Pregame: Illinois vs Arizona, Saturday, December 11th, 4:00pm CT, FOX

[pruman91]

I really think we will play at a level like the Rutgers game as we have found a pattern of play that has finally brought out our strengths....We are a great 3 point shooting team that also has the best low post player in the country....Az will have to pick their poison and I firmly believe when they do that BU and staff will have the beloved prepared to exploit the remaining options for us......

Plummer has found his stroke big time....he is shooting with supreme confidence and we are moving the ball better than we have right now than ever before this year....

The home court crowd will be a big advantage to us and , as many have said before when playing us with a packed house , that the House of Paign is an absolute beast to play at.................

Therefore i will predict the following.............

Illini 84
mildcats 81

it should be an entertaining game and the win , along with our great win over the idiots , will springboard us back in the polls to around # 18-20

I know i will be in front of my tv listening to Brian B. and Deon or Doug on the radio feed describing another tantalizing Illini win.................................

 

[jrichisamazing]

I think Baylor from last year is a good comp for this game. It’s going to be tough to come out of this one with a win.

Baylor last year was arguably one of the best CBB teams of all time.....this Arizona team is not that good. We should win this at home if we are B1G contenders.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

Statistically, these two teams are very close. That despite all the mix-n-match 5 we have had to put on the floor, not practice at full strength, etc

Also took a look at the highlights on YT (of AZ games)

IMHO, IF we run our offense (includes make our shots) and play our defense, we win.

Based on those two assumptions:

IL: 85
AZ: 70

True. And if Arizona runs its offense (includes makes its shots) and plays its defense, it wins. About 50 hours until we find out who is able to do what.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Hate to say it, but I see the same.

And the advantage at the 5 might not be as big as people think. It’s a bad match up, no doubt.

IL - 76
AZ - 84

As much as would passionately desire an Illini victory against my alma mater, having seen Aizona play once, I would not bet cent on an Illini victory. In a nutshell, the Illini are not adept enough, and may never be, to handle the pace of play of the Cats on both ends. Wish it were not so, and I hope this is a foolish assessment, but I have seen nothing to indicate otherwise unless the Cats can't throw it in the ocean.

That said, this game can be invaluable. The Illini are a team learning to play together and yearning for success at the highest level. If they can't compete then learn what needs to be instilled in order to do that. This game means nothing. But they may meet again when it does, and then they need to show that they have it between the ears to adapt to do what is necessary. On the bright side, we have seen indisputable evidence that these kids, or at least most of them, are doing just that. Still too many empty possessions must be eliminated and resulting in 5-10 more attempts at the basket.

Nevertheless, I will be intensely watching....living with every Illini three pt. bucket or Kofi slam dunk...and dying every time they throw it into row 5 or fall down after picking up the dribble and getting triple teamed in the lane....things that have happened too often and in every game.

 

[Chieeeeffffff]

Oh, I totally agree with everything you said. I think having the pick and roll in our bag of tricks makes us harder to guard and more drought resistant though. Even if it's a tertiary option.

They ran some P&R sets in the second half against Rutgers and I thought it worked well. I imagine having 4 days of practice between games for a change was welcomed by the staff. The offensive identity is becoming clear and I don’t think it’s some basic or skeleton offense.

 

[illini0440]

Oh, I totally agree with everything you said. I think having the pick and roll in our bag of tricks makes us harder to guard and more drought resistant though. Even if it's a tertiary option.

I think the inbounds play the Grandy with 4 to go on t he shot clock goes to show you why we have been so effective.....Plummer ad Kofi took up 3-4guys because Iowa was so worried about them(BU knew they would be) that it leaves Grandy(who the play was designed for) wide open. Also why the horns set that we started out in 80% of the time against Rutgers was so effective as well.

 

[illini0440]

I think the inbounds play the Grandy with 4 to go on t he shot clock goes to show you why we have been so effective.....Plummer ad Kofi took up 3-4guys because Iowa was so worried about them(BU knew they would be) that it leaves Grandy(who the play was designed for) wide open. Also why the horns set that we started out in 80% of the time against Rutgers was so effective as well.

Both are very simple actions/plays but the different types of strengths are players have make them very effective actions that stresses the defense.

 

[ChiefIllinois]

At times this team feels like it gets stuck too much in a single minded offensive approach. Like it's been mentioned, last year we just PnR the heck out of the opponent because ayo and Kofi were all Americans.

This year we seemingly have improved three pt shooters across the board (minus Kofi but hey he hasn't missed on this year ). We can't get sucked into only trying to hit contested threes. Same with Kofi consuming the ball. Let him touch it every possession, but he can't get single minded. I think the former is a bigger issue, but playing a balanced offense is extremely important to this teams success.

Limit turnovers, keep focused on balanced offense and we'll be a tough out for anyone.

 

[Sedino]

Got a bad feeling about this one.

They are long and athletic across the board. If Coleman gets in foul trouble, not sure we have anyone else to match up with Tubelis. And not sure Damonte is quick enough or Trent is long enough to really bother Mathurin.

Only spot 1-5 I think we have a clear edge is with Kofi, but we’ve struggled to feed him and I can see their length on the perimeter really disrupting our post entries.

I’m sensing a Baylor like game. We maybe hit some shots to hang around but at some point in the second half we turn it over and they make us pay with a bunch of transition points and we go from down 6 to down 18 in a span of 2-3 minutes, putting the game out of reach.

They let off the gas a little and we make a little run to keep it respectable but wind up losing by 8-12.

I’ve watched Gonzaga, Duke, and Purdue and I don’t think any of them have more talent than AZ. JMHO. Hope I’m wrong.

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

 

[illini0440]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

Haha welcome aboard

 

[pruman91]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

Dr. Chandra...................

