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

[Kramer116]

I have a weird feeling about tonight.

We are going to finally shoot over 50% from the field tonight, and have a big night from the 3 point line finally.

We somehow, someway squeak out a win.

ILL - 71
OSU - 68

[illinifan31]

Like every game we play against a better team, I don't expect us to win, but if we do win I won't be suprised.

[Il4ever ken]

Originally Posted by Moneybreaks

Puff, puff, give...puff, puff, give...you're f'n up the rotation!!

This team is playin with my emotions smokey!

[SaltLife]

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.

So, coach, how will you get your team ready for the Illini?
“We’ve got to sift through all the adversity and find a way …” he said, his voice trailing off. Then he laughed.
In Matta’s way of thinking, the Buckeyes have played well enough to still be unbeaten except for a few mistakes—and two hot hands.

“Maybe two of the best performances in college basketball this year,” Matta said of Taylor and Moore. “And as my luck always has it, I had a first-row seat to watch it.” But Matta believes the losses are merely a result of an opponent playing inspired and flawless basketball—and a lack of poise or toughness by his team. “I’m not, like, panicked,” he said. “We’re 25-2.”

Even though the Buckeyes have not been perfect in their losses, Weber said even if they had been they still might not have escaped unbeaten. “In the long haul, to me,” he (Weber) said, “they just played good teams that were able to out-tough ‘em, outplay them for a day.” Now he and his Illini will try to become the third team in 28 games to do that.

AP Story

[Moneybreaks]

Originally Posted by Il4ever ken

This team is playin with my emotions smokey!

Yeah, this season has been like a rapid-fire kick in the balls on many occasions. At this point, why not play loose? Everyone expects IL to lose so they really have nothing to lose, literally. Just go out with that sinister smile and get er done. All the pressure is on OSU tonight, to bounce back from the PU loss, to keep the home winning streak alive, pressure. There is ZERO pressure on IL....get er done. We'd be a lock for a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney by 10pm tonight.

MD seems to have grasped the idea that this is it for him...now or never. Tis just does the best he can, Cole is limited but has great energy, but what about Dmac? All this talk about 1st round / 2nd round means nothing right now...he will not be a draft pick at this point and will spend the next 2-3 years of his life fighting to get back into the spotlight. UNLESS HE STEPS UP LIKE E'TWAUN, BATTLE, TAYLOR, LUCAS, ETC...good players rise up under duress...Dmac needs to start playing like a man. Better yet, a man that deserves to play at the next level. He will NEVER get a better spotlight than these next few weeks of his life.

All that said, sadly we lose another close one tonight. Please prove me wrong.

[Moneybreaks]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

I have a weird feeling about tonight.

We are going to finally shoot over 50% from the field tonight, and have a big night from the 3 point line finally.

We somehow, someway squeak out a win.

ILL - 71
OSU - 68

I'd like to see BP get that bounce in his step. Every now and again he gets that eye of the tiger thing going and seems to see the floor like the matrix. He's either making a great pass or just flying to the bucket. That's good Brandon, by the way...who doesn't always show up. Outside of Sullinger and Thomas, ok maybe Buford, we match up pretty well with everyone else.

[CrazedUIFan]

Originally Posted by Moneybreaks

Yeah, this season has been like a rapid-fire kick in the balls on many occasions. At this point, why not play loose? Everyone expects IL to lose so they really have nothing to lose, literally. Just go out with that sinister smile and get er done. All the pressure is on OSU tonight, to bounce back from the PU loss, to keep the home winning streak alive, pressure. There is ZERO pressure on IL....get er done. We'd be a lock for a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney by 10pm tonight.

MD seems to have grasped the idea that this is it for him...now or never. Tis just does the best he can, Cole is limited but has great energy, but what about Dmac? All this talk about 1st round / 2nd round means nothing right now...he will not be a draft pick at this point and will spend the next 2-3 years of his life fighting to get back into the spotlight. UNLESS HE STEPS UP LIKE E'TWAUN, BATTLE, TAYLOR, LUCAS, ETC...good players rise up under duress...Dmac needs to start playing like a man. Better yet, a man that deserves to play at the next level. He will NEVER get a better spotlight than these next few weeks of his life.

All that said, sadly we lose another close one tonight. Please prove me wrong.

