I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before someone at Desipio labels Illinois’ walk in the park with Wake Forest last night as their greatest win ever. Probably right after the alcohol wears off, the bail money is raised, car fires are extinguished, and oops too late, the scissors put away.
But before any further such overstatements are publicly declared, let us all remember that December 1 is a helluva lot closer to November than it is to April. I’m pretty sure there are still a couple of meaningful games to be played.
As a guy who’s seen my favorite team knock off the nation’s top ranked team more than twice in my lifetime (a few more opportunities outside the Big 10 I suppose), it’s admittedly easier for me to be the voice of reason than some. However, that’s not to take anything away from the impressiveness of Wednesday’s 18 point victory, which just as easily could have been 28. While I don’t know that Deron Williams did anything to justify Jay Bilas’ (who called a very nice game by the way) debatable and hypothetical ACC top-10 individual ranking, it was his team that played like the #1 team in the nation, not everyone’s pre-season All-American, Chris Paul’s. Who has now failed on each of his last three opportunities to deliver the goods in front of a national viewing audience. During that 3-game span (Providence, Arizona, Illinois) he is averaging 8 points per game with just slightly better than a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. Forget National Player of the Year honors, at that rate Paul will be lucky to garner 3rd team ACC.
I dug Weber’s orange blazer, I dug the fact that the Orange Krush acted as though they expected the win and chose not to storm the court, and I dug the fact that this was a complete team victory. Holding a talented and deep Wake Forest team to under 40% from the field is no easy task. But, there’s still room for improvement — like say getting to the free throw line in future games more than 6 times. Unfortunately like many teams this time of year, the Illini’ won’t see another test like this for quite some time.
In fact, while out of their control, the Big 10 regular season strength of schedule may prove to be the Illini’ Achilles’ Heel this year (besides the fact that they’re not likely to keep shooting 46% from the three-point line). Their toughest stretch comes January 25 – February 12 and includes games at Wisconsin, home to Minnesota, at Michigan State, home to Indiana, at Michigan, home to Wisconsin. In other words 3 ranked teams out of 6.
Compare that to any number of stretches for Wake (or any other ACC team); January 11 – February 2 includes homes games with Maryland and North Carolina, at Florida State, at Cincinnati, at Georgia Tech, home to Miami, and home to Duke. 7 games, 5 likely ranked opponents, as many as 4 of which may be top 10. Followed by another stretch February 20 – March 6; at Duke, home to Longwood (???), home to Virginia, home to Georgia Tech and at N.C. State. As it stands now that’s 4 ranked teams of their last 5 heading in to the always competitive ACC tournament.
Even if they’re playing below expectations now, Wake will have multiple opportunities to prove themselves and rise to the occasion against top 20 teams. Which is why playing in a league with 7 probable tournament teams is a huge benefit, assuming you avoid any significant injuries.
That’s not to say that teams like Illinois or Washington or Louisville aren’t capable of winning 6 games in a row come tourney time. In fact when asked this morning who would win on a neutral court between Illinois and K.U., I quickly answered Illinois, a match-up they’d not likely see until the Final Four. I think Simien would have a 20/10 night down low and Giddens could also score upwards of 20, but that Illinois would hold most every other match-up advantage. However, in addition to league games against the likes of Texas and Oklahoma State, K.U. would also have experiences against the non-conference opponents such as Georgia Tech and Kentucky to draw from. Nail-biting, big-game experiences that will have been had in 2005, not the 1st of December.
Which is exactly why you just can’t get too crazy yet about seedings, bubbles and at-large invites despite Digger Phelps trying to convince you otherwise. It’s early. Last year at this time Georgia Tech was still playing quietly in the shadow of their ACC counterparts, two years ago at this time Syracuse was equally off the radar.
