Pregame: Illinois at Northwestern, Sunday, January 6th, 12:00pm CT, BTN

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#26      

t7nich

Central IL
Hope he gets plenty of playing time. He’s exactly what this team needs. Athletic as heck and can make jump shots.

Really hope he sticks around after this year. A couple weeks ago it was basically a foregone conclusion that he was gone and January would decommit.
 
#27      

illinipioneer

Richmond, VA
Did we ever hear anything regarding Samba, is he out right now (wouldn't think so considering BU was telling media we are 100% now with TJ back)
 
#28      

ivwilsoniv

Aurora, IL
Let's see a starting lineup of

1 - Frazier
2 - Ayo
3 - Griffin
4 - Giorgi
5 - Samba

Try the Lovie method of "play the young guys because no one else is getting any better anytime soon."
 
#29      
Did we ever hear anything regarding Samba, is he out right now (wouldn't think so considering BU was telling media we are 100% now with TJ back)

Based on BU press conference I saw this AM he made reference to using all three bigs against NW big man so it would seem Kane is available.
 
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#34      

Deleted member 746094

D
Guest
Tevian is still in the doghouse...

From all sound bites referring to TJ, Underwood sounds like he is pleased with TJ’s approach and commitment throughout his suspension. The kid paid his dues and served his punishment. BU himself has said he operates like a “light switch”. TJ is off suspension and I expect him to play as long as he is performing.
 
#36      
Let's see a starting lineup of

1 - Frazier
2 - Ayo
3 - Griffin
4 - Giorgi
5 - Samba

Try the Lovie method of "play the young guys because no one else is getting any better anytime soon."

Good idea, that worked well for Lovie.
 
#37      
Good idea, that worked well for Lovie.
Yes it did. Football has an incredible class coming in, I bet you them seeing that Lovie was willing to play the most freshmen in the country the last few years was appealing. Give me lots of Tevian, Ayo, Georgi, Samba and Griffin. We’re going to lose a lot more games this year regardless of who plays, let the young guys take the horns!!
 
#39      
I think we win this one and at least two more in January. Tevian has been freed and DLR is looking like he has healed. This gives us some solid backup for Giorgi and Kip that we have been missing.
I am actually hoping that we go back to the pressure D that we were trying to play early in the season. We might be able to get away with it a little better with Tev back.
Of course, this could just be the Orange glow from the positive recruiting vibes lately.
 
#40      
Let's see a starting lineup of

1 - Frazier
2 - Ayo
3 - Griffin
4 - Giorgi
5 - Samba

Try the Lovie method of "play the young guys because no one else is getting any better anytime soon."

I don’t want that as a starting line-up but I’d LOVE to see those 5 together at some point. Giorgi is ideal at the 4 spot. Kipper is more fit for the 3. We are 14 games in and I don’t think either has seen a second at their most natural positions.
 
#41      
Here is what I said last game, “Here’s my prediction for the next game. One-on-one offense with everyone standing around, dunk city for the IU, and another Illini loss.”

Here was their shot chart.
View attachment 3951

I think I will just ditto that prediction for the next game.

Layup City maybe, but Dunk City? This is Northwestern you're talking about.
 
#42      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_5f55068e-55a3-5472-bb93-0ef87f748ff0.html

Jones, a 6-foot-7 wing player, served an indefinite suspension from game activity for a violation of team rules. On Saturday, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said Jones will be available when the Illini travel to Evanston at noon Sunday for a Big Ten game against Northwestern (BTN).
Jones hasn’t played since Nov. 25 against Mississippi Valley State and is averaging 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in nine minutes per game.

“We’ve got to temper our expectations,” Underwood said. “He hasn’t played in a few games, but he’s been very good in practice. It will be nice to finally be at full strength.”
His return comes at the perfect time for the Illini (4-10) against a Northwestern (9-5) team with a jumbo-sized roster that features no starters shorter than 6-foot-6.
 
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#43      

illini80

Forgottonia
I did not realize NW had guards that tall. Could be tough for our guards to get good looks.
 
#45      

Deleted member 651864

D
Guest
If we win the rest of our games, I think we can make the tourney!! Or we can lose the rest, and make history!!
 
#46      
Kansas catching illini fever:

Iowa State Stuns No. 5 Kansas

There are two telling statistics of this game: three-point shooting and turnovers. The Cyclones (13-of-25) more than doubled the Jayhawks (6-of-20) from behind the arc while shooting an impressive 52 percent from distance. Add in Kansas' 24 turnovers, and it was the perfect storm for an upset.

Hope we trend the other way at NW
 
#48      
I did not realize NW had guards that tall. Could be tough for our guards to get good looks.

I think handling Law cutting and Kopp shooting is the key to the win. If we can do those and shoot considerably better all around while getting Giorgi his...then a road win it is, with Kofi announcing at Halftime he is coming!
 
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