Pregame: Illinois vs Tennessee, Saturday, December 14th, 4:30pm CT, FOX

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#102      
SescIllini
Off-court question, just curious how KJ, Tomi, and Will have adjusted to campus life in Illinois. Especially with Euro culture vs Midwest USA

Years ago would see pics of Kofi,Trent and couple other players in the quad. Kofi seemed to enjoy his time at Illinois
 
#104      
AZILL

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#108      
Birdus
3 or 4 months ago some sites were picking us to finish 13th in the league. There were people on this board that were questioning our recruiting. Will we win on Saturday? I don't know but I love that this team is turning some heads. I think this will be a very competetive game. In the end I hope that we win and it would go a long way with seeding but if we don't, it is still early and we will have some more opportunities. Kudos to Daddy Brad for bringing this altogether. We are going to face some more bumps in the road. On a side note, I really like Reilly. If he can develop more strength in the next 2-3 months, he will be a monster.
 
#111      
Fighter of the Nightman
I saw this Champaign Room article said we are 2-5 against #1-ranked teams since 2000 ... actually not horrible, haha. Here are the results:

2024-25: #1 Tennessee at Illinois (Champaign, IL)

2023-24: #1 UConn 77, #10 Illinois 52 (NCAAT Elite Eight in Boston, MA)
2023-24: #1 Purdue 83, #9 Illinois 78 (West Lafayette, IN)
2012-13: Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72 (Champaign, IL)
2004-05: #5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73 (Champaign, IL)
2000-01: #1 Duke 78, #9 Illinois 77 (Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Greensboro, NC)
2000-01: #1 Arizona 79, #8 Illinois 76 (Maui Invitational)

So, we are undefeated against #1-ranked teams in the House of 'Paign this MILLENNIUM. ;) :ROFLMAO: I was also very surprised to see that we trailed the all-time series vs. Tennessee 1-3, considering most of the games took place before 2000. Don't get me wrong, Tennessee has been a really, really good program in recent history, but they haven't exactly been as good as us historically (e.g., many people are shocked to find out a program like Tennessee has been to ZERO Final Fours compared to 5 at Illinois).

Personally, I have nothing against Tennessee and admire their athletic department (other than the fact that it seems like their fans have a bit of a "the world is out to get us" complex ... but there are more than a few Illini fans who act like that, so can't hold that against 'em too much!!). I would welcome more series' with them in the future, and it would be cool if we did a 4-year setup like we did with Gonzaga, Arizona, Georgia, Arkansas, etc. in the past where we did Champaign-Knoxville-Chicago-Nashville or something like that.
 
#112      
GrayGhost77
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I saw this Champaign Room article said we are 2-5 against #1-ranked teams since 2000 ... actually not horrible, haha. Here are the results:

2024-25: #1 Tennessee at Illinois (Champaign, IL)

2023-24: #1 UConn 77, #10 Illinois 52 (NCAAT Elite Eight in Boston, MA)
2023-24: #1 Purdue 83, #9 Illinois 78 (West Lafayette, IN)
2012-13: Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72 (Champaign, IL)
2004-05: #5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73 (Champaign, IL)
2000-01: #1 Duke 78, #9 Illinois 77 (Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Greensboro, NC)
2000-01: #1 Arizona 79, #8 Illinois 76 (Maui Invitational)

So, we are undefeated against #1-ranked teams in the House of 'Paign this MILLENNIUM. ;) :ROFLMAO: I was also very surprised to see that we trailed the all-time series vs. Tennessee 1-3, considering most of the games took place before 2000. Don't get me wrong, Tennessee has been a really, really good program in recent history, but they haven't exactly been as good as us historically (e.g., many people are shocked to find out a program like Tennessee has been to ZERO Final Fours compared to 5 at Illinois).

Personally, I have nothing against Tennessee and admire their athletic department (other than the fact that it seems like their fans have a bit of a "the world is out to get us" complex ... but there are more than a few Illini fans who act like that, so can't hold that against 'em too much!!). I would welcome more series' with them in the future, and it would be cool if we did a 4-year setup like we did with Gonzaga, Arizona, Georgia, Arkansas, etc. in the past where we did Champaign-Knoxville-Chicago-Nashville or something like that.
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Except for the Elite Eight game vs. UConn, it's interesting that every game we've been beaten by the #1 team has been very close. I expect this game to be close, as well, but hopefully we end up on the right side of the win column in this one.
 
