Pregame: Illinois vs Maryland, Friday, March 14th, 5:30pm CT, BTN

[RockfordIllini]

One other note that has me optimistic for today, is not only do we have Tomi for this one, but Ben is a different player than he was when we played them last. No one will confuse him for Ben Wallace down on the block, but he’s learned how to scrap and fight and he held his own against two of the best, most physical bigs in the conference in Goldin and TKR the last 2 games. In fact, the reason why he played so much in the stretch run against Purdue is he was actually guarding TKR better than Tomi was.

So we are essentially going from one guy capable of bodying up Maryland’s bigs (who by the way was a frosh making his first career start) to 3. I’m optimistic those 3 can at least not be turnstiles for Reese and Queen. Plus we should be able to draw them away from the basket on the other end where they aren’t comfortable, maybe even put a couple of fouls on them.

 

[altgeld88]

this will never get old:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1900529984587911430

Coleman truly is the Joker

I love me some CoHawk; however, remember what happened four days after this at Rec Hall in Happy Valley, and CoHawk's role in that debacle.

Pride as precursor to a fall. I despise Maryland as much as anyone (probably much more, living as I have in the DMV for many years and coexisting with its insipid, low-rent fan base) but I want level heads, physical play, and relentless focus out of our boys this evening.

Most of all I want Victory Illinois Varsity over these tools as I sit among Twerp fans with @Retro62 in a sports bar in Bethesda.

 

[I-L-L 1318]

One other note that has me optimistic for today, is not only do we have Tomi for this one, but Ben is a different player than he was when we played them last. No one will confuse him for Ben Wallace down on the block, but he’s learned how to scrap and fight and he held his own against two of the best, most physical bigs in the conference in Goldin and TKR the last 2 games. In fact, the reason why he played so much in the stretch run against Purdue is he was actually guarding TKR better than Tomi was.

So we are essentially going from one guy capable of bodying up Maryland’s bigs (who by the way was a frosh making his first career start) to 3. I’m optimistic those 3 can at least not be turnstiles for Reese and Queen. Plus we should be able to draw them away from the basket on the other end where they aren’t comfortable, maybe even put a couple of fouls on them.

Rebounded his tail off last night as well. His motor has been really good since he has come off the bench.

 

[nmillini]

There isn't a team in the conference that we match up worse against. Any team that has bouncy, athletic bigs we're going to struggle against. Any team that has super athletic guards, we're going to struggle against. Maryland has both.

If KJ plays like he did tonight (on both ends), we're in a for a long night. He's going to have a world of issues staying in front of the Maryland guards.

Fingers crossed.

Is "match up badly with" sometimes a code phrase for the other team is just better?

 

[HensonHall71]

Honestly don’t care what happens the rest of the way if we can win this game. PLEASE

I used to think this way - win this game and the BTT has been a success - of course it will feel crappy losing on Saturday to Michigan or Purdue, but having to play Sunday in a meaningless game for seeding is always a double edge sword, when the NCAA tourny is the ultimate goal.

However, seeing us win a couple of BTTs recently and hanging banners, I have changed my opinion, winning titles does matter and it goes down in history as part of the story of this team. I now think winning the BTT is a huge success and we should have the goal of holding the trophy on Sunday every year

 

[OrangeBlue98]

If Maryland wears gold tomorrow, everything's on the table.

If they wear white, agree on hoping to see the Flying Illini uniforms.
If they wear gold, then either the FI orange or the script white

But we'll probably get the base oranges and p*** off everyone in this thread because that's just what seems to happen . . .

 

[BlueLeader]

I am fine with KJ not scoring a single point if he stops leading the entire field in turnovers.

 

[HensonHall71]

One other note that has me optimistic for today, is not only do we have Tomi for this one, but Ben is a different player than he was when we played them last. No one will confuse him for Ben Wallace down on the block, but he’s learned how to scrap and fight and he held his own against two of the best, most physical bigs in the conference in Goldin and TKR the last 2 games. In fact, the reason why he played so much in the stretch run against Purdue is he was actually guarding TKR better than Tomi was.

So we are essentially going from one guy capable of bodying up Maryland’s bigs (who by the way was a frosh making his first career start) to 3. I’m optimistic those 3 can at least not be turnstiles for Reese and Queen. Plus we should be able to draw them away from the basket on the other end where they aren’t comfortable, maybe even put a couple of fouls on them.

I'm not sure Ben's defense on Goldin and TKR, both of whom absolutely torched us as a measuring stick for success, but your second point is very valid.

Not only did we only have Morez to battle two bigs down low, he was in foul trouble and there was 21 minutes of that game where we didn't even have him - it was cupcake city at the rim for Maryland and Queen and Reese were on a sugar high

Just slowing them down inside and not allowing layups and dunks all game will be a huge improvement - I assume Tre will have to guard Queen to start the game, which won't be great, but the fact that we'll have Morez off the bench will be significant - I think he'll have to play a lot this game, like 25 minutes. Tomi should be able to make Reese work for his points with this length and while Queen will get his rebounds, we just can't make his points easy to come by.

I will say, while KJ has been in a funk lately for a stretch, he hasn't been as bad as last night and usually when he has a catastrophically bad game like last night, he bounces back with a good performance which bodes well for today

 

[Get yourself a new map]

The path to victory is not via shutting down one or both of Reese and Dairy Queen. We need Ivisic to stay in the game so we can continue to score and not give up second chance points. Absolutely cannot afford for him to pick up some BS softies.
Secondly, this is one you are not going to win in spite of your best player; this has to be BECAUSE your best player showed up. Right now, I don’t trust KJ - that is to say, when he has the ball, I get the same feeling I got when watching Caleb Williams drop back. We WILL lose this game if Maryland gets 15+ points off turnovers. They are too good to give them that kind of assistance.

