@dbmhoosier He was out for a few minutes but came back in and seemed OK.
Minny blows 20 point lead and falls at Wiscy.
Minny blows 20 point lead and falls at Wiscy.
I knew they would they only had 7 healthy players and Wisconsin always comes back a home. They mentioned how woodson blew a 21 point lead in Madison back in 2021 also.
So......we're 1/2 way through the BT schedule. Taking a look at the conference results to date, and who has surprised or disappointed.....not totally dependent on the records but also how teams have looked in getting there....On a 1-10 scale where 1 is a total loss, 5 is about as expected, and 10 the biggest overachievers, I'd go as follows:
1. MSU 9-1.........8
2. Mich 9-1.........8
3. NEB 9-1........10
4. ILL 9-1........9
5. PUR 8-3.........4
6. UCLA 7-3.........3
7. WIS 7-3.........6
8. OSU 6-4.........5
9. Iowa 5-4.........5
9. IND 5-5.........4
10. USC 4-6.........3
11. WASH 3-6.........3
12. MN 3-7..........7
13. Rut 2-8.........5
14. MD 1-8.........2
15. NW 1-8.........2
16. ORE 1-9.........1
17. PSU 0-9........2
On the whole, I'd say there have been more underachieving teams than overachievers. I haven't watched as closely as I had intended, given our struggles, so I can't say why some teams are struggling so much....but I do think Oregon, with a respected coach in Altman, and some talented players, looks like the biggest disappointment. MD would be my 2nd choice, with Buzz there, but their upside didn't look as high as Oregon pre-season.
I think USC & Washington are of interest....both had high profile transfer classes and Washington added a talented foreign player, and neither team has prospered.
On the positive side, Nebraska is the biggest surprise, followed by Illinois. Michigan & MSU had high expectations, and have not disappointed.
So...........who are you looking at in the BT as far as over & under achievers?
I'm disappointed with IU and would label us as under-achievers, but there are teams who have been bigger disappointments for their fans.....Purdue, UCLA, USC, Washington, Oregon, and Maryland. USC is in turmoil right now as Chad Baker-Mazara was booted from the team.
I'd label Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as being over-achievers. Maybe MSU is a slight over-achiever, but I think I had them as 4th before the season.
I would label Iowa, OSU, NW, and Rutgers as 'about as expected'.
USC, Washington and IU are examples of how difficult navigating the portal may be.
So......we're 1/2 way through the BT schedule. Taking a look at the conference results to date, and who has surprised or disappointed.....not totally dependent on the records but also how teams have looked in getting there....On a 1-10 scale where 1 is a total loss, 5 is about as expected, and 10 the biggest overachievers, I'd go as follows:
1. MSU 9-1.........8
2. Mich 9-1.........8
3. NEB 9-1........10
4. ILL 9-1........9
5. PUR 8-3.........4
6. UCLA 7-3.........3
7. WIS 7-3.........6
8. OSU 6-4.........5
9. Iowa 5-4.........5
9. IND 5-5.........4
10. USC 4-6.........3
11. WASH 3-6.........3
12. MN 3-7..........7
13. Rut 2-8.........5
14. MD 1-8.........2
15. NW 1-8.........2
16. ORE 1-9.........1
17. PSU 0-9........2
On the whole, I'd say there have been more underachieving teams than overachievers. I haven't watched as closely as I had intended, given our struggles, so I can't say why some teams are struggling so much....but I do think Oregon, with a respected coach in Altman, and some talented players, looks like the biggest disappointment. MD would be my 2nd choice, with Buzz there, but their upside didn't look as high as Oregon pre-season.
I think USC & Washington are of interest....both had high profile transfer classes and Washington added a talented foreign player, and neither team has prospered.
On the positive side, Nebraska is the biggest surprise, followed by Illinois. Michigan & MSU had high expectations, and have not disappointed.
Oregon has had major injuries. Last game 3 of their top 4 scores were out due to injury. Some of those three have been out for over a month and some have season ending injuries.
fun Michigan-MSU game. About 6 minutes left 60-59 UM
fun Michigan-MSU game. About 6 minutes left 60-59 UM
Please, someone convince Raftery it's time to retire. I had to mute the audio of his blathering drivel.
I have muted him for years. I dont want to. And I try again from time to time. Then always mute. I watched the last 10 minutes of MSU Michigan with no sound. It was fine.Please, someone convince Raftery it's time to retire. I had to mute the audio of his blathering drivel.
OK not BT but St Johns upset UConn yesterday. I would NOT want the slimeball Pitino as coach here but have to admit he'd probably be killing it.
Washington at UCLA could come down to the wire. On FS 1
The ending to Nebraska-Purdue was unfortunate, but I do think it helps IU’s resume. Wisconsin-Illinois has been a good watch too.
Tough watching teams lose it missing free throws. That's one area I'm super happy about with IU basketball... free throw shooting is much improved. I have a hard time understanding how a college basketball player can miss set shots that you take all your frickin life.
It's not often a Top 10 team shoots 53% overall and hits 15-33 threes at home ... and loses. Bravo, Illinois.
@gthomas If they don't dig in defensively, we'll give them a good game on Sunday. Physical, bruising, defenses that are really good at disrupting movement are what have given us trouble. MSU, Iowa, and even Minnesota... That really hasn't been how Illinois has played for most of the year. Now, we're going to struggle stopping them and rebounding their misses on the defensive end, I would assume. But we could make it a shoot out, like Wisconsin did. Might be a similar type of game to USC. If we can get a couple guys along with Lamar going, shooting wise, we could pull the upset, I think.
It's not often a Top 10 team shoots 53% overall and hits 15-33 threes at home ... and loses. Bravo, Illinois.
Watching the game live at AH, I was impressed with Wisconsin. I think they would have won the game had they not started so poorly on O. They missed a lot of makeable shots in the 1st half.
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