|
|
Post by exit237a on Nov 26, 2021 22:58:02 GMT -5
20-11 record and a likely tournament berth: a good regular season for the Illini! Looking forward to Sunday night’s bracket reveal to see where we’re dancing!
|
|
|
|
Post by ilalum92 on Nov 27, 2021 23:23:12 GMT -5
I would rather face Kentucky than Louisville, maybe the loss to Michigan will flip us. Not sure if thats possible with all the NCAA rules about driving in & location.
|
|
|
|
Post by bucky415 on Nov 28, 2021 0:00:37 GMT -5
I would rather face Kentucky than Louisville, maybe the loss to Michigan will flip us. Not sure if thats possible with all the NCAA rules about driving in & location. Louisville and Lexington are both easily within the driving range for Illinois, as they are for Michigan. This is where the league standings and extra win should benefit Illinois and send them to Kentucky and Michigan to Louisville. One potential issue is that Detroit is a hub and easy from Ann Arbor, so Michigan could get flown somewhere too. |
|
|
|
Post by ilalum92 on Nov 28, 2021 1:28:13 GMT -5
Transfer thread says some good gets in the portal. Do we have any open scholies?
|
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 28, 2021 7:03:14 GMT -5
I would rather face Kentucky than Louisville, maybe the loss to Michigan will flip us. Not sure if thats possible with all the NCAA rules about driving in & location. Louisville and Lexington are both easily within the driving range for Illinois, as they are for Michigan. This is where the league standings and extra win should benefit Illinois and send them to Kentucky and Michigan to Louisville. One potential issue is that Detroit is a hub and easy from Ann Arbor, so Michigan could get flown somewhere too. If we are sent to Louisville, there are some interesting connections there. Louisville's coach Dani Busboom Kelly and Chris Tamas are both branches of Nebraska's coaching legend John Cook's tree. omaha.com/sports/college/huskers/teams/volleyball/after-learning-from-john-cook-many-former-nebraska-assistants-have-gone-on-to-lead-their/article_8f0cc2b1-c94b-5412-ae5c-23a9659fe19c.htmlAs Tamas has said before to the Illini fan group, The Networkers, there are connections that exist throughout women's collegiate volleyball. A lot of connections (and friendships) that most of us on VT are not even aware of! |
|
|
|
Post by ted_heise on Nov 28, 2021 8:27:39 GMT -5
Louisville and Lexington are both easily within the driving range for Illinois, as they are for Michigan. This is where the league standings and extra win should benefit Illinois and send them to Kentucky and Michigan to Louisville. One potential issue is that Detroit is a hub and easy from Ann Arbor, so Michigan could get flown somewhere too. If we are sent to Louisville, there are some interesting connections there. Louisville's coach Dani Busboom Kelly and Chris Tamas are both branches of Nebraska's coaching legend John Cook's tree. omaha.com/sports/college/huskers/teams/volleyball/after-learning-from-john-cook-many-former-nebraska-assistants-have-gone-on-to-lead-their/article_8f0cc2b1-c94b-5412-ae5c-23a9659fe19c.htmlAs Tamas has said before to the Illini fan group, The Networkers, there are connections that exist throughout women's collegiate volleyball. A lot of connections (and friendships) that most of us on VT are not even aware of! Good points, notpriddy. So happy to see DBK do well. I worked with an aunt (I think) of hers when in Omaha, and she was a good egg. I root for Illini in part because of the Tamas connection to UNL and Coach Cook. Plus I just like the school: classic land grant institution that's held to its roots. Doesn't hurt that I've a son who lived there several years either. |
|
|
|
Post by vbkahuna on Nov 28, 2021 9:02:14 GMT -5
I would rather face Kentucky than Louisville, maybe the loss to Michigan will flip us. Not sure if thats possible with all the NCAA rules about driving in & location. Well, looks like your prayers may have been answered. Check out the FINAL Bracketology thread by trojansc. Granted, it's hypothetical, but not only does it look logical based on latest results, I'd say it's as good a bracket as possible for the Illini to get to not just the Sweet 16, but even (gasp) the FF. No, I'm not delusional, and I'm not saying it's easy because this year will be ridiculous with strong teams everywhere. But the gauntlet of Syracuse, Kentucky, Washington, Pittsburgh is one that has interesting matchup possibilities for the Illini if they can serve hot and play like they played against Purdue and Penn State. It's playoff time. Throw out the records. Everyone starts 0-0. Matchups and execution will determine who moves on. |
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 28, 2021 13:56:21 GMT -5
Recent years, Illini flew west when not a NCAA tournament seed. 2019-Utah, 2017-Washing In 2017 we defeated #8 Washington in Seattle (3-2) In 2020 we lost to #17 Utah in Provo (2-3) |
|
|
|
Post by ilalum92 on Nov 28, 2021 14:18:40 GMT -5
I would rather face Kentucky than Louisville, maybe the loss to Michigan will flip us. Not sure if thats possible with all the NCAA rules about driving in & location. Well, looks like your prayers may have been answered. Check out the FINAL Bracketology thread by trojansc. Granted, it's hypothetical, but not only does it look logical based on latest results, I'd say it's as good a bracket as possible for the Illini to get to not just the Sweet 16, but even (gasp) the FF. No, I'm not delusional, and I'm not saying it's easy because this year will be ridiculous with strong teams everywhere. But the gauntlet of Syracuse, Kentucky, Washington, Pittsburgh is one that has interesting matchup possibilities for the Illini if they can serve hot and play like they played against Purdue and Penn State. It's playoff time. Throw out the records. Everyone starts 0-0. Matchups and execution will determine who moves on. I just saw that. I think if we can play clean we match up good and can make the sweet 16. Lets see what the selection committe does. Is the no intra conference 2nd round matches still in effect? That plays into where teams go especially with 7 Big Ten teams in the tourney |
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on Nov 28, 2021 15:16:53 GMT -5
Ugh, how much longer do we have to wait?! Really excited for this Illini team to get tournament experience, especially one more go-around for Kuper and the super seniors.
|
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on Nov 28, 2021 20:45:14 GMT -5
We dodged the Louisville sub-regional! Haven't figured out where Illini are headed yet...
|
|
|
|
Post by rogero1 on Nov 28, 2021 21:20:28 GMT -5
Texas regional! Possibly a 2nd round match with last year’s national champion, Kentucky if we survive beating West Virginia.
|
|
|
|
Post by ilalum92 on Nov 28, 2021 21:20:37 GMT -5
Ok, good 1st round match up against WVU and Kentucky 2nd round. Hopefully we get a 3rd round match up with Nebraska. Everyone says it’s tough to beat a team 3 times in a season!!!
Some of these seeds and other entries are a little hear scratching!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pasquale on Nov 29, 2021 0:43:32 GMT -5
Fun Fact: Jessica Nunge will be playing against former Florida State University teammate Adrian Ell, who transferred to West Virginia. It appears Ell was a setter at FSU and is now playing as an OH at West Virginia.
|
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on Nov 29, 2021 2:35:36 GMT -5
|
|
