Pregame: Illinois vs Maryland, Friday, February 7th, 7:00pm CT, FS1

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#177      
This one is ours. No problem. My forecast is 8-0 over the last 8. We’ve got this.

A while back you predicted 3 losses the rest of the year. Some didn't believe at the time, but you can check my response.....
So, Iowa was #1. Where are #2 & #3? Are you voiding your previous prediction?
 
#178      

haasi

New York
A while back you predicted 3 losses the rest of the year. Some didn't believe at the time, but you can check my response.....
So, Iowa was #1. Where are #2 & #3? Are you voiding your previous prediction?
assuming an NCAA tourney loss is in there, there’s room for one more loss in regular season or conference tourney. That said, I’d be happy not to lose in the NCAA tourney.
 
#179      

breadman

Herndon, VA
This game is being played up big time here in the DC sports radio area.
 
#180      
Maryland is a much improved team since last time... especially since Stix is making 3s now- his missing jumpers is how we almost won the first game.

We need to pump the rock inside to get Stix in foul trouble and assert our aggressiveness! Cowan is the only other player who I'm worried about.

I hope the result is more like the Wake Forest game in 2004, but I have a sinking feeling it may be more like the North Carolina Football game a few years ago (sellout, lots of hope, a fanbase in need of something good, etc). If we come out and hit a few 3's I think we'll be ok. If Williams hits one I'll be going crazy!
 
#182      
Also, I know Maryland is good, but I'm feeling a double digit win for the good guys.....never trail outside the 5 minute mark.
 
#183      

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
This game has the feel of when Wake Forest came to town with Chris Paul. Lets have the same result!!!
Oh man. I was so lucky to be at that game. If it starts lightly snowing right before the game (just like that game in December '04) then it might be a sign. :)
 
#184      

Krombopulos_Michael

Aurora, Illinois (that’s a suburb of Chicago)
I will be mid-flight during this game and hoping to god Southwest Airlines’ WiFi will allow me to watch at the lowest resolution
 
#185      
th
assuming an NCAA tourney loss is in there, there’s room for one more loss in regular season or conference tourney. That said, I’d be happy not to lose in the NCAA tourney.

The optimist made it clear that he was predicting 3 more regular season losses. Not conference or NCAA tourney. I wanted to believe the Wizard, but now he is saying we end 8-0. Either I'm confused or he's a politician.
 
#186      

carlspackler

Casey,Il
What time do the doors open tonight? Taking my wife to the State Farm center for her first time. Want her to get the whole experience.
 
#187      
What time do the doors open tonight? Taking my wife to the State Farm center for her first time. Want her to get the whole experience.
Wow, great environment for her first game! I hope she leaves with some great memories :hailtotheorange:
 
#188      
"Every time Illinois needed a steal and a bucket to stop the clock in those final frantic three minutes, Williams, Head and a big kid off the bench named Jack Ingram seemed to come up with one or both. And the partisan crowd, which has been so despondent, began to roar again, that deep desperate guttural sound of a crowd connected to the team and the moment. To the Wildcats' credit, they cut a six-point overtime deficit to one. And they had the final shot, which Adams missed. And in the bedlam, everybody knew they had seen something not just rare, but admirable, the tournament at its best, March at its absolute Maddest. The band played, the tears flowed. Explanations be damned." Washington Post, March, 2005.

Illinois Basketball Shocks #1 Indiana 2/7/13

2005 Regional Final - Arizona vs. Illinois 3/26/05 (entire comeback)


#1 Wake Forest @ #3 Illinois 12-4-04 (Full Game)

"Hal to the Orange, Hail to the Blue."
 
#189      
Maryland is a much improved team since last time... especially since Stix is making 3s now- his missing jumpers is how we almost won the first game.

We need to pump the rock inside to get Stix in foul trouble and assert our aggressiveness! Cowan is the only other player who I'm worried about.

I hope the result is more like the Wake Forest game in 2004, but I have a sinking feeling it may be more like the North Carolina Football game a few years ago (sellout, lots of hope, a fanbase in need of something good, etc). If we come out and hit a few 3's I think we'll be ok. If Williams hits one I'll be going crazy!

Dude, this ain't football. Illinois is about hoops, which the Terps will find out about tonight.
 
