Pregame: Illinois vs North Carolina, Tuesday, November 30, 8:30pm CT, ESPN

[AlamoIllini]

AKILLINI: Message to the blue hairs - Sell your tickets and use the money to buy Werther's Originals.

Originally Posted by IlliniSteve

:laugh:

I didn't see AK's original posting, because he is on my "premium board."

I have 70+ years in the rear view mirror, routinely stand as do my friends through entire ball games, run marathons, could still jump and grab the rim, until recently tearing the meniscus in one knee, and...etc, etc.

Know we old guys are easy safe prey, but the sterotype b--- s---, does get old (no pun intended.) Also, I don't eat candy.

ILLINI 78
UNC 67

AI

[OrangeFever]

Originally Posted by SaltLife

I like that and you may actually be right provided we have a concerted effort by the whole team with great leadership

If we got that, we'd never lose. It's been a struggle to get the team hitting on all cylinders and being consistent start to finish. Leadership is in short supply on this team, despite its veteran starters.

[NV Illini 74]

We need to beat these bums by 20 or more, and still, this will not make any amends for the NC game.

I hate UNC.

[4ever]

Pis$ on these pukes. I can't stand them

UI-120

UNC-6

GO ILLINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[illini4everjp]

Originally Posted by 4ever

Pis$ on these pukes. I can't stand them

UI-120

UNC-6

GO ILLINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holding them under 10 might be a midge too difficult

[illinifan200583]

agreeed...absolutely hate UNC. they're soo horrribly overrated...their preseason ranking was an absolute joke.. go out illini and embarass them right out of the gym. they almost got embarassed tonight by college of CHARLESTON

[mmccallum]

[SaintLouisIllini]

Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

UNC 82
Illinois 71
Got a bad feeling about this one. Hope I am wrong.

Ditto, until these seniors prove they can win a big game.

Bad guys: 76
Illini: 72

[HeartofaChampion]

UNC 82
Illinois 71
Got a bad feeling about this one. Hope I am wrong.

Hope you're wrong, too, but I think you're giving UNC too much credit. They've been very unimpressive so far, and they don't match up great with us, either. We even have the deeper team that's better built to run, a staple of Roy Williams teams until last year.

[gailmoore1949]

Two other teams have already beaten them so there is no reason why we can't do it too. Just play hard and play them like everyone else, and hopefully we are shooting well and playing good defense and we WIN.

[gailmoore1949]

I almost forgot. I too hate UNC. They are the most over rated team in the country. Didn't they just play in the same NIT that we did last year, and yet they start this year ranked # 8, You have to be kidding? I must have missed something they did since last year to deserve such a ranking? It did my heart good to see them lose twice already

[Capt Slammie]

Originally Posted by gailmoore1949

I almost forgot. I too hate UNC. They are the most over rated team in the country. Didn't they just play in the same NIT that we did last year, and yet they start this year ranked # 8, You have to be kidding? I must have missed something they did since last year to deserve such a ranking? It did my heart good to see them lose twice already

#8 due to Harrison Barnes. But, they're going to fall into the abyss after visiting the House of Paign!

[SaltLife]

UNC is better this year. This year they actually got by College of Charleston by 5 points after losing last year :laugh:

[SaltLife]

Originally Posted by SaltLife
I like that and you may actually be right provided we have a concerted effort by the whole team with great leadership

Originally Posted by OrangeFever

If we got that, we'd never lose. It's been a struggle to get the team hitting on all cylinders and being consistent start to finish. Leadership is in short supply on this team, despite its veteran starters.

I know, I know, I was being sarcastic . Obviously not everyone is playing 100% on both ends, all the game through and leadership is still lacking from our veterans. Now if we genuinely had that, I agree we might never lose.

[Future Walk-On]

Originally Posted by illinois_hustle

UNC just "stomped" College of Charleston by 5, 74-69.

Maybe it is just late...but I almost choked on my cracker/tuna while reading this.

[AK Illini]

Can't help but shake the feeling UNC is ready to break out. Irrational fear or not, we've been the better team so far this year and we're playing at home, this should be a win.

[DRS]

Originally Posted by AK Illini

Can't help but shake the feeling UNC is ready to break out. Irrational fear or not, we've been the better team so far this year and we're playing at home, this should be a win.

I am with you, this is just the type of game UNC could click in and nip the boys. Very nervous for this one.

[SaltLife]

Originally Posted by DRS

I am with you, this is just the type of game UNC could click in and nip the boys. Very nervous for this one.

On the other hand, this is the kind of game that would motivate our players to "click in" and empty all barrels at UNC this game. I have to think Illini will easily get up for a game like this and come out on fire to get a statement win. Also, so Davis can beat his chest and McCamey show up UNC's 5 star guards and Tis prove he's better than their gangly 7' center. Cole desperately wants to trip up Barnes. Rest of the boys confidently know they can compete with the best players in the country, will play their best and will strut their stuff on national TV.

[mmccallum]

Originally Posted by AlamoIllini

AKILLINI: Message to the blue hairs - Sell your tickets and use the money to buy Werther's Originals.



I didn't see AK's original posting, because he is on my "premium board."

I have 70+ years in the rear view mirror, routinely stand as do my friends through entire ball games, run marathons, could still jump and grab the rim, until recently tearing the meniscus in one knee, and...etc, etc.

Know we old guys are easy safe prey, but the sterotype b--- s---, does get old (no pun intended.) Also, I don't eat candy.

ILLINI 78
UNC 67

AI

IT is about time someone said something about this, it irritates me to the core...and you have 30 yrs on me!

