It is, no matter what, the last game in the Assembly Hall this season. Lets make the most of it, shall we?

Well, maybe that's a bit of an overstatement. I'm not sure if the NIT really determines anything other than who still cares and who takes disappointment well. It has no bearing on the national championship, and if Penn State is to be taken as any indication, no real bearing on next season. I like to think with all five starters coming back next year, and very little tournament experience for any of them, this is a great chance for them to become a more seasoned team and hopefully more mentally prepared for a deep tournament run next year. But that is getting waaaaay ahead of myself.

Tonight, lets just enjoy watching at least one more game of Illini basketball.

We arent messing around today.

This is your openthread. Use it.

It very literally all comes down to this. Win and we are more than likely in the tournament. Lose and we are in the other tournament.

We know the team. We can beat them, they can beat us. Win and salvage a season that has been filled with plenty of ups and too many downs. Lose and have to sit through another year of anger and embitterment. Win and you will be able to watch the Illini play again tomorrow.

Lose and make the rest of my weekend in Indianapolis not as fun.

Is this motivating you enough yet? No? Would David Bowie help?

THIS IS YOUR OPENTHREAD NOW GO AND PUNCH YOUR TICKETS.

Nothing gets me going for some basketball like some good old fashioned Ramones.

You know how this goes: Win and your are for sure in the NCAA, lose and well, you get another crack at the Badgers on Friday, I just would rather not be in that position.

It has been far too busy of a day/week for me. So no preview  today. Sorry, here is an appropriately sad song by the Mountain Goats.

This is your openthread, or whatever.

Varmints!

Yeah its been done before, but I don't really care

THIS IS YOUR OPENTHREAD INTO WHICH YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS ON TODAY'S GAME!!!!!!

I for one am a huge fan of old hippies doing songs about basic math. But aside from being a crazy trip back to elementary school, this School House Rock video also reminds us that if the Illini win 3 out of the next five games, not only will they be sitting pretty inside the tournament, but it will have yet another win over a ranked team. So lets make that math a little easier today, by you know winning. Maybe we can hit some of those "3's" along the way.

I know that was lame. Nonetheless THIS IS YOUR OPENTHREAD ARGGHHHH!

Basketball? I don't know anything about it. All I know is that today is February 14th, the day where you do something special for your lady, buy her an ass load of chocolate and forsake all distractions tht may come between you and your loved one. Do sports count? Oh you damn well better believe it.

So crack open a bottle of wine, get yourself a heart shaped box of gamble chocolates, and and enjoy yourselves.

and of course...

For those of you brave enough and/or unattached THIS IS YOUR OPENTHREAD.

Even if we win this game, there is no way it will be pretty. It is going to be slow and plodding and physical and cold. Just like the entire state of Wisconsin.

This is the equivalent to basketball in the Kohl Center

Please gods of basketball, make it quick. This your openthread, such as it is.