Maui Invitational Pregame: Illinois vs USC, Monday, November 19th, 11:00pm CT, ESPN2

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 01:37 AM

Game 4: Illinois (3-0) vs USC (2-0)

Monday, November 19th

Maui Invitational

11:00pm CT

TV: ESPN2

OrangePower · Nov 17, 2012, 02:33 AM

It's just an early November game, but it may tell us something about Groce and the team. Do they have a let down after an emotional win or do they manage to keep steady and play well. There's a guy in East Lansing that may be one of the best in these tournament type situations...hopefully we have one similar.

P.S. I've got a 4 month old or I probably wouldn't be up posting.

IlliniSteve · Nov 17, 2012, 02:35 AM

I like these late starts

U of I 89-05-10 · Nov 17, 2012, 06:49 AM

Let's keep building, boys. I think this team will just continue to improve.

Blessd24 · Nov 17, 2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangePower

P.S. I've got a 4 month old or I probably wouldn't be up posting.

Seems like a good reason to be up and posting.

I've got a 4 year old, 2 year old and 9 month old. I don't want to hear an excuses for anything from you.

Big10Man · Nov 17, 2012, 07:41 AM

If one good thing comes out of the Hawaii game (aside from winning, of course!), the coaches now have the team's attention! Vacation time is over. Time to get down to business. This is a business trip after all (as Coach Groce has been saying all along).

AK Illini · Nov 17, 2012, 07:59 AM

Now that we've seen just how terrible we are on the glass against even modest size, I don't see how we win.

61 ILL 65 USC

DaytonIllini · Nov 17, 2012, 09:13 AM

Villanova had a huge letdown vs. Alabama after their big comeback against Purdue. Will Illinois have the same problem vs. USC? Hopefully Coach Groce can stress to the team that the first half possessions are just as important as the second half and that you can only dig yourself out of a hole so often.

P.S. Purdue lost AGAIN.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Nov 17, 2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

Villanova had a huge letdown vs. Alabama after their big comeback against Purdue. Will Illinois have the same problem vs. USC? Hopefully Coach Groce can stress to the team that the first half possessions are just as important as the second half and that you can only dig yourself out of a hole so often.

Well, we have a couple of days to come down from the high of this win, that probably helps. What's interesting is we play another team that's hard to predict how good they are in USC. We'll be their first good test this season, too.

Magoo2 · Nov 17, 2012, 11:01 AM

Just got back from snorkeling at the Sheraton this morning. A ocean dip at 630 is just the thing to invigorate a body in the morning! Besides seeing 4 sea turtles and thousands of fish, we ran into the Texas basketball team and talked to Brad Stevens for a few seconds. We are going to go back down to the Sheraton later to see if we can meet our team.

bootsy · Nov 17, 2012, 11:53 AM

Don't see us having much trouble in this game. It may be closer than I'm anticipating but I'm still expecting a comfortable win.

trevdv · Nov 17, 2012, 12:00 PM

- 77
USC - 72

Redbirds33333 · Nov 17, 2012, 12:04 PM

ILLINI - 81
USC - 78

Close, Senior-Led Win

U of I 89-05-10 · Nov 17, 2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK Illini

Now that we've seen just how terrible we are on the glass against even modest size, I don't see how we win.

61 ILL 65 USC

Just never were an optimist, were you, AK? Haha.

One of the things that encouraged me about last night was that even though we didn't shoot overly well and got out rebounded, we didn't let that stop us from grinding out a win ... I think our 2012, 2011, 2010, etc. teams lose that game. This team got punched in the gut in the first half during its first road test of the year and in its third game under a new system and new coach, and they responded by storming back and doing everything it took to get the W.

I think we come out fired up, hit our shots and show the world that this Illinois team is not to be overlooked. Then we'll see what happens vs. Texas.

Fighting Illini 76
Trojans 62

stevo99 · Nov 17, 2012, 01:17 PM

I think we'll be ready to play. It's always the best as a coach when you get the 'W' but you have legit reasons to ride their ass. This will translate into intensity the first 10 minutes, IMO. Then we see if USC can take a punch.

75
USC 67

I'm pretty sure Groce didn't want to play the Hawaii game, but the way it played out couldn't of worked out better for us.

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 01:49 PM

Illini have arrived!

