? I am still hoping for a Big 10 Final, but I know that NC will have something to say about that.
 
6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#3
#3
hoopsfan said:
Congrats 6th..I was rooting for them too. Hopefully Michigan can win the next one.
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Thanks, hoopsfan. My guys were #1 in the Nation for roughly 2/3 of the season. They really deserve to be playing for the Championship because they have been playing for much of the season like a Championship team. Now, just 1 more game. And, it will be the hardest game of the year.
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#4
#4
6th said:
Illinois has never, never, ever played in the NCAA championship game.....nope, not ever. I am soooooooo proud of the orange and blue.
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Congrats. How do you think Deron Williams will fare in the NBA?
 
6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#5
#5
Gargamel said:
Congrats. How do you think Deron Williams will fare in the NBA?
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I think Deron will be fine, but it will take 2-3 years before that becomes evident. He is a good ball handler and has good court vision. I like how quickly he can pick up the ball off a dribble and complete a pass. He often catches the defense off guard.

The NBA is always looking for a point guard and he will be a good one.
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#6
#6
6th said:
I think Deron will be fine, but it will take 2-3 years before that becomes evident. He is a good ball handler and has good court vision. I like how quickly he can pick up the ball off a dribble and complete a pass. He often catches the defense off guard.

The NBA is always looking for a point guard and he will be a good one.
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Reason I ask is because this team I know will be in line to pick him. He makes me quite nervous. He's very slow laterally and full-speed, pudgy, and not all that athletic with a slow release. On defense, I don't think he'd have much more luck than either Fisher or Atkins. That said, he's clearly the best passer of the point guard crop, and very intuitive. I saw one of those nice off-the-dribble passes in the game today. It's a skill that Stockton and Magic had and not too many others.

I'd prefer Jarrett Jack, who has a range of skills and physical abilities and will also probably be there when LA picks, but Deron strikes me as the type of player that Phil would like if he comes back. He's the kind of player that looks to work in the triangle - a pass-first guy basically used in an initiator role (and you need a brain to thoroughly grasp the ins and outs). If LA can work out two 1st round picks (rumor), I wouldn't mind Deron Williams as long as they also land Shelden Williams (defense must come from somewhere).

Just be prepared, Sixy...if Jack is gone, your boy Deron may very well end up on THAT team.
 
K

KingsChick

Starter
#7
#7
Congrats 6th!! I'm really excited they made it and never really started watching college basketball until this year. Its going to be a good game and hopefully the fighting Illini pull it out!
 
6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#8
#8
Hey, I already had to put up with your pick of Brian Cook. At least you didn't get Iggy. He went to High School with my nephew. Yeah, I know, he went to Arizona, but he is a home town boy. Comes from a real nice family too.
 
BigWaxer

BigWaxer

Starter
#12
#12
Congrats 6th... Weber is such a likeable guy, I watched the NConf this morning and he is a standup class coach. Same goes for RWilliams. The championship needs to be kept in the Big Ten so I am rooting for the Fighting I.

hoopsfan said:
Hopefully Michigan can win the next one.
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I think you made a typo. That should read, Indiana will win the next one :)
 
BigWaxer

BigWaxer

Starter
#14
#14
hoopsfan said:
^^ I was talking about the next game coming up..which was the Michigan/North Carolina game. (The Illinois game had just ended.)
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Man I am always a day late and since the wife pilfers my wallet a dollar short!

:)
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#18
#18
Sorry, 6th, but I think they've got the inside track. I have nothing against Illinois though. Wouldn't bother me to see UI win it, but NC has an awful lot of talent and athleticism.
 
6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#20
#20


I have several things to say. Illinois did not get much respect all year, even though they only lost 2 games (including the championship game). The game tonight could have gone either way. Augustine was useless (0 pts and fouled out). Illinois was down by 13 at half, but still came back to tie it at 70. Luther Head may have had 21 pts, but he missed so many open jumpers, it was sad. 8 of 20 wasn't gonna cut it.

The Fighting Illini have never been to the NCAA championship game and they gave it one heck of an effort. I think nerves got to them more than it got to NC.

I AM STILL PROUD OF ILLINOIS! BUT, CONGRATS TO NORTH CAROLINA!
 
BigWaxer

BigWaxer

Starter
#21
#21
GG Il... Nice game all around from an outside observer. Mad props has to go to IL

.. Think about it, they don't have the recruiting power as the NC's, Gtowns, IN, and so on and they prolly played one of the best seasons we have witnessed in a long time. Thats something to be proud of IMO in it's own. NC played better tonight but I think in a 5 or 7 game series the story may be the other way..

GG 6th... and IL...
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#22
#22
Towards the end of the game, I was sitting there thinking "big mistake" when Illinois spent 3 possessions trying to hit a trey with a 2-pt deficit.
 
sloter

sloter

Starter
#25
#25
6th said:


I have several things to say. Illinois did not get much respect all year, even though they only lost 2 games (including the championship game). The game tonight could have gone either way. Augustine was useless (0 pts and fouled out). Illinois was down by 13 at half, but still came back to tie it at 70. Luther Head may have had 21 pts, but he missed so many open jumpers, it was sad. 8 of 20 wasn't gonna cut it.

The Fighting Illini have never been to the NCAA championship game and they gave it one heck of an effort. I think nerves got to them more than it got to NC.

I AM STILL PROUD OF ILLINOIS! BUT, CONGRATS TO NORTH CAROLINA!
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That right there pretty much sums it up and explains why Head is not at the same level as Deron or Dee. He lost the key ball and missed way too many wide open shots that UNC gave him, although at the end, pretty much everyone missed. Augustine was absolutely useless, but I was very impressed with the way that Powell Jr. (my favorites) and Ingram fought the whole game.
Sean May is a beast and he is the only reasons why UNC gets the trophy!

Great season for the Illini, I wish it could happen again next season; it was so much fun.
 
Twix

Twix

Starter
#26
#26
Gargamel said:
Towards the end of the game, I was sitting there thinking "big mistake" when Illinois spent 3 possessions trying to hit a trey with a 2-pt deficit.
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That's what I was thinking too.

It was a good game to watch. Both team played hard.

Congrats to NC!! That Sean May is a good player.
 
sloter

sloter

Starter
#27
#27
Since I've never been a huge college hoops fan until I came to U of I, I just now got to realize how much it sucks that most of the players from the team will be leaving. Watching Illinois this year was so much fun that the fact that our team is going to be completely different next year hurts a lot more than the loss to UNC...
 
K

KingsChick

Starter
#28
#28
Sloter, I completely agree with you and I'm in your position right now and sorry to 6th, also I am hurting to see all the players of illini just walk out like that so sad and they came so far, but played so well. I would've thought that since Illini made it so far they'd definitely win, but.. I don't know thats just that.
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#29
#29
Condolences to Six. NC was just too talented at numerous positions. Memorable season for Illinois nonetheless. They won't be forgotten easily.

How'd you become a fan of them, btw? How many seasons of fandom under your belt?
 
Gargamel

Gargamel

Starter
#30
#30
Twix said:
Congrats to NC!! That Sean May is a good player.
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I agree, however, if he's smart, he'll get into better shape before making the jump. He's a definite lotto pick next season if he comes out. He said recently that he'd consider coming out this season if he'd be guaranteed a top 10 pick. I think he'll definitely get that, but talk is cheap.
 
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