Pregame: Illinois vs Purdue, Friday, March 7th, 7:00pm CT, FOX

[Dan]

Illinois vs Purdue
Friday, March 7th
7:00pm CT
FOX

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

Let's make it three in a row.

 

[Illini2010-11]

Let's get to 20 wins for the 6th straight year!

 

[PizzaHutParkingLot]

We haven’t beaten PU since the 2021 season, that needs to change

 

[DeeIL89]

This is the year to take down Purdue.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

 

[IlliniFaninHoosierLand]

Purdue hosts Rutgers at 6:00 PM Tuesday on Peacock.

If Illini still want that shot at a possible 5 seed in the BTT, we need to root for the Scarlet Knights in this one.

 

[Illinifan533]

We are overdue to give PurDont a good beat down, and they don’t have a foul merchant in Edey to bail them out anymore.

 

[skyIdub]

A week of practice and rest after a HUGE road kill.

 

[ginabackes00]

My annual game with my son is the Purdue game. When I bought the tickets I was hoping for a must win to take the conference championship. Now I will settle for signature win against Purdue to move us up in the tourney

 

[CleverHandle1]

This might be the year Illinois beats PU, if they come to play like today.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Well, this suddenly became a big game again!

 

[1m4tr]

Will Morez be ready to play?

 

[NarrowJ]

Purdue on a bit of a skid, had lost 4 straight (2 by double digits) prior to taking care of UCLA

I like our current trajectory a bit better, hope we punk Smith and Loyer

 

[kyillinifan]

Boswell will give Smith all he wants on Friday.

 

[IllinialuminAZ]

I was regretting flying across the country for this game last week. Now I'm pumped! Hope the SFC is rocking!

 

[blife]

Keep the momentum rolling. Let's peak at the right time and play consistent good hard-nosed basketball. Be the aggressor for 40 minutes.

 

[freddbird]

Purdue lost 4 of their last 5, including by 2 @Michigan. They also play a game on Tuesday.

Hopefully they are tired and ready to be beaten.

 

[chrisRunner7]

So how are we going to defend the pick and roll with Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn-- is there any chance at all we can have the big man hedge?

I would just rather have Smith dumping it to TKR at the free throw line instead of him turning the corner with Boswell trailing and TKR rolling... I fear Smith would dice us up with short jumpers and assists at the rim.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Let’s get a win to secure our place as one of the most confusing teams to seed of all time

 

[doowink]

I would guess the Boilers will shoot the ball better than Mich did today....should be a really good game....I'll take the Illini 81-77....how about an undefeated March.....now that would be some madness!!

 

[Illini2010-11]

I would guess the Boilers will shoot the ball better than Mich did today....should be a really good game....I'll take the Illini 81-77....how about an undefeated March and April.....now that would be some madness!!

FIFY

 

[IlliniShelt]

Brad ended his streak of not beating PSU w/o Kofi this year...I think he ends his streak of nit beating Purdont without Kofi in this one.

 

[RockfordIllini]

I actually really like this matchup.

Respect the hell out of Smith. Absolute warrior. But he can be bothered by physical athletic guards, just like Kylan.

TKR is unbelievable but he’s an undersized 5, listed at 6’9 but probably closer to 6’7 and he can struggle to finish over size, just like Tomi.

Loyer can shoot it but can’t really consistently create his own shot.

Make Smith and TKR have something less than absolute superstar performances, hug their 3 pt shooters and then I think we have mismatches for them all over the court.

The Kylan of the last 3 games will be a problem for them. Good Tre White will be a problem for them. Will Riley will be a problem for them. Tomi will be a problem for them. A B-/C+ Kasparas will be a problem for them.

Keep our bite defensively, keep attacking the basket, and shoot approximately 30% from 3 or better and I like our chances.

 

[djkirkpatrick22]

I’m excited for the Boswell/Smith matchup. Hope we don’t get any cheap whistles and Boz him up! Also assume Tre guards Kaufman Renn and I think that’s a good matchup too! I would have loved to see Morez in TKR too!