Pregame: Illinois vs Baylor, Wednesday, December 2nd, 9:00pm CT, ESPN
- Status
Who remembers in 05 our game with Wake. I believe they were number 1. People thought well we won't beat WF. What happened we ran them off the court. Would love to see the 20 team find that second gear and play like the 05 team did against WF. Just my take. I am on Eastern Time it will be a late night. Go Illini!
Excellent analysis DRS. I like the matchups, especially for DaMonte and Kofi. Their guards do most of their scoring, and have endless range. We need Miller and Trent to step up. We know Ayo will.
Hi all,
Baylor fan here. Really looking forward to tomorrow's game. I have a significant amount of family in Central Illinois (in and around Decatur), many of whom are alums of UI, so the Illini have always been a tertiary rooting interest of mine.
I wanted to clear up a misconception that I observed reading this thread. There were a number of posts mentioning that Baylor plays a zone defense. While many of Drew's best teams have played zone in the past (2010 team played a 2-3 zone, subsequent teams have played a matchup 1-3-1 zone), this year's team will play almost no zone defense, except as a change of pace for a play or two. Two years ago, Drew's team started integrating more man schemes into its defense, often mixing them 50-50 within a game (ex: man after a made basket, zone after a miss), but last year the team was almost exclusively man-to-man. I think I saw a stat that said over 98% of Baylor's looks on defense last season were in man. Expect that to be the case again this year.
A couple of other posters mentioned COVID protocols being a concern. Scott Drew tested positive over a week ago and was asymptomatic. Fortunately, no one else on the team was positive, as the team and coaches have been practicing strict social distancing and wearing masks. The rest of the entire team, coaching staff, and traveling party tested negative five times over a six-day span last week and were cleared to play. This wasn't enough, evidently, for Arizona State, as they refused to play us. This resulted in us dropping out of the Empire Classic, where we would have faced ASU and Villanova, both highly anticipated games. We were able to hastily reschedule and played in Vegas against Louisiana and Washington over the weekend, but the lack of lead time meant the games were broadcast on FloHoops, which means no one watched them.
On the one hand, I get why ASU backed out. Their football program has been devastated by COVID cases and has only played one game this year. Baylor has also had three football games postponed/canceled due to cases, two of which were on Baylor's side. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if ASU didn't want to start out their season with two consecutive losses in a tournament environment. COVID disruptions are a part and parcel of this season. I think we've all accepted that by now. But if you refuse to play a team that has had everyone who is actually in the arena test negative 5 times in the prior week, you're going to have a heck of a time completing anything remotely approaching a regular season.
All of this to say, it appears that Scott Drew was the only person affected. He suspects he got it at home from someone in his immediate family, and has been isolating since his positive test. Tomorrow will be the end of his mandated 10 days in isolation, and the expectation is that he will be on the sidelines coaching, assuming he has banked several negative tests by then.
I'm happy to do a more detailed breakdown of the Baylor team (rotation, strengths/weaknesses, etc.) if you all are interested. Thanks for allowing me on your board and good luck this season!
Baylor fan here. Really looking forward to tomorrow's game. I have a significant amount of family in Central Illinois (in and around Decatur), many of whom are alums of UI, so the Illini have always been a tertiary rooting interest of mine.
I wanted to clear up a misconception that I observed reading this thread. There were a number of posts mentioning that Baylor plays a zone defense. While many of Drew's best teams have played zone in the past (2010 team played a 2-3 zone, subsequent teams have played a matchup 1-3-1 zone), this year's team will play almost no zone defense, except as a change of pace for a play or two. Two years ago, Drew's team started integrating more man schemes into its defense, often mixing them 50-50 within a game (ex: man after a made basket, zone after a miss), but last year the team was almost exclusively man-to-man. I think I saw a stat that said over 98% of Baylor's looks on defense last season were in man. Expect that to be the case again this year.
A couple of other posters mentioned COVID protocols being a concern. Scott Drew tested positive over a week ago and was asymptomatic. Fortunately, no one else on the team was positive, as the team and coaches have been practicing strict social distancing and wearing masks. The rest of the entire team, coaching staff, and traveling party tested negative five times over a six-day span last week and were cleared to play. This wasn't enough, evidently, for Arizona State, as they refused to play us. This resulted in us dropping out of the Empire Classic, where we would have faced ASU and Villanova, both highly anticipated games. We were able to hastily reschedule and played in Vegas against Louisiana and Washington over the weekend, but the lack of lead time meant the games were broadcast on FloHoops, which means no one watched them.
On the one hand, I get why ASU backed out. Their football program has been devastated by COVID cases and has only played one game this year. Baylor has also had three football games postponed/canceled due to cases, two of which were on Baylor's side. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if ASU didn't want to start out their season with two consecutive losses in a tournament environment. COVID disruptions are a part and parcel of this season. I think we've all accepted that by now. But if you refuse to play a team that has had everyone who is actually in the arena test negative 5 times in the prior week, you're going to have a heck of a time completing anything remotely approaching a regular season.
All of this to say, it appears that Scott Drew was the only person affected. He suspects he got it at home from someone in his immediate family, and has been isolating since his positive test. Tomorrow will be the end of his mandated 10 days in isolation, and the expectation is that he will be on the sidelines coaching, assuming he has banked several negative tests by then.
I'm happy to do a more detailed breakdown of the Baylor team (rotation, strengths/weaknesses, etc.) if you all are interested. Thanks for allowing me on your board and good luck this season!
Thanks for sharing your insight! Always appreciate someone who can come in and acknowledge they're from another fandom.
Looking forward to a competitive game!
