Pregame: Illinois at Purdue, Tuesday, January 21st, 6:00pm CT, ESPNU

Status
Not open for further replies.
#26      
View attachment 5493

Screw ESPN, we just gotta keep winning 💪
I've watched these prediction percentages from ESPN this year and they have barely changed. Our Illini, Rutgers, Iowa, ... are playing better, and some teams like Ohio St., Michigan, Minn .... are not playing as well. Purdue always plays tough at home, I would us a 30-40% chance against Purdue, and maybe 40-50% at Michigan. If we get one of them it would be great.
 
#27      
I've watched these prediction percentages from ESPN this year and they have barely changed. Our Illini, Rutgers, Iowa, ... are playing better, and some teams like Ohio St., Michigan, Minn .... are not playing as well. Purdue always plays tough at home, I would us a 30-40% chance against Purdue, and maybe 40-50% at Michigan. If we get one of them it would be great.

TRank says 26% chance and +5.4 pts against Purdue and a 29% chance and +5.5 pts against UM.
 
#29      
Upcoming games:

at Purdue
at Michigan
vs. Minnesota
at Iowa
vs. Maryland
vs. Michigan State
at Rutgers
at Penn State
vs. Nebraska
at Northwestern
vs. Indiana
at Ohio State
vs. Iowa

ANY road win is huge from now on, and a win at Purdue or Michigan (our next two) puts us in an amazing position ... if we win both, we go full mid-2000s-mode and start thinking about who we need to lose in order to get another Big Ten championship. :)

I would be ecstatic with splitting our next two - which likely keeps us in second place, right? - and I honestly think we could steal either one. We will need to shoot very well, though. GO ILLINI!

I said about ten days ago, three more losses all season. So far, I picked too many! I will stick with my three. (Also, I meant regular season, not BTT or NCAA.)
 
#30      
Upcoming games:

at Purdue W 68-60
at Michigan W 72-65
vs. Minnesota W 75-66
at Iowa L 70-67
vs. Maryland W 72-64
vs. Michigan State L 77-71
at Rutgers W 80-73
at Penn State L 72-68
vs. Nebraska W 81-65
at Northwestern W 72-61
vs. Indiana W 68-64
at Ohio State L 70-65
vs. Iowa W 73-65

4 Losses I have total, probably go opposite from what I picked but feeling good on these.
 
#36      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Or....lose to anyone ....anywhere

giphy.gif
 
#37      
Not expecting a win in Mackey BUT stranger things have happened. Go ILLINI!
 
#38      
It probably doesn't help since NW (at home) is well down in Q3. However, if you think of it as a game that could have hurt us more than most, it's a good result.

So for those interested, our NET ranking dropped to 40. That's only 3 spots, so nothing dramatic. Actually think that's a good sign, because we only have 1 more lowly team on the schedule. Just need to win our share.
 
#39      
I knew Mackey was a tough place to play, but thought it was interesting that in an interview the other day C. Winston said two toughest places to play are IU and Mackey. He said you can’t even hear yourself talk at Mackey.
 
#40      
I knew Mackey was a tough place to play, but thought it was interesting that in an interview the other day C. Winston said two toughest places to play are IU and Mackey. He said you can’t even hear yourself talk at Mackey.

We used to be the damn-near consensus pick for that accolade ... hopefully those days are very close to returning. While we have gotten great crowds through our down years, all things considered, the noise level in SFC/Assembly Hall has been a bit down in recent years, IMO. I think it will be absolutely rocking for MSU, or even all of our home games if we pick up a win at PU and the casual fan really buys in 100%.

Also, before anyone jumps all over me, I can't help but get a LITTLE bit of a 2005-feel from the type of lineup/rotation we have. Now, again, I am NOT comparing skill level or anything, but Ayo is effectively being our Deron WIlliams, and Trent is a great Dee 2.0; we also have a relatively thin bench filled with a few role players who come in and do their jobs admirably ... the only problem is that 1) neither are consistent enough to both be killing it night in and night out like our '05 guys, and 2) we don't have a Luther Head third guard to guarantee that every opposing defense must worry about all three threats at one time ... that could be Griffin (I love 'Dre, but his shooting is just a tad below, yesterday being an exception)! If those three continue to improve and continue to gel together - and I would argue they have! - this lineup could become very scary. Not to mention, our bigs would be even more imposing.

