State Farm Holiday Classic

[fanofthegame]

All I have to say is wow. This field is loaded.

#1 Champaign Centennial vs. #16 Rock Island Alleman

#8 Springfield vs. #9 Quincy Notre Dame

#4 Normal Community vs. #13 Grayslake Central

#5 Rock Island vs. #12 Sterling

#2 Rockton Hononegah vs. #15 South Holland Thornwood

#7 Peoria Notre Dame vs. #10 Mahomet-Seymour

#3 North Chicago vs. #14 Normal U-High

#6 Lake Forest vs. #11 Culver (IN) Academy

Champaign Centennial I believe is the #1 team in 3A, #5 Rock Island is led by Chasson Randle who has been called the top player in the state by at least one source, #7 Peoria Notre Dame started the year state ranked in 3A, #8 Springfield just knocked of state ranked 4A team QHS, and South Holland Thornwood is a 15 seed? Really? If QND gets out of there 2 and 2 Id consider it a very successful trip.

[Angle]

Yeah I honestly don't know much about South Holland Thornwood this year but I just cannot imagine them being a 15 seed after their recent history....They must be having a very down year, but I can't imagine them really being a true 15 seed.

[bballjunkie1]

All I have to say is wow. This field is loaded.

#1 Champaign Centennial vs. #16 Rock Island Alleman

#8 Springfield vs. #9 Quincy Notre Dame

#4 Normal Community vs. #13 Grayslake Central

#5 Rock Island vs. #12 Sterling

#2 Rockton Hononegah vs. #15 South Holland Thornwood

#7 Peoria Notre Dame vs. #10 Mahomet-Seymour

#3 North Chicago vs. #14 Normal U-High

#6 Lake Forest vs. #11 Culver (IN) Academy

Champaign Centennial I believe is the #1 team in 3A, #5 Rock Island is led by Chasson Randle who has been called the top player in the state by at least one source, #7 Peoria Notre Dame started the year state ranked in 3A, #8 Springfield just knocked of state ranked 4A team QHS, and South Holland Thornwood is a 15 seed? Really? If QND gets out of there 2 and 2 Id consider it a very successful trip.

Champaign is the defending 3a champ, and I believe they brought back 3 starters from last years team. They are big and they are very well coached. I watched them play in the 3A state championship game against Oswego. Oswego has a Barry product as their assistant coach. Randle is a load, but I dont know if he is the best player in state. But either way if you are top 10 in Illinois you are **** good. This tourny is stacked, it will be good for QND to play this game, if they get out of Regionals, they will run into some very good 2a schools. BCC, Leo, any other private school from Chicago, BA, 2A is loaded with talent.

[Titanfan89]

All I can say is this tournament is stacked. I hate to say it but QND may go 2 and done in this tournament because it is so loaded. However, I do think they will win at least one game.

[fanofthegame]

Another note I forgot earlier, #12 Sterling is led by Joseph Betrand who I believe is headed to U of I next year. There isnt a single weak team in this field. Titan, I think brackets are set up for 4 games gauranteed, but I could be wrong. I know 2 years ago QND went 1-3 there.

[Titanfan89]

Another note I forgot earlier, #12 Sterling is led by Joseph Betrand who I believe is headed to U of I next year. There isnt a single weak team in this field. Titan, I think brackets are set up for 4 games gauranteed, but I could be wrong. I know 2 years ago QND went 1-3 there.

That is a pretty good deal if you get 4 games against some quality competition like that. I know at Macomb you are guaranteed at least 2 games depending upon how you do. I believe it is like that in any 16 team tournament you play in. The State Farm Classic must add another round if you lose your first couple of games or something.

[bballjunkie1]

Another note I forgot earlier, #12 Sterling is led by Joseph Betrand who I believe is headed to U of I next year. There isnt a single weak team in this field. Titan, I think brackets are set up for 4 games gauranteed, but I could be wrong. I know 2 years ago QND went 1-3 there.