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Welcome to the board! I have to admit, I got a little excited when I read this, but I am saddened to point out that the game will be on Wednesday (not tomorrow). Have to agree though, I've been looking forward to this game since it was first announced. Should be a good one!
Wow. As much as I'd like to blame it on quarantine, today was one of the rare days I woke up knowing what day of the week it was. Thanks for the correction!
Welcome and thanks for the insight! Would love any Baylor breakdown you'd be willing to provide. Given you have a bit of Illini knowledge would be very interested to see how you think we both match up against each other. Thanks!
I'd like to see the breakdown if you have the time.
We’re talking a TOP 5 Illini squad playing #2. No way in hell im missing a second of this. I’ve waited too long for us to return....much too long.
Thank you for all of this post (I'm only quoting the intro.)
Great stuff.
I had noted the other day that the top 5 scorers the other night (and the only ones in double figures) were all GUARDS.
1. I had never seen that.
2. I had trouble squaring that with an effective 1-3-1 (being more effective with length/height), so your post makes a lot of sense, being that we were a bit misinformed.
Is it really 4 guards and 1 forward at most times?!
Looking SO forward to this, btw.
Welcome to the board.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As many might know, this is the highest we have been ranked (i.e., in the top five) since that magical 2005 season, thought we did come close in 2006 when we briefly reached #6 before taking our first loss at Iowa. However, I thought it would be interesting to see how high profile this matchup is compared to what we have seen in the last several years, and I decided to measure this by looking at times we have been part of an all-top 5 matchup in the last thirty years, excluding NCAA Tournament games:
2004-05: #5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73
2001-02: #5 Maryland 76, #2 Illinois 63
1989-90: #5 Illinois 101, #4 Missouri 93 (St. Louis, MO)
1986-87: #4 North Carolina 90, #5 Illinois 77
Four times in thirty years. Classic seasons like 1989 and 2001 with zero appearances. This is a huge deal.
2004-05: #5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73
2001-02: #5 Maryland 76, #2 Illinois 63
1989-90: #5 Illinois 101, #4 Missouri 93 (St. Louis, MO)
1986-87: #4 North Carolina 90, #5 Illinois 77
Four times in thirty years. Classic seasons like 1989 and 2001 with zero appearances. This is a huge deal.
Another bear fan here. As far as insight I’m sure Mitch will go even more in depth then I will. But as noted we go more man to man on D now. A lot of that has to do with Mitchell whose easily the best on ball defender in the country. Teague/Butler are also great defenders. Vital is the Swiss Army knife he can defend just about anyone which is remarkable considering he’s only 6’6. The posts are the question marks. I fully expect your big Cockburn to have a solid game. We do have size in Thamba and JTT but both lack experience. Offensively as noted were very guard oriented and rely a ton on the 3. We will go 5 deep at guard. Butler/Teague are snippers who can score multiple ways. Mitchell is more of a penetrate and score guard who can shoot the 3 when needed. Vital is a mop up guy. You won’t see any sets ran for him because he does all his work on the glass. Our 5 is the same any scoring will be put backs or easy lay in/dunks. The bench is deeper then you guys probably realize Flagler and Cryer are microwaves off the bench who will come in firing. The other important bench guy is Matt Mayer. He’s 6’8 and will shoot from anywhere (sometimes that’s a bad thing) but he often creates mismatches because of how versatile he is. That’s a brief idea of what to expect.
fully expect it to be a war between these 2. Can’t wait to watch
fully expect it to be a war between these 2. Can’t wait to watch
In 2005, Wiscy made the elite eight and lost there to National Champ Carolina; MSU went to the final 4 and lost there to National Champ Carolina.
Thus there is some evidence that he B1G had three of the best teams in the country, and you cannot call such a conference extremely weak.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Sounds like this is going to be a defensive + rebounding battle. Our team prides itself on its defense and rebounding as well. Ayo + Kofi + Miller really open things up offensively for our other players and put lots of pressure on opposing defenses. Should be entertaining.
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Boy, I really don't remember UI reaching #2 in 2001/02.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Great info - thanks! Top 5 matchups are indeed rare.
I thought Norm Stewart and Lou used to battle as top 5 teams quite frequently, but perhaps those were just Top 10 squads instead.
Admittedly, it would require a 40-year look-back, but it's difficult to omit the 1979 Eddie Johnson game, which was (undefeated) #4 Illinois over #1 Magic and Michigan State 57-55. The 1984 team may have also had a Top 5 conference matchup with Purdue. I think we both ended the regular season 26-4......and we played each other twice.
We would all like to see an Illini blowout....but the probability is likely less than 1%. Baylor has too many guards that can shoot and the speed to get open. You don't shut those ilk down. But you can make it tough for them on defense if you have the guts and depth along the offensive wisdom, patience, and skills to score against good defense. We will get some exposure to those aspects of our Illini over the course of the next two games. Though some would like to declare that they have those characteristics, the fact is no one knows at this point.
And a sincere thanks to Iowabear for the scouting report on what to expect. Lot of good, experienced guard play. Kofi may have a huge power advantage, but if he gets the ball below his shoulders, for which he has a tendency, the ball will go the other way quickly. I expect Baylor's experience and confidence may be too big an advantage to overcome if young Illini turn it over as has been their tendency. May be a battle for a half though. May be a different story should they meet again with a B1G schedule under their belt, but this is the first game against elite competition for half the Illini that will play.
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altenberger22
- South Carolina
I was watching this! Still love me some Bill Walton!
He's quite frequently very, very kind to us. (I think Bill went to Hawaii even though the Maui tournament was moved to Asheville.....)
LOL...why do I believe that!!!
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