Quote:

Landed in Maui.

http://twitter.com/momash09

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Landed in Maui - have practice in 2 hours. Clean up and prep for Monday this afternoon.

http://twitter.com/Dustin_Ford

Illini70math · Nov 17, 2012, 01:53 PM

I think having played the Hawaii game gives us an edge. We shot 25% from three (3 of 12) in the first half, 29.6% from the field overall (8 of 27), and we won the game after being badly outrebounded. If I were the USC coach, I would be very concerned.

These Illini will live and die with our outside shooting, but so far we are shooting 35 of 86 for 40.7% from three this season -- and we haven't really had super shooting from some guys we know can shoot the ball. I don't expect us to shoot 40% from three for the season, but we appear to be a better outside shooting team than many expected. Coach Groce thinks so, and I think he is right.

FWIW, the game-winning shot against Hawaii is exactly why we can be dangerous this season. That is the type of kick-out three that is almost impossible to deny completely when Groce's offense is executed correctly. Hawaii didn't play bad defense as their coach pointed out, but they lost because they didn't play perfect defense (as he noted) and our guy made the open shot.

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Fresh off the flight to maui. Bout to head to practice http://pic.twitter.com/uU7jdjx4

http://twitter.com/kevinberardini

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

At Maui airport !!! http://instagr.am/p/SJV8fZDvKw/

http://twitter.com/illini_ibby23

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

#Illini have arrived in Maui. @1Abrams3 is greeted at the airport. @EASportsMauiInv http://pic.twitter.com/e51jMRGg

http://twitter.com/IlliniHoops

Dan · Nov 17, 2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Basketball has taken me so many places: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Cancun...not to mention 25+ states. Including Hawaii #TrulyBlessed

http://twitter.com/BP3

combes · Nov 17, 2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK Illini

Now that we've seen just how terrible we are on the glass against even modest size, I don't see how we win.

61 ILL 65 USC

I will wait to see if is a trend or if they just had a bad night on the boards.

zoggle101 · Nov 17, 2012, 05:30 PM

Modest size??? Hawaii was a big NCAA team in my opinion. Fotu the freshman with the fro from a foreign country seemed taller than they have him listed. Every time I saw him he was ver active also. Joaquim is a monster, they played a 6'7 sf, and sg at times not to mention Tavita the transfer from Utah was 6'4. Spearman isn't small either. I'm not saying USC is smaller because they're not, I'm just not worried about Oraby being really dominate meaning they slide Dedmon over to the center spot making them smaller at with either a smallish pf like Aaron Fuller(ex Iowa guy), or one of the many bigger sg/wings they have.. They have big wings and guards just like Hawaii and we'll see hopefully(that Hawaii feed was garbage) this time how we do against a legitimately bigger team.

Side note: I didn't really notice Bereton but with the feed it was tough. Stanhardinger wasn't bad but is tha who DJ hit the 3 on?

drumanimal · Nov 17, 2012, 05:31 PM

Thank you Espn2 for covering this game! Our radio broadcast crew is great an all but man that stream was the worst yet. Why can't they work these broadcast issues out? it is 2012 right. Seems like back in the day all the games where on channel 3.

Nov 17, 2012, 09:13 AM	#8
DaytonIllini Posts: 14,919	Villanova had a huge letdown vs. Alabama after their big comeback against Purdue. Will Illinois have the same problem vs. USC? Hopefully Coach Groce can stress to the team that the first half possessions are just as important as the second half and that you can only dig yourself out of a hole so often. P.S. Purdue lost AGAIN. __________________ "To forbid us anything is to make us have a mind for it." Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

Nov 17, 2012, 11:01 AM	#10
Magoo2 Location: Springfield, IL Posts: 269	Just got back from snorkeling at the Sheraton this morning. A ocean dip at 630 is just the thing to invigorate a body in the morning! Besides seeing 4 sea turtles and thousands of fish, we ran into the Texas basketball team and talked to Brad Stevens for a few seconds. We are going to go back down to the Sheraton later to see if we can meet our team. __________________ The one and only...........

