Pregame: Illinois at Gonzaga, Saturday, December 8th, 9:00pm CT, ESPN2

OrangeAndBlue217 · Dec 7, 2012, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTBZag

19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block is being a non-factor???

Dont quote me, I clearly dont remember the game that well then lol.

Wayne191 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:18 AM

The orange koolaid is strong tonight. Did anyone watch the west Carolina game? This game is a reality check hope we show up tomorrow night. Fight Illini!

IlliniSpine · Dec 8, 2012, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne191

The orange koolaid is strong tonight. Did anyone watch the west Carolina game? This game is a reality check hope we show up tomorrow night. Fight Illini!

We will show up. We usually do for big games....just look at last year when we "gave up":

1. Ohio st.
2. Missou
3. Gonzaga
4. Mich St.

We won 3 of those 4!

Hopefully we do enough to win. If we can use our athleticism (like Clemson did vs. GU) and confuse them with our D (like WSU did), we have a chance.

Illini2016 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:24 AM

Rumor is that tickets were selling between $650-$1000 a piece. Talk about the beauty of having two Top 15 teams playing in an arena that holds only 6,000.

IlliniRunIn07 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini2016

Rumor is that tickets were selling between $650-$1000 a piece. Talk about the beauty of having two Top 15 teams playing in an arena that holds only 6,000.

If nothing else, it's an awesome feeling playing in THE premiere game of the weekend.

OrangeAndBlue217 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

If nothing else, it's an awesome feeling playing in THE premiere game of the weekend.

The only thing I dont like is that its 9 o'clock our time, on a saturday. I figure if we want recruits to see it. They have to make it a priority to watch us. Otherwise its 9 on a saturday! Im sure we all know what high school kids are doing at those times.

IlliniRunIn07 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeAndBlue217

The only thing I dont like is that its 9 o'clock our time, on a saturday. I figure if we want recruits to see it. They have to make it a priority to watch us. Otherwise its 9 on a saturday! Im sure we all know what high school kids are doing at those times.

True. But if we win, they will notice.

jmat · Dec 8, 2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeAndBlue217

The only thing I dont like is that its 9 o'clock our time, on a saturday. I figure if we want recruits to see it. They have to make it a priority to watch us. Otherwise its 9 on a saturday! Im sure we all know what high school kids are doing at those times.

studying of course and volunteer work

OrangeAndBlue217 · Dec 8, 2012, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

True. But if we win, they will notice.

Thats for sure!

ThunderNutz · Dec 8, 2012, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troydove

I fill somethings in the air. Just can't put my finger on it!

If we somehow get brave and play with no fear. Blow the dog pound up with ILLINI TNT

Sad part I think we get beat bad down low. Zags 92 ILLINI 63 BBBBUUUTTTT if we pull this off,,, SPECIAL SEASON - for !!!!s and giggles

game time yet?

Not to worry. My wife made her special 5 alarm chili for supper tonight. It's just my indigestion and gas that's in the air, should be cleared up in time for tip-off!:rolleyes: Unless I have some tomorrow for lunch.:laugh:

TCTORNADO · Dec 8, 2012, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini2016

Rumor is that tickets were selling between $650-$1000 a piece. Talk about the beauty of having two Top 15 teams playing in an arena that holds only 6,000.

Just checked this a.m. and StubHub has none to sell.

Dan · Dec 8, 2012, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Groce not concerned with ranking after Gonzaga game

"Obviously, this is a great challenge in front of us. We have a chance to learn a lot about our team because they're such a great team and if you make errors and mistakes, great teams take advantage and expose you.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing where our system is against such a high quality basketball team."

Tupper

Quote:

HQ forecast: Gonzaga 73, UI 69

Illinois has played against big frontcourts this season. Hawaii and USC were big. Gonzaga's is big, deep and really good. Elias Harris has been on NBA radars since he torched Illinois at the United Center three years ago. Olynyk, Dower and Karnowski will play for money one day. The Illini, who have struggled on the interior at both ends this season, will have to step it up today. "When you look at the minutes played by their 4 and 5s, the depth of those guys and what they bring to the game in the post and on the glass, defensively, affecting shots, it's certainly the best we've played to this point," Illinois coach John Groce said.

Marcus Jackson

BoolahBoolah · Dec 8, 2012, 07:08 AM

I think we're due for a loss today, unfortunately. This is a tough Zags team, playing at home. I think we'll hang tight for awhile, then lose down the stretch.

Gonzaga 79
IL 68

Dan · Dec 8, 2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Over 100 tents in Tent City for the game [today] against illinois. Appreciate everyone who is braving the cold to support us in the Kennel.

http://twitter.com/ZagMBB

schlagboy · Dec 8, 2012, 07:40 AM

You have to admire the Gonzaga fanbase. They have 100% faith in their team winning.

