Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Saturday, January 21st, 1:15pm CT, BTN
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We'll win it.
There is no point in resisting the First Four loss.
There is no point in resisting the First Four loss.
Should be a close game. Probably about a 4 point loss, with the way we play on the road that would be a success.
Time to win one.
If they ever needed a road win, this is it. Sadly, I have my concerns and I feel that Belein will have his team ready than the 1st go around. The law of averages would say that we owe Michigan some beatings but I have my concerns on the state of the team and who is actually leading this team at this point of the year.
Not sure their defense is so bad. Michigan up on Wisky on the road by 8 with 12 to go. So far Wisky has scored just 30 points. B1G is pretty crazy this year. But Michigan has 9 fouls so far in 2nd half - zebras may keep Wisky in it.
Not gonna happen.
89illinigrad
- Chicago
With the possible exception of the Wisconsin game, I think all of the remaining 12 BIG games are winnable, in other words the line will probably be no more than 5 points either way.
The key is getting Abrams out of his 3-PT shooting slump and/or getting JCL to be a bit more consistent. Its hard to win games with our defense if we're not shooting well. Going 3 for 17 from 3 will not cut it.
The key is getting Abrams out of his 3-PT shooting slump and/or getting JCL to be a bit more consistent. Its hard to win games with our defense if we're not shooting well. Going 3 for 17 from 3 will not cut it.
For once I want to see us put up a good game on the road.
This is the first game in labeling must win. Malcolm goes nuts.
Any updates on Derrick Walton Jr? I know he limped off the court at the end of the game last night.
As of today: Illinois is ranked 44th in the RPI with a #7 SOS in the country. 0-4 vs. the top 25, 2-1 in games vs. 25-50th ranked teams, 3-1 against teams ranked 50th-100th, so 5-6 against top 100 teams.
That resume speaks to being on the bubble but not out of it by any means. But, they do need some signature wins and some road wins(even a road win against Rutgers/Iowa/Penn St) would look good this season.
In comparison, Northwestern is ranked 42nd in the RPI with a 15-4 record, SOS is 105, with a 4-4 record against the RPI top 100. If you look at the eye test, Northwestern looks to be a more cohesive unit with an identity and team chemistry.
That resume speaks to being on the bubble but not out of it by any means. But, they do need some signature wins and some road wins(even a road win against Rutgers/Iowa/Penn St) would look good this season.
In comparison, Northwestern is ranked 42nd in the RPI with a 15-4 record, SOS is 105, with a 4-4 record against the RPI top 100. If you look at the eye test, Northwestern looks to be a more cohesive unit with an identity and team chemistry.
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I agree. But we can make up a lot of ground from here on out. And Wisconsin is certainly beatable, though I hope it's not necessary. I like having a very tough SOS the committee loves that.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
Michigan's schedule is pretty tough the next few weeks. We are one of their weaker opponents and they will certainly be labeling us a must win game at home. Neither team can win on the road, so Michigan will be the obvious favorite. IMO, the team that makes more 3s will win. Probably a lot of Maverick Morgan talk leading up to the game too.
Zak Irvin and his fellow Michigan basketball players took note of Illinois center Maverick Morgan's assessment of them late Wednesday night. "They are more of a white-collar team, traditionally, and at Illinois, we're about toughness and together," Morgan said after his team crushed the Wolverines, 85-69, in Champaign, Ill.
It was a glimpse into how the Wolverines are perceived by at least one school, maybe more...I was always taught not to have bulletin-board material, and that was something that can be put on a bulletin board when you see that," Irvin said. "We definitely don't want to be called a white collar team."
"We talked about it. That's going to stay inside the locker room," Irvin said today, about 24 hours before Michigan hosts Nebraska at the Crisler Center (2 p.m. Saturday, BTN). "We're just looking forward to Nebraska. But we will see them (Illinois) again. We'll be looking for that matchup."
LINK
Zak Irvin and his fellow Michigan basketball players took note of Illinois center Maverick Morgan's assessment of them late Wednesday night. "They are more of a white-collar team, traditionally, and at Illinois, we're about toughness and together," Morgan said after his team crushed the Wolverines, 85-69, in Champaign, Ill.
It was a glimpse into how the Wolverines are perceived by at least one school, maybe more...I was always taught not to have bulletin-board material, and that was something that can be put on a bulletin board when you see that," Irvin said. "We definitely don't want to be called a white collar team."
"We talked about it. That's going to stay inside the locker room," Irvin said today, about 24 hours before Michigan hosts Nebraska at the Crisler Center (2 p.m. Saturday, BTN). "We're just looking forward to Nebraska. But we will see them (Illinois) again. We'll be looking for that matchup."
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Did Morgan really say that? Seriously? A very boneheaded remark. What does that even mean? White collar? And the whole term of toughness and togetherness is just coach-speak at this point. I'm actually glad that Groce does not reference this phrase very much anymore. It got old after Season 2.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
What's wrong with being white collar? I get what MM meant, They've traditionally (of late) been more of a finesse, perimeter style, team. Not what you would call blue collar, grind it out, muscle the ball inside team. I don't even know what the heck you'd even call us, neither one as far as I can see. Silly thing to even be upset over, or motivated by.
White collar/blue collar is such a silly way to describe sports teams. Hearing 'white collar' as an insult is even more ridiculous.
Sports teams want to be labeled "blue collar" because that means their tough. "White collar" is being interpreted as being called soft. Nobody playing sports wants to be called soft. It is ridiculous but so is feeding your opponent such obvious bulletin board material. With how we have played the last couple of years we have no room to talk.
Well then, it's out there. Let's hope the team is checking their baggage twice to make surethey didn't forget those blue collars. Sounds like they are going to need them.
Unless Groce makes adjustments, we're not gonna win this game.
There is a reason the saying goes, "Great ones adjust."
If something isn't working. One must adjust so that it does work. Let's see if Groce is willing and capable of making proper adjustments to get this team playing better basketball on both ends of the court and on the road.
Benching Tracy (bringing him off the bench to rest Tejon only) and not playing Tate and Thorne at all would be a proper adjustment in my eyes. I have nothing against any of those guys. I'm heart broken for Tracy. He has worked so hard to get himself ready to play, but his body just doesn't have it right now. Limiting his minutes and taking pressure off him will really improve his play once his ego accepts the role change.
And then let's see who between Kipper, AJ, DJW and Alex Austin which two or three of those four wants to get after it on defense and on the glass and help his team score on offense. Groce should give all four of those guys minutes in the next few games and let them SHOW IN A GAME who wants it more.
There is a reason the saying goes, "Great ones adjust."
If something isn't working. One must adjust so that it does work. Let's see if Groce is willing and capable of making proper adjustments to get this team playing better basketball on both ends of the court and on the road.
Benching Tracy (bringing him off the bench to rest Tejon only) and not playing Tate and Thorne at all would be a proper adjustment in my eyes. I have nothing against any of those guys. I'm heart broken for Tracy. He has worked so hard to get himself ready to play, but his body just doesn't have it right now. Limiting his minutes and taking pressure off him will really improve his play once his ego accepts the role change.
And then let's see who between Kipper, AJ, DJW and Alex Austin which two or three of those four wants to get after it on defense and on the glass and help his team score on offense. Groce should give all four of those guys minutes in the next few games and let them SHOW IN A GAME who wants it more.
This is Groce's biggest problem in my opinion. He is blinded by his loyalty to upperclassmen, regardless of talent. It has been very apparent these last few years.
Oh I understand why sports teams use that terminology as a analogy for toughness, but it's pretty dumb IMO to equate toughness with blue collar and being soft with white collar.
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