That game was always in hand for North Carolina. I wish it had been otherwise.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

You're nuts. Illinois beats that team 8 out of 10. May was out of his mind. They called a foul on every Illini big man that moved. Illinois went down 15 and they still came back to tie it with a number of shots that could have won it at the end that they just didn't hit. Good looks.

Were you drunk? From work?

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You know me like that.

Thankfully there is at least one objective Illini fan here.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Indiana should be downgraded. They've been no where near those programs in the past 10-15 years excluding the fluke Mike Davis year.

You're making my point. They were down fifteen. That shit happens when you rely on outside shooting from a bunch of streaky guys. Yeah, that team had guts. And they shot their way back into in the second half. But you can't just chase down fifteen points all the time and expect to win. It was desperation. I know Head could have tied the game at the end, but he didn't. And it was amazing they even got that close.

And I just disagree that Illinois beats that team eight out of ten. If you said that about the team that lost to Michigan I might say they beat them 9 out of 10.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

After Illinois tied it again with 2:41, they missed 4 shots that could have put them in the lead. It was a 1 possession game until :10 left after Head missed an open 3. They often went down early that year to come back - I seem to recall Michigan and Purdue games.

To say they never had a chance is silly.

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You know me like that.

I'm just telling you I never felt like they had a chance. Sure, another shot could have fallen. But it's doing a lot to come back from fifteen down in a half. Most of the time you just run out of steam. And they were all out of miracles.

I felt like that team had a great year and did what they could. If a few balls bounce a different way, maybe they do win it. But I wasn't heartbroken like in '89 when they were absolutely the best team.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I really could/should pour salt in this festering wound...but I won't. I'll just laugh from the cheap seats.

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Ouch.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I was dying in 1989 also. But, flip a coin. They both should have won. 2005 just made it further.

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You know me like that.

You have so many teams is can't keep track. If this was a discussion of the CFL, I'm sure you'd be a front-runner.

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You know me like that.

Damn Kenny Boy, your slip is showing.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

By design, my friend.

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You know me like that.

You sound like Bruce Pearl!

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

You guys are just wrong. They bricked it the whole first half. Augustine played 9 minutes.

They were an outside shooting team all year. If they did anything in the first half or got a call, they win that game easy.

Augustine got his 5th early in the 2nd - off the ball. What kind of call is that in a big game?

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You know me like that.

Illini fans/alumni can be insufferable when they are even somewhat good. Getting out of the midwest has dulled my dislike for the Illini but I still get it. While it's not a sports anecdote, it is a perfect example of what many of us non-Illini had to deal with. I went to a suburban Chicago high school, and obviously your college choice was a hot topic during your senior year. Those who were going to Illinois were the worst. "Oh, you're going to Purdue, could you not get into Illinois?" with a completely serious tone. When I said "No, I didn't even apply. I wasn't interested" they'd say "Why not?" and the interrogation would continue to try and figure out as they seemed shocked that someone may not want to go to Illinois. The only other experience I've had like that is from Notre Dame fans, but I'm pretty sure the guy saying things like that was a subway alum so his arrogance came from a shirt he probably bought at the football spring game.

My wife, who went to a different high school, had the exact same experience but she was able to say she was accepted but turned them down to go to Purdue. This level of self importance would continue pretty much every time Illinois was good at anything. I have never heard so much trash talk about getting blown out in the Sugar Bowl.

It's probably just standard stuff of going against the main state. I'm sure Indiana fans are insufferable in Indiana too.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That's never been my impression. But I'm from the North Shore. Where I come from, nobody would boast about going to Illinois. It would be a place you went when you couldn't get into one of the Ivies or Michigan. Or if you were trying to save money by staying in state.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

It probably had something to do with how much "Illinois is hard to get into" was built up. We had counselors telling people if they wanted to go there, they should apply for easier schools like Agriculture and then transfer into things like Engineering. I think it built a level of accomplishment into getting in even if they went into Elementary Education which was much easier to get in to.