Wayne191 · Dec 8, 2012, 08:04 AM

Time to break out a big can of whoop*ss and feed it to those pesky zags for a limitless late evening snack. Illini play their best game of the year and win 85-78. This would merrimize my christmas spirit.

U of I 89-05-10 · Dec 8, 2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schlagboy

You have to admire the Gonzaga fanbase. They have 100% faith in their team winning.

Makes you wish our fan base was like that once again.

GO ILLINI! Let's get a huge win tonight!

SummerofGeorge · Dec 8, 2012, 08:26 AM

Best case scenario... our guards aggressively drive the ball to the basket, our bigs step up and play tough, we shoot the ball well, and we beat the Zags with many recruits tuning in to watch.

Worst case scenario... Our bigs are weak, we rely far too much on the three, shoot poorly, and get blown out - also with many recruits watching.

Can't wait to see what this team is really made of!

BrooksTaylorFan · Dec 8, 2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerofGeorge

Best case scenario... our guards aggressively drive the ball to the basket, our bigs step up and play tough, we shoot the ball well, and we beat the Zags with many recruits tuning in to watch.

Worst case scenario... Our bigs are weak, we rely far too much on the three, shoot poorly, and get blown out - also with many recruits watching.

Can't wait to see what this team is really made of!

So what you are saying is that we either win or we lose tonight? :laugh:

Remember we blew them out last year but who went to the Dance? That's all that matters.

SummerofGeorge · Dec 8, 2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

So what you are saying is that we either win or we lose tonight? :laugh:

Remember we blew them out last year but who went to the Dance? That's all that matters.

Yea, that pretty much sums it up :laugh:

Just anxious to see what we are made of.

UIUC2008 · Dec 8, 2012, 10:08 AM

We're getting 11.5 points from Vegas........wow. That's shows you how hard of a game this is.

joekam · Dec 8, 2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botb9

You'd expect that if we beat Gonzaga, suddenly we're favored against Mizzou and are looking at quite possibly a perfect record going into conference play. That's early-2000s scary.

When was the last time our Illini finished the non conf portion of the sched undefeated?

chucktownillini · Dec 8, 2012, 10:58 AM

If we can prevent their guards from making their 3's, and we are hitting ours, I believe we come out victorious. They will get their points inside no matter what, but if they hit their 3's also, we're in for a long nite. Go Illini!

-josh- · Dec 8, 2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekam

When was the last time our Illini finished the non conf portion of the sched undefeated?

2005. Wischnowsky has a good article about first year coaches at Illinois.

FeelYourPaign · Dec 8, 2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekam

When was the last time our Illini finished the non conf portion of the sched undefeated?

2005-2006
Didn't lose until January 7 to Iowa that season

Dec 8, 2012, 12:24 AM	#379
Illini2016 Location: Chicago/Champaign Posts: 371	Rumor is that tickets were selling between $650-$1000 a piece. Talk about the beauty of having two Top 15 teams playing in an arena that holds only 6,000. __________________ ILLINI BEARS CUBS BULLS BLACKHAWKS Class of 2016

Dec 8, 2012, 12:18 AM	#377
Wayne191 Location: Fairfield, illinois Posts: 9	The orange koolaid is strong tonight. Did anyone watch the west Carolina game? This game is a reality check hope we show up tomorrow night. Fight Illini!

Dec 8, 2012, 07:08 AM	#388
BoolahBoolah Location: The Orient Posts: 394	I think we're due for a loss today, unfortunately. This is a tough Zags team, playing at home. I think we'll hang tight for awhile, then lose down the stretch. Gonzaga 79 IL 68

Dec 8, 2012, 07:40 AM	#390
schlagboy Posts: 378	You have to admire the Gonzaga fanbase. They have 100% faith in their team winning.

Dec 8, 2012, 08:04 AM	#391
Wayne191 Location: Fairfield, illinois Posts: 9	Time to break out a big can of whoop*ss and feed it to those pesky zags for a limitless late evening snack. Illini play their best game of the year and win 85-78. This would merrimize my christmas spirit.

Dec 8, 2012, 08:26 AM	#393
SummerofGeorge Location: Peoria Posts: 317	Best case scenario... our guards aggressively drive the ball to the basket, our bigs step up and play tough, we shoot the ball well, and we beat the Zags with many recruits tuning in to watch. Worst case scenario... Our bigs are weak, we rely far too much on the three, shoot poorly, and get blown out - also with many recruits watching. Can't wait to see what this team is really made of!

Dec 8, 2012, 10:08 AM	#396
UIUC2008 Posts: 484	We're getting 11.5 points from Vegas........wow. That's shows you how hard of a game this is.

Dec 8, 2012, 10:58 AM	#398
chucktownillini Posts: 204	If we can prevent their guards from making their 3's, and we are hitting ours, I believe we come out victorious. They will get their points inside no matter what, but if they hit their 3's also, we're in for a long nite. Go Illini!