Pregame: Illinois at Purdue, Wednesday, January 2nd, 7:30pm CT, BTN

[Dan]

2012-13 Big Ten Opener

Game 15: Illinois (13-1) at Purdue (6-6)

Wednesday, January 2nd

Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN

Time: 7:30pm CT

TV: BTN

[WinOrElse]

The next three months or so are my favorite time of the year for sports viewing. I'm ready.

Illini 81
Purdue 71

[ChiCityHoops34]

Illini 83
Purdue 67

I want more minutes for langford in griffeys place

[UIUC1867]

Another emotional roller coaster of a game . . .

Illini-67
PU-63

[BenjIllini]

PU can't shoot a lick.
UI-65
PU-56

[trevdv]

It'll be loud in there, it always is. Seems like we started the Big Ten season last year with a road game at Purdue around this time too, lost that one by double-digits. But this Boilermaker team just, well, sucks this year, and we're much better.

- 73
Purdue - 66

[foby]

This game worries me because the seniors have had very little success v. PU.

That being said victory 72-63

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

Great games ahead with lots of ups and downs....if we keep our poise, we take this one on the road 68-57.

[SixthandWhite]

77
Purdon't 66

[CARPET]

Illinois plays up or down to the level of competition

This game will be close

[illini4evr]

Close or not? Illinois will win!

[Illini34]

Hey everyone new here, great site. As for the Purdue vs Illinois game, Purdue is in a rebuilding mode this year with 6 freshman and just 2 seniors on the roster. They have losses to Bucknell at home and @Eastern Michigan 47-44. I think since its a conference opener for both Illinois and Purdue both squads will play tough but in the end Illinois will come out on top.

Illini-74
Purdue-66

[mdonsbach]

Mackey scares me. Heck almost all road games scare me. I think I will be apprehensive every game fro. Here on out.

[gmjz]

Matt Painter is turning Purdue into Bruce Weber's Illini. I hope he coaches purdue for a long time. We will eventually crush purdue year in and out.

It will be a tough game this year.... I think Illinois prevails by 1.

[drumanimal]

Very winnable game!!! I like our chances a lot. Keep it rollin!!!!

Illini- 73
Purdue-60

[HsvIllini]

Originally Posted by mdonsbach

Mackey scares me. Heck almost all road games scare me. I think I will be apprehensive every game fro. Here on out.

I think home games scare me more this year strangely enough...

[HeartofaChampion]

Originally Posted by gmjz

Matt Painter is turning Purdue into Bruce Weber's Illini. I hope he coaches purdue for a long time. We will eventually crush purdue year in and out.

It will be a tough game this year.... I think Illinois prevails by 1.

Painter's recruiting struggles will cost him his job sooner than later, imo. This year's PU squad is a collection of 12 or 13 3-star players with no go-to scorers and few if any creators/playmakers, but you know they'll play their guts out at home with lots of hand-checking, grabbing and bumping cutters on D and screening and moving on O. We'll have a hard time speeding them up. We'll need to play sound D, rebound well and get into the paint for baskets and FTs. I think in the end we'll make one or two more plays than they do thanks to BP and TA.

UI 67
PU 66

[illini ri0t]

Purdue has come down a lot since the "Baby Boilers"

[BWBW]

I hope the guys go into the Big Ten season on a mission.

[bleedsorangenblue]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

Painter's recruiting struggles will cost him his job sooner than later, imo. This year's PU squad is a collection of 12 or 13 3-star players with no go-to scorers and few if any creators/playmakers, but you know they'll play their guts out at home with lots of hand-checking, grabbing and bumping cutters on D and screening and moving on O. We'll have a hard time speeding them up. We'll need to play sound D, rebound well and get into the paint for baskets and FTs. I think in the end we'll make one or two more plays than they do thanks to BP and TA.

UI 67
PU 66

I think the part in bold above is right on. We will need to play faster and catch them off guard. Very important game that could set the tone for the rest of our season. Getting to the free throw line will be important for this game and all of B1G play. I don't see the Boilers as having enough to keep us from winning but they will be at home and it is always a tough place to play. How well they contain our offense will determine whether this is a cake-walk or a close one. We should be able to shut them down and win this going away.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

We'll have a hard time speeding them up.

Believe it or not, Purdue has played at just about the same pace we have this season, they average 67.6 possessions/game per Kenpom, we're at 68.3.

[cjcastan]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

Painter's recruiting struggles will cost him his job sooner than later, imo.

Who in America would want that job if they get rid of Painter soon? Right now Purdue is at best the 2nd best job in its own state and possibly the 3rd best.

Anywhooo

I hope the boys put a beat down on the boilers but, we play up and down to the competition.

O&B - 76
Black and Tans - 71

[Illini70math]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

Believe it or not, Purdue has played at just about the same pace we have this season, they average 67.6 possessions/game per Kenpom, we're at 68.3.

Well, that's why we will have a hard time speeding them up!



Urban legends die hard.

[Redbirds33333]

ILL - 68
Purdue - 63

[PointGuardU01]

The officials will dictate how this game goes as they often do at Mackey. If purdue is allowed to grab and hold our ball handlers without whistles we will turn it over a bunch and probably not win. If it is called close we will spend a lot of time at the line (can we convert?) Our 3 pt shooting is in a deep, dark funk and Mackey Arena is no place to fix that...will have to win this one ugly. Can't see enough calls going our way, but hope to be pleasantly surprised.