- Carbondale, IL
Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan State, Tuesday, February 5th, 6:00pm CT, ESPN2
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I am (perhaps foolishly ... I'm always one to set myself up for maximum heart break when it comes to sports) getting more optimistic about this game. After the IU win in East Lansing, I pretty much wrote this one off ... but I think that line of reason is flawed. If Indiana beat them at their place, we can beat them at ours, pure and simple. FTR, a win would get us to 60-61 for the all-time series with Michigan State. I'm always one for positivity, so we have surprisingly won 3 out of our last 5 home games vs. a ranked Michigan State team:
1/22/2018: L 87-74 vs. #6 Michigan State
1/18/2014: L 78-62 vs. #4 Michigan State
1/31/2012: W 42-41 vs. #10 Michigan State
1/18/2011: W 71-62 vs. #17 Michigan State
2/6/2010: W 78-73 vs. #5 Michigan State
Hope, right??
1/22/2018: L 87-74 vs. #6 Michigan State
1/18/2014: L 78-62 vs. #4 Michigan State
1/31/2012: W 42-41 vs. #10 Michigan State
1/18/2011: W 71-62 vs. #17 Michigan State
2/6/2010: W 78-73 vs. #5 Michigan State
Hope, right??
Likes:
Illwinsagain
Winged Warrior
Anybody watching this team for the last 4 or 5 games that thinks we can't win this game at home is just not paying attention.
If we play the same defensive game we played against Nebby (very realistic) and just make 70% of our FT's....this is a W.
If we play the same defensive game we played against Nebby (very realistic) and just make 70% of our FT's....this is a W.
I don’t think anyone has said we can’t win. It’s unlikely. MSU is a better team, but they lose games they shouldn’t just like every other team. We play our best, we have a decent shot. They play their best, we probably don’t. But if we are making progress, games like these at home are ones we need to start winning a more of. I’m hopeful.
Likes:
Chukwuwumba
- So Cal
I think the Nebraska game was a sellout. Doesn't mean that the seats were all filled, but they were sold. The rest have fallen way short.
This actually doesn't surprise me - lets hope the 'good' Illini team shows up and not the 'meh' cause it will at least give us a shot. No doubt they try to limit Winston as much as possible with Trent in his face. Trent can guard and frustrate him...
Likes:
Chukwuwumba
Further reflection has directed me to view K. Goins as a player to really limit his touches in the game....he shoots decent from 3...
rebounds well ....passes out assists and blocks some shots....stat stuffer that could be a major factor ...
trent and Ayo should keep Winston to his averages or below
Ward walks alot and is dismal at the ft line
I'll stick with my 71-70 Illini win prediction with fingers crossed
rebounds well ....passes out assists and blocks some shots....stat stuffer that could be a major factor ...
trent and Ayo should keep Winston to his averages or below
Ward walks alot and is dismal at the ft line
I'll stick with my 71-70 Illini win prediction with fingers crossed
The State Farm Center for some reason reminds me of a collective in the Soviet Union during the Cold War
Didn’t know where to post this, but I thought it was kind of weird when looking at West Virginia and South Carolina, two teams coached by Bob Huggins and Frank Martin who come from the same coaching tree and employ similar styles of play as Brad Underwood have all had very similar seasons. All 3 teams lost a few key players, and seemed to struggle to the point of being the worst team in each respective conference during the non conference season. Then conference play rolled around and it seemed like these coaches finally got through to their new rosters, and got them to buy in and start winning. If you saw some of the teams South Carolina was losing to in non conference you would not expect them to be 6-2 in the SEC. Meanwhile Illinois and West Virginia’s records look bad still, but are figuring out how to win as of late. WV over Kansas and Oklahoma, and us over Minnesota, Maryland, and Nebraska. Maybe it just takes time in these systems and the playoffs are money.
Likes:
Double ACL and Dren1
After BU’s terrible start and scorching hot finish in his one year at OSU, many believed this would be the case with us. I still think it would’ve, however we lost over half the team in the offseason. I’ve been pessimistic about this year, but improvements are clearly being made. I’ll feel good going into next year IF we can keep everyone here in the offseason.
Likes:
maverick
Jeez, I know you guys remember that 2012 home win against them, 42-41. Brandon Paul somehow pulled us out with 18; I miss that guy. But that game was ugly lol.
Likes:
Double ACL
Winged Warrior
Maybe not "can't", but "will not" is pretty close!
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/For...bruary-5th-6-00pm-ct-espn2.24839/post-1448353
Likes:
foby
Michigan State's offense is rated 6th according to Kenpom. Nebrasa is 28th and that's while they had their best offensive player. Possible, but not very realistic.
MSU is one of those teams that is really effective on both offense and defense, and can really distrupt a team when things aren’t flowing for them on offense.
I don’t see us winning this one, but anything can happen at this point. We’re at home, playing on house money; so hoping either way we make them sweat it out.
Our defense is looking a little better, but i can easily see MSU shooting 50% or higher in this game.
I don’t see us winning this one, but anything can happen at this point. We’re at home, playing on house money; so hoping either way we make them sweat it out.
Our defense is looking a little better, but i can easily see MSU shooting 50% or higher in this game.
Likes:
Chukwuwumba
Winged Warrior
The other teams offensive rating has nothing to do with how we play defense. It's very realistic that we will play the same defense, what is unknown is how that 6th ranked defense responds to it.
Is this sarcastic? I can think of about 20 reasons that MSU wins by 10.
Minnesota just beat us by more than 10. Wisconsin beat us by more than 10. Iowa beat us by like 20-25 I think.
I really like BU changing up the defense from time to time...the 3-2 zone has stalled some of the opponents offense and he doesn't stay in it long enough for them to adapt to it...then changing back to the pressure D makes them speed back up and results in turnovers...
The assumption is that if we play the same defense, a better team with more elite weapons is going to score more points against us. That’s very realistic IMO.
What is more important strength of schedule or number of victories?
Suppose we had played a weaker schedule and our record was 11-11.
Would the perspective on remaining season be significantly different?
Suppose we had played a weaker schedule and our record was 11-11.
Would the perspective on remaining season be significantly different?
I’m not sure its an either or situation. Nebraska last year showed a winning record won’t necessarily get you in. (They got screwed imo.) But under .500 and you have no chance either, so SOS does not help in that case. Key is to find the right balance for the team you have. If your really good, challenge them and get them ready for the big dance ala MSU. We just were no where near ready at this point for what we played. Hopefully we are never in this situation again with a team that depends on freshman to be ready from day 1.
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