After last night’s games, I’m up to 16 total games viewed for the season. I know this for certain because I’ve been logging them and will continue to do so. While I’ve yet to see Oklahoma State, Connecticut, Pitt or Kentucky, I have no problem with those that would cast a first-place vote this week for Illinois….. or Syracuse…. or Georgia Tech… In fact, I won’t be surprised to see as many as 10 different teams hold the #1 at some point during the season. Which means of those teams at least 2 will enter March Madness with a #3 seed.
Like I said it’s a long season.
Not unlike The Apprentice. I mean back in week one and two, I was all about the short-haired chick. It wasn’t until later I realized that she was the crazy (blink, blink, blink) one, not the Stacy that the back-stabbing girls nearly had committed, who cleans up quite nicely by the way. Although he’s already guaranteed a Final Four slot so it’s not really going out on a limb, but it will be an absolute upset of North Carolina/Santa Clara proportions (UNC is Elite 8 at best) if the smug former military dude, Kelly, doesn’t win it all. An event which will hopefully be immediately followed with the blonde runner-up, Jen, inking a six-figure deal with Mr. Hefner for the February or March PB cover. What’s sad is neither Kelly or Jen would have even finished top 3 last season (Bill, Kwame, Amy).
Of course Survivor is still a staple in my weekly television diet. Can we say thank you, Chris? Without his understated gamesmanship (Lord knows he’s near worthless in challenges) this would already be an all-female tribe with the show moved to Oxygen or Lifetime. I thought everyone knew how petty and jealous women can be with each other, even when some of those women possess frightening cult-leader tendencies (Ami). Now if Chris could just do us one more favor and feed Eliza something before her eyeballs literally pop out of her quickly shrinking head.
I’d like to also completely fill my reality quota but to be honest both Real World and Laguna Beach have taken a backseat to ESPN programming. I’ll get caught up shortly, but there’s only so many hours in the day. Personally, I’d have given Laguna’s Dieter more screen time and RW’s MJ, Landon, Kokomo, Willie, Sarah, Shivonda, and the wet blanket who’s parents didn’t hold her, less… Who does that leave? Not my problem…
And if this is starting to sound a bit like the Sports Guy’s latest effort at Page 2, I can’t disagree. Talk about waking up and losing 10 miles an hour off your fastball, somebody check that dudes labrum and rotator cuff already. And trying to post content more frequently is definitely not helping matters —- aren’t cartoons supposed to be slightly amusing? I’m not sure if it was the move to Hollywood coupled with the apparent inflation of ego that comes with breaking bread with the likes of Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Corolla on a routine basis lest he need to remind us again, or if it’s the alleged engagement and wedding to the mythical Sports Gal, but it is safe to say Bill Simmons’ best work may already be behind him. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sports Buddy, errr Gal was too.
All that said without any hint of a bristle, or even once mentioning the D-word… Ah screw it, Duke, baby! Duke!!! I’ll take J.J. and Daniel any day of the week and twice on Thursday over Deron and Dee. The Blue Devils would have scored 92 on Wake at home. Ooops, 95, J.J. just hit another three baby, are you serious?!?!? That one was from Raleigh, and did you know he’s 20 pounds lighter this season? Quick, someone check that kid’s ribs already…
I like the Apprentice girl on the left. I can’t remember which one she is, I just know she’s hot, even with the short hair and she’s completely nuts. That’s always done it for me.
Hey, there isn’t enough room up in here for both you and Bilas, Jake. Yay Duke!
Hello again, Jake! Great effort today. Loved it. Agreed with absolutely none of it.
You hate Wake and you hate Chris Paul. This is understandable. We hate Wisconsin and Michigan State, and I hate Germans just like Kelly does. However, Wake’s better than Duke this year. How do I know that? I’m a 75 year old man with a diaper and a drinking problem and despite it I’m a soothsayer, I make the dumpy looking "psychic" from last night’s "Lost" look like a Muppet.
Besides, Sports Guy hasn’t lost his fastball, he’s just having a hard time focusing. He’s in LA now, he’s got money, he’s famous. He’s listening to Elgin Baylor call him an "asshole" at a salad bar. He’s still funny, the the funniest things in his columns on the old Web site were usually 50 percent him, 50 percent his readers. Just like most of the funniest stuff on this site is in the comments section.
