Illini need to lose NOW

I used to live in Chicago so I understand where the OP is coming from.  I was there in 1989 and invited to watch the Final Four at a party where I was the only one who wanted Michigan to win.

I am friends with several of the Ill Lye In Eye faithful.  They think we are their number one rival.  They hate us but for some reason think OSU is okay.

Basketball is their thing and nothing irks them more than the following:

• Sean Higgins
• We were the ones who knocked out their best team ever
• Bruce Pearl
• Austin Peay
• They've never won a championship

I have to admit they look really good.  I don't live there anymore so I don't have to listen to it and thankfully the Sparts have been silenced.

Personally, I'd love to see a big ten team win it all. That being said, I don't know many Illinois fans, so I don't know if they're annoying 

Background:  I went to a massive high school in Cook County (~1000 kids in my graduating class).  Several of my close friends went of UofI.  I was the only person in my graduating class to go to Michigan.  So I know this "rivalry".  It is defined by a handful of instances:

1. We constantly beat the shit out of them in football, and after they fired Gary Moeller, we took it out on them even worse.  This is what older Illinois fans remember.

2. We derailed the best Illinois basketball team ever and went on to win the NC in 1989

3. Illinois should have won the 2000 football game, but some bad officiating benefited Michigan

4. They are a "safety school" academically compared to Michigan and they hate that.  Illinois engineering program is arguably better than Michigan's, but they never get the credit for it. 

Why give them any of your time and attention? 

I can’t get excited one way or the other about Illinois, they are irrelevant to me. Although it does irk me that they have who would have been our best player on their team.

Stop talking about me!

Michigan has 21 more tourney wins and 4 fewer losses. We are still a Big Ten blue blood over them. 

My bracket says ok. 

The Illini had one of the best NCAA teams ever in 1989.  Kicked our asses twice badly during the postseason.  And we broke their hearts w that Higgins putback.

Lou Henson never got over that.

I was at U-M when we beat them and Seton Hall.  At Kellys Sports Bar.  It was amazing

Hope they win it all and get to enjoy what we felt...

I just can't get that upset about it, for multiple reasons:

• I root for Michigan, and really don't care terribly much about other teams. Including the Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Black Hawks, and Bulls, even though I live in the Chicago area. I don't get incensed about the success of other teams. (exception:  OSU, and especially OSU football. Also, I can imagine that MSU would be insufferable if they had success.)
• The U of I alum I know are not jerks. Sure, some Illinois fans have to be awful. They're out there, somewhere. But really, there are jerks in all fanbases, including Michigan's.
• Illinois hasn't haven't won much of anything in any big sport. Nothing EVER in Hockey or Basketball. Last football success was in 1951. I can't begrudge them success.
• I'm generally fine with ALWAYS rooting against OSU, PSU, and MSU. But it is harder for me to do that with the rest of the Big 10. Mind you, I'm not a "Fan" of the Big 10, per se, but I don't HATE the rest of the Big 10. (And even with OSU and MSU, and even PSU, why would I want to be an ass to their fans, if their fans are reasonable?)
• While I'm not a Big 10 "fan," I always am up for seeing certain teams lose. UConn, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina in basketball. Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, FSU, Miami, Florida in football.

I'd personally rather a Big Ten team (with exceptions that are not currently possible) win than any other team.  It's been far too long.

Meh. Doesn’t bother me that much. Shannon is a dude as we knew

Op ain't wrong.

I don't care about Illinois.

They get on their knees and beg us to be their rivals every single year, but we have zero reason to care about them at all whatsoever. They're just more run of the mill big ten crybabies, like all the rest. 

I don’t care enough about Illinois to want them to lose. If they do, great. If they don’t, they don’t.

Illinois may view Michigan as a massive, program changing win that defines their season. They may view Michigan as their most hated rival. According to these parts that’s how Illinois fans seem to view us. If they do, good for them. 

To me, they’re just Illinois. 

The wife of my best friend is an Illinois grad, and she’s awesome. Sorry, I can’t work up the enmity against the Biting Illini right now.

My bracket is shot. Two final 4 teams out, Houston and Arizona.

I get that you wanted to brag a little but not sure how people watch BB after our 8-24 season.

Too painful.

Why even watch basketball? Michigan hockey is playing for a Frozen Four spot against msu tomorrow at 6:30

I have Illinois losing to Purdue in the finals; they can't die now. Hope pettiti doesn't show up.

Consider it done.

Wife scheduled a couples night dinner during the game so all I saw was what I could catch from my peripheral vision on the TV in the bar.  The Ill lye in eye were stuck on 23 for the longest time.  Perhaps a tribute to Michael Jordan.  Their fans must be devastated.  Not like losing to Austin Peay or Sean Higgins but close enough.  Must be quiet tonight in the Windy City.  -40.  A lot of negbanging for what I thought was a better post than many.