Pregame: Illinois vs Indiana, Thursday, February 7th, 6:00pm CT, ESPN

Dan · Feb 3, 2013, 03:57 PM

Game 24: Illinois (15-8, 2-7) vs Indiana (20-2, 8-1)

Thursday, February 7th

The Assembly Hall

Time: 6:00pm CT

TV: ESPN

mdonsbach · Feb 3, 2013, 04:10 PM

Resistance is futile. We score 80. Problem is Indiana scores 90.

illini ri0t · Feb 3, 2013, 04:28 PM

LoL!! Indy is red hot right now. Worst possible time for us to play them.

rdk573 · Feb 3, 2013, 04:30 PM

Blow-out alert!!!!!!!!!!!

cmore · Feb 3, 2013, 04:43 PM

We lose big and I won't even care. I'm over it all. Is it jai alai season yet?

jmm44 · Feb 3, 2013, 05:01 PM

Illinois>>>Butler
Butler>Indiana

Therefore Illinois>>>>Indiana, we should blow them out.

But seriously, for some reason I have a good feeling about this one, which I did not have going into the Michigan and Wisconsin games.

trevdv · Feb 3, 2013, 05:36 PM

- 82
Indiana - 79

PGHillini11 · Feb 3, 2013, 05:56 PM

I know people are saying don't play BP or DJ, but we have to. Realistically, if we can beat somehow beat either IU, Minny, or OSU then we will be back on track to the tourney berth.

zkb18 · Feb 3, 2013, 07:24 PM

61

IU 88

yeah im serious

UIIU · Feb 3, 2013, 07:30 PM

We need to play our best, and at this time BP is one of our best! IU is a solid team loaded with smart Basketball Players. I plan on hosting a party Thursday night there will be 20 people here and I will be only the Illini fan! Even my own daughter has turned on me! She will be enrolled at IU next year as a Freshmen!

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

HeartofaChampion · Feb 3, 2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGHillini11

I know people are saying don't play BP or DJ, but we have to. Realistically, if we can beat somehow beat either IU, Minny, or OSU then we will be back on track to the tourney berth.

Only thing this team needs to do is focus on playing better at both ends of the court. Tourney talk is not what they need right now. Need to tighten up the D in a major, major way to start with. IU is loaded. If we don't make some key adjustments defensively, we'll get pummeled by Zeller, Watford, Oladipo, etc.

illini ri0t · Feb 3, 2013, 07:54 PM

BP 20 mins tops. Gotta earn each minute.

-josh- · Feb 3, 2013, 08:49 PM

RecLeagueHero · Feb 3, 2013, 08:53 PM

I don't think I'll have the stomach to watch this one.

UI - 63
IU - 81

BoolahBoolah · Feb 3, 2013, 09:03 PM

I'm going to pretend this game isn't happening.

We're staring straight at a 25+ point home loss.

Brillini · Feb 3, 2013, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGHillini11

I know people are saying don't play BP or DJ, but we have to. Realistically, if we can beat somehow beat either IU, Minny, or OSU then we will be back on track to the tourney berth.

It'd be great to win one of those games but I feel like you're assuming that we can chalk up some of the other games as wins right now. At this point, I don't believe that I could say with a straight face that I think we will win any of our remaining road games.

We might nab a win or two that we're not "supposed" to, but this team could just as easily lose a game against a "lesser" opponent. We're too damn inconsistent on offense and horrendous defensively.

I really think we need to put the tourney talk on the shelf for this season. Is it possible? Yes. Mathematically we have a chance...But, is it probable? Hell no! We've dug ourselves a trench with our start to the B1G season, which would be a challenge to get out of even if we were playing decent right now. Call me a pessimist, but I ran out of Maui/Gonzaga koolaid a couple weeks ago.

Oh and:
IU - 88
UI - 69

radiodj · Feb 3, 2013, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -josh-

I must admit, I cracked up when I saw this.

SeattleSlim · Feb 3, 2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiodj

I must admit, I cracked up when I saw this.

Yeah, it'd be funny if it was staged. Unfortunately it probably wasn't.

