Pregame: Illinois at Ohio State, Tuesday, January 30th, 6:00pm CT, Peacock

[hoopsfan47]

That’s the stat I want someone to explain how teams can blow huge leads as soon as I turn a game on.

More than likely, we share some of the same DNA. In our case, we possess the gene that determines that the entire world, and God, are in a conspiracy against us and all we deem important to us...the Illini basketball fortunes in this case.

And don't dare call me paranoid....it is a proven fact!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

More than likely, we share some of the same DNA. In our case, we possess the gene that determines that the entire world, and God, are in a conspiracy against us and all we deem important to us...the Illini basketball fortunes in this case.

And don't dare call me paranoid....it is a proven fact!!!!!!!!!!!1

I’m right there with you!

 

[Poe's Law]

Illini -2.5

 

[Birdus]

I still feel really good about this team and would not trade for any other in the BIG. But, has anyone looked at Wisconsin's and Purdue's second half schedules. They are relatively user friendly. I still believe in this team and feel we can make a run but we cannot afford to play like we did against I.U. Another loss and we are 2 1/2 to 3 down in the standings. If we want even a share of the BIG championship, we need to seriously make a run now.

 

[jumpingjack]

 

[Bigtex]

We match up well with Ohio st. Doubt they dump the ball into the post for easy scores. Will be interested in seeing how we guard Thornton (switch?) please abandon the switch everything as b1g teams figure out how to get their preferred matchups.

 

[Illini in Italy]

More than likely, we share some of the same DNA. In our case, we possess the gene that determines that the entire world, and God, are in a conspiracy against us and all we deem important to us...the Illini basketball fortunes in this case.

And don't dare call me paranoid....it is a proven fact!!!!!!!!!!!1

Remember . . . just because you're paranoid doesn't mean the world is NOT out to get you!

 

[Se Il Illini]

We match up well with Ohio st. Doubt they dump the ball into the post for easy scores. Will be interested in seeing how we guard Thornton (switch?) please abandon the switch everything as b1g teams figure out how to get their preferred matchups.

You may be right here. But defensively Illinois can not continue to trail the offensive player on the handoffs at the free throw line and the top of the key.

 

[Brosky]

We match up well with Ohio st. Doubt they dump the ball into the post for easy scores. Will be interested in seeing how we guard Thornton (switch?) please abandon the switch everything as b1g teams figure out how to get their preferred matchups.

Since teams have been getting inside on us too often, we need to bring the hard double on post players backing down.

 

[NarrowJ]

You may be right here. But defensively Illinois can not continue to trail the offensive player on the handoffs at the free throw line and the top of the key.

Alternative is you go under, but I think our mantra is make the opponent beat you with 2s and not 3s.

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

Alternative is you go under, but I think our mantra is make the opponent beat you with 2s and not 3s.

I’m totally onboard with that defensive philosophy, the key is hard 2s, not layups and dunks. That’s where we’ve gotten ourselves in trouble lately IMO.

 

[pruman91]

Tonight's game brings back the nostalgia days for me of radio only way back in my early years of my Illini fanaticism.......catching a good signal that was affected by clouds and weather on my Am-Fm feeds.........I will not pay for Peacock regardless of their other content.......just won't ............

I just subscribed to the Paramount + & Showtime package and am enjoying it immensely ......I have a couple friends that have Peacock and have mixed opinions regarding video feed quality and the no recording of content........

Therefore , I will enjoy Brian B. & Doug A. tonight and have a game feed stat window open to help visualize the action.....It helps to get fully medded up and I will for sure be doing that , so I guess my prediction is .................................

Illini 76
osu 69

 

[Cozy Johnson]

So I live in Lexington KY and refuse to participate in the Peacock. That said are there any streaming options for the radio call? I know sometimes a local radio station back home will have the call and make it available online. TIA

 

[pruman91]

So I live in Lexington KY and refuse to participate in the Peacock. That said are there any streaming options for the radio call? I know sometimes a local radio station back home will have the call and make it available online. TIA

Dan's first post in the game thread has the only radio feed I have used for many many years.....

 

[Illini_Jack]

BEAT OSU

 

[Champaignheat]

Illinois 78-71.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

We are due for a big performance. I think we get back to being us tonight.

 

[NarrowJ]

I’m totally onboard with that defensive philosophy, the key is hard 2s, not layups and dunks. That’s where we’ve gotten ourselves in trouble lately IMO.

I am unsure how often we are actually wanting to hedge or switch on those handoffs, because you need to have a winnable matchup to switch and hedging can result in the big getting a rim run. The problem I see often is we don't switch and the hedge isn't good enough to stop the ballhandler. That results in the ballhandler getting by with his defender trailing (what the original poster commented on)-- which then the next thing you're going to see is either an easy basket for the ballhandler or if help comes it is dumped off to a cutter or help defender's man.

I'm unsure what the issue is because I can't be totally sure what guys are being instructed to do versus a given opponent. I'm also don't claim to be even a bad basketball coach (let alone a good one ) so maybe there is more to it than this, but Brad even said after the NW game that they tried some new switching actions that resulted in guys getting lost/beat on a lot of NW's offensive plays.

 

[FromTheLogo]

Still waiting for the TSJ statement game. Not sure this is it, but we play hard.

Illini: 79
Ohio St.: 75

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

Getting some serious TSJ vibes… 25+ gets to the line at will… things click.

Illini 87
O$U 64

Everyone sleeps well & the Final Four narrative gets pushed again for the foreseeable future….

 

[GallopingGhost]

Should? I don’t know what our team should be doing anymore. I’d be happy with a 1 pt win

 

[uofi7477]

I get you Pru. I only get Peacock for Illini men and women's games and only for month they are on at $5.99 per. With Netflix, Prime, YTTV, and B1G+, I do not need nor want any of their other content. Recent Women's Illini game had excellent top-notch video feed.

 

[Deep]

JMO......but if we have any chance at BIG title and if we think we are as good as we claim then you have to win this game.
I understood the whole Northwestern game (Even though we should have won)........but there are no reasons we should not win this game.

I think it's GO time

 

[Bigtex]

IMO good matchup and should see similar results against Ohio State (as Illinois did vs Rutgers).

 

[RockfordIllini]

JMO......but if we have any chance at BIG title and if we think we are as good as we claim then you have to win this game.
I understood the whole Northwestern game (Even though we should have won)........but there are no reasons we should not win this game.

I think it's GO time

Agree. After tonight we are halfway through conference season. So far we have 2 very understandable road losses and one toe stub. We can’t have any more toe stubs the rest of the year if we want a shot to win conference.