Game Thread: Illinois vs Xavier

[NashvILLe05]

Some serious energy on this thread!

 

[dainjazoner]

If there gonna switch the guard on the screen then get the ball to tomi in the post

 

[RDS]

Let’s get Morez and WR rolling in 2nd half

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Value the ball, quit standing, don't get outcoached and we win

This ... And no more freaking BEN !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

Robbed on the last three fouls. Terrible.

Sean got those, he was barking and pointing out the foul disparity. Some reason officials like to balance them out, could've called 5-8 more on X in the 1st half

 

[UCantHideYer]

Pretty intense half. Haven’t paid any attention to the other games.

 

[PlayDeeBrownNote]

Tomi is raining...

YES THIS BAND IS AMAZING

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

So far, we've had 7 points impacted by the refs. Xavier walked under the basket - no call - then passed out for a three. No foul call on KJ's drive, and I don't think Will stepped out. Always have to overcome more than our share of adversity it seems.

Feel good we're up five with how bad the officiating. And they cannot miss from three. recurring theme but still... up 5.

 

[AnnaMay]

Not even sure what to think about this first half. I was way more excited ten minutes ago.

Things changed a bit when Miller started switching to keep someone on Tomi. Let's see how Btad counters that in the 2nd half.

 

[Homecoming 2019]

This ... And no more freaking BEN !!!!!!!!!!

Just give me Jake Davis sitting in a corner waiting for a pass at this point

 

[WolfpackIllini]

Thank God, some momentum on the way out.

Game has been a mix of Xavier getting incredibly lucky and rigging by the refs.

That is it in a nutshell.
Refs have a tough job but GMAFB

 

[RIP_Chief_2003]

Gotta love the shot quality that half. Hate the defensive effort, however.

 

[jamie13197]

Never seen a crew keep the other team in game like this. Oh ya, big10 games.

 

[Battle89]

If I'm either coach at halftime I'm telling my team to poke, hand check, bump on D because it's not being called

Till everything changes in the 2H

 

[GoodePodzMelendez]

I don't ... Didn't like the way we ended the half ...

I agree, we should be up double digits and the refs are doing everything possible to hand X a win.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

We have 8 turnovers. Xavier had two 3s fall with incredibly lucky bounces.

We are up 5 and controlling the tempo. Xavier will crack. They cannot keep this up after what they did Wednesday.

 

[BDMAN]

Turnovers is the game right now

Yeah, we need to stop making the silly unforced ones, but that has been out MO all year

 

[azillini1]

Xavier only shooting 38% and we are getting to the line and killing them on the boards. Just have to stop the TO's

 

[NashvILLe05]

We need to stop telegraphing passes. Painful

 

[WolfpackIllini]

Just give me Jake Davis sitting in a corner waiting for a pass at this point

I like this idea.

 

[HereSoIDontGetFined]

If the foul discrepancy evens up we are going to need to up the offense in the second half.

 

[Heisenbobble]

Xavier fouls constantly like Purdue. We're turning it over way too much. But we're up 5. Gotta protect the ball and fight for rebounds to win this thing.

 

[DeeIL89]

Officiating so bad due to some wild inconsistencies and them being blind on calls like Tre being hit with contact on the rebound or a over the back foul on Will. I think it affected our play those final minutes in addition to Xavier adjusting to Tomi. Got to be better on defense. Can't keep letting Xavier get these 3s. We should be up way more.

 

[Illiniam1984]

Brad pulled a Fran staring at the ref lol….he’s not too happy right now. Almost stayed on the court instead of walking back to the locker room.

 

[illinifan1987]

This, ladies and gents, is a great game so far! I haven't pulled out a single hair yet . Now let's dominate the second half...and then show UK that blue bloods no longer hold significant *advantages*!
*Under the table*