Pregame: Illinois at Ohio State, Tuesday, February 22, 6:00pm CT, ESPN

Dan · Feb 21, 2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Three easy steps for Illinois at No. 2 Ohio State

But I'm thinking it's not much of a stretch to expect Illinois to be in the game until the end, just as they were when Ohio State won 73-68 on Jan. 22 at Assembly Hall.

Three key factors need to change for Illinois to win at Ohio State:

Goal No. 1: Illinois shot 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) from 3-point range in the first meeting. Unfortunately for the Illini, that seems to be the trend of late. In their last four games, they've hit 18 of 69 3-pointers (26.1 percent).

Willhite

orangekrush117 · Feb 21, 2011, 06:23 PM

The team's under Bruce Weber have become very tough to watch. The matto of this team has been "We'll never win a game we're not supposed , but don't be surprised if we drop a few that seem like slam dunks". It's truly sad to think that this team has NO chance of upsetting the buckeyes. There's something about this team that just doesn't let us have a hot night where we can beat the best of teams. We should have beat OSU at the hall, but we gave up the lead.
I loathe that under BW we can never upset teams. The rest of the season won't be much fun to watch unless we make the tourney. It is scripted... The illini are destined to lose the games they're supposed to but they will make it "close", and they may or may not show up for the Indiana and Iowa games. We'll just have to see... Very sad state U of I bball is in now.

PointGuardU01 · Feb 21, 2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangekrush117

The team's under Bruce Weber have become very tough to watch. The matto of this team has been "We'll never win a game we're not supposed , but don't be surprised if we drop a few that seem like slam dunks". It's truly sad to think that this team has NO chance of upsetting the buckeyes. There's something about this team that just doesn't let us have a hot night where we can beat the best of teams. We should have beat OSU at the hall, but we gave up the lead.
I loathe that under BW we can never upset teams. The rest of the season won't be much fun to watch unless we make the tourney. It is scripted... The illini are destined to lose the games they're supposed to but they will make it "close", and they may or may not show up for the Indiana and Iowa games. We'll just have to see... Very sad state U of I bball is in now.

We have 2 upset wins this year(gonzaga and minn) and have lost 2-3games where we were favored (uic and Indiana for sure..may have been slight faves at psu). bottom-line is we are just not that great of a team and it's really tough to win on the road if ur not supremely talented. The only 2 games that really bothered me this year are the uic and Indiana games. Win those and we're 19-8 8-6. Right where I expected us to be fighting for a 4-5 seed.

Railsplitter · Feb 21, 2011, 06:46 PM

Illini have a chance if the refs call fouls that OSU commits, Especially Sullinger. But I don't see that happening . I do expect to see Tisdale get fouls while holding his ground with his hands straight up . Craft will force turnovers , and we'll put up stupid shots with the clock running down . Still , I'm saying . Illini 68 OSU73.

OrangeFever · Feb 21, 2011, 06:54 PM

I don't think Illinois has more than a puncher's chance. I think they lose by double digits and I fear it could be really ugly.

OrangeFever · Feb 21, 2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

No reason to watch the game if you think we have no chance.

Disagree. They will pummel us, but, as a fan, I will watch, though I will be ready to cover my eyes if things get out of hand, as I expect they may.

CARPET · Feb 21, 2011, 07:19 PM

Ohio State opens a 10.5 chalk

Mucho respect for Ohio State for such a line. I know what everyone is thinking Ohio State all pissed off over a loss to a good Purdue team will come out and steam roll the next opponent. I counter that point with Illinois is also in a really bad mood.

Last game vs the Bucknuts Illinois had them only to lose by 5,

There will be no stopping Sullinger of the buckeyes last game vs Illinois he had 27pts, 16 boards and three blocks in 40 minutes.

I know on paper that OSU is a solid 7 point chalk in this game but not double digits. Is Ohio State starting to feel human? Wisky and Purdue has showed the blue print to the world on how to beat OSU.

Illinois is coming into this game as if it's the last game they may ever play, trust me this will be more of a game than anyone thinks.

Can Illinois knock off the Buckeyes? Why not they have all the tools to make this a game

orangekrush117 · Feb 21, 2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PointGuardU01

We have 2 upset wins this year(gonzaga and minn) and have lost 2-3games where we were favored (uic and Indiana for sure..may have been slight faves at psu). bottom-line is we are just not that great of a team and it's really tough to win on the road if ur not supremely talented. The only 2 games that really bothered me this year are the uic and Indiana games. Win those and we're 19-8 8-6. Right where I expected us to be fighting for a 4-5 seed.

