Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:13 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
great to be here today...lets get to it
melani ferchow from urbana, il — 11:16 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
When is the auction for the pink shoes that the Illini team wore for the coaches vs. cancer game? My nephew is a big fan and my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She has since been cleared thankfully. But Jack(nephew) thinks it was cool that the team wore pink shoes and would love to own a pair. mferchow@comcast.net
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:18 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Melani,
Glad you liked the pink shoes! I know the players liked them a lot also.
Actually...the shoes will not be up for auction. The players are keeping those.
The uniforms will be up for auction to benefit Coaches vs Cancer. I dont know the date for that yet.
My thoughts and prayers are with your sister.
mike from gainesville, fl — 11:18 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Illinois was a 4.5 underdog for the game last night. The Illinois team is ranked #70 in the country. My question is why is everyone knocking the game. They win by 8 on the road and people aren't satisfyed. Tisdale gets 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and is critized for the offensive rebounds. Illinois blew their leads when Paul and Keller were in the game together.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:21 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Mike,
I didnt realize that Illinois was a 4.5 point underdog. I heard somewhere that they were 1 point underdogs.
Part of the fans concern about "only winning by 8 points against Iowa" stems from the fact that Iowa is really struggling this year and most fans expected to beat the Hawkeyes by a lot more.
But I am with you on this. I think ANY Big Ten win on the road is a good win...no matter how bad the opponent is.
David from Iowa City, IA — 11:21 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
How much credit for the victory goes to the Orange Krush for their presence at Carver Hawkeye arena last night? Their effort to coordinate that was tremendous.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:24 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
David,
I think the Orange Krush being there was a big emotional boost for the Illini early. You could tell by the Illini players' reaction to the Krush when they came out for the opening tip. They were pointing at them and showing their appreciation to them for making the one day...up-and-back trip. (8-9 hours total roundtrip driving-plus the 2 hour game)
I think the Krush being there helped the Illini get off to a good start.
Illini1973 from Belleville, ILL...ini — 11:24 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
This class has to be a HUGE disappointment. The only top recruit we kept was at the position, QB, which we could most afford to lose. And what we have left from our last 2 classes since the Rose Bowl gets thinner as time goes on. Short of the other B10 programs coming back to us, what do you see as the future for our program the next 4 years?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:29 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Illini1973
We really wont know about this class until a couple of years from now. A lot will depend on how the classes before and after them hold up as well.
Think about it....When the Illini went to the Rose Bowl a couple of years ago...some of the key players on that team were recruited by Ron Turner. Coach Turner's classes were never rated very high by the "experts".
Also...look how many of Coach Turner's former players are contributing in the NFL (Kelvin Hayden....Pierre Thomas...Greg Lewis...David Diehl...Alan Ball....just to mention some of them)....
I am not trying to say that one coach's recruiting is better than another's. I am just saying that the so-called "experts" often get it wrong. All they are judging is potential...As they say in the commercials..."your results may vary"
Gary from Danville, IL — 11:30 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Is referee Ted Hillary retired? I don't think I've seen him all year. That has to make Loren happy! Do you have any plans for GameDay on Saturday?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:32 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Gary,
I dont think Hillary is retired...but I do think that he is out of commission right now. Steve Welmer has also been out for awhile now this season.
Loren likes both Hillary and Welmer. And so do the coaches.
Allen from Litchfield, IL — 11:32 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Is Kalin Lucas expect to play on Saturday and if he doesn't, does the Illini have a good chance to win at home?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:33 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Allen,
I heard today that Kalin Lucas has a "high ankle sprain". Those are usually tougher to play with.
My guess is that if he does play...his movement might be limited.
Jacoub from Chicago, IL — 11:34 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Do you feel good about Illinois' next eight games or do you feel that they wil fall short what is needed to get in the tourny?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:35 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Jacob
I would say they need to go 4-4 over these next 8 games to get into the NCAA. Difficult....but still possible.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:36 AM on Thu, 02/04/2010
Sorry guys...I have to run...I have an appointment to get to today.
If you want...send me the same questions next week and I will try to get to as many as possible.
great to be here today...lets get to it
When is the auction for the pink shoes that the Illini team wore for the coaches vs. cancer game? My nephew is a big fan and my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She has since been cleared thankfully. But Jack(nephew) thinks it was cool that the team wore pink shoes and would love to own a pair. mferchow@comcast.net
Melani,
Glad you liked the pink shoes! I know the players liked them a lot also.
Actually...the shoes will not be up for auction. The players are keeping those.
The uniforms will be up for auction to benefit Coaches vs Cancer. I dont know the date for that yet.
My thoughts and prayers are with your sister.
Illinois was a 4.5 underdog for the game last night. The Illinois team is ranked #70 in the country. My question is why is everyone knocking the game. They win by 8 on the road and people aren't satisfyed. Tisdale gets 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and is critized for the offensive rebounds. Illinois blew their leads when Paul and Keller were in the game together.
Mike,
I didnt realize that Illinois was a 4.5 point underdog. I heard somewhere that they were 1 point underdogs.
Part of the fans concern about "only winning by 8 points against Iowa" stems from the fact that Iowa is really struggling this year and most fans expected to beat the Hawkeyes by a lot more.
But I am with you on this. I think ANY Big Ten win on the road is a good win...no matter how bad the opponent is.
How much credit for the victory goes to the Orange Krush for their presence at Carver Hawkeye arena last night? Their effort to coordinate that was tremendous.
David,
I think the Orange Krush being there was a big emotional boost for the Illini early. You could tell by the Illini players' reaction to the Krush when they came out for the opening tip. They were pointing at them and showing their appreciation to them for making the one day...up-and-back trip. (8-9 hours total roundtrip driving-plus the 2 hour game)
I think the Krush being there helped the Illini get off to a good start.
This class has to be a HUGE disappointment. The only top recruit we kept was at the position, QB, which we could most afford to lose. And what we have left from our last 2 classes since the Rose Bowl gets thinner as time goes on. Short of the other B10 programs coming back to us, what do you see as the future for our program the next 4 years?
Illini1973
We really wont know about this class until a couple of years from now. A lot will depend on how the classes before and after them hold up as well.
Think about it....When the Illini went to the Rose Bowl a couple of years ago...some of the key players on that team were recruited by Ron Turner. Coach Turner's classes were never rated very high by the "experts".
Also...look how many of Coach Turner's former players are contributing in the NFL (Kelvin Hayden....Pierre Thomas...Greg Lewis...David Diehl...Alan Ball....just to mention some of them)....
I am not trying to say that one coach's recruiting is better than another's. I am just saying that the so-called "experts" often get it wrong. All they are judging is potential...As they say in the commercials..."your results may vary"
Is referee Ted Hillary retired? I don't think I've seen him all year. That has to make Loren happy! Do you have any plans for GameDay on Saturday?
Gary,
I dont think Hillary is retired...but I do think that he is out of commission right now. Steve Welmer has also been out for awhile now this season.
Loren likes both Hillary and Welmer. And so do the coaches.
Is Kalin Lucas expect to play on Saturday and if he doesn't, does the Illini have a good chance to win at home?
Allen,
I heard today that Kalin Lucas has a "high ankle sprain". Those are usually tougher to play with.
My guess is that if he does play...his movement might be limited.
Do you feel good about Illinois' next eight games or do you feel that they wil fall short what is needed to get in the tourny?
Jacob
I would say they need to go 4-4 over these next 8 games to get into the NCAA. Difficult....but still possible.
Sorry guys...I have to run...I have an appointment to get to today.
If you want...send me the same questions next week and I will try to get to as many as possible.