Pregame: Illinois at Tennessee, Saturday, December 9th, 11:00am CT, CBS

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#51      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but if we win Saturday I’ll legitimately become more excited for our Illini than I have been since we smoked #2 Michigan on the road in 2021 with Ayo out hurt. 2022 was a great season in its totality - Big Ten banner! - but it never had a crazy high. Even after beating #2 Texas last year, I think I was still adjusting to so many new faces.

Winning at Tennessee and avoiding a comedown speaks not just to this team’s ceiling … which is VERY clearly high (i.e., beating Final Four caliber teams). It speaks to our FLOOR being low. I’m starting to get REALLY excited about this group. In the words of my Dad’s text to me tonight, who is always ready for the next shoe to drop:

“Ok, even I think these guys could make some real noise this year.”
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Agreed. That '22 team almost always played well, but was always beatable and never could really get into high gear.

This team feels different and I think you can hear the excitement when BU speaks about this group. He has a hungry, experienced team that wants to get better. He doesn't have the head cases he has last season. And he sounds excited to tinker with this team to see what he can build come March.
 
#52      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
Unlike FAU, I've watched a lot of Tennessee games the past few years. This game is going to be a dog fight and it comes at a perfect time for us. Our offense has been humming, so let's put it to the test against arguably the best defense in the country.

I'm a little bit afraid we are going to run into a buzz saw. This is the Vols first real home game, and it's on a Saturday with no football so I'm expecting an amped up crowd even with the early start. They played well in Maui but just couldn't find a way to win against Purdue and KU, similarly to us against Marquette. Then they layed an egg @UNC, the type of game you just throw in the trash because it was so bad.

Offensively, they have been very sporadic under Barnes. Lots of their momentum at home has come from their defense. They can suffocate you at times, leading to blocks or turnovers, which lead to dunks or open threes.

So that's the key for me...limit the mistakes. Vols fans know they are susceptible to long scoring droughts and they start to get restless. Play a clean game, limit the big runs to keep the crowd quiet and we've got a good chance.

Would love to see us grind out a 63-59 type game. As much as I loved the FAU game, winning a game of this style will be much more indicative of how good we can be in B1G play.
 
#54      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but if we win Saturday I’ll legitimately become more excited for our Illini than I have been since we smoked #2 Michigan on the road in 2021 with Ayo out hurt. 2022 was a great season in its totality - Big Ten banner! - but it never had a crazy high. Even after beating #2 Texas last year, I think I was still adjusting to so many new faces.

Winning at Tennessee and avoiding a comedown speaks not just to this team’s ceiling … which is VERY clearly high (i.e., beating Final Four caliber teams). It speaks to our FLOOR being low. I’m starting to get REALLY excited about this group. In the words of my Dad’s text to me tonight, who is always ready for the next shoe to drop:

“Ok, even I think these guys could make some real noise this year.”
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DOPE. Definitely meant to say "It speaks to our FLOOR being high." Lol.
 
#57      

blackdog

blackdog
Champaign
blackdog
jrichisamazing said:
Unlike FAU, I've watched a lot of Tennessee games the past few years. This game is going to be a dog fight and it comes at a perfect time for us. Our offense has been humming, so let's put it to the test against arguably the best defense in the country.

I'm a little bit afraid we are going to run into a buzz saw. This is the Vols first real home game, and it's on a Saturday with no football so I'm expecting an amped up crowd even with the early start. They played well in Maui but just couldn't find a way to win against Purdue and KU, similarly to us against Marquette. Then they layed an egg @UNC, the type of game you just throw in the trash because it was so bad.

Offensively, they have been very sporadic under Barnes. Lots of their momentum at home has come from their defense. They can suffocate you at times, leading to blocks or turnovers, which lead to dunks or open threes.

So that's the key for me...limit the mistakes. Vols fans know they are susceptible to long scoring droughts and they start to get restless. Play a clean game, limit the big runs to keep the crowd quiet and we've got a good chance.

Would love to see us grind out a 63-59 type game. As much as I loved the FAU game, winning a game of this style will be much more indicative of how good we can be in B1G play.
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After reading this summary and comparing Tennessee to Illinois

Blaming Spider-Man GIF
 
#58      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
IlliniwekKDR said:
film christmas GIF by It’s a Wonderful Life


I'm this greedy right now
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Since you’re referencing the infamous Mr. Potter here... let’s remember what Potter once said to George Bailey when George hesitated at Potter’s tempting offer of lucrative money and travel...

