Illinois @ Wisconsin Pregame, 6:00pm Tuesday, Feb 9, BTN

[AK Illini]

Do we play Wiscys down tempo game or try to push the action in transition?

[IlliniKat]

If we're going to win, I think we have to get out on the break, try to pull Wisky out of their comfort zone. They are fearsome in the half-court. Wisky's defense is ranked #5 by Pomeroy, and their offense is #15. The trouble is, they almost never turn the ball over, and are formidable on the defensive glass.

I'm pretty optimistic, but I have a hard time seeing Illinois pull this one out at the Kohl Center.

67-59 Badgers

[hillmer1]

We are going to have to push the ball up and down the floor. They won't be able to handle it!!!
DMAC, BP3, DJ, and MD are going to continue to have big games.
The ILLINI are going to win this one. The win over MSU was a watershed win for this team.

Prediction: ILLINI 70
Wisky 65

If the Illini can make this game uptempo and about athleticism, then the Illini will win. If Wisky is able to play their molasses pace, then this one is up for grabs. However, the Illini have had better luck in Madison than most teams. I like us to pull out the upset and win this one.
A victory would almost put us in the drivers seat in the Big Ten race.

[helppitch]

Maybe as tough a game as we have on our remining schedule. They are 132-10 during Ryans's tenure at home. We need to get some easy baskets by pushing the ball. if we are going to win. I'm optimistic & think we'll squeak one out.

[Illest]

This will be an interesting game. On the one hand, Wisconsin is perhaps the best team in the Big Ten, and the game is in Madison. On paper, you'd expect a double digit win for Bucky. But, at the same time, we've been playing visibly better basketball of late, and this feels like a trap game for the Badgers. I wouldn't put any money on us, but my tingly hoops fan sixth sense thinks this is a great opportunity to pull a shocker and punch a ticket to the dance. I hope the team is amped.

[sweetorange11]

Kohl Center is a very tough place to play at. The Badgers will be ready to play. Work the ball inside, focus on better post play (importance of Tis/Davis), and get the boards. Defensive boards are essential. It all comes down to possession...limit Wisco to first-chance points only.

Wisc 63, Illini 60 ... the Kohl Center provides UW a boost

However, this game isn't out of reach for us by any means. We will win if we remain mentally tough and have the greater amount of possession.

[Kasino81]

Illini 74
Wisc 63
Dmac cements his legend of an Illini God!

[CrazedUIFan]

For the coaches, the most challenging thing is to prevent a let down after an outstanding effort and win against the #5 team in the country. If you can get the players to maintain that intensity they brought to MSU, we win. This is that growth for players like DMac, Davis, and Tisdale have yet to conquer. This would be a bigger win for this team because it's at the Kohl Center and it is after an MSU home win.

[ARay22]

I think that the Illini win vs State and College Gameday and everything I think they can win if we run the break like we did and get those huge dunks and silence the crowd

[finalfour2011]

Originally Posted by hillmer1

We are going to have to push the ball up and down the floor. They won't be able to handle it!!!
DMAC, BP3, DJ, and MD are going to continue to have big games.
The ILLINI are going to win this one. The win over MSU was a watershed win for this team.

Prediction: ILLINI 70
Wisky 65

If the Illini can make this game uptempo and about athleticism, then the Illini will win. If Wisky is able to play their molasses pace, then this one is up for grabs. However, the Illini have had better luck in Madison than most teams. I like us to pull out the upset and win this one.
A victory would almost put us in the drivers seat in the Big Ten race.

The only luck we have had at Kohl is Dee and Deron's team winning there twice, otherwise I can't remember any other Illini victories there and very few other teams get wins there. Wisky is usually able to set the pace because of their sticky defense. An improbable victory would likely get us in the tourney but as far as winning the big ten, forget it for this year. We will finish behind MSU, Purdue, Wisky, and OSU. Now NEXT year anything could happen.

[hillmer1]

Final Four, my question is why we cannot win the Big Ten this year. We are only one game behind MSU and are starting to gel as a team. Do you really believe Purdue, Wisky and OSU are that much better than we are? I sure don't. Purdue should have not won the game in Champaign and we won at their place last year. OSU is nothing special. Wisky is the toughest team and they are at least beatable in Champaign. The only potential unwinnable game left is Tuesday at Wisky. If we can win on Tuesday, then all bets are off.

Why can't we believe we can win the conference this year? That is the question I ask all of you. Think about the question before you rip on me!!

[-josh-]

ILLINOIS- 62
wisconsin-60

[illini80]

I think it's a huge question mark whether or not we can recover quick enough to beat Wisky at their house on Tues. It typically is tough to play with that kind of intensity in back to back games. If we can bring that again it will speak volumes about how this team is maturing. I can't predict a victory, but I am anxious to see what happens. Wisc is a tough place to play and a tough team to make play your style and rhythm.

[IlliniRon]

As happy as I am about predicting a big Illini victory on Saturday night (as many others did), I just don't see us getting the "W" at the Kohl Center. Very few teams can win there, and Wisconsin is really solid this season. I'd pick Illinois if we were playing at home Tuesday night.

Wisc 68
Illini 63

[bILLINO1S]

I have a good feeling about this game too. I have no idea why, since most signs point to our losing. I'll be at the Kohl Center for this game - the guy in orange!