[Moneybreaks]

Originally Posted by SaltLife

On the other hand, this is the kind of game that would motivate our players to "click in" and empty all barrels at UNC this game. I have to think Illini will easily get up for a game like this and come out on fire to get a statement win. Also, so Davis can beat his chest and McCamey show up UNC's 5 star guards and Tis prove he's better than their gangly 7' center. Cole desperately wants to trip up Barnes. Rest of the boys confidently know they can compete with the best players in the country, will play their best and will strut their stuff on national TV.

+1,000. We are playing an overrated UNC team at our house. The stands will be rocking, the national spotlight is on. DMac, Tis, MikeD are all playing for a professional career, and although it's early so are Paul, Richmond, Leonard, etc. We will not win all of our games this season, but this one is a must win. Yes, we will know a lot more about our squad after this week, but personally I'm much more concerned about going on the road next weekend that facing a down UNC squad tomorrow night in Champaign. This is the seniors' chance to make a statement...hopefully they step up. If we defend the paint (and don't get Thompson'd or Stainbrook'd) and distribute the ball to our shooters this should be of a U of I victory. Can't wait.

[Dan]

PKlee_IlliniHQ

According to #Illini recruiting target DeJuan Marrero (@Marrero01), he will attend Illinois-UNC on Tuesday.

Marrero01

Will be attending Illinois vs North Carolina game tomorrow night. Big Ten vs ACC ! #Leggooo

[youlikeroses]

I hope there's more to this visit... He's here tomorrow, and next Saturday... fingers crossed.

[job71188]

Assembly Hall should be rocking. Will be a good atmosphere for Marrero to be a part of, especially win Illini wins by 10.

[danielb927]

Orange Krush will be at the Bruce Weber Radio Show tonight at 7 p.m. if you need your pre-game basketball fix!

[mmccallum]

Illinois has the advantage in 16 statistical categories.
UNC has the advantage in 9 categories.
The teams have fairly similar depth charts....

Depth: IL = 3, UNC = 3
-IL = 13 players (9 > 10 mpg)
+UNC = 16 players (10 > 10 mpg)
+UNC players over 30 mpg: 0
-IL players over 30 mpg: 1 (McCamey)
-UNC Players 25-29.9 mpg: 3 (Drew, Zeller & Barnes)
+IL Players 25-29.9 mpg: 2 (Richardson & Davis)
-UNC Players 20-24.9 mpg: 2 (Strickland & Henson)
+IL Players 20-24.9 mpg: 3 (Paul, Tisdale, Richmond)
-UNC Players 15-19.9 mpg: 1 (Knox)
-IL Players 15-19.9 mpg: 1 (Cole)
+UNC Players 10-14.9 mpg: 4 (Bullock, McDonald, Marshall, and Watts)
-IL Players 10-14.9 mpg: 2 (Leonard, Griffey)
-UNC players 5-9.9 mpg: 0
+IL players 5-9.9 mpg: 2 (Bertrand & Head)
-UNC < 5 mpg: 6 (all apper in only 1 game!)
-IL Players < 5 mpg: 2 (berardini & Selus)

Offense: IL = 5, UNC = 1
-UNC averages 79 ppg
+IL averages 80 ppg
-UNC shoots 46.1% from the field
+IL shoots 49.5% from the field
-UNC shoots 36.8% from three (4.7/13, 16% of FG made, 20% of FG taken)
+IL shoots 37.0% from three (6.7/18, 22% of FG made, 29% of FG taken)
-UNC shoots 62.4% on free throws
+IL shoots 65% on free throws
+UNC gets 16 off rpg (37.4% of available oreb)
-IL gets 12 off rpg (31.7% of available oreb)
-UNC gets 15 apg (7 players >/= 1, Marshall 4.3, Drew 2.8, Strickland 2.2, Barnes 2.2)
+IL gets 18 apg (9 players >1, McCamey 7.7, Paul 2.6, Richardson 1.9)

Turnover margin: IL = 2 UNC = 1
-UNC turns the ball over 16 times per game w/5 players with > 2 tpg, 3 players w > 1 tpg.
+IL turns the ball over 13 times per game w/3 players with > 2 tpg, 4 players w > 1 tpg.
-UNC gets 6 spg (only two players with > 1 spg)
+IL gets 7 spg (Paul gets 2.3/g, McCamey = 1pg)
+UNC gets 28 defensive rpg (62.5% of availalbe drebs)
-IL gets 26 defensive rpg

Other: IL = 6, UNC = 4
-UNC Blocks = 6 pg (Henson = 3.2/g)
-IL Blocks = 6 pg (Tisdale = 2/g)
-UNC Fouls/g = 14
+IL Fouls/g = 19.3
-UNC Opp FG% = 39.5%
+IL opp Fg% = 38.9% (59 shots/g)
-UNC Opp 3p% = 31.6% (23 shots/g)
+IL opp 3p% = 27.2% (18 shots/g)
+UNC Opp FT% = 62.7% (19.7 att/g)
-IL opp Ft% = 64.8% (21/g)
+UNC opp oreb = 11.7/g
-IL opp oreb = 11/g
+UNC opp dreb = 22.2/g
-IL opp dreb = 23.9/g
-UNC opp ast/g = 12/g
+IL opp ast/g = 11.6/g
-UNC opp stl/g = 7.5/g
+IL opp stl/g = 6.6/g
+UNC opp blk/g = 2.8/g
-IL opp blk/g = 3/g
-UNC opp pf/g = 21.7/g
+IL opp pf/g = 17/g