#113      
1m4tr
Kams Blueguy said:
If they want to put a 5’9 guy on 6’6 KJ then booty ball and post him up all day and I like our chances.
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Ziegler has a way to get up underneath taller guys. KJ has shown at times a looser handle. Ziegler will try to poke the ball away if KJ tries to booth ball. I like the poster below who suggested that Boswell bring the ball up and I like KJ as the second guy to get the ball on the sidelines and start cookin’ from there.
 
#114      
Fighter of the Nightman
Regarding my earlier post about how we need a homecourt atmosphere like nothing we have seen since Wake Forest in 2004-05, it got me thinking of the current positive trend in our gameday atmospheres in Champaign. When this turnaround started in 2019-20, our atmosphere was still very lacking. I mean, we have great/loyal fans, so there were often full crowds and it could get loud ... but the extra juice that makes an arena's "hostility" stand out was just not there yet. Obviously there were no fans in 2020-21, but we'd see the progress the next year.

In 2021-22, there was really ONE game where I felt like our gameday atmosphere was once again at that mid-2000s elite level ... vs. #11 Arizona in 2021-22. While you notice a level of activity in the Krush that is exceptional from the tip and you can hear that buzz in the arena, the stretch from 21 minutes to about 22:25 where Frazier gets the steal and scores is awesome. The last home game against Iowa where we clinched the Big Ten championship was also an awesome atmosphere.

I felt we saw continued improvement in 2022-23, but it was still mostly flashes and less consistency. Moments in the comeback vs. Northwestern and the 2OT game against Michigan had deafening roars of the crowd, but much of the season consistent of the Krush "standing around" too much and our fans reacting to cool plays rather than preemptively affecting the game by rattling the road team. Frankly, our most active, energetic and intimidating crowd of the year might have been in Las Vegas when we took over that place. :ROFLMAO:

Then last year, it felt like we had way more consistency ... but perhaps nothing that rivaled the crowds of 2021-22 vs. Arizona or Iowa. The closest was the final game against Purdue that we lost late, where the crowd really was great.

The point of all of this ranting is that while we have awesome, awesome, awesome fans ... we have evidence we can be even better! And here it is. Our crowd in the 2004-05 Wake Forest game was not just loud ... it LITERALLY seemed to create energy that was tangible and visible and intimidating. I don't know if anyone tuned into the beginning of Texas/Texas A&M the other week, but say what you want about 'em ... Kyle Field was the definition of electric. And so was Assembly Hall in the linked video. I hope we hand out free shirts to Krush to make sure the color scheme is perfect, and the rest of the crowd is juiced up.

Just watch from 7:30 to about 8:00 in the linked Wake Forest game video. All that happens in that timeframe is Powell hitting a mid-range jumper to go up 7-4 and our guys getting back on defense ... and yet the crowd starts by chanting "Go, Illini, GO" actively while we are on offense, ERUPTING after the made basket and jumping up and down while screaming their lungs out once we are on D, lol. We just simply haven't seen that type of energy in Champaign in many years. People can blame the renovation, but the renovation arguably actually HELPED our atmosphere on paper ... fewer empty gray seats on TV and students facing the camera. Here's to our fans BRINGIN' IT on Saturday and truly affecting the game!!
 
