The post-game thread was closed?

About 20 minutes to tip off at State Farm Center.

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We're one Zach Edey injury away from total choas in the Big Ten standings. Here's the KenPom projected standings and rankings:

15-5 Purdue (6)
13-7 Rutgers (16)
12-8 Ohio St (10)
11-9 Illinois (25)
11-9 Mich St (40)
11-9 Michigan (50)
10-10 Maryland (35)
10-10 Iowa (39)
10-10 Penn St (41)
10-10 NW (53)
10-10 Wisc (55)
9-11 Indiana (33)
7-13 Nebraska (92)
2-18 Minnesota (193)

• Preseason favorite Indiana projected to finish 12th as the #33 team in the country
• 12 teams in the top 55, but only 4 in the top 25
• Rutgers is good (#3 overall defensive efficiency)
• Ohio State and Purdue the top 2 offenses in college basketball
• Purdue and Illinois the only two Big Ten teams in the top 50 on both offense and defense
• Even after the nightmare start for Illinois we're already projected 4th in the conference. Just keep winning.

So far I know about...

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I'll post more names as I hear them.

On the status of Keith and Johnny coming back? I'm going to assume Johnny is going pro, but I think Keith could gain a lot by coming back, potentially even some nice $. Didn't know if any rumors started circulating with the deadline coming up. I have to think with the lack of interest transfer DL, the staff must think they're getting at least half of the law firm back.

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Right now, Illinois has filled all 13 scholarships for 2023-24. It's likely that at least two spots will open up, IMO. Most expect TJ Shannon to enter the 2023 NBA Draft. At least one more spot will probably be vacated.

With two open rides, I'd expect Illinois to go after a point guard and a spot-up 4 type in the portal. Right now, all of the guards on the roster are combos, as is Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn They won't reach, so it could be another situation where all 13 spots aren't filled.

A starting 5 next year of Jayden Epps, RJ Melendez, Luke Goode, Coleman Hawkins, and Dain Dainja is solid. I'd prefer to have multiple ball handlers in the lineup, though. Neither Melendez or Goode are natural 2's. A big guard who can shoot would be a nice addition.

Illinois will continue playing the spread-motion offense. The 5-out experiment was a failure, and they don't really have the personnel to bring it back.

I really have no idea yet how good the two new kids Perrin and Moletti will be. They have good skill sets. Both are excellent passers. We'll see.

You have to be a least a little concerned with high school recruiting. Other than Morez Johnson, they don't seem to have much traction with top 50-75 types. You don't want to totally live in the Portal.

Once No. 1 ranked Xavier Booker (Michigan State) blew up Illinois was out. Other misses included Jeremy Fears, JP Estrella, Solomon Ball, Devin Royal. I like the kids they got, but who is the headliner?

Two kids in 2024 just left Illinois out of their top 5. Trentyn Flowers and Liam McNeeley. They were long shots, but Illinois did offer and recruit them early. Illinois doesn't appear to be a major player for anyone else in the Rivals150 in that class, at least not yet.

I think 2025 guards Bryce Heard and Trey McKinney are important recruits for Illinois. They need to get one of them.

Penn State vs Indiana (Penn State wins)
Indiana getting a healthy dose of PSU and their 3-pt machine. IU staring at 1-4 right now. Does Woodson make it through this year? Maybe Chris Beard is who they hire.
Indiana has given up 80 or more points in 3 straight Big Ten games. Not since 1998.

Rutgers vs NW
Rutgers is favored by 1.5 points on the road. Rather surprising, unless I’m missing something. I’d take NW and the under.

I caught up with Moretti this afternoon.

I would see UIUC getting an NCAA Division 1 men's hockey program before this ever happens. But I guess it never hurts to look into it,

If so, I loved that kids film. Thought he could really pass and score.

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Illinois Announces Plans for Illinois Wrestling Training Center

$10 Million in Donations Lead Effort for Latest Addition to Illini Athletics Facilities

CHAMPAIGN, ILL – The Fighting Illini wrestling program is set to receive a best-in-class facility following today’s announcement of the Illinois Wrestling Training Center by Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. In the coming months, DIA will present the project for formal approval by both institutional authorities and the University’s Board of Trustees.


