Tennessee State @ Illinois

[bugregshu]

There is 1:15 left in the game and TSU is winning 59-53.

[BradleyBrave]

Illinois loses 60-58. At least we aren't as bad as they are.

[bu fan 9]

That made my weekend.

[VromanFan]

Wow. TSU's others wins so far have come against Alaska-Fairbanks, Eastern Illinois, and something called Cumberland University.

The cupcake home scheduling can backfire.

[BradleyBrave]

Misery sure loves company. Welcome aboard Illinois! Who'da thunk ISU would be far and away the best team in the state of Illinois to start 2008?

[jasonpeoria911]

Well least we can use the excuse that all 4 home teams of the MVC lost this week and Illinois lost to probably a 250+ RPI team at home LOL. Not to mention, #6 Pitt just lost there top 2 guards for virtually the season in back to back games. Lost there first one today by 25 points, doubt they'll be ranked after another game or 2. Been a mighty weird week in college basketball. Wonder if this is shaping up to be like College basketball this season.

Jason

[VromanFan]

Misery sure loves company. Welcome aboard Illinois! Who'da thunk ISU would be far and away the best team in the state of Illinois to start 2008?

A down down year so far for Illinois D1 schools. How would you rank them this far? Off the top of my head: ISU, U of I, SIU, UIC, BU, ugg and it just gets even worse after that.

[BradleyBrave]

A down down year so far for Illinois D1 schools. How would you rank them this far? Off the top of my head: ISU, U of I, SIU, UIC, BU, ugg and it just gets even worse after that.

Well, if BU was 100% healthy I would say

1. BU
2. ISU
3. SIU
4. UIUC
5. UIC

But, we're not, and have yet to really adjust to Ruffin's absence, so I would say

1. ISU
2. SIU
3. UIUC
4. UIC
5. BU

I don't really care about anyone after that. On a side note - DePaul is probably the most talented team out of any team in the state, and look how bad they are. Doesn't say much for what Wainwright is doing up there.

[VromanFan]

Well, if BU was 100% healthy I would say

1. BU
2. ISU
3. SIU
4. UIUC
5. UIC

But, we're not, and have yet to really adjust to Ruffin's absence, so I would say

1. ISU
2. SIU
3. UIUC
4. UIC
5. BU

I don't really care about anyone after that. On a side note - DePaul is probably the most talented team out of any team in the state, and look how bad they are. Doesn't say much for what Wainwright is doing up there.

Yep. I kind of meant who's the best as of right now...considering the season's play thus far. UIC is actually putting together a decent season.

This is Wainwright's 3rd year right? When does his seat get warm? Seems like a pretty big mess up there...

Since that is the Top 5 consider how bad the rest is....in no particular order- DePaul, NU, the other directionals, Chicago St., Loyola, all are real real bad...

[chitown fanatic]

Eastern takes the awful cake with its sub 300 RPI

[MacabreMob]

Couple nice things here.

1) At least my schadenfreude Illini fans won't be stopping in to rub the UNI loss in my face tomorrow at work.

(and dang... I had to run into one today while shopping and neither of us knew this outcome... so he drove the fork in pretty good.... I'm looking for a phone number right now)

2) UIUC and EIU have something in common.

[Bravesfan]

Boy and I thought Bradley had some problems! Yikes!

[SFP]

There's a few states that are having a bad year. Iowa for one is not doing well, KY and MD are two other states where the Div 1 schools are underperforming.

[MacabreMob]

I know Randle got hurt in the 1st 1/2 when it was close and then Tn St had a large 1/2 time lead... Randle did not return. I wish him the best.

I have always said 2 things can wreck a season: "Injuries and Felonies". (felonies being off the court issues resulting in many things, chemistry, suspensions, NCAA sanctions, etc)

UIUC has gotten a fair share of theirs.

[mportsch]

Yep. I kind of meant who's the best as of right now...considering the season's play thus far. UIC is actually putting together a decent season.

Well, if you actually want to be objective about it, here's Pomeroy's rankings BEFORE today's games (so obviously Illinois will drop):

27) Illinois
5 Illinois State
89) Southern Illinois
11 Illinois Chicago
130) Bradley

Knowing how Pomeroy's rankings work, I'd bet that Illinois will drop into the 40s tomorrow, so it's a bit of a stretch to say that ISU is clearly the best team in the state right now. It's an incredibly embarrassing loss for Illinois (probably one of the worst in school history), but let's not get carried away.