Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, 5:09pm CT, TBS

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#7      
HensonHall71
I’m interested in what our assignments will be tonight. I think it’s:
TSJ on Newton
Ty on Spencer,
Guerrier on Karaban
Coleman on Klingan
Marcus on Castle

I think Marcus can be fine in Castle because they don’t run much for him and he likely won’t be crashing the offensive glass given he’ll be guarding TSJ on the other end, so he almost has to find him once the shot goes up- that is a big advantage for us given Castle is their version of Ty who can really rebound and be a problem if you don’t box him out

I think we let Klingan go 1-1 on Coleman and he’ll get his points but he’s not Edey, I think if their offense become just dump it to Klingan we’re OK with that

Shutting off Spencer will be key- Ty will have to get through a lot of screens and limit his shots. I think TSJ will bother Newton with his size and not let him get into the offense like they want

I think we match up with them defensively fairly well in this scenario- I don’t like Marcus on Spencer because it will wear out MD on defense running through screens and that’s not his strength- let Ty do that

On the other end it’s likely
Castle on TSJ
Klingan on Ty
Karaban on Coleman
Spencer on Domask
Newton on Guerrier

Coleman and Guerrier need to take advantage of their matchups in this scenario- Klingan will be at the rim so Ty setting a pick on Castle should get TsJ open looks given Klingan won’t close out on the screen

If they put Klingan on Coleman the matchups will be more traditional and we need Coleman to have a big game pulling Klingan away from the basket and hitting threes and driving to the rim

Essentially- we need Coleman to have a big game offensively either way!
 
#8      
altgeld88
Last evening, instead of watching the games, I watched the 30-for-30 documentary on the 1983 NC State team. Hadn't seen it since it was released ~ 10 yrs ago. Many here were fortunate to have watched that game live on TV (I was a junior in HS), and Villanova take down G'town two years later (I was a freshman at UIUC), and then Duke slay unbeatable Goliath UNLV in the '91 FF. I get chills recalling these games, because I understood as I was watching them how special they were.

At this point in the tourney winning as an underdog requires (beyond talent) both coaching strategy and flexibility, and an entire team (from the starting five all the way through to the student managers) that's loose, confident, has nothing to lose, and possesses both humility and swagger. That's us these past couple weeks. The best part for me isn't the wins, it's seeing how much fun these guys, and especially BU, are having.

There's no reason why we can't beat UConn. Absolutely none. So let's go do that this evening, and put another quarter in the jukebox. :illinois:🏀
 
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#12      
OrangeBlue98
I'm finally ready to make a prediction.

UConn is the best team in the country. We are playing better than anyone in the country except maybe them. We aren't going to be intimidated. We're going to stand toe to them.

But my head says we fall just a little bit short in a game that has lead changes and no team ever gets a double-digit lead.

UConn 94, Illinois 91 in a game people will talk about for years as one of the great NCAA tournament games.
 
#13      
john1952
Draftkings has us as plus 8.5 point dogs.

What would have to happen to beat UConn. Do we shoot the three well enough to pull the upset?
 
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#14      
doowink
OrangeBlue98 said:
I'm finally ready to make a prediction.

UConn is the best team in the country. We are playing better than anyone in the country except maybe them. We aren't going to be intimidated. We're going to stand toe to them.

But my head says we fall just a little bit short in a game that has lead changes and no team ever gets a double-digit lead.

UConn 94, Illinois 91 in a game people will talk about for years as one of the great NCAA tournament games.
Click to expand...
Illinois 94 UConn 91......FIFY.......a week from Monday will be the total solar eclipse of the sun and the crowning of Illinois mens basketball as the best in the land
 
#17      
illiniswish09
Believe Jason Sudeikis GIF by Apple TV
 
#18      
BWBW
Joel Goodson said:
Hawkins is the key. Getting Clingan out of the paint changes everything.
Click to expand...
Any possibility that we will rotate Hawkings, Dainja, and Hansberry through the middle to "attack" Clingan with Hawkins sometimes rotating with Quincy on the wing? I assume TSJ will attack the basket, which is additional pressure on Clingan.
 
#20      
FoundersClub
My heart: 88-87 Illinois. We trail by 11 half, storm back to tie it at the 5 min mark. Two momentum shifting corner 3’s from Harman. Game goes to the wire. 33 for TSJ, big game from Ty.

My head: 88-76 UConn. We trail by 11 at half. We make a run to cut it to 5/6 at the 8 min mark, but can never quite get over the hump. A few late back breaking threes and UConn rolls on. Our moral victory is that we kept it under 13.
 
#22      
Big Jack
Don't have any insight into a final score but think it is in the 70s.. We need to come out strong and punch them in the mouth hard, hit our first few shots including 2-3 3s. Get TSJ a few runs to the rim.. Then work on getting Clingan on the bench with 2 fouls... We have to get into their heads immediately, this will make them press and make mistakes to our advantage. Survive their 2nd half run then hang on like we did with Iowa St...

Remember they have everything to lose they are expected to breeze to their 2nd Naty..
 
#24      
kyillinifan
Go Illini. Chalk has to hit 3’s. So does Quincy. Harmon has to get his shot back. I see Klingan play at the top of key for pick n roll much like Northwestern did and Pu.
 
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