The Illini are now the only undefeated team in the country as BC drops one to ND.
Dee Brown had a huge night. He is without question one of the quickest players in the country...and so poised...along with entire Illini team.
It's still along road to an undefeated regular season...but it's definitely possible.
It's going to be a short NCAA tournament for Illinois if they play like they did tonight against a stuggling Michigan team who were playing without their two best players.
Michigan State will win the Big Ten tournament and some midpack ACC team (think Maryland, Georgia Teach) will win the Big Dance.
First of all the Illini ALWAYS come up big for the top teams and that is what is going to count when it comes to the tournament. Yes they may have taken the not as good teams as seriously and their play shows it, yet they always come through in the end.
Second, MSU is not going to win the Big Ten Tournament. The tournament is in Chicago and it's going to pretty much be a home game for the Orange Crush. The Illini easily controled the Spartans in East Lansing, how do you figure they will come through in Chicago?
And back to tonights game, Dee Brown was huge. That pass at the end was sick!
Michigan played almost a flawless game for 35 minutes and illinois couldn't make a shot for the same duration yet michigan failed to build more than a 5 point lead. If illinois shoots anywhere near their season averages (50% fg, 40% 3fg) this game is a blowout despite michigan playing perfect.
I find it unlikely that MSU will win the Big Ten.....but Maryland winning the ACC? Nosir.
illinois lacks consistent bigs and their "big 3" rely on the outside shot too much. illinois will likely finish the big ten regular season without a loss, but watch out for the spartans and a pesky wisconsin team in the big ten tournament. "home court" advantage for illinois won't be much of a factor, due to the fact that they play on a nba court where the fans are further away from the court than college courts. plus the big ten tournament always gets great representation from the fans of all the different teams.
north carolina has a much more balanced and deeper team than illinois and they're battled tested from the acc conference. i agree, watch out for acc teams besides carolina, duke, and wake forest. bj elder just returned to the line-up tonight against clemson.
should be a great tournament.
Illinois went on a terrible scoring stretch that started about midway through the first half and lasted until halfway through the second half. Definitely their worst 20 minutes of the year...most teams would have been ran out of the building.
But thats what makes this team so special...they never got down on themselves or went frantic. They're definitely the most poised team in the nation. Defensively no one is better.
As for someone saying that Illinois won't have an advantage playing at the United Center in Chicago...you're crazy!!! Illinois has always had huge fan support when they play at the United Center. If you don't agree...wait until the Big Ten Tourney.
It should be an exciting tourney...though I see Illinois winning. As for the NCAA's...the table should be set for Illinois, but that doesn't mean much in college basketball.
Bump... I-L-L.. I-N-I.
Agree that the Illini could run the table but have a very tough tourney even if they end up in Indy and Chicago.
I watched the Illinois vs. Indiana game this weekend, and although Illinois didn't play their best ball, they showed me enough that I realized they are definitely the team to beat this year in the tourney, and if they are clicking on all cylinders, they should have little problem winning it all.