Bruce Weber agrees to play SIU at Assembly Hall

[Future Walk-On]

Thanks for the intelligence insult, but I more than understand the difference. It was a joking jab at U of I, not a misunderstanding of words. For the record many pre-season ranking last year had U of I in the top 30 last year as well.

They were also actually ranked #20 during the season
They will beat SIU by 30.

That one guy had them preseason number 9 (in a VERY early poll)

[amckillip]

They were also actually ranked #20 during the season
They will beat SIU by 30.

That one guy had them preseason number 9 (in a VERY early poll)

Exactly my point, and they still didn't make the NCAA. Preseason rankings are wholly inaccurate, just ask UNC.

And my whole comment was a joke anyway, dang folks...

[BUfan14]

Exactly my point, and they still didn't make the NCAA. Preseason rankings are wholly inaccurate, just ask UNC.

And my whole comment was a joke anyway, dang folks...

Oh I wasn't arguing with you, I was just agreeing with Shaunguth that's all. I knew it was a joke.

[Future Walk-On]

Exactly my point, and they still didn't make the NCAA. Preseason rankings are wholly inaccurate, just ask UNC.

And my whole comment was a joke anyway, dang folks...

Lol I don't even remember what you said.

Everyone needs to stop with the anti-illini h8

[Bravesfan]

I also agree Shaunguth, I would take the chance to play the Illini every time even on the road. It would get me pumped to try an take them out on their court. You have nothing to lose, and a whole lot to gain. Like how we beat Illinois this year.

SIU might be at the bottom, but that is why it would make it even more embarrassing for Illinois to lose to them. Pressure is all on them. Bruce Weber is kind of a coward for waiting until now when they are no good to play them though.

That's typical Bruce Weber for you. Or typical BCS coach for that matter, with a few exceptions.

When they have a chance to play a team when their down, of course they will put them on their schedule. Especially if 96 teams will be in the Big Dance next year! Illinois has nothing to lose playing a bunch of creme puffs during the non-conference season as long as they win most of them. Then a 7-11 Big Ten record probably gets them into the tournament!

[LG281]

Everyone needs to stop with the anti-illini h8

Nah, I will continue to hate on all things U of I.

Cantstandem.

[tornado]

I say......anyone, anywhere.

I agree....since U of I is so wary of such a game and will only play it as a guarantee game - I say
go for it,
and see if just maybe you can sneak a win out of Champaign-Urbana...
Just hope SIU doesn play poorly and get hammered......

But Da Coach is right about how Bruce Weber waited until SIU dropped a bit and is struggling before playing them anywhere as he had promised..

[tornado]

Could finances be the reason...SIU needs money bad...they are in serious financial trouble...


I am seeing some comments that SIU has some serious financial difficulties and may not be able to rely on the Illinois taxpayer to bail them out...

http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/07/struggle-for-sius-future

"the school projects a deficit of some $125 million for the coming fiscal year. This prompted SIUC President Glenn Poshard to require every department to submit a plan for 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts for next year--cuts that would inevitably lead to layoffs and severely undermine education at SIUC."

http://www.alacrastore.com/research/moodys-global-credit-research-MOODY_S_DOWNGRADES_SOUTHERN_ILLINOIS_UNIVERSITY_S_LONG_TERM_DEBT_RATING_TO_A3_FROM_A1_REMAINS_ON_WATCHLIST_FOR_POSSIBLE_DOWNGRADE-RU_600024378_16335679

http://www.herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/article_16b0a7c2-79df-5b65-9da0-09aec589fe9a.html

http://freesiu.blogspot.com/2010/03/proposed-budget-cut-15-layoffs-at-siu.html

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/illi-f18.shtml

http://freesiu.blogspot.com/2010/02/state-of-denial-illinois-is-going.html

[tornado]

and in addition to working on a game with Illinois, SIU has also locked into a basketball game with Purdue...

http://thesouthern.com/sports/college/salukimania/article_08d04034-4e92-11df-9f05-001cc4c002e0.html

This article also reveals the amount of $$ SIU would make by selling out in a guarantee game at Illinois...
........$80,000...........they are also landing $300,000 for their guarantee game in football..

[real fan]

I also agree Shaunguth, I would take the chance to play the Illini every time even on the road. It would get me pumped to try an take them out on their court. You have nothing to lose, and a whole lot to gain. Like how we beat Illinois this year.

SIU might be at the bottom, but that is why it would make it even more embarrassing for Illinois to lose to them. Pressure is all on them. Bruce Weber is kind of a coward for waiting until now when they are no good to play them though.

SIU has very small chance on winning in Champaign and he scheduled this game only because there program is down, typical BCS way of doing business.

[Braves4Life]

Could finances be the reason...SIU needs money bad...they are in serious financial trouble...


I am seeing some comments that SIU has some serious financial difficulties and may not be able to rely on the Illinois taxpayer to bail them out...

http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/07/struggle-for-sius-future

You betcha! Illinois has the worst budget deficit of all 50 states...... http://www.cnbc.com/id/36510805?slide=16

[tornado]

not sure whose figures that guy is using...but it is common knowledge California is way, way worse!!

California will have a $21 billion+ budget deficit by the end of 2010, and that's more than twice what Illinois will have even with the worst outlook...

[Braves4Life]

not sure whose figures that guy is using...but it is common knowledge California is way, way worse!!

California will have a $21 billion+ budget deficit by the end of 2010, and that's more than twice what Illinois will have even with the worst outlook...

I thought the same thing. And CA probably will be way worse by year's end. I think this was based on right now. Here's another that puts IL #2 to CA at mid-year.......http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=711

I've seen others that put CA at nearly twice IL by year end -- $21 Bill versus $12 Bill. Regardless, the state of Illinois is in some pretty sorry shape.

[Out of Balance]

Just got my real estate. tax's yesterday Someone loading their pockets I built this home myself 15 years ago and the taxes were $3,540 a year. They are now $7,200 a year Done nothing but paint and no additions added Looking at who gets what, School Dist. 150 is eating us alive I guess we are paying for all those additions, built to all the schools last year when we were told they were broke When the gambling boats started, we were told that tax money would all go to education and to fund our schools needs. What BS It's never going to stop, time to move out of this state

[Bravesfan]

and in addition to working on a game with Illinois, SIU has also locked into a basketball game with Purdue...

http://thesouthern.com/sports/college/salukimania/article_08d04034-4e92-11df-9f05-001cc4c002e0.html

This article also reveals the amount of $$ SIU would make by selling out in a guarantee game at Illinois...
........$80,000...........they are also landing $300,000 for their guarantee game in football..

Well, at least the Valley SOS RPI will be strong this year! If everyone played two BCS NCAA caliber teams on the road, we'd be ranked in the top 3 as far as non-conference SOS is concerned.

It would not lead to too many wins, and we would be selling out, but at least SIU's schedule looks a lot better than this past year's already!