My educated guess is that the Wisconsin game was the outlier. A frustrated team fell behind, got discouraged, and mailed it in. Underwood was right to call them out on it -- you don't want this be become a habit. I think the Illini come out and battle against MSU. But I also see them struggling, especially on offense against a more talented team. The score is respectable but not particularly close, 70-55.
Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan State, Monday, January 22nd, 8:00pm CT, FS1
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pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/coll...cle_b0cc1709-2772-5b22-a609-7cf48e3a5ffa.html
When the struggling Illini line up against the Spartans on Monday night at the State Farm Center, they’ll be facing a team that ranks No. 1 in the country in assists, blocked shots and field goal defense, No. 2 in rebounding, No. 3 in field goal percentage and No. 9 in 3-point shooting.
When the struggling Illini line up against the Spartans on Monday night at the State Farm Center, they’ll be facing a team that ranks No. 1 in the country in assists, blocked shots and field goal defense, No. 2 in rebounding, No. 3 in field goal percentage and No. 9 in 3-point shooting.
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
I remember someone in administration calling athletics the university’s “front porch.” For better or worse, justified or not, the quality of the school’s athletics reflects on the university as a whole. The difficult thing of course is that it’s a zero sum game. Some one will be first...and someone will be last.
We do have "sand" though. Is that the same thing as mettle?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Loyalty
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
We have run out of Lite beer.
MSU has a LOT of Lite beer.
This is a must win for us. For our survival.
MSU has a LOT of Lite beer.
This is a must win for us. For our survival.
So you were for keeping Groce? It's just one more season. When is playing without pride supposed to stop?
And honestly, I don't care if it is one game. If a guy's taking the game off, you pull him and put in a guy who can, or at least wants to contribute. In the long run, you gain more by sending the message that you gotta play with pride if you're going to be in the line-up. The team is bigger than the individual.
It concerns me that the guys who are trying the hardest may get discouraged if their teammates aren't willing to push themselves and get on the page. I don't think we have a winning culture yet, and that really concerns me. And if you're trying to convince me we don't have the roster to have won a single game, I don't believe it.
From a pure numbers standpoint, the season is a lost cause, and we have an astounding 11 conference games remaining. Let that sink in, and then tell me you don't care about guys mailing it in for "one more" game.
Dan
Admin
Michigan State has played just 2 true road games this season. That's the fewest of all 351 D1 teams. Seven of its final 11 games are roadies, starting tonight at Illinois
https://twitter.com/kylebaustin/status/955440665592123394
https://twitter.com/kylebaustin/status/955440665592123394
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Dilly, Dilly... wait... Lite or Bud Light???
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Hilarious yet terrifying.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I think we'll keep it "close" (maybe down 41-33 at half?) for a while, have some runs that get the crowd into it and then fade into a 78-61 loss. Hope SO badly that I am wrong, as I just read that this would be the first 0-8 start in school history ... yikes.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I would have gone with evasive parkour....
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Very frustrating to watch, and I was very optimistic before the season, but it has turned into what it is, ateam with alack of size, with no perimeter shooting. You can call out individuals, but the fact is we are not scoring because the people who we thought might, are not even shooting.. TF and LB can not carry the load. Our defense is ok on some aspects but too many times we lose our opponent, and he slams it home.
Coach can draw up the plan but without any players, it's just a waste of time. Till the guys step up and make consistent offense plays, we will struggle. Don't have faith in a different outcome today, always hopeful, but Sparty is much better than us. See what happens.
Coach can draw up the plan but without any players, it's just a waste of time. Till the guys step up and make consistent offense plays, we will struggle. Don't have faith in a different outcome today, always hopeful, but Sparty is much better than us. See what happens.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
I know you're not making a direct comparison here, but something else to keep in mind when looking at the greener grass is that Matta shouldn't have been fired in the first place.
Both would be missed, like it or not. If we lose Finke, its going to be a larger blow than I think a lot of people would like to admit. He's someone who should be a reserve on any B1G, but given our situation is a starter. Like it or not he's more valuable to this team than Greg is right now. Ebo will grow and his progess this season is extremely promising, but Finke provides quality minutes on a team that will most likely be just as thin next year up front.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Yeah, unless you're bringing in so many bigs that Finke will never see any playing time next year anyway, losing Finke will definitely hurt us.
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
I foresee UI foul trouble rearing its ugly head in this one.
Deleted member 11241
D
Guest
I think it's ridiculous that a team can be 2/3 of the way through the season and only had 2 true road games. Especially when they are almost halfway through the conference season. Meanwhile, we have had 6 (7 if you include UNLV even though that was a "neutral " court) and 5 in conference. That is terrible scheduling by the B1G. They should do a better job of evening that out and trying to make it more even.
We whipped 'em last year at our place and they don't start a single upperclassman. Our upperclassmen should (I say should) take it right at them.
This is our worst match up of the season. MSU bigs are much better than ours and deep. Their guards will match Trent's speed. We need to hit our 3's and play solid defense. Can't play the Iowa/Wisconsin vanilla defense.
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