Really? Gonzaga who we were ranked higher than when we played and now are not even ranked? And Minny? A team without their lead point guard. While we may not have been favored, I would not call that an upset. This team doesn't really take care of business, and they don't make up for it with signature upset wins. I wish it weren't the case, but that's how it is?

WizardBill · Feb 21, 2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john5527

...I would have to be delusional to say we win this one. They are simply too talented for us to pull this off. ..

I sit here wondering... Do we not have talent?

Jereme Richmond
Demetri McCamey
Brandon Paul
DJ Richardson
Meyers Leonard

I think we have talent.

Groundhogday · Feb 21, 2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizardBill

I sit here wondering... Do we not have talent?

Jereme Richmond << Lighty
Demetri McCamey =?= Craft (is McCamey out of his funk, do we count defense)
Brandon Paul << Buford
DJ Richardson << Diebler
Meyers Leonard <<<<< Sullinger

I think we have talent.

When Richmond, Paul, Richardson, and Leonard have another year to mature we can revisit the talent assessment.

john5527 · Feb 21, 2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizardBill

I sit here wondering... Do we not have talent?

Jereme Richmond
Demetri McCamey
Brandon Paul
DJ Richardson
Meyers Leonard

I think we have talent.

I guess I misworded my post. Sorry. We do have talent, but they have more talent.

Leonard has a great upside, but he is a freshman averaging 2 pts a game. He will have a much bigger impact next season hopefully. In order to beat OSU we have to knock down 3's and a lot of them. DJ continues to struggle from the three point line.

"Over Illinois' last four games, the Illini have shot just 18-for-69 (26 percent) from 3-point range. By comparison, over their first four conference games, they were 35-for-60 (58 percent)."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2973230.story

WizardBill · Feb 21, 2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troydove

...Their style of play =35 free throws. Our style = 3...

I agree with you here.

...BP is the only one brave enough to drive the lane...

I disagree here. Demetri also drives the lane. The problem with DMac driving the lane is that when he is looking to drive, he abandons looking for teammates.

...JR has went to sleep on us...

He has been playing more passive, but, he got attention from other teams, and he is learning. Remember, he is a freshman.

...DJ can't guard a cow...

DJ is quick enough to guard the other team's fastest players. He gets the tough assignments often.

Good job at Sparta for the most part but these guys have 6 LUCAS players. Maybe we should just miss the flight. I give us a 3 percent chance of winning. Not even White Lightning could help us on this one, The Blonde Bomber (Lawrenceville) anyway:::::drive the lane BP and please someone CRASH the BOARDS . And then wellllllll that free throw thing. Please prove me wrong. Go Illini

Groundhogday · Feb 21, 2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Quick turnaround for No. 2 Ohio State vs. Illinois

Thad Matta was hit with so many "what went wrong?" questions on Monday that it was as if his Ohio State team's record was 2-25 instead of 25-2...

Despite the-sky-is-falling talk on sports call-in shows, it wasn't as if the Buckeyes just folded up like an old card table. They have lost to two elite teams that are each unbeaten at home. In both games, the crowds were rabid and right on top of the Buckeyes.

AP article on Herald-Review

EllderIlliniFan · Feb 21, 2011, 08:08 PM

Since it is highly unlikely Illinois can beat tOSU, a new approach is required. Currently the best they will do is keep it close and lose in the end since they are not strong at the end and Sullinger can score at will.

I suggest.
Play 11 players and run and gun. Also play swarming tight defense. MCD can only play 25 minutes as he needs to run with everyone else at 100%.
The way we can shot 1 or 2 of our outside shooters should catch fire. The worse that can happen is we are cold and we lose by 20 which is what may happen anyway. Even if we start cold by running we have a chance of wearing them down at the end.
With all of the frustration by Webber and the team cutting them lose may just be the spark to bring the team back together.

Groundhogday · Feb 21, 2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllderIlliniFan

Since it is highly unlikely Illinois can beat tOSU, a new approach is required. Currently the best they will do is keep it close and lose in the end since they are not strong at the end and Sullinger can score at will.

I suggest.
Play 11 players and run and gun. Also play swarming tight defense. MCD can only play 25 minutes as he needs to run with everyone else at 100%.
The way we can shot 1 or 2 of our outside shooters should catch fire. The worse that can happen is we are cold and we lose by 20 which is what may happen anyway. Even if we start cold by running we have a chance of wearing them down at the end.
With all of the frustration by Webber and the team cutting them lose may just be the spark to bring the team back together.

Actually, we would stand a good chance of losing by 30-40 points with that strategy.

EllderIlliniFan · Feb 21, 2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Actually, we would stand a good chance of losing by 30-40 points with that strategy.