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by finalfour2011

The only luck we have had at Kohl is Dee and Deron's team winning there twice, otherwise I can't remember any other Illini victories there and very few other teams get wins there. Wisky is usually able to set the pace because of their sticky defense. An improbable victory would likely get us in the tourney but as far as winning the big ten, forget it for this year. We will finish behind MSU, Purdue, Wisky, and OSU. Now NEXT year anything could happen.

I'm sure you would have said to forget about beating MSU last night, too.

When will people learn to stop expressing their personal opinions about the future as already-established facts?

(Never, unfortunately.)

I defy you, finalfour2011, and I refuse to "forget it" when it comes to thinking about Illinois competing for the Big Ten title this year. I will "forget it" ONLY if we are not standing on top of the conference AFTER the games have been played.

[hillmer1]

ZPFLED, thank you for finally bringing some saneness to this board. Too much negativity around here. People are taking for granted the development of guys like DJ and BP3. The reemergence of MD. And, the legend in the making, DMAC. This is a team evolving before our very eyes. The fruits of this evolution were on display before my eyes at The Hall on Saturday night. Nobody should count our Illini out in any game. If these Illini play up to their potential the remainder of the season, they will be raising the Big Ten trophy against Wisky on senior night.

[William]

Illini 62
Badgers 57

[mmccallum]

The Wisconsin home game would be a major win, but it is not a must win. If IL wins out its home games and play well away, they should go NCAA. Ideally, if they Knock off one of these teams at home it will help a lot. Imagine if they pull off a serious streak and win out....23-8. That isn't as big of a pipe dream as it might sound!

[Dan]

Why stop with my string of losing predictions?

Illini 65
Badgers 72

[radiodj]

Originally Posted by Dan

Why stop with my string of losing predictions?

Illini 65
Badgers 72

Haha love the idea Dan.

That being said, I am afraid that this one is gonna be a L. I think that the Illini might let down a bit after the emotional high that was Saturday. Add that to the fact that Wisky just doesn't lose at home and I think we're looking at a loss. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see us pulling this one out. That being said I think the rest of the season looks pretty good, as the Illini always seem to play well against Purdue and Ohio State since Matta's been there.

Prediction:
Wisky 65
Illini 54

Again, I'd love to say the Illini are gonna pull it out....just given everything I don't see it happening Tuesday. I hope they prove me wrong though.

[HeartofaChampion]

On paper, we have the more talented team or at the least just as much talent. Wiscy is not about individual talent, though. The sum is so much better than the roster indicates. Wiscy is about controlling tempo, running a boring but effective flex offensive system that generates open shots that its players are drilled to make, defending in a way that makes teams take open shots generally just inside the 3-point arc (lower-percentage shots that even if made give you just 2 points), getting back quickly on D and boxing out like nobody's business.

Wiscy's style will drive DJ and especially BP crazy. I don't see them being factors at all Tuesday night. With Leuer out, Wiscy also plays basically 3 small guards, a SF and a center who likes to shoot 3s, so Tisdale will not match up well on the defensive end. He'll have to guard Nankivil, who is a good 3-point shooter. Tis will have a hard time keeping Nankivil from getting treys all game.

Cole isn't quick enough to defend Wiscy's guards, either, and BP will be challenged to fight through a plethora of screens off the ball. I won't be surprised to see JJ get a ton of minutes chasing Taylor around.

Likely matchups don't look good for us on D:
DMac on Bohannon (Bohannon is tough beyond the arc and yet can shot fake and drive, too)
DJ on Hughes (Hughes is a lot like DMac -- strong with the ball, good 3-pt shooter, can penetrate and finish or kick out, even can post up some)
Cole on Taylor (Cole may not end up playing much -- expect JJ on Taylor much of the game)
Davis/Griffey on Jarmusz/Evans (Jarmusz shoots the 3 and that's about it; Evans is not much of a scorer, either)
Tisdale on Nankivil (Nankivil will try to set up behind the arc -- Tis is not adept at defending that far from the hoop)

Expecting a letdown in addition to the matchup problems.

Wiscy 68
UI 57

[danielb927]

Only three games after our big win, on the downside that is a very quick turnaround for a road game after one with so much emotion, but on the plus side maybe that emotion will carry over better than it would in a late week game?

[Illest]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

Wiscy's style will drive DJ and especially BP crazy. I don't see them being factors at all Tuesday night.

Agreed. I think DJ can still have a good game, but it's hard to imagine Paul will do well against a team that plays ball like Wisconsin. I'd love to be proven wrong.

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

Wiscy 68
UI 57

You're quite similar to Pomeroy, whose computers are predicting Bucky 68-56. I'm inclined to think we'll outperform that somewhat. I'll pick Bucky by seven, but with a large confidence interval. Which is to say, I wouldn't be surprised to see a very different final score. I'd give us about a 20 or 25% chance of winning.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

For the coaches, the most challenging thing is to prevent a let down after an outstanding effort and win against the #5 team in the country. If you can get the players to maintain that intensity they brought to MSU, we win. This is that growth for players like DMac, Davis, and Tisdale have yet to conquer. This would be a bigger win for this team because it's at the Kohl Center and it is after an MSU home win.

Agree. Unfortunatley, I think the Illini will suffer at least a little let down after the huge win over MSU. They'll still play Wisconsin tough, but:

Badgers 70
Illini 61