FeelTheLovie
- Louisville, KY
In my brief experience they are pretty unintelligent for how good of a school WF is
Pregame: Illinois at Wake Forest, Tuesday, November 28th, 8:00pm CT, ESPNU
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In my brief experience they are pretty unintelligent for how good of a school WF is
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
The way I see it for the next three games, I think Illinois will go 2-1. 3-0 would be awesome. I believe Illinois can beat Wake Forest and Northwestern, yet Maryland was very impressive last night. I can see Illinois struggling against the Terps.
Line as settled in at WF -2.5 now. I don't know about you guys but I still have a little bit of Groce-fear in me. Sort of like this feeling that I know this is a game that Illini can win but for some reason will find a way to lose and come March we will be saying "Man...if they had just held on to that lead at WF..."
Right now, if I was to bet (and I will) I think I would take WF...Talk me out of it, please!
Right now, if I was to bet (and I will) I think I would take WF...Talk me out of it, please!
I haven't felt any trace of Groce hangover from Underwood's ministrations please don't make even me look it up}...I think we win by 8.
Something to pump you guys up a bit!
https://youtu.be/KX0Fb0qpGC4
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https://youtu.be/KX0Fb0qpGC4
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I need to lay, or lie, down. Or is that lye? Go Illini!
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
I think our youth and lack of size down low could bite us in this one. I think those are issues that will get worked out over the course of the season, but not in our first true road game. Wake will be hungry for a decent win after the way their season has started.
I expect a close loss in this one, but wouldn't be surprised if we pulled it out.
I expect a close loss in this one, but wouldn't be surprised if we pulled it out.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
I see the hunger for a decent win as a sword that cuts both ways. Our team is aware of the narrative that we have padded our resume with easy wins, and the expectation that we will crumble against any run-of-the-mill P5 team.
I expect the guys to be dialed in tonight. They have a lot to prove. Tonight is a great opportunity to turn some heads.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
First off, if you bet WF, bet the money line. Nothing worse than the Illini losing by 1, lose the bet and the game. Also, if I were to bet (and I won't) I would take the Illini and the points. I honestly think that everyone out there is still thinking that JG is coaching this team. We could have collapsed a couple of times this year, and have pulled it out. We may lose, but it will not be from lack of effort, or fear. Two things that caused too many losses the past several years.
We were #5 in the AP poll, and took #1. I said before that game that I feel sorry for Wake as I thought we were not only unstoppable, but hungry. We'd just dismantled a ranked Gonzaga team, and the motion offense was beautiful. That team knew how to hit the gas, and not let up until the other team was cooked.
Fun fact, there have only been 2 teams in the history of the rankings to lose a game and yet retain #1. We stayed #1 after the first loss, which was the last game of the regular season. Duke was the other.
Well, we have padded our resume with easy wins. And if we're being honest, tonight will not turn heads with a win. Wake will be 2-5, and no one is going to think we've beaten a decent team. The upcoming games that could give us credibility are @NW, MD, UNLV.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Times they are a'changin. So are my expectations. Out with the old, in with the new. It comes down to execution. If this team executes, they will throttle Weak Forest. You can see the confidence building with each game, quality of opponents be damned, they are getting better.
ILL-77
Weak Forest-70
ILL-77
Weak Forest-70
OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
If we still had John Groce this is a game I wouldn't feel good about even given Wake Forest's record. That said still a bit concerned considering this will be the first road game for Illinois. This game will say a lot where this team is at as will the games against Northwester and Maryland.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
We're in agreement that a win won't earn us any votes. But right now many are picking us as a serious dog against a bad WF team. People will need to recalibrate their expectations about Illinois if we roll over WF tonight.
Deleted member 236589
D
Guest
Until we win or at least play well on the road, I would hesitate picking us to win as well. How many of our players have played a true road game and have been successful? Heck, we played a scrimmage against EIU in an unfriendly(not hostile) environment and got whooped.
There are always adverse moments in a road game. Which one of our players will be able to keep their emotions in check, take charge and settle the team down when things aren't going the their way? Who's going to make an important free throw with 10,000 people(or whatever WF holds) going crazy?
This is going to be the first game where they are playing a team with legitimate DI talent. They may not be playing well, but they are bigger, faster, stronger and more talented than any other team we've played to date. We've played all home games against mid major, low major and DIII teams. DePaul is high major, they just suck.
So, we'll see how they handle it. I saw this morning that WF was -4, which means the odds makers view the teams as basically equal. Playing at home is generally worth about 4 points.
I'm really interested to see how this goes.
pumped up, sec 116 - look for me, I will be wearing orange
FeelTheLovie
- Louisville, KY
Well, tickets are still $6
I think the size (Moore) may be more of an issue with our offense. Moore has been very efficient, but hasn't been a high usage player. See no reason we can't defend him as well as or better than Georgia Southern, Liberty, et all. He may get a few, but that alone won't beat us. We need to get him out of the paint and position to protect the rim, if he stops are drives & makes us a 3 pt team that is more concerning.
Wake will undoubtedly be hungry, but if they are only 2-4 against their schedule something is wrong, not sure hungry will be enough.
If we can come out and play like the 2nd half against NC Central we will be fine, if we play like the first half we are toast.
14,407, but with the way Wake is playing, 10,000 should be closer to the number in the seats
For those questioning our "easy" six wins, Wake has also played a relatively easy schedule and is 2-3.
Why the worry? Normal concern sure, but wailing and gnashing of teeth ???
Why the worry? Normal concern sure, but wailing and gnashing of teeth ???
Actually 2-4. I don't get it either. People concerned about being beaten up on the inside are concerned about one player who's tall. We are a better rebounding team. We're much better coached. With Finke, Alstork, Leron and even AJ, we have more experience. We have more talent, point blank. The only way we lose is if our lack of experience shows on the road and they actually hit perimeter shots, which hasn't happened so far.
The only way people start to take us seriously is if we win convincingly tonight
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ga. Southern, Liberty, Drake and Houston......those are their losses. I've heard people say we haven't played anybody, but we are 6-0. They haven't played anybody and they're 2-4.
Win and forget about these bottom feeders.
Don't think anyone is gnashing teeth, but just see that WF is like a cornered dog.
The teams that have beat WF have done it from 3pt land. Houston was 9-20, Drake was 15-30, Liberty was 9-21, Georgia was 11-27. All but the Liberty game were just a possession or so. Hitting 3ptrs hasn't been our strong point, and this game is on the road, so that makes it potentially more of an issue.
Doral Moore is a rim protector. I am sure BU will have a scheme to force Moore to choose between guarding the rim and Finke from 3, and Moore will probably be required to do the former (or they will play a zone). So Finke will need to hit the 3 pointer tonight, and we will need to continue to draw fouls. Hopefully BU and the team has been keeping a few tricks in reserve as well.
Think we can win this game but it is going to be a battle.
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