Pregame: Illinois at Penn State, Saturday, January 28th, 3:30pm CT, BTN
- Status
Keep the wins going, go Illini.
We'll get this one too. First Four here we come.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Would be nice to win 2 B1G games in a row for the first time in...2 years? I see maybe 5 more wins for this team in the regular season. Might sneak in 6 if we can win one in the B1G tourney. Win one more we probably shouldn't and we might hit 20 wins and a nice spot on the bubble. It's not ideal, but not a dagger to the heart of the program.
Us on the road... I don't like those odds...
We really need to string 2+ good performances together, but based on history, I don't like our odds.
If JG continues to give considerable minutes to TA, JT, and Thorne we are toast.
We won't win ANY of these 3 :tsk:
I agree.
The maddening thing is you gave starter minutes to TJL, JCL, Black, Hill and Mav and then judiciously subbed in TA, Finke, JT, Nichols and Thorne you could present one heck of a problem for other teams. The depth is there, he just hasn't learned how to divide up the minutes.
I'm with S&C on this one. There is talent and depth to this rotation if Groce figures out how to use it quickly. He's getting closer, but not there yet.
Teams are keying on Hill, which sets us up nicely with Mav, JCL and Black if we spread minutes right
With TA's story and things he's been through I really want him to do well, but TJL brings such a spark to the offense, he definitely deserves the starting job. If he'll just figure out when to slow down a bit he'll be a needed to keep our sometimes-stagnant offense moving.
One of the things that is manifesting itself with that is that we're playing too many guys. We played 10 guys double digit minutes last night, and that's leaving Jordan and DJW on the bench. Everyone on the roster has game experience, so now everyone is a mouth to feed. That's a tough situation as the coach.
And Groce says it all the time, he wants the best group to seize the reins. With Finke suddenly demanding time on the floor it seems like we're further from that, not closer.
This is a big time swing game. Win it, and all of a sudden you have the opportunity against Wisky to totally flip the script. Lose it, and lose to Wisky, and all of a sudden the Minny game is Waterloo.
I have begun to look forward to these posts on each game thread
It is indeed inevitable. It is our destiny.
Penn State, Northwestern, Iowa, Nebraska and Rutgers. The road games against Maryland, Indiana, Michigan and Purdue are behind us.
We're really not in as bad of shape as the narrative right now. Not sure why so many people reacted as if Michigan was the death blow.
Agreed. Losing against Iowa surely would have been the death blow. I'm just still scratching my head trying to comprehend how night and day we looked against Michigan in under a 10 day span
Agreed. Losing against Iowa surely would have been the death blow. I'm just still scratching my head trying to comprehend how night and day we looked against Michigan in under a 10 day span
When you hit all of your shots you tend to look pretty good.
The scripted substitutions need to stop. It's the most idiotic thing I've ever seen and points to the staffs inability to identify hot hands or guys that aren't performing. When you're on a roll, keep the hot group in for God's sake. Don't solve your opponent's problem for them. Make them stop you before you try something different.
And can we PLEASE watch a couple of coaching videos on how to get the ball inbounds against pressure and advancing against a press? We're going to see it against PSU. They're tough and quick and they watch game film.
I'm sure the guys enjoyed punching the other team in the mouth coming out of the gate instead of being the punching bag. Need to do it again at PSU and keep punching until THEY stop us. Don't stop ourselves!
And can we PLEASE watch a couple of coaching videos on how to get the ball inbounds against pressure and advancing against a press? We're going to see it against PSU. They're tough and quick and they watch game film.
I'm sure the guys enjoyed punching the other team in the mouth coming out of the gate instead of being the punching bag. Need to do it again at PSU and keep punching until THEY stop us. Don't stop ourselves!
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I have begun to look forward to these posts on each game thread
It is indeed inevitable. It is our destiny.
I read that in my Darth Vader voice.
One of the 3 or 4 road games that's possibly winnable for this team (@Rutgers & @Neb, and maybe throw in @Iowa if Jok is still hurt).
Buuuut I'll side with the recent 18 month or so history of the Illini not winning back to back big ten games. And the even more recent history of this team getting embarrassed on any court but Lou's.
Illinois is up by 5 at half, final score ends up a frustrating 74-66 PSU over Ladders.
Buuuut I'll side with the recent 18 month or so history of the Illini not winning back to back big ten games. And the even more recent history of this team getting embarrassed on any court but Lou's.
Illinois is up by 5 at half, final score ends up a frustrating 74-66 PSU over Ladders.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Seems about right. Hope they prove us wrong.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
Penn State looks to be a 2 point favorite.
PSU is on a 3 game losing streak and are coming off two consecutive 25+ point beatdowns. PSU will only be favored to win 2 of their final 10 games. They will be prepared to play.
We haven't been able to string good back-to-back B10 games together in a year. There is no evidence that this team can win a B10 road game (sans Rutgers). Hope is about all Illinois can hang its hat on in B10 road games.
I see it PSU 69-64
PSU is on a 3 game losing streak and are coming off two consecutive 25+ point beatdowns. PSU will only be favored to win 2 of their final 10 games. They will be prepared to play.
We haven't been able to string good back-to-back B10 games together in a year. There is no evidence that this team can win a B10 road game (sans Rutgers). Hope is about all Illinois can hang its hat on in B10 road games.
I see it PSU 69-64
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