Nov 17, 2012, 05:30 PM	#24
zoggle101 Location: Spfld, IL Posts: 4,410	Modest size??? Hawaii was a big NCAA team in my opinion. Fotu the freshman with the fro from a foreign country seemed taller than they have him listed. Every time I saw him he was ver active also. Joaquim is a monster, they played a 6'7 sf, and sg at times not to mention Tavita the transfer from Utah was 6'4. Spearman isn't small either. I'm not saying USC is smaller because they're not, I'm just not worried about Oraby being really dominate meaning they slide Dedmon over to the center spot making them smaller at with either a smallish pf like Aaron Fuller(ex Iowa guy), or one of the many bigger sg/wings they have.. They have big wings and guards just like Hawaii and we'll see hopefully(that Hawaii feed was garbage) this time how we do against a legitimately bigger team. Side note: I didn't really notice Bereton but with the feed it was tough. Stanhardinger wasn't bad but is tha who DJ hit the 3 on? Last edited by zoggle101; Nov 17, 2012 at 05:34 PM.

Nov 17, 2012, 01:37 AM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 25,908	Game 4: Illinois (3-0) vs USC (2-0) Monday, November 19th Maui Invitational 11:00pm CT TV: ESPN2

Nov 17, 2012, 02:33 AM	#2
OrangePower Posts: 32	It's just an early November game, but it may tell us something about Groce and the team. Do they have a let down after an emotional win or do they manage to keep steady and play well. There's a guy in East Lansing that may be one of the best in these tournament type situations...hopefully we have one similar. P.S. I've got a 4 month old or I probably wouldn't be up posting.

Nov 17, 2012, 02:35 AM	#3
IlliniSteve Posts: 5,907	I like these late starts

Nov 17, 2012, 06:49 AM	#4
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 955	Let's keep building, boys. I think this team will just continue to improve.

Nov 17, 2012, 07:41 AM	#6
Big10Man Posts: 239	If one good thing comes out of the Hawaii game (aside from winning, of course!), the coaches now have the team's attention! Vacation time is over. Time to get down to business. This is a business trip after all (as Coach Groce has been saying all along).

Nov 17, 2012, 07:59 AM	#7
AK Illini UofI Basketball..off the chain Location: Chicago Posts: 7,257	Now that we've seen just how terrible we are on the glass against even modest size, I don't see how we win. 61 ILL 65 USC

Nov 17, 2012, 11:53 AM	#11
bootsy Posts: 202	Don't see us having much trouble in this game. It may be closer than I'm anticipating but I'm still expecting a comfortable win.

Nov 17, 2012, 12:00 PM	#12
trevdv Location: Champaign Posts: 2,574	- 77 USC - 72

Nov 17, 2012, 12:04 PM	#13
Redbirds33333 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 113	ILLINI - 81 USC - 78 Close, Senior-Led Win

Nov 17, 2012, 01:17 PM	#15
stevo99 Posts: 850	I think we'll be ready to play. It's always the best as a coach when you get the 'W' but you have legit reasons to ride their ass. This will translate into intensity the first 10 minutes, IMO. Then we see if USC can take a punch. 75 USC 67 I'm pretty sure Groce didn't want to play the Hawaii game, but the way it played out couldn't of worked out better for us.

Nov 17, 2012, 01:53 PM	#18
Illini70math Posts: 1,672	I think having played the Hawaii game gives us an edge. We shot 25% from three (3 of 12) in the first half, 29.6% from the field overall (8 of 27), and we won the game after being badly outrebounded. If I were the USC coach, I would be very concerned. These Illini will live and die with our outside shooting, but so far we are shooting 35 of 86 for 40.7% from three this season -- and we haven't really had super shooting from some guys we know can shoot the ball. I don't expect us to shoot 40% from three for the season, but we appear to be a better outside shooting team than many expected. Coach Groce thinks so, and I think he is right. FWIW, the game-winning shot against Hawaii is exactly why we can be dangerous this season. That is the type of kick-out three that is almost impossible to deny completely when Groce's offense is executed correctly. Hawaii didn't play bad defense as their coach pointed out, but they lost because they didn't play perfect defense (as he noted) and our guy made the open shot.

Nov 17, 2012, 05:31 PM	#25
drumanimal Location: Urbana, IL Posts: 430	Thank you Espn2 for covering this game! Our radio broadcast crew is great an all but man that stream was the worst yet. Why can't they work these broadcast issues out? it is 2012 right. Seems like back in the day all the games where on channel 3.