I get ESPNU, so as far as channels are concerned that's all I care about.
Pregame: Illinois vs UCLA, Friday, November 18th, 8:30pm CT, ESPNU
- Status
I have no idea what to expect in Vegas. No combination of wins and losses would necessarily surprise me. But frankly, results are tertiary.
I want to see what we run and who we go to when we need a big bucket.
I want to see how effective this defense is against teams who will actually make us pay if we have a lapse.
I want to see how the freshman + Dainja play against more talented teams.
And if we win a game or two in the process, that's just gravy.
I'll say it again, I'm excited.
I want to see what we run and who we go to when we need a big bucket.
I want to see how effective this defense is against teams who will actually make us pay if we have a lapse.
I want to see how the freshman + Dainja play against more talented teams.
And if we win a game or two in the process, that's just gravy.
I'll say it again, I'm excited.
Dee had great north south speed. Deron had better lateral quickness (and hops). Deron was always the better point guard.
Clark did not look slow too me. He has good north south speed. I have not picked up on his lateral quickness either way. He and Epps both look quick and fast to enough me. Both have some skills. I thought Clark was trying to play too fast and forced some things, whereas Epps played smarter and picked his spots.
Harris is obviously an athlete with exceptional speed, quickness, and hops.
Yeah, Turner had a great game against them. That was a fun team.
Just hoping for a close game. This is about as unproven as a team we possibly could have at this point, and UCLA the antithesis of that. In my mind if we show we can play on their level that’s good enough for me given the circumstances.
This game has almost zero negative implications on the season needle for this team and conversely has a lot of potential to move it much higher. In other words this game at best is a wash long term in my opinion.
This game has almost zero negative implications on the season needle for this team and conversely has a lot of potential to move it much higher. In other words this game at best is a wash long term in my opinion.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Experience-wise, this is not a good match up for us. They have guys who’ve been playing together 2, 3, 4 years and we have a brand new team with most of the guys not knowing their roles just yet.
71-59 UCLA.
71-59 UCLA.
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Should be an interesting weekend, to say the least...
Will TJ & co show out against similarly skilled athletes?
Will the Freshmen stack up?
Will BU run as much press, and will high-level coaches solve it (you know Cronin will practice against it all week...)?
Will MM return to form?
Who will Dain wrap his legs around (aka, the Dainja zone)?
I want two wins and a top-10 ranking. Does that make me greedy?
Trying to say the importance I place on wins and losses is a couple magnitudes lower than my interest in seeing how we look against good teams. I feel like "tertiary" was a good enough word to express that.
Should be an interesting weekend, to say the least...
Will TJ & co show out against similarly skilled athletes?
Will the Freshmen stack up?
Will BU run as much press, and will high-level coaches solve it (you know Cronin will practice against it all week...)?
Will MM return to form?
Who will Dain wrap his legs around (aka, the Dainja zone)?
I want two wins and a top-10 ranking. Does that make me greedy?
But yes to all the rest.
sacraig
- The desert
No. That's how we push for a top seed in March!
Should be an interesting weekend, to say the least...
Will TJ & co show out against similarly skilled athletes?
Will the Freshmen stack up?
Will BU run as much press, and will high-level coaches solve it (you know Cronin will practice against it all week...)?
Will MM return to form?
Who will Dain wrap his legs around (aka, the Dainja zone)?
I want two wins and a top-10 ranking. Does that make me greedy?
We got more dawgs…and the dawgs are hungry.
Illini catch UCLA early with a right-left no biscuit via hustle plays resulting in 3’s and dunks and UCLA is shook for the remainder of the contest.
Release the hounds
Illini catch UCLA early with a right-left no biscuit via hustle plays resulting in 3’s and dunks and UCLA is shook for the remainder of the contest.
Release the hounds
I just hope communication on D is very good or this could be a long game. UCLA has the experience and talent to make the Illini pay for all that switching if our guys aren’t all on the same page. That’s why I think we’ll see the rotation shortened up in this game. If you’re not talking on D, good chance you’ll be sitting more than you have been.
Do you guys think UVA will drop out of this tournament? Football team already cancelled their game this weekend, although obviously they're more affected by the incident than the basketball team. If they did drop out, I wonder what would happen. Guessing the winner of Illinois/UCLA would play Baylor and the loser would be done for the weekend.
I imagine if they were going to drop out, they would have done so already. Team must be planning to travel not later than tomorrow.
Their woman's basketball team is playing tonight at Loyola. There is a statement on their website specifically mentioning the tragedy and saying that the team playing the game is the best way to honor the 3 men who died.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
That is the thing I will be looking at the most .....if we start out 1-18 in FGA then we may be too far behind to come back ......if we shoot 75 % in the first half like we did against mono then we should have a double digit lead .......if we average @ 50 % then I think it will be a great game.......
Our first game against higher level competition will be interesting and give us a snapshot of what the rest of the season will look like.........I don't fear ucla and i know BU and staff and players don't either.........we should be in the game from tip off to the buzzer........I don't know enough about the bruins to do what some here do as far as a manifesto analysis , but they are ranked higher than we are so i think it;s a chance to enhance our ranking and personna with our pressure D and long length , then bring in Epps , Rodgers , Harris and Dainja @ 3-4 minutes in will confuse , confound and completely wear down the bruins and we will win this game ......then we will play either bu or uva and we will ruin their holiday season also......
The Illini are a team of skilled athletes at least 9 deep right now.............I see NO reason to doubt the Illini until shown that my homerism is unfounded and then I will still be "" high "" on my beloved Illini........I do know this years team fears no one and relishes the chance to prove how good they really are........
Illini 78
ucla 72
Illini 80
bu/uva 72
Hope I'm right.....Would be a great feeling to start the holiday season off with the Illini unbeaten and highly thought of.................jmho
I looked at some ucla basketball blogs to try to learn more about there team and It made Me immediately want to come back to loyalty and thank Dan for keeping such a well balanced site for our beloved and fans.also I couldn't find more then 7 posts about illini vs ucla game on there blogs.i understand there having a great football season this year but was kinda shocked at what little interest from a supposed blue blood in what should be a great game.i hope recruits take notice of the Illini Fandom and how strongly we feel about our teams and players there's not another fan base in the country like the orange and blue.go Illini and let's get that w on friday
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
It should be fun but just in case…
Bigtex
- DFW
Besides the end result, playing time distribution will be Of great
Interest
- Status