The last few games DMac has been playing better. We really need another guard to step up too. We have shot so poorly, it's bound to even out, right?

[Dan]

studurando

Bruce Weber probably saw this today and laughed. He'd love to be enjoying Ohio State's version of tense.


http://yfrog.com/h7riwlj

[Moneybreaks]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

The last few games DMac has been playing better. We really need another guard to step up too. We have shot so poorly, it's bound to even out, right?

I agree on both counts but as Weber said, it's going to take a "big" game from someone to beat OSU. Dmac's 15 points and 5 assists aren't what I call a "big" game. My point is if he wants to be an NBA baller, then act like one. Step up on the big stage and score 30. Be a difference maker. Let me ask this question: you can keep Dmac or trade him for A) Jordan Taylor, B) Darius Morris for the rest of this season. What do you do? I can't even write my response here, because it hurts.

[Calvin]

If I'm betting, I'll take tOSU -10.5....but boy what a dose of confidence it would be cementing our tourney status with a win there. Dream big

[Il4ever ken]

Originally Posted by Moneybreaks

I agree on both counts but as Weber said, it's going to take a "big" game from someone to beat OSU. Dmac's 15 points and 5 assists aren't what I call a "big" game. My point is if he wants to be an NBA baller, then act like one. Step up on the big stage and score 30. Be a difference maker. Let me ask this question: you can keep Dmac or trade him for A) Jordan Taylor, B) Darius Morris for the rest of this season. What do you do? I can't even write my response here, because it hurts.

Thanks for the memories dmac, hope you enjoy madison

[William]

Drop the letters SE and that is probably the number of Big Ten Championships Matta will win in his coaching Career.....

[weasel88]

I just don't see winning this one on the road. On a good night when everyone's had their nap and DMac is playing with a fire in his belly we can hang with tOSU, but winning? They've got too many weapons, they'll have the crowd, and they're going to be fired up now that the BT race is tightening.

It will be a 10 point game with 2 minutes to go, but after fouls:

UI 67
Bucks 85

[jg67]

I, like everyone else, would love for the Illini to win. Like they say; if you're going to Dream-Dream big. OSU is coming off and emabarrssing lose to Purdue, they've been getting heat in the press for 2 days. They, unlike our boys, will react to the adversity, with an emotional, tough game-plan and beat us by 10. It's tough to win any road game in the BT, throw in a pissed off team, with a chip on their shoulders and it could get ugly.
We have the talent to play with them, but our reoccurring pattern of wilting when games get in the "winning-time" portion will stand firm.

[IlliniSteve]

Not looking forward to seeing Thad Matta's nose in high definition for 2 hours straight tonight .....

[PointGuardU01]

Originally Posted by IlliniSteve

Not looking forward to seeing Thad Matta's nose in high definition for 2 hours straight tonight .....

Haaaaaaa. At least ESPN's HD isn't as sharp as CBS!

[jayboek]

The Illinment have problems on the road and had problems with Ohio st. at home.

This game I see it could go 2 ways. A Ohio st. blow out win or illinois squeaks by.

I think I will go with the 10.5 point spread. I would bet this if I had the chance.

Ohio st......75
Illinois.......61

[Dan]

Live chattin'--

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com

[drumanimal]

We could win this one tonight!!! It can be done!!

[AzIlliniFan]

Horrid defense so far!

[IlliniSteve]

Lol

24 points from 3 point land and 8 from inside the arc.

Wow. And yeah, defense is terrible. Doing a nice job on Sully down low but other than that the perimeter D has been pretty lackluster.

[HeartofaChampion]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

I have a weird feeling about tonight.

We are going to finally shoot over 50% from the field tonight, and have a big night from the 3 point line finally.

We somehow, someway squeak out a win.

ILL - 71
OSU - 68

You were dead-on right on your first two points, Kramer. A little bit off on your third prediction.

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

You were dead-on right on your first two points, Kramer. A little bit off on your third prediction.

Haha I had a feeling we would shoot well tonight, but I had no idea our defense would be that bad (or OSU would shoot that well). At least Weber switched it up a bit, and our team fought hard, just OSU was clearly the more dominant team and we could not sustain our runs.

I could not believe that we were shooting so well from 3 at halftime yet were down so many points. Again offensive rebounds and turnovers killed us.