Yes Hal ??????

I'm intrigued by this Ted talk person .....Is it human or binary ????

I don't know Hal , but I enjoyed it also.....

Dr. Chandra , will I dream about an Illini win on Saturday against the mildcats ????

Yes you will Hal, and sweet dreams they are .......................

 

[Sedino]

Haha welcome aboard

Wow, and the first reply I get is from a Loyalty legend, what a start.

Edit: and the second reply as well.

 

[illini0440]

Wow, and the first reply I get is from a Loyalty legend, what a start.

Edit: and the second reply as well.

That depends on who ya ask! lol

 

[Tacomallini]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

 

[NJJ871]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

 

[1970 John]

So, if we played them 1,000,000 times, we would win 510,000 of them.

Source: Fading memory of Statistics 101


I do seem to recall something something standard deviations, but nevermind.

That only applies to standard deviants.

 

[pruman91]

Wow, and the first reply I get is from a Loyalty legend, what a start.

Edit: and the second reply as well.

puff , puff , pass.......................

We talk seriously , about serious business , that means a seriously great amount of importance to us .....

 

[RockfordIllini]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

Thanks for the reply, and all good points. Wasn’t trying to be a negative Nancy, just trying to be realistic, and not a slight at all to our guys.

When I said I think AZ is more talented than Duke Or Gonzaga, I should have clarified that AZ very well may be the best team in the country. They’ve only had 1 non blowout, an
OT win against Wichita State. All of their other games they’ve won by 20+

And when you go lineup vs lineup I just think AZ has the edge based on measurables. Coleman can pull their 4 out on the perimeter but hasn’t yet proven to be able to reliably take high major competition off the dribble (often turns it over) and he’s foul prone. Their “Trent” is 6’3. Their “DaMonte” is 6’7. And we don’t have anyone like Mathurin.

So like I say, I think they may be the most talented group we face all year and maybe the most talented in the country. Does that mean we aren’t? No! We may even be more skilled, but when you are giving up 3 inches or more to your counterparts across the board, it just makes it harder to shoot, find passing angles, contest shots, etc.

I will be cheering like heck but realistically I think this is one of the few games this year where we will face a talent deficit. All I meant, and I hope to eat crow. Go Illini!

 

[trtl]

I did not realize AZ is #1 in NET rankings and we are 33. Great opportunity for us on Saturday.

 

[21ChampaignSt]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

I love the passion and optimism!

I don't mean to derail the thread, but as someone who isn't confident we'll win this particular game, I do want to chime in. I don't think being a fan means always thinking your team is going to win or blindly supporting everything your team does. For example,, Bears fans who pay $250 for nose bleeds to watch a bad football team play in the cold are still passionate fans even though they want their coach fired. They just know that a coaching change would be the best long term move for the team. (FTR, I think the fire Nagey chants are in poor taste).

I'm a season ticket holder and since I started watching Illinois basketball 18 or 19 years ago, the number of games I've missed must be close to single digits. I can only think of three such games actually (Purdue in 04, MSU in 05, and Mich in 19). But I personally enjoy analyzing the games before, during, and after. (That's why I'm here) Sometimes my amateur analysis leads me to predict a loss for the beloved. I always hope I'm wrong in those instances but I dont think that makes me a bad fan and I think it's a disservice to good conversation not to provide a particular point of view just because it's not a popular one.

Some people are just always going to be negative though. Those people just need a hug, or a beer, or a NL.

I'm new here too and also promise that not all my posts will be so long (or negative).

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

Is it just me, or does this guy kinda sound and look a little like BU? Long lost brother from another mother?

 

[skyIdub]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

Any Given...... Saturday?

 

[SuperintendentChalmers]

I have lurked on here for years getting updates on recruits and hearing what others have to say about the Illini, but I finally made an account after reading this post. I do not understand how so many of you can be so negative all the damn time, maybe it is so if something bad does happen you can say "I knew it all along" or "I told you so" but that is horrible.

Damonte is one of the best defenders in college basketball, he will lockdown Mathurin. Coleman locked down Harper Jr. and Murray for 90% of the Iowa game who are two of the best players in college basketball, he can guard Tubelis without getting in foul trouble just fine.

"Only spot we have a clear edge" What is that BS. We have an offensive advantage with Tubelis trying to guard Coleman, we have one of the best leaders in the country in Trent who is finally getting right after being injured or sick all year, one of the best pure scorers in the Big and honestly in the entire NCAA in Plummer, one of the sneakiest good players I've ever seen in Grandison who is also a + on defense and has the length to guard their long guards/forwards. Oh, and a NPOY candidate in Kofi.

Plus this will be the most electric crowd the SFC has seen in probably 15 years. I, personally, have a great feeling about this one because after we win, we will be back in the top 25 were we belong.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk and can't wait to finally converse with some of you, I promise not all of my posts will be this confrontational.

From the original "Fever Pitch" film starring Colin Firth as an Arsenal fan:

Fan 1: What about last season?
Fan 2: What about it?
Fan 1: They were rubbish. They were f---ing rubbish.
Fan 2: They weren't that bad.
Fan 1: They were f---ing rubbish last year. And they were f---ing rubbish the year before. And I don't care if they are top of the League, they'll be f---ing rubbish this year, too. And next year. And the year after that. I'm not joking.
Fan 2: I don't know why you come, Frank. Honest I don't.
Fan 1: Well, you live in hope, don't you?

 

[BRucks]

Hey if our fans were able to do it fairly successfully for a football game, I am 100% confident we'll pull it off for a basketball game.

The student section struggled.

 

[IlliniKat91]

The student section struggled.

They were told to wear all orange if memory serves. (I was in the shoe in blue.)