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

I got a good feeling about tomorrow….

 

[From the cheap seats]

Maryland is very good, maybe the most talented starting 5 in the B1G. Would think a FF would be possible if they had any depth. But I think this will be a different game than the first one. In that game, Maryland scored 27 points off turnovers, outscored us 17-3 on fast breaks (see turnovers) and outscored the Illini 62-34 in the paint. Reese (12-23 with 27 points and 17 rebounds) and Queen (10-13 for 25 points) feasted when we had no Tomi and Morez was in constant foul trouble.
We were 6-28 from 3, which is not unusual for this team, but we were only 17-33 from 2, below the 58% we've shot from 2 all year. Interestingly, Maryland only outrebounded the short-handed Illini 40-36 as Boswell (9) and KJ (7) really hit the boards, but we only could get 8 offensive rebounds on 38 misses.
Take care of the ball and rebound and I like our chances.

 

[sacraig]

These game times suck for West coast fans.

 

[NarrowJ]

I'm not sure Ben's defense on Goldin and TKR, both of whom absolutely torched us as a measuring stick for success, but your second point is very valid.

Did they really torch us though? We beat them by 20 in their own gym. Goldin had a nice game but that's nothing new. Wolf had 9 points and only 5 rebs (averages 10) to go with 5 turnovers. We also did not have Morez for that game.

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

I've been wearing my shirt from the TSJ jersey celebration for every game since Duke. It's getting washed and coming with us to the hospital tonight. We won't be able to watch the upcoming games live but there should be enough downtime waiting for baby to squeeze in some watching!

please name your child after the MVP of the game tonight.

 

[pruman91]

I love me some CoHawk; however, remember what happened four days after this at Rec Hall in Happy Valley, and CoHawk's role in that debacle.

Pride as precursor to a fall. I despise Maryland as much as anyone (probably much more, living as I have in the DMV for many years and coexisting with its insipid, low-rent fan base) but I want level heads, physical play, and relentless focus out of our boys this evening.

Most of all I want Victory Illinois Varsity over these tools as I sit among Twerp fans with @Retro62 in a sports bar in Bethesda.

my first ever contact with marylanders was on spring break 1970 in Fort Lauderdale , Fl when my bestest bud and I shared some space with a couple dudes and their lady friends.......they impressed me as fast talking low IQ sub human beings........now their lady friends were a complete opposite as I found out later on that night.......alas , that is another vivid memory in the life of pru.......it really really is.............yahoo.......................

 

[altgeld88]

These game times suck for West coast fans.

I feel for you. We on the EC suffered through too many 9 p.m. ET tips this season, and I had to miss lots of second halves. 6:30 tip times last evening and today are pretty sweet for us, especially the elderly like me who are in bed by 10:30! I was just coming down from the post-game adrenaline high last evening when the Sandman approached.

 

[ChiTown]

I am fine with KJ not scoring a single point if he stops leading the entire field in turnovers.

Let’s hope that the lottery pick KJ shows up tonight.

 

[DirtyBurgIllini]

I am fine with KJ not scoring a single point if he stops leading the entire field in turnovers.

No you're not

 

[sacraig]

I feel for you. We on the EC suffered through too many 9 p.m. ET tips this season, and I had to miss lots of second halves. 6:30 tip times last evening and today are pretty sweet for us, especially the elderly like me who are in bed by 10:30! I was just coming down from the post-game adrenaline high last evening when the Sandman approached.

Have you considered staying up later?

 

[altgeld88]

my first ever contact with marylanders was on spring break 1970 in Fort Lauderdale , Fl when my bestest bud and I shared some space with a couple dudes and their lady friends.......they impressed me as fast talking low IQ sub human beings........now their lady friends were a complete opposite as I found out later on that night.......alas , that is another vivid memory in the life of pru.......it really really is.............yahoo.......................

lol Pru. Excellent.

Yeah, the males of that species are mouth-breathing couch-burners. The ladies... generally more than a modicum of charm.

 

[altgeld88]

Have you considered staying up later?

Not when I have to get up at 6 (at this age). I do, however, regret, not biting the bullet for the Oregon game.

I pick and choose carefully the games that will lead to sleep arriving at 1 a.m. I tend to get a bit amped win or lose and it takes a while to settle down. And I have limited appetite for feeling hungover the next day solely from lack of sleep. I went through that phase with a child many years ago.

 

[sacraig]

Not when I have to get up at 6 (at this age). I do, however, regret, not biting the bullet for the Oregon game.

I pick and choose carefully the games that will lead to sleep arriving at 1 a.m. I tend to get a bit amped win or lose and it takes a while to settle down. And I have limited appetite for feeling hungover the next day solely from lack of sleep. I went through that phase with a child many years ago.

My solution was I stopped watching games for a few weeks there during the dark times. Picked it back up during the Michigan game.

But now, if I want to watch the game yesterday or today, I have to either skip work or watch at work.

 

[ugottabjoshinme]

My solution was I stopped watching games for a few weeks there during the dark times. Picked it back up during the Michigan game.

But now, if I want to watch the game yesterday or today, I have to either skip work or watch at work.

This is the way

 

[WolfpackIllini]

When we played them we were a mess.
We're spot on now, and getting better each game.
I also think our guys are really PO'd about the "hiccup" in our season,
and that is motivating them in addition to March Madness.
Given MD has little depth, we could play to wear them out, and run away at the end.
That's why I think IL 86 - MD 72

 

[Illinifan74]

Come out swinging, pop them square on the nose, and don't let up.