Jan. 31 Voice of the Illini chat
Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 11:00am
UPDATE: Brian is in the Breslin Center waiting for a connection. His chat will start shortly ...
Brian Barnhart takes your questions - from East Lansing, where Illinois will be preparing to take on Michigan State. Ask him anything and he'll be sure to respond during his 11 a.m. chat.
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Good morning from East Lansing. Just arrived on the bus with the team at the Breslin Center for shootaround. Had some snow earlier this morning. Lets get started
Is it time for Mike Thomas to come out and make a statement about John Groce's future with Illinois? Looks and feels very similar to last year aroud this time. And when are we going to discuss Mike Thomas' "body of work"? The NG crew so far has been very kind to the AD.
John Groce has been at Illinois for only around 11 months.....Mike Thomas has been in Champaign a year and a half. We are nowhere near either one of those things happening.
Did you watch Indiana's dismantling of Purdue? I'm sure they will be No. 1 when they visit us next week? A month ago, I thought we'd have a chance. Not so much now.
Keep up the good work
Didnt get a chance to watch the game since we were traveling up with the team last night. I wasnt surprised by the result however. Indiana is very good. Purdue seems average to me. That is why the Illini loss in West Lafayette a month ago still bothers me. The Indiana-Michigan game should be outstanding this weekend.
Indiana will be very tough to beat. But aside from the Purdue game...they have been challenged on the road this year at times in league play . Hopefully one of those times is next Thursday night.
Today's newspaper pointed out how the Illini can get to the NCAA tournament. I'm not buying it. Big Ten to good for this group. I'd like to get your thoughts since youre with them a lot.
There is still a path to the NCAA Tournament for Illinois.....but that road is getting narrower with each loss. That is why the losses at Purdue and at home to Northwestern made life difficult for Illinois. Win those 2 games and you are 4-3 in league play and have 17 wins as you enter February.
Since they lost to Michigan at home....I feel the Illini need to either beat Wisconsin and Indiana at the Assembly Hall....or win one of those two games and steal one either at Michigan State or Minnesota. After those games...the schedule is a little more favorable with Purdue, Penn State, and Nebraska all coming to Champaign....along with trips to Northwestern and to Iowa. Somehow they need to get to 8 wins in league play in my mind to be considered for the tourney.
The early wins over Gonzaga, Butler and Ohio State are good investments already in the bank. Those will help. But an upset in East Lansing tonight would really help.
Brian
Not a basketball question but hope you can answer. Haven't heard much buzz surrounding signing day next Wednesday. What have you heard? Is Beckman bringing in players who can help right away?
Pete
I think a lot of the players that can help Tim Beckman's team right away have already enrolled early in school....or are the junior college players that they were recruiting this winter. Due to a lack of depth in a couple of classes last year....those junior college additions are really going to be key to recovering from the 2-10 season a year ago. It really will help the early arrivals to go through spring practice...which starts in about a month by the way.
In the decade or so I have been doing the games....out of the 25 or so recruits that are added each year....usually 3 or 4 true freshman at most make an immediate impact. (Mason Monheim for example last year).
Thanks for the questions today!
Have to get ready to do some interviews at the arena. Will talk to you tonight from East Lansing.