I'm not saying we are about to go on some ridiculous winning streak on our way to a protected seed (I'm also not saying we won't!), but this just got me thinking how high the ceiling could be for these guys. Let's all remember that the 2005 Illini had several games that should have been won easier (Iowa in OT at home, close wins at bad Purdue and Michigan teams, etc.) ... it's being tough in crunch time and grinding out the wins when they aren't coming easy that makes a team great.

Let's go into Mackey and continue to shake things up.
 
#41      

Deleted member 746654

D
Guest
Need to survive the early energy surge and revenge mode factor. If we hang in there in the 1st half then we will pull it out 2nd half.
 
#42      

illini80

Forgottonia
I felt sure Wisconsin was a loss and feel the same about this one. Lets hope I'm on a roll. :chief:
 
#43      
I live in West Lafayette. Daughter is a senior in HS and thinking about Purdue. Bought tickets for this one right after the Michigan win. I NEED this win so badly. Will be there with husband and son with my Illini gear on and shouting I-L-L from the rafters.
 
#45      
We used to be the damn-near consensus pick for that accolade ... hopefully those days are very close to returning. While we have gotten great crowds through our down years, all things considered, the noise level in SFC/Assembly Hall has been a bit down in recent years, IMO. I think it will be absolutely rocking for MSU, or even all of our home games if we pick up a win at PU and the casual fan really buys in 100%.

Also, before anyone jumps all over me, I can't help but get a LITTLE bit of a 2005-feel from the type of lineup/rotation we have. Now, again, I am NOT comparing skill level or anything, but Ayo is effectively being our Deron WIlliams, and Trent is a great Dee 2.0; we also have a relatively thin bench filled with a few role players who come in and do their jobs admirably ... the only problem is that 1) neither are consistent enough to both be killing it night in and night out like our '05 guys, and 2) we don't have a Luther Head third guard to guarantee that every opposing defense must worry about all three threats at one time ... that could be Griffin (I love 'Dre, but his shooting is just a tad below, yesterday being an exception)! If those three continue to improve and continue to gel together - and I would argue they have! - this lineup could become very scary. Not to mention, our bigs would be even more imposing.

I'm not saying we are about to go on some ridiculous winning streak on our way to a protected seed (I'm also not saying we won't!), but this just got me thinking how high the ceiling could be for these guys. Let's all remember that the 2005 Illini had several games that should have been won easier (Iowa in OT at home, close wins at bad Purdue and Michigan teams, etc.) ... it's being tough in crunch time and grinding out the wins when they aren't coming easy that makes a team great.

Let's go into Mackey and continue to shake things up.
[/ ]
It is getting close, i really want you to be right
 
#46      
We beat Purdue soundly at home. So this team is beatable. I say we spot them some points for the at-home factor, us for the mo and the confidence. That’s not at all technical but I’m calling a close win for the Illini.
 
#47      
The rest of the schedule is brutal. I think we only win 1 of the next 4 (home against Minnesota). I'll be stoked if we can pull of 2/4
 
#48      

kiwanegarris22

South Carolina
I don't want to slow the steamroller..............so I'll stay optimistic:

ILL 69
PUR 63

Still striving to get to a 7-3 start in the conference. I think that will be good for sole possession of 2nd place, and just1 game behind MSU.
 
#49      

TMC999

Not Iowa
I think Iowa is a matchup nightmare for us. You saw today what happens defensively when Kofi had to chase the perimeter vs Young. Garza is going to be a huge problem. Another issue we've had is covering the three point line. They have big time shooters.

I actually think the best opportunity is @ Michigan. They just don't scare me.

Purdue absolutely shoots the lights out at Mackey, especially Stefanovich(have no clue if that's spelled right). They couldn't hit the broad side of a barn at the SFC.

It's a tough stretch, but every team in the conference has the same stretch.
I'd put Georgi on Garza for that very reason. I'd trade beef for quickness. But that also means he'll be in foul trouble by the 15 min mark...
 
#50      
ummm, no... it appears we CANNOT lose to:

NU at home
WI in Madison
Purdue at home...

so.... nope! ;)


Time will tell my friend....but we have more than three losses left in the BI0.....with 7 road games to go ..5-6 more losses are likely
Miami at Home
Missouri in St. Louis

will gladly eat crow if you are correct....but odds are not likely to happen
 
Status
Not open for further replies.