Gardner Webb vs Illinois

[sportstalent]

What's worse, being behind 20 to Gardner Webb or beating them in the final seconds?

Push

 

[hawkfan33]

Yea clearly butler sucks... smh.. what is wrong with some people

Butler doesn't suck, but they are pretty average. They lost by 15 to a Xavier team that's far from their usual standards, one that barely beat Drake. Their other two wins in that tournament were over a bad USC team and a D-II school. It was the easiest path to winning the Maui classic in at least 20 wins. That isn't debatable, just compare it to who the previous champs beat to win the tournament.

 

[smhawk]

Butler also has wins over North Carolina and Marquette. Maybe Xavier is poorly coached but they got plenty of talent, so not really all that bad of a lose considering there wins. It being an easier road than usual may not be debatable but calling Illinois average because of a close win is.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

What is GW SOS? Seems like they have been on the road for a month!

$$$$$$$$

 

[GhostofBTT]

I think this game and the Iowa game prove that you are wrong on this one.

The jury is still out on Iowa, but G-W will do just fine this year.

Illinois played 3 games in 4 days in Maui. They flew home on Thanksgiving after a night game in Hawai'i, and played an afternoon game two days later. Illinois had been in Hawai'i since a week from Friday, and played a game in Honolulu before going to Maui.

If you've ever been to Hawai'i, you know it takes a little while to adjust to a normal life when you return. To say the Illini lacked focus and energy is an understatement.

 

[ssckelley]

I highly doubt GW becomes a top 100 team in the RPI so beating them really does not do anything for you when building a NCAA tournament resume. However for a mid major GW is a decent team and could surprise a few in their conference (I think they were predicted 5th). But the only way they show up on your resume is if you lose to them, something both Iowa and Illinois avoided.

For Iowa to start getting "good wins" they need to start beating teams like Wichita State, UNI, and Iowa State. Those are teams that may finish in the RPI top 100, ISU will probably be top 50.