So what do we have to lose? A loss to #2 on the road is a loss. Losing by 2 or 20 or 40 is really no different. Last year we took them to double overtime in the BTT and what did it count for?

Groundhogday · Feb 21, 2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllderIlliniFan

So what do we have to lose? A loss to #2 on the road is a loss. Losing by 2 or 20 or 40 is really no different. Last year we took them to double overtime in the BTT and what did it count for?

If you don't think we have any chance of winning, then we would be better off forfeiting, staying home and getting some extra practice and rest for our next game.

If we DO have even a small chance of winning, then our best shot at doing so is to use our best players in the best way possible. Shuffling 11 guys to run up and down the court jacking up shots, likely turning the ball over like crazy since we have only one good ball handler, pressing an OSU team with four capable ball handlers and passes, etc... is NOT going to give use the best chance of winning.

PointGuardU01 · Feb 21, 2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangekrush117

Really? Gonzaga who we were ranked higher than when we played and now are not even ranked? And Minny? A team without their lead point guard. While we may not have been favored, I would not call that an upset. This team doesn't really take care of business, and they don't make up for it with signature upset wins. I wish it weren't the case, but that's how it is?

? The definition of an upset is when a team is not favored and wins, so yes the gonzaga and Minnesota games were upset wins which balance out the 2 times we didn't take care of business. That's why it all adds up to what we are...right in the middle. Ur complaining that the team doesn't balance things out but the team is 7-7 in the big ten and projected by most to be an 8 seed in the tourney...can't get more balanced that. I think what ur really upset about is that we aren't great

EllderIlliniFan · Feb 21, 2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

If you don't think we have any chance of winning, then we would be better off forfeiting, staying home and getting some extra practice and rest for our next game.

If we DO have even a small chance of winning, then our best shot at doing so is to use our best players in the best way possible. Shuffling 11 guys to run up and down the court jacking up shots, likely turning the ball over like crazy since we have only one good ball handler, pressing an OSU team with four capable ball handlers and passes, etc... is NOT going to give use the best chance of winning.

tOSU is coming from a Sunday afternoon away game that was demanding. They only play 6-7 players. Webber tried something different at Minnesota and it produced a MCD that noone had ever seen. I think we have a chance to win but only if we shoot well and play loose. Run and gun may be an exaggeration. We should push the ball up the floor every time and if the 3 is available take the shot. Also the guards need to crash the boards. When the shots are from 3 and early our athletic guards have a better chance of getting the rebound. Out of our deliberate offense, Sullinger or Lauderdale get all of the rebounds.
Even if we play well if it is close at the end we will not play lose. We will be tight and Sullinger will be the go to guy.

PointGuardU01 · Feb 21, 2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

If you don't think we have any chance of winning, then we would be better off forfeiting, staying home and getting some extra practice and rest for our next game.

If we DO have even a small chance of winning, then our best shot at doing so is to use our best players in the best way possible. Shuffling 11 guys to run up and down the court jacking up shots, likely turning the ball over like crazy since we have only one good ball handler, pressing an OSU team with four capable ball handlers and passes, etc... is NOT going to give use the best chance of winning.

+1 the old just let it rip theory crops up again..the answer to playing better basketball isn't playing worse basketball and just running around jacking up shots. Our best chance to win is play great d, rebound tough, and run good offense ending with somebody making a damn shot. Should we run when it's there? Yes. Should we run just to say we're running? No...god we have enough problems holding onto the ball as it is. Will we win doing this, probably not because it's really hard to beat a top 2 team with a top 2 NBA draft pick in the post, but playing open gym gives us 0 chance.

Bosco · Feb 21, 2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PointGuardU01

We have 2 upset wins this year(gonzaga and minn) and have lost 2-3games where we were favored (uic and Indiana for sure..may have been slight faves at psu). bottom-line is we are just not that great of a team and it's really tough to win on the road if ur not supremely talented. The only 2 games that really bothered me this year are the uic and Indiana games. Win those and we're 19-8 8-6. Right where I expected us to be fighting for a 4-5 seed.

Pretty sure we were a slight favorite at Minny or the line was near even. Considering they lost their starting backcourt I wouldn't consider it an upset.

danielb927 · Feb 21, 2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosco

Pretty sure we were a slight favorite at Minny or the line was near even. Considering they lost their starting backcourt I wouldn't consider it an upset.