Eventually, he’ll pull back a little, focus on what he’s funniest at and even ESPN won’t be able to ruin him. Though those bastards try and ruin everybody.
I thought I left for the Lakers? Damn, I have got to check my voice mail more often.
How ARE Duhon’s ribs by the way?
NBC told me a chick has to win this season of the Apprentice, Jake.
You’re fired!
I’m a hack!
Hey, remember when I had a football team and Doug Flutie and Hershel Walker? That was great.
Donald, Kelly’s a chick name (sorry KD) so I think you’ll be alright.
Rectum, there’s plenty of room for both as Jay surprisingly doesn’t take up too much space horizotally. Wait, what?
Karry, I had Wake pre-season #1. I wouldn’t say that I hate Chris Paul, but at this point in their careers I’d take Justin Gray, Jamal Levy and Eric Williams if I was looking to pick up three guys for next from the Deacon roster.
How do you straddle at the same time appear to be taking a stand? You say something like this: "it is safe to say Bill Simmons’ best work may already be behind him." BCesque, I have to say. Good job!
Does the Donald have the pleasure of saying: "Ivana, you’re fired!" tonight?
Holy Crap Ivana better be fired
Give me a break Brian, one disqualifying ‘may’ in the context of that he-is-not-as-good-as-he-used-to-be-and-is-watered-down paragraph is hardly BC-esque.
Here’s how he might say it:
I’m not sure that Bill Simmons is quite as funny as he used to be. Why? I think that there was a time when I would probably check his site every day, and now I only check it every other day. Which means I don’t check it as often as I used to. I don’t know if Bill is Page 2’s best writer, that’s for ESPN to decide. But I do know that he may not be. Or then again he may…
Good illustration! Just thought the "it’s safe to say" juxtaposed with "may" was a little cheesey.
I think more and more of Andy’s kinks have been coming to the fore lately. Of particular distress is his seemingly insatiable craving of psycho chicks.
Wanting to get free-kay with Psycho Diane (Apprentice) and Psycho Ami (Survivor) makes one wonder if Andy has a death wish. If that’s the case, he needs to go out guns a-blazing and have a threesome with both Ami and Diane. You know Ami’d be up for it.
Do your best Charles Bronson, Andy, and go for it! In the Death Wish sequels, I say you line up Psycho Shannon (Big Brother 2), Psycho Allison (Big Brother 4), Psycho Kelly (Survivor Africa), and Psycho Lindsey (Survivor Africa).
They aren’t all prizes, but they are all Psycho. Enjoy!
That’s funny, I answer to the name Maria, not Dianne.
Then again, I’m froot loops, so who knows what my real name is!
I guess I should just assign them numbers to keep the confusion to a minimum. I get my Apprentice, Survivor, and Big Brother Psychos mixed up.
Maria, the tightly wound, "Back OFF!" barking, way-too-intense woman is the short-haired one.
And she is psycho.
Enjoy, Andy!
Jake mentions Playboy, ansd it got me to thinking about how hot Miss December is, Tiffany Fallon, a former Miss Georgia runner-up and country music video babe (Who’s Your Daddy).
I love this title!
You should rent my movie, if only to see what Demi Moore’s boobs used to look like!
We did make an appearance in that movie.
But the boobs didn’t show up until later.
Jake,
I don’t think the weak Illinois Big Ten schedule made the Illini lose to Duke last year in the Sweet 16. Illinois just didn’t make very many shots, Deng played very well, and Duke’s inside game stepped up. Disappointing sure, but we deserved to lose the game the way we played.
In the same tone, the weak Big Ten schedule won’t cause Illinois to lose to any team in the NCAA tournament this season. You still have to play six teams and you still have to beat them. Whether you have played six Top 25 teams in your conference in the regular season or just two doesn’t matter once the tournament begins. What matters is that you are playing well and that you can win six in a row. You seemed to suggest that the schedule will be the reason Illinois falls short. Right now, I think the reason Illinois falls short (if they do) will be themselves.