“CONFOUND it Man! Are you afraid of SUCCESS!?”

Well, the Illini need to take heed. DO NOT be afraid of success. Enjoy it. Embrace it. And don’t be tempted by any detours from Your Route to the Prize.

And one day soon Our Beloveds will become... The Richest Men in CagerTown.
 
#59      

Emerson Bigguns

Emerson Bigguns
Emerson Bigguns
If we keep it close Barnes will find a way to give the Illini a win.
In their Maui Inv game against Purdue, Purdue got a rebound with a 6 point lead and 50 seconds left. They played defense for 32 seconds and then Ziegler gave a foul. Just mind numbing clock management.
Great recruiter, but man… there’s a reason he’s moved around a lot.
 
#61      

IlliniHardwood

I
IlliniHardwood
The Galloping Ghost said:
This is the game where we really get to see the difference between this year's squad and last year's. Last year, we won a big game in the Garden against a ranked opponent and followed it up with a truly hideous performance on Saturday morning. Let's not repeat what we did last year. We're older. The vibes seem way better. Let's show it by coming out firing from the jump and collecting another huge win.
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Totally agree that this team is night-and-day different. The main difference is that this year we have an actual TEAM and not a group of talented individuals that got a few early good wins because someone got on a heater (i.e., TSJ vs UCLA). This team actually looks like they care about each other and the team's success, which should translate into an all-out effort and/or good performance every game. I am even more optimistic that we won't see let-downs after big games than when TF was here, which is saying something and is nothing against TF since he was playing through injuries for the Beloved.
 
#65      

altgeld88

altgeld88
Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
Illwinsagain said:
That was a double overtime game. I don't think it can be called a blowout. I believe it was also Super Bowl Sunday.
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I'll vouch for that '89 victory over GT. It was a helluva game, not a blowout but we did pull away in the second OT to win by 11. And I never would have remembered that it was on Super Bowl Sunday, which it indeed was. That thrilling Niners victory over the Bengals with the last-minute Montana-to-John Taylor TD pass. Was at a pig roast at a friend's place over at First & John to watch it. Good memories.

[EDIT: Looked up that GT game. I'd also forgotten that's the win that made us #1]
 
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#69      

LarryGotFouled

L
Plano, TX
LarryGotFouled
altgeld88 said:
I'll vouch for that '89 victory over GT. It was a helluva game, not a blowout but we did pull away in the second OT to win by 11. And I never would have remembered that it was on Super Bowl Sunday, which it indeed was. That thrilling Niners victory over the Bengals with the last-minute Montana-to-John Taylor TD pass. Was at a pig roast at a friend's place over at First & John to watch it. Good memories.

[EDIT: Looked up that GT game. I'd also forgotten that's the win that made us #1]
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I was there too. Not a blowout for sure. That GA Tech team was legit. Dennis Scott couldn't miss. The crowd noise after Battle's dunk to seal it nearly blew the roof off.
 
#70      

IbleedOandB2014

IbleedOandB2014
In BU we trust
Chattanooga
IbleedOandB2014
Haven’t been to a game since the thriller in Champaign vs Iowa back in 19-20 with Kofi locking up Garza to seal the win.

Chattanooga, TN resident now. Driving up to the game with my wife, who is also an alum.

I’ve been ecstatic about seeing the team for weeks now. Our recent success has only amplified this feeling. I’ll be loud and proud for the Illini in my now home state. ILL..
 
#71      

BretMyBeachHouse

B
BretMyBeachHouse
Emerson Bigguns said:
If we keep it close Barnes will find a way to give the Illini a win.
In their Maui Inv game against Purdue, Purdue got a rebound with a 6 point lead and 50 seconds left. They played defense for 32 seconds and then Ziegler gave a foul. Just mind numbing clock management.
Great recruiter, but man… there’s a reason he’s moved around a lot.
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Moves around a lot? I don't think that's accurate, at least compared to most coaches. His teams have generally been mediocre in crunch time, but he's actually been one of the most stable guys out there. He's been lucky to be on his third stint at a football school. No pressure.
 
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