“Wrestling is one of our most storied programs at the University of Illinois,” Whitman said. “For generations, Fighting Illini Wrestling has competed at a high level, including a run of All-Americans that is virtually unmatched, with facilities that do not meet our standard of excellence. It has taken us years of evaluating, planning, and fundraising, but we are so pleased to deliver to our wrestling program a facility of this caliber. This facility, combined with Coach Mike Poeta’s leadership, will propel our program to new heights.”

The $14 million Illinois Wrestling Training Center will be located on the south lawn of State Farm Center, directly across St. Mary’s Road from the Illinois Conference Center. It will feature approximately 19,000 square feet of space, including a wrestling room with three mats, strength and conditioning and sports medicine facilities, team locker room, coaches’ locker room and offices, and a multipurpose meeting room. Another $1.3 million in site work and improvements to State Farm Center parking will be included in this project. Groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2024, with completion expected in late 2025.

“With this facility, the University of Illinois is demonstrating its commitment to Fighting Illini Wrestling,” Poeta said. “The Wrestling Training Center will be state-of-the-art and is a reflection of the quality of wrestlers and character of the students involved in our program – past, present and future. The support we have received from the wrestling community, donors and alumni has been unprecedented. As the head coach, I am honored beyond words to be part of this journey. This collective effort by so many makes our goals of winning Big Ten and NCAA titles more attainable.”

As part of today’s news, Illinois Athletics announced $10 million in private philanthropic support for the Illinois Wrestling Training Center. In particular, Whitman recognized three sets of donors, Mark and Carol Mestemacher, Ron and Melody Domanico, and Doug and Allison Waggoner, who made substantial gifts to bring the Illinois Wrestling Training Center to fruition.

“From the beginning of my tenure almost seven years ago, we have been humbled by the generous support of so many people who have made our ambitious facilities agenda possible, and this project was yet another example,” said Whitman. “Illinois Wrestling has a number of passionate, loyal followers, led by the Mestemachers, the Domanicos and the Waggoners. Without them, we are not in this position, and I cannot thank them enough for supporting this bold initiative to advance our wrestling program.”

“I am truly excited about the future of Illinois Wrestling as this facility will be a huge benefit in the wrestling experience of our current and future Illini wrestlers,” said Mark Mestemacher. “I am so thankful for the perseverance and persistence of our Athletic Director Josh Whitman and his staff in making this facility become a reality. It has been a long road to get to this point and the can-do attitude that Josh, Howard Milton, Coach Poeta and many more Illini faithful exhibited in the last two years needs to be applauded. I don’t believe a facility has ever won a championship, but I do believe facilities go a long way in drawing recruits to a program, and this facility will elevate Coach Poeta and his staff’s ability to draw even more top-notch wrestlers to the University of Illinois program. This truly is an exciting day for Illini Wrestling.”

“The state of Illinois produces some of the best wrestlers in the nation, and this new wrestling facility will attract, develop, and retain top student-athletes who will positively impact our communities for generations,” said Ron Domanico. “We are proud to be a part of it.”

“Illinois Wrestling has the privilege of competing in the Big Ten, which has long had a reputation for having the toughest competitors in the world,” said Doug Waggoner. “Illinois Wrestling is putting all the pieces together to rise to the top of the conference and the entire NCAA wrestling field. Getting a world-class facility is an important ingredient for training our athletes and achieving our goals.”

Illini wrestlers have trained and worked out at Huff Hall for decades, where competitions were held until matches were moved to State Farm Center starting with the 2021-22 season. The Fighting Illini have had at least one wrestling All-American for 30 consecutive years, with four NCAA qualifiers from 2022 returning for the upcoming season. Poeta has seven starters returning, including All-American Lucas Byrd (133).

I see no one here cared any more about the over hyped football-like substance ESPN offered than I did.

They killed the bowl games and damaged conferences for this?

Need to get this road win.

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Surprised there's no thread on this....

So Lovie's defense, or is it Miles' defense, gave up over 250 yards rushing yesterday. At what point do Bear opponents realize that the new regime isn't showing Fields a ton of confidence as far as the passing game is concerned, start locking down the run game, and daring the Bears to pass?