Illini Non-conference Schedule

[tornado]

Illinois releases their non-conference schedule.....
They play a couple decent non-conference games --- but NONE at home
They do have one AT Maryland as part of the Big 10/ACC, and vs. Mizzou in St. Louis...

But other than that, who ever set up this home non-con schedule really must have consulted Tim Jankovich....

here's who the home crowd at Illinois' Assembly Hall is going to see...

Orange& Blue Scrimmage, then exhibitions against Wayne State & Quincy
Then regular season home non-conference opponents ...(Final 2010-11 RPI in parentheses)...
Loyola (197), SIUE (328 ), Lipscomb (132), Chicago State (339), Gonzaga (56), St. Bonaventure (122), Coppin State (246), and Cornell (210)!

It'll be January and 15 games into the season before the home Illini fans see any decent opponent in Assembly Hall!

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/schedule/schedule.pdf

[45otseoj]

The Zags aren't 'decent'?

[tornado]

I don't think so - they were not top 50 RPI -- and Illinois blew them out in Seattle last year (St. Mary's was the best team in their conference) ....call 'em what you want but they are a mid-major and if that's the BEST team Illinois hosts non-con then they obviously intentionally scheduled soft.
BTW -- even the articles out of Champaign say they INTENTIONALLY scheduled SOFT!

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/6037

http://www.illinihq.com/news/mens_basketball/2011/07/25/terps_zags_tigers_highlight_ui_schedule/

BTW -- one article says..
"There is also the possibility of an in-state - but out-of-country - matchup with Illinois State in the Cancun Challenge...
Bradley transfer Sam Maniscalco is privately hoping for another shot at the I-74 rival Redbirds.."

[BU RICK]

Loyola by 3

This has probably been posted before, but if not...
meet the new Illini, two beat up with stitches from practicing...
looking forward to our own video like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vey1Kci60nw

[45otseoj]

Bradley transfer Sam Maniscalco is privately hoping for another shot at the I-74 rival Redbirds.."

No need to keep that hope private.
I'd want another shot at a team that I was 2-4 against.
Sammy only average 8.5 ppg in the 6 contests.

[isufan]

Gonzaga is playing at Butler this season also, I wonder if they added Illinois to pick up another good road game while they're in the midwest? I was hoping they'd come on down I-70 and play INS the same weekend they are in Indy.

[TheAsianSensation]

Gonzaga is playing at Butler this season also, I wonder if they added Illinois to pick up another good road game while they're in the midwest? I was hoping they'd come on down I-70 and play INS the same weekend they are in Indy.

Actually it might be the other way around because Gonzaga/Illinois is in the middle of a 4-year series I think.

As for Illinois, they could've done better than this. Cancun clearly didn't work out optimally for them.

[Future Walk-On]

Its obvious they scheduled down. they are young and people are not thinking highly of them.

Next year will be brutal though. (Maui)

[amckillip]

Illinois releases their non-conference schedule.....
They play a couple decent non-conference games --- but NONE at home
They do have one AT Maryland as part of the Big 10/ACC, and vs. Mizzou in St. Louis...

But other than that, who ever set up this home non-con schedule really must have consulted Tim Jankovich....

Couple decent games on the road or neutral and no good ones at home? Sound as much like BU as it does ILSU...

BU hasn't played a 'decent' non-con home game since MSU.

[Future Walk-On]

Couple decent games on the road or neutral and no good ones at home? Sound as much like BU as it does ILSU...

BU hasn't played a 'decent' non-con home game since MSU.

uh Idaho State

[MacabreMob]

... BU hasn't played a 'decent' non-con home game since MSU.

Does Butler count? The year after Mich St came to town, Butler came in. They finished 24th in the RPI and got an at-large bid to the NCAA Tourney.

[amckillip]

Does Butler count? The year after Mich St came to town, Butler came in. They finished 24th in the RPI and got an at-large bid to the NCAA Tourney.

Not if Gonzaga doesn't... Both won one game in the NCAA tourney the year previous.

[ancona flash]

I say the Zags count as a decent home non con game. But otherwise, this is a tailor made schedule for a young team.

And possibly Ron Guenther's parting gift to Weber to pad the WL numbers.

On the flip side, if they stumble too much against this non-con lineup, it could be Weber's demise.

[MacabreMob]

Not if Gonzaga doesn't... Both won one game in the NCAA tourney the year previous.

Well, I'd say the verdict isn't out yet (on Gonzaga for this season). Butler was good for the home non-conf schedule for Bradley back then. If Gonzaga (this season) turns out to be a top 25 team, win the WCC, and get a very good seed in the NCAA... then it would be a good non-conf game for UIUC.

So I suppose the argument can be made over hype of an opponent's unknown success.

In retrospect - I say Butler was good for Bradley.

Forecasting ahead - I think Gonzaga is decent for UIUC.

[Future Walk-On]

Does Butler count? The year after Mich St came to town, Butler came in. They finished 24th in the RPI and got an at-large bid to the NCAA Tourney.

Yeah that butler game was brutal. I had the pleasure of hearing murfelds aftr game speech to the team....I was scared Best part was I talked to brad Stephens after the game too