HeartofaChampion · Feb 3, 2013, 10:24 PM

As many weapons as IU has, you'd think we have to play a lot of 2-3 zone to have a chance defensively. JG seems intent on teaching m2m, and IU has some good outside shooters to contend with, but at least a 2-3 zone gives you a chance to contain Zeller, at least in theory. Take something away, such as the inside, and hope IU is cold from 3.

Leonardite · Feb 3, 2013, 10:37 PM

If I was offered free tickets, I wouldn't go. I don't want to be there for the embarrassment this team is going to face Thursday. I go to a school in Indiana and I'm afraid to wear any Illini gear this week... I may get laughed at for doing so.

jrichisamazing · Feb 3, 2013, 11:03 PM

Keys to the game

1.) Try to get Zeller in foul trouble.

2.) Get Nanna and Tracy in more pick n rolls.

3.) Play Bertrand at the 4. We are going to need him and BP3 on the floor together because Oladipo is going to take one of them completely out of the game.

4.) The refs need to watch Zeller on the hooks. He does it almost everytime he spins towards the baseline.

This is officially the game you must win to keep the tourney hopes alive so now or never guys.

classof2016 · Feb 3, 2013, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonardite

If I was offered free tickets, I wouldn't go. I don't want to be there for the embarrassment this team is going to face Thursday. I go to a school in Indiana and I'm afraid to wear any Illini gear this week... I may get laughed at for doing so.

...Great support there

HeartofaChampion · Feb 3, 2013, 11:10 PM

IU likes to run, which actually plays into our favor. We play better against more uptempo teams like OSU, Gonzaga and MSU. I think we'll stay with them for awhile, but eventually their superior depth and skill will win out and wear us down in the 2nd half. That and Zeller will get lots of calls inside and end up shooting 10 to 12 FTs.

IU 79
UI 70

HeartofaChampion · Feb 3, 2013, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrichisamazing

Keys to the game

1.) Try to get Zeller in foul trouble.

2.) Get Nanna and Tracy in more pick n rolls.

3.) Play Bertrand at the 4. We are going to need him and BP3 on the floor together because Oladipo is going to take one of them completely out of the game.

4.) The refs need to watch Zeller on the hooks. He does it almost everytime he spins towards the baseline.

This is officially the game you must win to keep the tourney hopes alive so now or never guys.

That has to be a consideration for part of the game. Watford plays the 4 for IU, and he's a true stretch 4 with a good face-up game but who doesn't like to post up much. JB can't play too long at the 4 because of our lack of depth on the perimeter, but some stints there could be very helpful. I think you'll see a lot of MyH at the 4 Thursday. He's quick enough to stay with Watford on the perimeter. Watford likes to shoot from outside, which means SML is not a good matchup for guarding him.

rpare92 · Feb 3, 2013, 11:24 PM

I will be there Thursday night just got my tickets from a buddy today. no reason we couldn't get hot and knock them off. We have nothing to lose at this point so we should play loose the pressure is on indy. If the hall is rocking and we play with energy and emotion then I like our chances. anyone can beat anybody on any given night.

and to everyone who is attending the game
GET HYPE AND BE LOUD!!!!

Feb 3, 2013, 04:10 PM	#2
mdonsbach Location: Bethalto, IL Posts: 1,259	Resistance is futile. We score 80. Problem is Indiana scores 90. __________________ Twitter

Feb 3, 2013, 05:36 PM	#7
trevdv Location: Champaign Posts: 2,572	- 82 Indiana - 79 __________________ That's a winner! http://www.youtube.com/user/97illinifan

Feb 3, 2013, 08:49 PM	#13
-josh- STAHP! Location: The paign born and raised Posts: 3,175	__________________ virtus junxit mors non separabit

Feb 3, 2013, 10:37 PM	#20
Leonardite Location: Eyes on Portland Posts: 912	If I was offered free tickets, I wouldn't go. I don't want to be there for the embarrassment this team is going to face Thursday. I go to a school in Indiana and I'm afraid to wear any Illini gear this week... I may get laughed at for doing so. __________________ "People willing to trade their Freedoms for Security deserve neither and will lose both."- Ben Franklin The Real Me

Feb 3, 2013, 03:57 PM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 25,901	Game 24: Illinois (15-8, 2-7) vs Indiana (20-2, 8-1) Thursday, February 7th The Assembly Hall Time: 6:00pm CT TV: ESPN

Feb 3, 2013, 04:28 PM	#3
illini ri0t Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 480	LoL!! Indy is red hot right now. Worst possible time for us to play them.

