Game Thread: Illinois @ Indiana Tues., Feb. 2, 9 pm ESPN/2

[Alford Bailey]

We dont win the close ones because we lack good guard play and have since Yogi. Maybe Lander can become THE guy at some point.

[HoosierAloha]

Wow, our FT shooting was actually pretty solid outside of Race.  10 missed FTs in regulation and Race had 6 of them

[TheWatShot]

Remember when Archie's supporters pointed to his record against Underwood as evidence that at least we had hired a better coach than Illinois? 3-4 against him now. 

 

I'm thinking of making an Archie Miller basketball Bingo card. Lot of stuff working against Archie these days. 

[Trish]

17 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

Remember when Archie's supporters pointed to his record against Underwood as evidence that at least we had hired a better coach than Illinois? 3-4 against him now. 

 

I'm thinking of making an Archie Miller basketball Bingo card. Lot of stuff working against Archie these days. 

To be fair, like Archie Miller, has has yet to make an NCAA Tournament. 

[OldBuddy67]

15 minutes ago, Treesh said:

To be fair, like Archie Miller, has has yet to make an NCAA Tournament. 

Ummm that's gonna change this year!

[TheWatShot]

21 minutes ago, Treesh said:

To be fair, like Archie Miller, has has yet to make an NCAA Tournament. 

They would have easily made it last year, and will easily make it this year. Can't say the same about us. 

[Hoosierfan2017]

25 minutes ago, Treesh said:

To be fair, like Archie Miller, has has yet to make an NCAA Tournament. 

He’s improved in the conference every single year though, basically the anti-Archie in that regard. 4th last year and 2nd right now. 

[coonhounds]

Tjd made a jumper. Call me shocked

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Tjd made a couple jump shots last night that I recall but that 3rd one close to the end of the game was telling. He missed that by a country mile lol

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[Trish]

1 hour ago, TheWatShot said:

They would have easily made it last year, and will easily make it this year. Can't say the same about us. 

Yeah I know that assumption. But I figured I would state the fact that neither Archie or Brad have been to the NCAA tournament since being hired. That will change this year, assuming the NCAA Tournament goes on as planned. 

[RaceToTheTop]

3 hours ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

He’s improved in the conference every single year though, basically the anti-Archie in that regard. 4th last year and 2nd right now. 

He has, although I'm not sure I would give him much credit for improving on those first two years.  They were 14-18 (4-14) and 12-21 (7-13) the first two years under him....and while he didn't inherit a good team, those first two years I wouldn't say that he did a real good job.  I give him kudos for coaching with talent more than Archie, but I still don't think Underwood is a guy who is going to outcoach the other guy on his way to wins.  I definitely think he's done a better job that Archie, but if we were to hire a Brad Underwood type to replace Archie I'd be pretty disappointed.

[RaceToTheTop]

2 hours ago, Treesh said:

Yeah I know that assumption. But I figured I would state the fact that neither Archie or Brad have been to the NCAA tournament since being hired. That will change this year, assuming the NCAA Tournament goes on as planned. 

It will.  That said, the truth is that both Illinois and Indiana would have been in the tournament last year without covid.  I don't think you can just write off last season because of the circumstances that caused the tournament to be cancelled.  That still doesn't make Archie's time here any different.....being a lower at large bid one year in four isn't what he was brought here to do.

[bleedhoosier]

Me last night at 10pm realizing I forgot IU was on and then remembering I don't really care anymore.

[Hoosierfan2017]

59 minutes ago, brumdog45 said:

He has, although I'm not sure I would give him much credit for improving on those first two years.  They were 14-18 (4-14) and 12-21 (7-13) the first two years under him....and while he didn't inherit a good team, those first two years I wouldn't say that he did a real good job.  I give him kudos for coaching with talent more than Archie, but I still don't think Underwood is a guy who is going to outcoach the other guy on his way to wins.  I definitely think he's done a better job that Archie, but if we were to hire a Brad Underwood type to replace Archie I'd be pretty disappointed.