On the Illini front, seniors Luther Head and Roger Powell, Jr. showed that they can take a game over just as well as the hyped juniors can. Luther’s game has improved so much over his career it has been fun to watch. Powell was always sneaky good inside, but his outside game has improved so much he can now hit threes consistently. Plus both have improved defensively since the start of their junior years.
What does this mean? Well, if Weber can improve the defense of his players like he has with Head, Powell, and McBride (Who was known essentially as a 25-20 in high school: 25 points scored and 20 given up) over the past year and a half, maybe he doesn’t have to get all the studs in recruiting. Although that would be nice.
Finally, what last night did, for me, was two things. First, it solidified for me that Illinois is capable of getting a #1 seed if they play like that for most of the rest of the season. Second, I was disappointed with how Wake Forest played. Both Jake and I thought Wake Forest was the best team coming into the season. They still could end up cutting down the nets, but their defense has to improve and Chris Paul (as Jake noted) needs to play like the Top 5 player I think he is. Paul did not play very well in the Preseason NIT and then laid another egg last night here in Champaign. He needs to step it up.
What? Not pics of me on my birthday?
And I thought I was loved on this sight…
As Andy (or Chase) would say, "B.C., you ignorant slut."
The point, which you’ve missed as usual, is that the Big 10 is comparatively not a good conference right now. You referred to it as a ‘down cycle’ just days ago. Regardless of how solid a particular team may be, those that emerge from ‘down’ conferences are not, as you argue, able to just wipe the slate clean come tourney time. It’s the same reason Cincy, Louisville and Gonzaga can regularly finish at the top of their respective conferences and still not be quite good enough to make it beyond the Elite 8.
The fact is that a team forced to maintain the level of consistency necessary to compete week in and week out against top-25 competition, is in effect becoming increasingly tournament-tested. Teams that get layups against Northwestern, Penn State, Indiana, etc. know they don’t have to necessarily bring it every night — and still emerge victorious. This creates a false sense of security, and an atmosphere where a team wrongly believes they can willingly turn it on and turn it off.
Even though they’re a Big 10 team could Illinois have beaten Duke last year? Sure. Is asking myself questions somehow mocking B.C.? That’s not for me to say, but sure. The bigger question is whether or not Duke had been afforded more opportunities to play in similar situations agains talented teams, regardless of how well Deng may have played.
Illinois is a great team, maybe even deserving of a # 1 seed in 3 months. But I don’t think you can gloss over the importance and benefits of playing a tougher schedule, which is the reason why you’re likely to see multiple ACC teams in this year’s Final Four —– not because they coincidentally just happen to all come from the same geographical region of the country….
Seems to me that you don’t need to face great teams every night to get ready for the tournament. Illinois will get enough of a test in Madison and East Lansing.
There’s so much parity in college hoops that you get tested enough. All a great conference does is water down your record and screw up your seed. I’d say the "weak" Big Ten is a huge advantage for Illinois, not a disadvantage.
You’re both wrong (no Pac-10 or Big-10 team in this year’s FF), but we shall see….
I think a read a writer say this about the season, …"let us all remember that December 1 is a helluva lot closer to November than it is to April".
So let’s pick our Final Four!
Wait, you wrote that, didn’t you Jake?
Illinois will lose in Iowa City on 2/19.
They won’t be the only losers in Iowa City that day. Or any day, really.
Write your dose, damnit, and quit arguing with the scroungers posting in yesterday’s comment section.
Andy, those personal attacks are uncalled for. You are hereby banned! And so is everyone else!
You think I can get a gig in the North Korean Communist Party?
me so funny!
![]("https://www.desipio.com/cgi-local/gm.cgi"/)
[chirp chirp]
…
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You mean there are no Cubs Talk people here? Does that mean that if Andy doesn’t link to the Dose from the mb, they won’t bother us?
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