The people who went to the Ivies or Michigan didn't really brag about it.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah, you know in my time, the liberal arts school was considered the easiest to get in. Ag and Engineering were tougher plays. But these days I think it's different. I have friends with kids who have what seem to be good enough grades and fairly high SATs and they're getting rejected from Liberal Arts at Illinois. I know there's been some controversy regarding the limiting of in-state students. I'm not sure what percentages they decided upon. I think the official position of the University would be that they are trying to achieve a more "diverse" student population. But like with most things, the real answer seems to be money.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Money is exactly the answer. Indiana has made a huge effort in marketing its school overseas and in the East Coast to get that sweet out-of-state tuition. Diversity reason is bullshit.

My Basketball Affinity in order

DePaul
Arizona
Illinois

DePaul, as growing up, it was like a Pro team in the city, still try to follow them as much of a nothing as they have become.

Arizona, went to school (Or lived in Tucson) when this program become relevant and dominant, 27 of 28 years later they have made the Tourney and are considered a Top 10 (or better) program.

Illinois, was going to attend this place, because everyone else was. I was even enrolled. Always followed the program. Its not a nice place as far as college campuses go. There was a recruit, Micheal Wright from King. He had Arizona and Illinois in his final 2. Told my guys at Illinois, no way this guy goes to Illinois. You guys should come out here and take a look, then decide where you would go?

Illinois has lost out to more top 10 prospects than most. The facility isnt special, the program has some good history, but not nearly what they think it is. Signing 6'5" players early is a joke! 6'5" and great in HS makes you average in college! See Brandon Paul! Early signing, top 10! then top 20! Now playing in Russia? Nothing wrong with Brandon Paul as a college player, its when that player is your major and top recruit, you are a mid level program! Jeremy Richmond, yes you had a great talent. ILLINI Nation takes that as a feather in the hat, how about its because the top programs didnt want the guy and they were all correct, he was and is a problem.

When you sit on a perch as a program and think you are better than you are, thats when your program falls. (see DePaul)

They hired a MAC coach and they are close to a MAC program. They need a new facility, living ? practice? Playing? etc. something to help win the recruiting game they are losing at.

I havent seen the new "STATE FARM" center, dont know if they really did any work or just took the money and painted the place.

Oh, here are you apartments BBall players at Arizona. Which I would live in today!

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

The only annoying Illini fan I know is Herb Laurence.

Let me make the ILL"ANNOYS" fans feel better.

Cliff is a solid player, but he is 6'8" and has ZERO range, which is surprising as he seems very coordinated and athletic, but he dunks everything and in HS you can dunk everything, 6'8" in college you can dunk 10% of the time as the other team has 6'8"+ guys.

Even if you read scouting reports on the guy, it says he is working on an 8 foot shot!

Tyson Chandler, 7 ft, athletic, everyone assumed this guy would be able to get some sort of shot. Baby hook, 8 foot shot, anything and never developed a shot, ever. He is a great defender and rebounder, but No shot at all. Noah, also has no real shot, but you can see why and thats why he was never projected to be great, but Alexander needs to develop a shot to make him even close to the highly touted player he is.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Part of it was the state of Indiana, during the budget crunches of the early 2000's slashed funding for public universities. Purdue countered by raising tuition 34% for in state students in one year for new enrollees while doing it on a much lower percentage for out of state, and accepting more out of state students. There was a lot of controversy about it but they basically said "talk to your congressman".

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Dont think Money from the state is what should be a concern. Booster Money Wins Games

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

what Illinois needs most is for chevy to come out with a new style of blazer

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

_________________
You know me like that.

Oklahoma was number three. I should have picked LSU as an apt comparison, at least according to bleacher report.

_________________

Damn Purdue.... Rick won't like this.

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

That is a list no one should be proud to be on.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!