They took a beating in their pre-conference schedule in Underwood’s second year, but we had Romeo and a senior Juwan that year and only finished one game ahead of them in the conference. We had our atrocious 12 losses in a 13 game stretch that year. I’m not sure we’ll be able to, but I hope we find someone better than him. But if not, I’d be happy (for now) if our third and fourth years were similar to his at Illinois. 

[LamarCheeks]

8 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

My support for Archie had been hanging by a rope, then it became twine, then it became fishing line, then it became a thread, then it became a hair.  Last night it broke.  Still uncertain if it happens at the end of this season or not, but he's toast.

 

 

I'm sorta the same way. I might still be at the hair thread -- but it's coming perilously close to breaking.

I was wanting it to work, but I just don't see how it can. 

We're 9-8 right now. If we finish with a losing record, I hope the change is made after this season -- rather than waiting a year as many have speculated. COVID or not, a losing record in your fourth season is a signal that it's time to cut bait. 

I've been watching Hoosiers basketball for 40 years or so -- not as long as you, however -- and I can't ever recall IU teams looking so disinterested. 

[8bucks]

2 hours ago, brumdog45 said:

It will.  That said, the truth is that both Illinois and Indiana would have been in the tournament last year without covid.  I don't think you can just write off last season because of the circumstances that caused the tournament to be cancelled.  That still doesn't make Archie's time here any different.....being a lower at large bid one year in four isn't what he was brought here to do.

I am curious, what is there about Illinois over the last 4 years that you would call disappointing. First 2 years were iffy for sure but the last 2 have been solid. Not FF caliber but they are showing detonate progress the last 2 years.  
 

if this is the peak then yeah I would be disappointed after 6-8 years but so far I don’t have much that I could say I am dissatisfied with if I were an Illini fan at this point in his career as the coach. 

[woodenshoemanHoosierfan]

I am curious, what is there about Illinois over the last 4 years that you would call disappointing. First 2 years were iffy for sure but the last 2 have been solid. Not FF caliber but they are showing detonate progress the last 2 years.  
 
if this is the peak then yeah I would be disappointed after 6-8 years but so far I don’t have much that I could say I am dissatisfied with if I were an Illini fan at this point in his career as the coach. 

Honestly IMO, I don't think they are very good this year had Covid not happened. I believe both Kofi and Ayo would not be there. A lot of Illinois fans in my area(hour south of C/U) were certain they were gone

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[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

8 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

I am curious, what is there about Illinois over the last 4 years that you would call disappointing. First 2 years were iffy for sure but the last 2 have been solid. Not FF caliber but they are showing detonate progress the last 2 years.  
 

if this is the peak then yeah I would be disappointed after 6-8 years but so far I don’t have much that I could say I am dissatisfied with if I were an Illini fan at this point in his career as the coach. 

This current Illinois team can make a Final Four. Beyond Gonzaga and Baylor, there are several teams you could say are Final Four teams. 

[RaceToTheTop]

1 minute ago, woodenshoemanHoosierfan said:

Honestly IMO, I don't think they are very good this year had Covid not happened. I believe both Kofi and Ayo would not be there. A lot of Illinois fans in my area(hour south of C/U) were certain they were gone

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That's most definitely part of it.  I see a team with its big two who would be playing in the pros in normal circumstances.  I then look at guys like Trent Frazier and Giorgi Bezhanadfdacdavd who seem to actually gotten worse in the program.  He's done a good job of getting talent in, but I am not see him turning guys into pros nor taking top guys and improving their draft position.  Eventually top recruits notice that.

[RaceToTheTop]

4 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

This current Illinois team can make a Final Four. Beyond Gonzaga and Baylor, there are several teams you could say are Final Four teams. 

So you are saying that we almost beat a final four caliber team yesterday?

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

3 minutes ago, brumdog45 said:

So you are saying that we almost beat a final four caliber team yesterday?

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.