Bertrand is at Illinois now. If I am not mistaken he is hurt at the moment, but not really positive of that.

[fanofthegame]

Bertrand is at Illinois now. If I am not mistaken he is hurt at the moment, but not really positive of that.

Lol, shows how much big ten basketball I watch. I could've sworn he was a junior last year, but thanks for the correction.

[Titanfan89]

Lol, shows how much big ten basketball I watch. I could've sworn he was a junior last year, but thanks for the correction.

The Illini should be in the top 25, but a couple of not so good losses.

[German/Irish_67_9]

I don't believe QND can defeat Springfield. Thornwood is way down this year.. lost 3 or 4 seniors last season.. If they do end up in that losers bracket i would say they could compete with Normal Comm and Greyslake and Sterling and such.. But Centennial is an unstoppable force so far this year yet again.. And Springfield beat a VERY talented QHS squad so i'm ready to see these games but not so ready for the possible outcomes.

[fanofthegame]

QND fell to Springfield High in the first round of the State Farm Classic tonight. Final score was 54-47. The game was close throughout with Springfield leading most of the way. QND did take a 1 point lead in the middle of the 4th but Springfield responded and pushed the lead out to as much as 10. QND shot just 16/57 from the field and from the sounds of it missed a lot of shots in the paint. Credit Springfield for a lot of that though as they are a good defensive team. QND now plays Rock Island Alleman at 2 oclock tomorrow.

[fanofthegame]

The raiders beat Rock Island Alleman today 61-55. The game never should have been that close as QND lead 36-17 at the half. Second half was uuuugly for QND. They play Normal Community tomorrow at 12:30. QND wil have to put together a better effort tomorrow as Normal Community looked huge.

On a side note, Springfied took the #1 team in 3A, Champaign Centennial to overtime before falling 51-42.

[German/Irish_67_9]

Wow.. Springfield is going to be a force come postseason.. Good luck Raiders!!!

[Lost Soul]

Wow.. Springfield is going to be a force come postseason.. Good luck Raiders!!!

Sorry but have to ask is Springfield a 2A or 3A team?

[Titanfan89]

At least 3A, possible 4A.

[fanofthegame]

At least 3A, possible 4A.

Springfield is a 3A team. They already beat QHS and took Centennial to OT and they are playing without 3 year starter at Guard Mark Gilchrese.

QND lost another close one today 40-39 to Normal Community. Normal had quite a rotation of 6-5 to 6-8 post players and some talented guards. IMO this was QND's best team defensive effort of the season. Offensively I thought they moved well but Normal was very long, physical, and disciplined on defense. Quentin Keating had a chance to win the game at the end for QND but missed a 5 foot runner in the lane. Scott Douglas was as upset as Ive ever seen him that there was no foul called on the play, but not often do you see anything called in that situation.

[Titanfan89]

I have seen Douglas get a technical or two, he can get pretty fired up at times.

[Titanfan89]

Is QND finished in Bloomington now or do they have another game?

[fanofthegame]

Is QND finished in Bloomington now or do they have another game?

I think I can count the number of Douglas technicals I've seen on 1 hand over the past 4 or 5 years. Now, technicals on the QND bench may be a different story. I love Bob Sheffield but he is a fiery guy to say the least.

QND plays Normal U-High at 7:00 for 3rd place in the consolation bracket.

[fanofthegame]

QND finishes 2-2 at the State Farm Classic. After coming out slow and falling behind 20-10, QND really picked it up to get a 57-40 victory. All in all I'd say this week was a very good experience for the Raiders. A 7 point loss to Springfield isn't looking so bad as Springfield downed Rock Island and Chasson Randle today after taking Centennial to OT yesterday. I'm very anxious to see how the rest of the season plays out.

[fanofthegame]

Springfield picked up another W tonight over Mahomet Seymour 51-34. They are a very sound defensive team.

[German/Irish_67_9]

Springfield's tough.. rightfully so considering who they're forced to play in that area in that class