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**BradleyBrave** · 08-16-2006, 04:58 PM

Re: Illini schedule

Originally posted by tornado

If Bradley had this nonconference schedule, I think people would be criticizing it. I am curious to see what the Illini people think.

We're not Illinois.

**tornado** · 08-16-2006, 05:01 PM

But my point is that it would have been a weak non-con schedule for a midmajor (only 2 non-conference opponents whose RPI's last year were under 75),
it is a very weak non-con schedule for a Big Ten school.
I think BU's non-conference opponents, top to bottom are tougher than what Illinois will face.

Just this morning Ohio State released its nonconference schedule:

North Carolina
Tennessee
Cincinnati
Florida (reigning National Champs)
Iowa State
Loyola
Kent State
Providence
plus a couple cupcakes.

You don't see the difference between the tough opponents Ohio State faces, and what Illinois has lined up?

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**Roll with the Funches** · 08-16-2006, 09:40 PM

A top five team (Ohio State) and a top 30 team (Illinois) are not going to schedule the same type of games. When Ohio State put together its schedule, they were undoubtedly thinking that they wanted lots of quality wins to build their resume for a #1 seed in the NCAAs. When Illinois made its schedule, we surely were trying to have some easier games to build confidence in a team with NO proven leaders. There are also tough games thrown in, but to think Illinois should play a schedule loaded with tough games is foolish because we would risk losing lots early, and really hurting the teams' development.

A couple points off the first post.

1. Illinois doesn't have to worry about people not showing up for a Belmont game, they've sold out every ticket for the last five or six years. That doesn't necessarily mean that all the seats are always full, but all the revenue is always coming in.

2. With the TV, most seasons not all non-conference games are on national TV. We don't know what the TBAs will end up being on. And being in the big ten, Illinois will not be hurting with exposure to recruits by having a couple less non-conference games on.

Those points being made, I must say, as an Illinois alumnus, there just isn't a heck of a lot to get excited about with this non-conference schedule. I hope it proves to be a good tool to help our team develop for the conference season, I think that's the main goal with it.

**flipper** · 08-16-2006, 10:13 PM

this is an embarrassing schedule. unless i was blinded by orange, i would be extemely disappointed in this uncompetitive schedule. drake would at least win 7 non-conference games with this cupcake schedule. what a joke.

**MacabreMob** · 08-16-2006, 11:35 PM

Originally posted by Roll with the Funches

A top five team (Ohio State) and a top 30 team (Illinois) are not going to schedule the same type of games. When Ohio State put together its schedule, they were undoubtedly thinking that they wanted lots of quality wins to build their resume for a #1 seed in the NCAAs. When Illinois made its schedule, we surely were trying to have some easier games to build confidence in a team with NO proven leaders.

OMG - crack pipe. Spin it so it fits your argument.

Umm - how about when Illinois was a top 5 program... how was that schedule? Back when you begged for respect.

Give me a break!

No-no... you are right... get some Dele St, Fl A&M, Oakl (Mich), Chi St, Valpo, Longwood and NW'rn St. Sugar-coat it with a road game at Georgetown (that WAS good). Throw in some neutral sites to help the boys adjust to being on the "road" against Gonzaga, Arkansas, Oregon, Mizzoo and Cincy. Then benefit from being a participant in a set-up game for Wake Forest (at home).

Funch - take your pukey In-Bred-Orange garbage to the Illini board and have a love fest there (or cry-fest - whatever).

**BU fan** · 08-17-2006, 08:17 AM

It's a really weak non-con schedule. It will be interesting to see how it ranks among non-con schedules in the rpi rankings.

**tornado** · 08-17-2006, 09:30 AM

Indiana's schedule isn't nearly so flimsy as Illinois', and they are likewise rebuilding.

Indiana plays AT DUKE and AT KENTUCKY and AT UCONN!
They also play at least three (and maybe four if they get Butler in the NIT) different midmajor instate opponents and possibly Notre Dame, instead of the Savannah States that are on the Illini schedule.
Also three midmajor opponents from neighboring Illinois are there including SIU who will be ranked and Charlotte.

**bu fan 9** · 08-17-2006, 11:25 AM

That is a cup cake non conference schedule all they want to do is get 20 wins and at the end of the year say they belong in the NCAA because they play in the big 10 and have 20 plus wins just wait and see.And people like Billy Packer will say they belong in the NCAA tourny.

**BradleyBrave** · 08-17-2006, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by bu fan 9

That is a cup cake non conference schedule all they want to do is get 20 wins and at the end of the year say they belong in the NCAA because they play in the big 10 and have 20 plus wins just wait and see.And people like Billy Packer will say they belong in the NCAA tourny.

Very true.

**Roll with the Funches** · 08-17-2006, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by MacabreMob

Funch - take your pukey In-Bred-Orange garbage to the Illini board and have a love fest there (or cry-fest - whatever).

