Pregame: Illinois vs Ohio State, Sunday, January 1st, 6:00pm CT, BTN
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Bounce back win.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
The schedule pretty much dictates a January skid, no matter what. Anything other than that is a massive jump over expectations.
However--the way the Maryland game went doesn't bode well for some of those toss-up games.
Predicting a 8-10 point loss. That may be generous.
Going to need help from the supporting cast, because tOSU's long, athletic wings have bothered Malcolm in the past. Gut check time.
This game will be the Buckeyes' B1G opener. Their last game was last Thursday, a 79-77 win over UNC Asheville.
Buckeyes have it pretty tough to start the Big Ten season with 4 of their first 6 on the road. After Sunday's game, they host Purdue, travel to Minnesota and Wisconsin, host Michigan State, and play at Nebraska.
Buckeyes have it pretty tough to start the Big Ten season with 4 of their first 6 on the road. After Sunday's game, they host Purdue, travel to Minnesota and Wisconsin, host Michigan State, and play at Nebraska.
Illini1221
Peru,IL
Don't ask me why I think this, but I feel like we win this game. This reminds me of playing NC State, coming off of the Thanksgiving week massacre.
Had a feeling we would get killed today. Maybe we just cant play during holiday time LOL. After having time to think it over, this was NOT our best game, not who we are, we have beaten some decent teams for a reason. IF we play to our potential we still can make the tournament. There is still life in our team, its a longgg conference season. I don't have faith in Groce anymore, but theseguys will bounce back. Maybe we lose this game too, and even if we play bad, I still love the Orange and Blue. LETS GO ILLINI. We cant just give up on them as fans, this is our team, our state school, and we need SFC packed and we need to be loud, and we need to get through these tough times together. This is who we are right now and we need to accept it for the time being. Groce isn't going to get fired this season, Jaylon Tate is going to play, JCL is going to make bone headed plays, Leron will foul, Malclom will play hero ball, that's just who we areright now. Its disappointing sure, but we cant just give up on them. THIS IS WHEN THEY NEED THE MOST SUPPORT.
prepared
Groce has never had his teams "ready" to play! Never any in-game adjustments! Sub patterns leave us all questionining!!Legit freshman point guard plays behind Abrams, Tate? Why do we even discuss Illini basketball anymore? Groce is lost!! Ohio ST 78 Ill 65! Groce will be proud of his guys, " they really competed" and" OSU played fantastic, guards are great, very talented team!" Its like "groundhog day" Makes a whole lot of money for doing an extremely sub-par job!!
Groce has never had his teams "ready" to play! Never any in-game adjustments! Sub patterns leave us all questionining!!Legit freshman point guard plays behind Abrams, Tate? Why do we even discuss Illini basketball anymore? Groce is lost!! Ohio ST 78 Ill 65! Groce will be proud of his guys, " they really competed" and" OSU played fantastic, guards are great, very talented team!" Its like "groundhog day" Makes a whole lot of money for doing an extremely sub-par job!!
I thought TJL played well but I still dont think its right to say he's better than Abrams or Tate. Abrams had a bad day and Tate brings something that I dont think a lot of people appreciate. People have strong opinions on our PG situation but anyone who really pays attention to what Tate does should understand why Groce trusts him as much as he does. Sure he cant shoot, but hes a great transition PG and a decent defender. For the most part he doesnt turn over the ball and hes got good vision. He shouldn't be a starting PG on a B1G team but hes better for this team right now compared to TJL. Abrams has always been a CG and probably better suited for the 2, but he still is a better option than Tate and TJL.
This team has the talent. Groce is beyond subpar at coaching. I want him to succeed but its embarrassing watching a team play the kind of def we do. We allowed something like 45 pts in the paint. Against a team missing two big men, that should never happen.
I fully expect a loss on Sunday now. Not sure how many we'll win if that's the level of effort they're going to put out. Not very many, AT ALL. I SERIOUSLY hope the team was thoroughly personally embarrassed by their EFFORT last night and come out ready to take no hostages against tOSU. I doubt it though. Zero confidence in this team at this point.
And no way does Tate deserve 20 mpg right now under any circumstances. No way.
I agree that Abrams is more of a combo guard than a point. If you play him at the point, he needs point guard help at the shooting guard spot. The Abrams-Paul combination worked decently. Problem is we don't have a Brandon Paul to play there. Maybe move Hill to the two when Abrams is at the point?
Hands Malone
- Quad-Cities, IL
You forgot the quote "we didn't see this coming."
Hands Malone
- Quad-Cities, IL
Bottom line this team will be playing 4 on 5 basketball for 15 to 20 minutes. That amounts to a ten point loss against OSU. Probably more against the top tier. Groce plans to go down swinging.
It's funny how it's always the last game or two that dictates what people think of this team. We beat BYU and Mizzou and suddenly everyone thinks we're gonna knock off a solid Maryland team on the road. Now one bad loss has everyone thinking a mediocre OSU team is gonna destroy us in Champaign. Truth is, you can't use one game to determine how good a team is. I can tell you almost certainly that we're a better team than we looked in that game. Every team has good games and bad games. Sure, the loss was concerning, but it's no reason to freak out. The same thing happened after the WVU and FSU games when people thought NC State would blow us out, and look how that turned out.
Hands Malone
- Quad-Cities, IL
I wouldn't generalize. We've seen this movie before.
I think playing Te'Jon would be a better analogy to going down swinging. Playing Tate is like going down in the fetal position.
Unless you're being sarcastic. Then never mind...
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
I'll be there for the anthem and the game! Tuesday was not fun to watch, hoping this game goes better and that was just a one-time bad day.
What are we going to learn that we haven't already? We are a lousy defensive team with some pretty good offensive weapons with the ability to beat some good teams when we are hot and come to play but with a propensity to lay an egg every few games. The next game could go either way but is unlikely to be any kind of indicator of what is to come the remainder of the season.
seems like we lose to teams with real fast players. is that true? WVU had a full team of them. winthrop should have been a win but they had some fast guards and bigs.
Does ohio state have quick players? I dont think Loving is very quick but I dont know their roster. Any scouting report?
Does ohio state have quick players? I dont think Loving is very quick but I dont know their roster. Any scouting report?
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
About as succinct and accurate an assessment of this team as I have seen.
Groce isn't wrong that Tate plays effectively in some games, however, it should be clear within the first 2-3 minutes whether it is going to be the good Mr Tate rather than the bad Jaylon.
This is an old team. The veterans had better respond after the abysmal road loss.
This is an old team. The veterans had better respond after the abysmal road loss.
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
Groce is cutting his own throat with his stubbornness. Tejon should have been given way more minutes in the non conference to develop. Looking around the Big Ten at the freshman impact it's everywhere. Maryland started I believe 3, Purdue's Carson Edwards is doing well. Michigan State has several that play a ton. I would like to see a lineup just for shear athletisim of Lucas, JCL, Hill, Williams and Black. Then you have 3 seniors you can be bringing in off the bench. 8 man rotation should be plenty unless foul trouble or injuries. We look like the slowest team in the Big Ten. He's gotta shake up the lineup see who wants it bad enough.
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