#115      
Battle89
1m4tr said:
Ziegler has a way to get up underneath taller guys. KJ has shown at times a looser handle. Ziegler will try to poke the ball away if KJ tries to booth ball. I like the poster below who suggested that Boswell bring the ball up and I like KJ as the second guy to get the ball on the sidelines and start cookin’ from there.
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Booth ball has been relegated to the bench
 
#116      
21ChampaignSt
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Just watch from 7:30 to about 8:00 in the linked Wake Forest game video. All that happens in that timeframe is Powell hitting a mid-range jumper to go up 7-4 and our guys getting back on defense ... and yet the crowd starts by chanting "Go, Illini, GO" actively while we are on offense, ERUPTING after the made basket and jumping up and down while screaming their lungs out once we are on D, lol. We just simply haven't seen that type of energy in Champaign in many years. People can blame the renovation, but the renovation arguably actually HELPED our atmosphere on paper ... fewer empty gray seats on TV and students facing the camera. Here's to our fans BRINGIN' IT on Saturday and truly affecting the game!!
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I'm one who blames this decline partially on the renovation. I guess during our down years, it improved the optics on TV but I think that's different from a hostile atmosphere that gives us an advantage.

We now have fewer fans in the building, a different make up of fans, and the Krush is further away from the court (instead of literally standing on the court). Add to this smartphones and beer being allowed now (hard to jump up and down and clap with a cup of beer in your hand) and I think that's part of the reason for the decline.

I will say this is the best Krush I've seen in at least the last few seasons. They're more organized and engaged in the game. My complaint this year has been more with the 200s. It's like a library up there sometimes.

As for the loudest game of the BU era, I had to miss the AZ game but I've attended most of the home games. Loudest one I've been to was the OSU game in 2022. At the time, it was thought to be a pivotal game in the B1G championship race and the place was jumping. Especially after BU got thrown out of the game. Unfortunately, we came up just short. It was blizzard conditions that night and the drive back to Chicago was quite sketch.
 
#117      
aaeismacgychel
Ramrod2010 said:
This will be very tough. My concern is going to be the three point shooting. We have had too many games of random dudes just popping off from distance and this is a guy that actually shoots it well.

Should be a really interesting matchup.
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Milicic is going to be a really good test for Ivisic when Okpara is off the court and they're matched up. Milicic is solid 3pt shooter for a big and will take them when given the opportunity. Ivisic will need to be able to close out on him more than he usually does against bigs, as if Milicic is on, he can be really dangerous from back there. Career 36% 3pt shooter on moderate volume.
 
#118      
Fighter of the Nightman
21ChampaignSt said:
I'm one who blames this decline partially on the renovation. I guess during our down years, it improved the optics on TV but I think that's different from a hostile atmosphere that gives us an advantage.

We now have fewer fans in the building, a different make up of fans, and the Krush is further away from the court (instead of literally standing on the court). Add to this smartphones and beer being allowed now (hard to jump up and down and clap with a cup of beer in your hand) and I think that's part of the reason for the decline.

I will say this is the best Krush I've seen in at least the last few seasons. They're more organized and engaged in the game. My complaint this year has been more with the 200s. It's like a library up there sometimes.

As for the loudest game of the BU era, I had to miss the AZ game but I've attended most of the home games. Loudest one I've been to was the OSU game in 2022. At the time, it was thought to be a pivotal game in the B1G championship race and the place was jumping. Especially after BU got thrown out of the game. Unfortunately, we came up just short. It was blizzard conditions that night and the drive back to Chicago was quite sketch.
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Good points and thanks for the input. TOTALLY forgot about the OSU game, but yeah - that one was definitely elite. I think the main difference from 2005 and now is that even our "meh" atmospheres then were really, really good ... meanwhile, our "big-game" atmospheres were out-of-this-world good and stacked up with literally any arena in the nation. I also do think that the relative lack of orange these days hurts, too ... something about that orange-clad wall of fans was just more intimidating than a smattering of 70% orange and various shades of navy, gray and white. I get it, most of my Illini gear to wear around the city or to bars is not orange ... but for a home game, I always bust out an orange shirt!!

Ending on a positive note, I DO think our homecourt atmosphere has made a ton of progress, specifically with Krush. Even during last season, I think we saw them get way more active and into the game. I'm also POSITIVE that we will have an amazing atmosphere Saturday ... I am just cautiously optimistic that it will finally get back to that true next level.
 