#190      
Personally, I'm missing his bump and hook shot. That patented shot is what got him to his career high last year. Got a feed him a lot more in the mid to low post...especially when Kofi is on the bench.
If Maryland goes small at the 4 which is expected i hope we feed GB early and often
 
#191      
"Every time Illinois needed a steal and a bucket to stop the clock in those final frantic three minutes, Williams, Head and a big kid off the bench named Jack Ingram seemed to come up with one or both. And the partisan crowd, which has been so despondent, began to roar again, that deep desperate guttural sound of a crowd connected to the team and the moment. To the Wildcats' credit, they cut a six-point overtime deficit to one. And they had the final shot, which Adams missed. And in the bedlam, everybody knew they had seen something not just rare, but admirable, the tournament at its best, March at its absolute Maddest. The band played, the tears flowed. Explanations be damned." Washington Post, March, 2005.

Illinois Basketball Shocks #1 Indiana 2/7/13

2005 Regional Final - Arizona vs. Illinois 3/26/05 (entire comeback)


#1 Wake Forest @ #3 Illinois 12-4-04 (Full Game)

"Hal to the Orange, Hail to the Blue."
I was at all three of those games! Great memories.
 
#194      
Maryland is a much improved team since last time... especially since Stix is making 3s now- his missing jumpers is how we almost won the first game.

We need to pump the rock inside to get Stix in foul trouble and assert our aggressiveness! Cowan is the only other player who I'm worried about.

I hope the result is more like the Wake Forest game in 2004, but I have a sinking feeling it may be more like the North Carolina Football game a few years ago (sellout, lots of hope, a fanbase in need of something good, etc). If we come out and hit a few 3's I think we'll be ok. If Williams hits one I'll be going crazy!

I think Jalen Smith is a tough match up for the Illini too. Believe he had a double-double last game with a boat load of offensive rebounds. But like you, Cowan is the one I'm most worried about.
 
#195      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
I think Jalen Smith is a tough match up for the Illini too. Believe he had a double-double last game with a boat load of offensive rebounds. But like you, Cowan is the one I'm most worried about.
Smith is playing well. He has, however, problems with physical big men. MD got Garza in foul trouble early, which is why they beat Iowa by 10. Had he played the entire game the outcome might have have been a different story. Smith is a prodigious shot-blocker and has a sweet J. Bang him around, however, and he gets rattled and ineffective. He also failed to add enough muscle in the off-season. Still a gangly guy Kofi and even Giorgi (if he chooses) can push around.

My two cents based on watching him here in DC all season, including in person a couple times (ND & Purdue.) I like our chances of containing him at home given our aggressive D and grit.
 
#196      
Smith is playing well. He has, however, problems with physical big men. MD got Garza in foul trouble early, which is why they beat Iowa by 10. Had he played the entire game the outcome might have have been a different story. Smith is a prodigious shot-blocker and has a sweet J. Bang him around, however, and he gets rattled and ineffective. He also failed to add enough muscle in the off-season. Still a gangly guy Kofi and even Giorgi (if he chooses) can push around.

My two cents based on watching him here in DC all season, including in person a couple times (ND & Purdue.) I like our chances of containing him at home given our aggressive D and grit.
Agreed. MD, as a whole, has been playing better. How do we guard Smith past the 3 line?
 
#198      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Agreed. MD, as a whole, has been playing better. How do we guard Smith past the 3 line?
I like Ratskin's reply. Denial is the effective option. Once he's out there with the ball he'll get a look. He'll get a few. Hope he's cold and rattled by the atmosphere.

BTW, that's a long way of saying "I have no idea!"
 
#199      
Smith is playing well. He has, however, problems with physical big men. MD got Garza in foul trouble early, which is why they beat Iowa by 10. Had he played the entire game the outcome might have have been a different story. Smith is a prodigious shot-blocker and has a sweet J. Bang him around, however, and he gets rattled and ineffective. He also failed to add enough muscle in the off-season. Still a gangly guy Kofi and even Giorgi (if he chooses) can push around.

My two cents based on watching him here in DC all season, including in person a couple times (ND & Purdue.) I like our chances of containing him at home given our aggressive D and grit.
Kofi and Giorgi tried banging him around in the first game and they each got into foul trouble. Spent big chunks of time on the bench as MD came back in the second half.
 
#200      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Kofi and Giorgi tried banging him around in the first game and they each got into foul trouble. Spent big chunks of time on the bench as MD came back in the second half.
True. But there's banging and there's well-positioned banging.

In a manner of speaking.
 
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