But it WAS an upset considering the predictions that were being thrown out on here

As for ALL weber teams not pulling upsets, I would refer anyone to last year @ Wisconsin or @ Clemson.

orangekrush117 · Feb 21, 2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PointGuardU01

? The definition of an upset is when a team is not favored and wins, so yes the gonzaga and Minnesota games were upset wins which balance out the 2 times we didn't take care of business. That's why it all adds up to what we are...right in the middle. Ur complaining that the team doesn't balance things out but the team is 7-7 in the big ten and projected by most to be an 8 seed in the tourney...can't get more balanced that. I think what ur really upset about is that we aren't great

Please don't be this dense... RARELY do you ever see an even line in vegas. This doesn't mean that teams aren't even or that both do not have an equal chance at winning. The team not favored winning the game doesn't make it an upset, at least not in my book. Are you going to say #1 vs. #1 in the NCAA tournament with the lower #1 seed winning is an upset? I'm talking bonified upset. Yes, Clemson last year was one, even though they didn't end the season too well, and Madison seems to be about the only place BW's teams can win vs a ranked opponent on the road year in and year out. I'm not upset that we're not great. My annoyance comes from the fact that a lot of tournament teams will balance out crappy losses with high quality wins on the road or upsets of top tier teams on their home court, which he haven't done this year.

SaltLife · Feb 21, 2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcillinifan

Michael Wilbon on Pardon the Interruption today picked the Illini to upset the Buckeyes on Tuesday

Anybody can make an off the wall prediction and then look brilliant in the 1 in 100 chance their pick can pull it off. They won't get much flack if their pick gets blown out as expected. What I want to know is anyone crazy enough to put some real money on Illinois, I'm talking big $$$$$$$.

ILLWKU · Feb 21, 2011, 11:57 PM

Heres a 1st in a while.. I am predicting Illinois to lose by double digits

ILL- 60
OSU- 77

Feb 21, 2011, 06:23 PM	#52
orangekrush117 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,213	The team's under Bruce Weber have become very tough to watch. The matto of this team has been "We'll never win a game we're not supposed , but don't be surprised if we drop a few that seem like slam dunks". It's truly sad to think that this team has NO chance of upsetting the buckeyes. There's something about this team that just doesn't let us have a hot night where we can beat the best of teams. We should have beat OSU at the hall, but we gave up the lead. I loathe that under BW we can never upset teams. The rest of the season won't be much fun to watch unless we make the tourney. It is scripted... The illini are destined to lose the games they're supposed to but they will make it "close", and they may or may not show up for the Indiana and Iowa games. We'll just have to see... Very sad state U of I bball is in now.

Feb 21, 2011, 06:46 PM	#54
Railsplitter Posts: 226	Illini have a chance if the refs call fouls that OSU commits, Especially Sullinger. But I don't see that happening . I do expect to see Tisdale get fouls while holding his ground with his hands straight up . Craft will force turnovers , and we'll put up stupid shots with the clock running down . Still , I'm saying . Illini 68 OSU73.

Feb 21, 2011, 06:54 PM	#55
OrangeFever Lead, don't follow Location: Seattle area Posts: 16,490	I don't think Illinois has more than a puncher's chance. I think they lose by double digits and I fear it could be really ugly.

Feb 21, 2011, 07:19 PM	#57
CARPET Posts: 460	Ohio State opens a 10.5 chalk Mucho respect for Ohio State for such a line. I know what everyone is thinking Ohio State all pissed off over a loss to a good Purdue team will come out and steam roll the next opponent. I counter that point with Illinois is also in a really bad mood. Last game vs the Bucknuts Illinois had them only to lose by 5, There will be no stopping Sullinger of the buckeyes last game vs Illinois he had 27pts, 16 boards and three blocks in 40 minutes. I know on paper that OSU is a solid 7 point chalk in this game but not double digits. Is Ohio State starting to feel human? Wisky and Purdue has showed the blue print to the world on how to beat OSU. Illinois is coming into this game as if it's the last game they may ever play, trust me this will be more of a game than anyone thinks. Can Illinois knock off the Buckeyes? Why not they have all the tools to make this a game

Feb 21, 2011, 08:08 PM	#64
EllderIlliniFan Posts: 5	Since it is highly unlikely Illinois can beat tOSU, a new approach is required. Currently the best they will do is keep it close and lose in the end since they are not strong at the end and Sullinger can score at will. I suggest. Play 11 players and run and gun. Also play swarming tight defense. MCD can only play 25 minutes as he needs to run with everyone else at 100%. The way we can shot 1 or 2 of our outside shooters should catch fire. The worse that can happen is we are cold and we lose by 20 which is what may happen anyway. Even if we start cold by running we have a chance of wearing them down at the end. With all of the frustration by Webber and the team cutting them lose may just be the spark to bring the team back together.

Feb 21, 2011, 11:57 PM	#75
ILLWKU IlliniSox23 Posts: 83	Heres a 1st in a while.. I am predicting Illinois to lose by double digits ILL- 60 OSU- 77