Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Friday, November 28th, 11:30am CT, FOX
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Better bring your hard hats.
Think I'm in Petrovic Hive. I get the turnover concerns, but candidly, is it that much worse than 3 consecutive missed standstill 3's?
When the offense stagnates, I'd really like to see him out there.
When the offense stagnates, I'd really like to see him out there.
I would really like to see Boswell play a lot more aggressively on the offensive end and attack the basket.
I think the offense functions better when the Illini play downhill and attack the basket and the offensive glass plus imo you tend to get better three point looks when you play inside out. I don't have an issue shooting a lot of 3's and it being a large percentage of your shots but the type of 3's matter.
You look at this team and see a lot of capable shooters but they're inconsistent and end up being an average shooting team because of the type of shots they put up.
Ideally I'd like to see Stojakovic, Boswell, and Petrovic attack the basket, score inside, and create open looks from drawing help defenders. Id also like to see the twins spend more time in the dunker spot(where Ty often was in 2023) creating potential easy putbacks or lob opportunities instead of seemingly always being on the perimeter.
I think the offense functions better when the Illini play downhill and attack the basket and the offensive glass plus imo you tend to get better three point looks when you play inside out. I don't have an issue shooting a lot of 3's and it being a large percentage of your shots but the type of 3's matter.
You look at this team and see a lot of capable shooters but they're inconsistent and end up being an average shooting team because of the type of shots they put up.
Ideally I'd like to see Stojakovic, Boswell, and Petrovic attack the basket, score inside, and create open looks from drawing help defenders. Id also like to see the twins spend more time in the dunker spot(where Ty often was in 2023) creating potential easy putbacks or lob opportunities instead of seemingly always being on the perimeter.
So, does BU start Ben?
This is listed as a "neutral site" game. LOL. You know how far Connecticut is from NYC? I do. We used to live out there. We'll be playing against UConn and a hostile crowd. I don't see any reason we can't win this, but as one poster has already said, we have to shoot the 3 better and play better defense.
I hate to do this but UConn gets better offensively and handles us down the stretch, 83-77.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I’d love to be proven wrong, but UConn’s offense is the type of offense that will give our defense fits. We just are not athletic enough to chase them around screens. I cannot stand Dan Hurley, but his offensive scheme is as good as it gets in college basketball. It’s a matchup problem.
Now I think we are a matchup issue for them as well on offense. But I think UConn’s offense can wear us down over the course of 40 minutes, and that concerns me.
Now I think we are a matchup issue for them as well on offense. But I think UConn’s offense can wear us down over the course of 40 minutes, and that concerns me.
I'm thinking we get surprisingly good games from Andrej, Kylan, and Tomi, and pull out a close victory around 70 points. Dan Hurley has another big outburst at the podium in the postgame. So not just using the f-word and ripping up the stat sheet, but Hurley angrily goes after reporters, who ask tough questions on why UConn gets rebounded and why they can't pull out close games against highly-ranked opponents like Arizona and Illinois. Go Illini!
After last night's game and the bad defense, is this game really going to be close? I hope so.
Since I'm typically very optimistic, I want to be sure to share my concerns with effort/focus with all of you who have the same worries.
I know UTRGV... might be hard for the guys to get worked up about playing them. But, I thought the effort and focus lacked pretty severely against Alabama also. Seemed we played moderately focused/hard versus Texas Tech, so I'll hope that UConn in MSG is a big enough test to get these guy's attention and we can return to (at least) that level.
Let's see some intensity and want-to on Friday.
I know UTRGV... might be hard for the guys to get worked up about playing them. But, I thought the effort and focus lacked pretty severely against Alabama also. Seemed we played moderately focused/hard versus Texas Tech, so I'll hope that UConn in MSG is a big enough test to get these guy's attention and we can return to (at least) that level.
Let's see some intensity and want-to on Friday.
Apparently both Mullins and Reid will be game time decisions. Mullins is back at practice so I can't imagine he wouldn't play if he's practicing. We know it does cause some adjustment to work a new player into the rotation, so maybe that throws UConn off a little having Mullins back, but he's also a very good player.
I just hope we play well and play our game - if we do that, I'll be happy win or lose. If Mirk is going crazy on the glass, Kylan is setting the stage, Big T is hitting is pick and pop threes, Andrej is getting downhill and we make our free throws, it will be a fun game no matter what.
I just hope we play well and play our game - if we do that, I'll be happy win or lose. If Mirk is going crazy on the glass, Kylan is setting the stage, Big T is hitting is pick and pop threes, Andrej is getting downhill and we make our free throws, it will be a fun game no matter what.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I see November and December in college basketball the same way every season. They teach players one indelible lesson before conference play kicks off and the real grind beings: play staunch defense against stiff competition or lose.
It doesn't concern me. We have a lot of depth. Nobody's going to get "worn down."
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Perhaps I missed something but I thought the boys were focused and played well during the first half. They came out flat in the second, and played worse, and yet could have won easily by simply making a handful more free throws. That latter fact is what surprised me given their meh play in the second half.
Completely agree that wire-to-wire intensity is required on Friday afternoon for a win.
I may regret this, but 76-75. W.
I'll be honest, I expected this to be a loss weeks ago. But then, I thought we were going to lose to Texas Tech and beat Alabama, so what do I know?
I just thought we'd go 1-2 in these first three big non-cons. I may still be right on that point.
Also probably important to note that UConn also struggled to hit their threes against might Bryant on Sunday. But otherwise, they dominated the glass and forced 20+ turnovers. That last point is where I think we break down. We've been very turnover prone in large part because we play too much iso ball and drive into bad situations.
I just thought we'd go 1-2 in these first three big non-cons. I may still be right on that point.
Also probably important to note that UConn also struggled to hit their threes against might Bryant on Sunday. But otherwise, they dominated the glass and forced 20+ turnovers. That last point is where I think we break down. We've been very turnover prone in large part because we play too much iso ball and drive into bad situations.
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