#119      
Illinicpa14
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Good points and thanks for the input. TOTALLY forgot about the OSU game, but yeah - that one was definitely elite. I think the main difference from 2005 and now is that even our "meh" atmospheres then were really, really good ... meanwhile, our "big-game" atmospheres were out-of-this-world good and stacked up with literally any arena in the nation. I also do think that the relative lack of orange these days hurts, too ... something about that orange-clad wall of fans was just more intimidating than a smattering of 70% orange and various shades of navy, gray and white. I get it, most of my Illini gear to wear around the city or to bars is not orange ... but for a home game, I always bust out an orange shirt!!

Ending on a positive note, I DO think our homecourt atmosphere has made a ton of progress, specifically with Krush. Even during last season, I think we saw them get way more active and into the game. I'm also POSITIVE that we will have an amazing atmosphere Saturday ... I am just cautiously optimistic that it will finally get back to that true next level.
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Early 2000s nationally we always got recognition as a top 5-10 place to play and impossible to win as a road team (felt at the same level as say Mackey now). We also at times had some pretty big win streaks (and win steaks in non-con, etc). Now I just kind of hear this is an overall really good program and good fans but nothing about how hostile it is to play.
 
#121      
Fighter of the Nightman
Illinicpa14 said:
Early 2000s nationally we always got recognition as a top 5-10 place to play and impossible to win as a road team (felt at the same level as say Mackey now). We also at times had some pretty big win streaks (and win steaks in non-con, etc). Now I just kind of hear this is an overall really good program and good fans but nothing about how hostile it is to play.
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Yep, agreed fully ... 2001 to 2006 were my formative sports years (lucky, I know ... :ROFLMAO: ), and it was practically gospel that Assembly Hall was a top 5-10 venue in America. At the VERY least, no Illini fan would not rank it #1 in the Big Ten as the hardest place to play. Today, I bet many of our own fans would mildly and passively admit Mackey is better and not get too worked up about that fact.

I want the House of 'Paign's reputation back, damn it!!
 
#122      
ILL21
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Yep, agreed fully ... 2001 to 2006 were my formative sports years (lucky, I know ... :ROFLMAO: ), and it was practically gospel that Assembly Hall was a top 5-10 venue in America. At the VERY least, no Illini fan would not rank it #1 in the Big Ten as the hardest place to play. Today, I bet many of our own fans would mildly and passively admit Mackey is better and not get too worked up about that fact.

I want the House of 'Paign's reputation back, damn it!!
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My wife and I will be there and will do our part to make your wish a reality!
 
#124      
RockfordIllini
Watching some of the Miami game. From what I can see their defense is really predicated on Ziegler pressuring the ball 30+ feet from the basket, which makes it really hard to initiate offense. I wonder if we can counteract that by initiating offense with whoever Ziegler isn’t guarding. I don’t know if they would have Mashack pressuring that far away from the basket.

If you can get by Ziegler, they do a pretty good job of clogging gaps like we do. But I do think we can get some 3s off of that when they collapse. Miami certainly did early in the game.

Defensively, I’m concerned Milicic is too good a shooter for us to plant Ben in the gaps, and I don’t know if he’s quick enough to recover and close out under control. May need to give Will Riley more tick if Milicic burns us from 3.

They are very good but I think we can compete with them. Will all come down to if we are hitting shots. Thought we had good looks the last 2 games and didn’t shoot well. Hopefully that means we are due.
 
#125      
pvaughn8
Last season I went to Knoxville for the game. The 2nd half was disappointing but still had a good time with my friends. Ended up at a club/bar off campus highly intoxicated and met some cool fellow Illini fans. After the bar shut down and we were outside waiting for Uber, I started giving some kid !!!! for being a Jack Harlow clone. I ended up drawing criticism of others, but was thankfully backed up by my brethren in Illinois gear. The other side quickly grew in numbers and it turned into an Illinois vs Tennessee thing. An average sized Tennessee guy started picking a fight with a 6'6" Illinois guy. It turned into a boxing match and Illinois guy had stupid long reach. On maybe the third time he connected, Tennessee guy collapsed, head hanging off the curb with his face in a gushing stream of water from the rain. Me being a pacifist ran over and removed his head from the water so he didn't drown. The crowd quickly dispersed after that and thankfully nobody was seriously hurt or arrested.

Hopefully this year we have on-court domination as well. I won't be there, so I won't cause any ruckus
 
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