Feb 3, 2013, 04:30 PM	#4
rdk573 Posts: 237	Blow-out alert!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 3, 2013, 04:43 PM	#5
cmore Posts: 1,833	We lose big and I won't even care. I'm over it all. Is it jai alai season yet?

Feb 3, 2013, 05:01 PM	#6
jmm44 Posts: 38	Illinois>>>Butler Butler>Indiana Therefore Illinois>>>>Indiana, we should blow them out. But seriously, for some reason I have a good feeling about this one, which I did not have going into the Michigan and Wisconsin games.

Feb 3, 2013, 05:56 PM	#8
PGHillini11 Posts: 153	I know people are saying don't play BP or DJ, but we have to. Realistically, if we can beat somehow beat either IU, Minny, or OSU then we will be back on track to the tourney berth.

Feb 3, 2013, 07:24 PM	#9
zkb18 Posts: 63	61 IU 88 yeah im serious

Feb 3, 2013, 07:30 PM	#10
UIIU Posts: 13	We need to play our best, and at this time BP is one of our best! IU is a solid team loaded with smart Basketball Players. I plan on hosting a party Thursday night there will be 20 people here and I will be only the Illini fan! Even my own daughter has turned on me! She will be enrolled at IU next year as a Freshmen! GO ILLINI!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 3, 2013, 07:54 PM	#12
illini ri0t Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 480	BP 20 mins tops. Gotta earn each minute.

Feb 3, 2013, 08:53 PM	#14
RecLeagueHero Townie Posts: 2,243	I don't think I'll have the stomach to watch this one. UI - 63 IU - 81

Feb 3, 2013, 09:03 PM	#15
BoolahBoolah Location: The Orient Posts: 389	I'm going to pretend this game isn't happening. We're staring straight at a 25+ point home loss.

Feb 3, 2013, 10:24 PM	#19
HeartofaChampion Posts: 10,336	As many weapons as IU has, you'd think we have to play a lot of 2-3 zone to have a chance defensively. JG seems intent on teaching m2m, and IU has some good outside shooters to contend with, but at least a 2-3 zone gives you a chance to contain Zeller, at least in theory. Take something away, such as the inside, and hope IU is cold from 3.

Feb 3, 2013, 11:03 PM	#21
jrichisamazing Posts: 297	Keys to the game 1.) Try to get Zeller in foul trouble. 2.) Get Nanna and Tracy in more pick n rolls. 3.) Play Bertrand at the 4. We are going to need him and BP3 on the floor together because Oladipo is going to take one of them completely out of the game. 4.) The refs need to watch Zeller on the hooks. He does it almost everytime he spins towards the baseline. This is officially the game you must win to keep the tourney hopes alive so now or never guys.

Feb 3, 2013, 11:10 PM	#23
HeartofaChampion Posts: 10,336	IU likes to run, which actually plays into our favor. We play better against more uptempo teams like OSU, Gonzaga and MSU. I think we'll stay with them for awhile, but eventually their superior depth and skill will win out and wear us down in the 2nd half. That and Zeller will get lots of calls inside and end up shooting 10 to 12 FTs. IU 79 UI 70

Feb 3, 2013, 11:24 PM	#25
rpare92 Posts: 4	I will be there Thursday night just got my tickets from a buddy today. no reason we couldn't get hot and knock them off. We have nothing to lose at this point so we should play loose the pressure is on indy. If the hall is rocking and we play with energy and emotion then I like our chances. anyone can beat anybody on any given night. and to everyone who is attending the game GET HYPE AND BE LOUD!!!!