The committee could never be so cruel as to put Illinois in the same bracket with Loyola again, could they?

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?

I hope they do so the Illini can pound them by 30.

7.5 favorites last year with a better team and lost straight up. Loyola is probably not as good either but they have been leaving the big boys in their wake during the tournament for 4 years now.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."

You sound a bit like Charles Bronson in the first of his two guest-starring spots in The Virginian. First of all, what level of awesomeness must a show ascend to in order to snag Chuck Bronson not just once, but twice? Ya know?

Second of all, Bronson's character (Ben) was obsessed with beating the "big boys" of the ranching world. His character never achieved Ramblerian heights--his insane drinking habit and bad luck in life (his small herd caught aftosa and had to be destroyed) shamed him in front of his wife and son--but he sure wanted to take down them big boys.

He even spent his emergency money on a prize-winning bull. This tactic worked for Judge Garth, but not for that sad sack Ben.

The tale ends happily, but in the non-TV universe, a universe that doesn't have people like The Virginian or Judge Garth or even Ol' Tommy, Ben would have probably drank hisself to death.

His wife in the show looked like a pretty version of that one comedian...the one who was holding Trump's bloody head on a magazine cover? Red head? Can't think of her name right now.

This episode was an AWP, just in case that turns you on or off.

It reminds me of the time the Virginian and I were trying to teach Kofi how to shoot free throws and Brad Underwood got jealous and angry and Kofi almost transferred to Kentucky. Kofi got drunk and had made his decision, but I convinced him to give Coach Underwood another chance. Then we all went over to the Dixon Springs Ag Center to shoot free throws and the cattle that were suffering from hoof and mouth disease.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."

Not a fan of retiring Dosunmu’s jersey.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

It is definitely a PR recruiting move.

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

You sound a bit like Charles Bronson in the first of his two guest-starring spots in The Virginian. First of all, what level of awesomeness must a show ascend to in order to snag Chuck Bronson not just once, but twice? Ya know?

Second of all, Bronson's character (Ben) was obsessed with beating the "big boys" of the ranching world. His character never achieved Ramblerian heights--his insane drinking habit and bad luck in life (his small herd caught aftosa and had to be destroyed) shamed him in front of his wife and son--but he sure wanted to take down them big boys.

He even spent his emergency money on a prize-winning bull. This tactic worked for Judge Garth, but not for that sad sack Ben.

The tale ends happily, but in the non-TV universe, a universe that doesn't have people like The Virginian or Judge Garth or even Ol' Tommy, Ben would have probably drank hisself to death.

His wife in the show looked like a pretty version of that one comedian...the one who was holding Trump's bloody head on a magazine cover? Red head? Can't think of her name right now.

This episode was an AWP, just in case that turns you on or off.

Oak Park's own Cathy Griffen

Thank you Tranny Bonaduce!

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?

"Led team to a #1 seed in the tournament."

Talk about omitting the key details.

It's both. 2x First-team Big-Ten, 1st Team All-American, led team to a B10 Championship and #1 seed in the tournament, turned the program around.

The timing of it is recruiting-based.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

He was a really good player at Illinois, but no one gets their jersey retired that quickly. It is a PR move.

You don't get to my position in life without omitting key details.

I think precisely how memorable March will be for the Illini depends, at least somewhat, on the availability of point guard Andre Curbelo and how effectively he and the team can make up for the time he has missed.

The Illini have been a very good team without their point guard, but I still believe a full-strength Andre Curbelo is the most dynamic and impactful playmaker in NCAA basketball. His ability to set up teammates, to drive into defenses and disarm them — it’s a rare skill.

It’s so uncommon that the longer Illinois plays without him, the more difficult it will be to reset their approach when he returns.

I believed they would be one of the best teams in the nation at full strength. Their recent performances while playing without one of their top talents shows how high the ceiling can be.

Andre Curbelo may have taken a significant step forward in his process to return to the court. BTN play-by-play man Cory Provus said during the broadcast of the Illini’s 76-53 rout of Minnesota that Curbelo — who has missed the last eight games with complications from a concussion — during Tuesday’s shootaround “was up-and-down on the floor, working five-on-five” and that Curbelo played the role of Gophers lead guard Peyton Willis during scout-team drills. Provus said it was “encouraging news” for Curbelo though that there is no timeline yet for the Illini sophomore guard’s return.

When asked about Provus’ report on the broadcast, Illinois coach Brad Underwood said: “Most of that starts with conditioning. I’m one of those guys that I don’t ever want to put a player in position to fail or to get hurt again by not being in good shape and not being back. So his biggest strides right now are coming with the conditioning piece and just trying to get back as close as he can not just in game shape but in basketball shape. There was a time frame where he was off and you lose that. We’ll bring him back accordingly as his conditioning goes and as his situation continues to improve.”

Background: Curbelo (9.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in four games this season) won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year last season as a true freshman after averaging 9.1 points, 4.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Expected to take on an even bigger role with Dosunmu moving to the NBA, Curbelo earned Preseason All-Big Ten Honors and some outlets even voted him as a Preseason All-American.

Why it matters: Bringing back Andre Curbelo — even in potentially an off-the-bench, smaller role to start — would be like the Illini making a blockbuster acquisition for the stretch run. Curbelo is a dynamic playmaker in both transition and in the half-court and also is a strong rebounder. While he would need to make sure he doesn’t disrupt the Illini’s great offensive flow, his talent undoubtedly makes Illinois an even more formidable contender in the Big Ten — and nationally.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."

Payne finally showed why he was a top recruit.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."

About time. Also agree with you on Frazier. They sure as hell have veteran leadership.

Last year's win at Nebraska was also relatively close. But always good to win Kerouac style in the Big Ten.

I got my first job by answering the question "Do you have computer skills?"...with "I took programming in college".

It's all true to this point.

I took PASCAL programming. They needed me to use Lotus 1-2-3 (yeah, yeah...I'm old).

Never used Lotus prior to that. I took the PASCAL class.

Taught myself Lotus on the job and excelled because I'm Dr. Ken.

Taught myself WYSIWYG as a bonus on the job just cause I'm Dr. Ken and that how I roll.

And now you all have to deal with me.

Go Illini!!

UofI teaches you how to learn on the fly - use your deductive skills.

I have not been as successful as Dr. Ken.

If they get Payne going....well...you'll know he is when you see the first House of Payne t-shirt.

They will need him against Purdue.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."

W
But it was Trent Frazier Day. That guy is the best defensive backcourt player in the country. He really is. He is so quick to keep himself squared up in front of a guy driving on him. And, if you're thinking "Dr. Ken is being Dr. Ken", the guy All-B10 D-Team last year. He hasn't gotten worse..

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

I got my first job by answering the question "Do you have computer skills?"...with "I took programming in college".

It's all true to this point.

I took PASCAL programming. They needed me to use Lotus 1-2-3 (yeah, yeah...I'm old).

Never used Lotus prior to that. I took the PASCAL class.

Taught myself Lotus on the job and excelled because I'm Dr. Ken.

Taught myself WYSIWYG as a bonus on the job just cause I'm Dr. Ken and that how I roll.

And now you all have to deal with me.

Go Illini!!

UofI teaches you how to learn on the fly - use your deductive skills.

Best defensive player in the country and one of the best scorers, man the Illini should win the championship this year.

Forget Purdue, it is the Illini's year

Best defensive player in the country and one of the best scorers, man the Illini should win the championship this year.

Forget Purdue, it is the Illini's year

Maybe they will.

But both of those opinions on those players can be defended.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

So, I'll concede he just might only be as excellent as last year.

we continue to live in a real-time "monsters are due on maple street."