I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but I have NEVER started a thread about Illinois on this board. I've always admitted to being an Illinois fan #1 and a Bradley fan #2, which probably means I'm not as much of a hardcore Braves fan as a lot of you and certainly means I don't have the hatred for the large, in-state, power conference school that some of you do.

However, when I read this thread, I figured I would try to explain why Illinois would want this schedule. I never even tried to defend it as being tougher than you guys give it credit for!! I simply stated why I thought it might not be a terrible schedule for this Illini team.

Normally my Illini-Brave love doesn't become a problem. I'll be at just about every BU home game this year as I live in Peoria now, and I would certainly consider myself a big Bradley fan. Why you need to come with personal insults (pukey in-bred orange garbage) I don't understand, but if that's your style, and the mods don't mind, post what you want to. I'm gonna keep posting here and on IB though.

**Da Coach** · 08-17-2006, 08:28 PM

Your posts are welcome here, and I don't think MM meant anything personal toward you. I think he just hate Illinois.

I am like you, a fan of both, but for me, Bradley is #1, and Illinois is a slightly distant #2. I would rather see better opponents, but I understand the way the top class schools do things-- play easy schools at home, and play the tougher ones at home or on a neutral court.

The MVC showed that there is a benefit from playing tougher road games. Eventually more big programs will learn and adjust.

**MacabreMob** · 08-17-2006, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Roll with the Funches

Originally posted by MacabreMob

Funch - take your pukey In-Bred-Orange garbage to the Illini board and have a love fest there (or cry-fest - whatever).

I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but I have NEVER started a thread about Illinois on this board. I've always admitted to being an Illinois fan #1 and a Bradley fan #2, which probably means I'm not as much of a hardcore Braves fan as a lot of you and certainly means I don't have the hatred for the large, in-state, power conference school that some of you do.

However, when I read this thread, I figured I would try to explain why Illinois would want this schedule. I never even tried to defend it as being tougher than you guys give it credit for!! I simply stated why I thought it might not be a terrible schedule for this Illini team.

Normally my Illini-Brave love doesn't become a problem. I'll be at just about every BU home game this year as I live in Peoria now, and I would certainly consider myself a big Bradley fan. Why you need to come with personal insults (pukey in-bred orange garbage) I don't understand, but if that's your style, and the mods don't mind, post what you want to. I'm gonna keep posting here and on IB though.

Sorry to jump you so badly Funch. Just get rubbed the wrong way with Illini (and B10/BCS) fans most of the time.

My comments were not at you... but at 'crap' like a "top 5 team and a top 30 team schedule differently".

A top 5 and top 30 team shouldn't try to schedule so drastically different. IMO, maybe a top 5 and top 100 team schedule differently. Now don't get me confused... I am not saying Illinois is a top 100 team as opposed to top 30. I am just arguing top 100 teams would probably schedule differntly than a top 5. A top 30 and a top??? Nah- they shouldn't be so drastically differnt. But based on your thinking, this builds a resume for Ohio St to get a #1 seed. That is just plain crap. 2004, Stanford gets a #1 seed - RPI of 7 and SOS of 96! St Joe's gets one too - RPI of 3 and SOS of 46! If anything, it looks like Ohio St has a deathwish and might play themselves out of a #1 seed early with such a tough schedule.

Now let's be honest here. I agree with your reasoning for the Illini setting up a softer schedule so as to build confidence to a younger and less proven team. But c'mon... they also know down there in C/U... they can still get a candy-'bottom' bid to the NCAA by winning as many games as possible in the non-con (even though it is against some horrible teams - it's just the W's they are after). Then play competitive in B10. By that I mean... maybe a little above .500 (or just right on .500 even). But they will need to have one or two "Good Wins" for Packer and Digger to throw up on the screen. So they would need to upset a couple teams is all. Key is to not lose games you are supposed to win - like Penn St last year at home. That would kill ya this year.

I see a scenario possible. Packer and Digger comparing teams in early Mid-March. Illinois vs some Mid-Major. They will show key wins for Illinois over Ohio St and another top 3 B10 team. Enough said... Illinois in - other out (who cares who they played).

You know, this is the kind of scheduling philosophy Dave Bliss used at New Mexico for years. And it got him in every time.

So I guess for my harsh comments being considered personal insults .... sorry .... I will say it again with a little explanation:

Take that pukey [as in making me gag every time I hear this kinda crap] "in-bred" [as in all BCS fans that think the same] to a place like the Illini board where you can all sit down together and sing Koom-byaaa.

[Note: as for the Orange.. yea, that was personal. That's your colors. If this had been directed at a UK fan, I had said something similar like take your pukey Kentucky Fried Blue Chicken crap....]

**flipper** · 08-17-2006, 11:39 PM

frankly the illini is all things i do not like. elistist fans who's team play cupcakes and will not play bu or other valley schools on a equal basis.that is why i loved last season when we went farther than any big ten team.

**PeoriaLou** · 08-18-2006, 09:14 AM

Flipper, I think I like this avatar the best out of all your other ones. Who is this girl and where can I find her????

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