got bam and Andrej back - and dent, while probably a “disappointment” this year given the fanfare, is still a quick guard. One of the rare consistent issues we’ve been able to point to.
Let’s make a statement
Let’s make a statement
Pregame: Illinois at UCLA, Saturday, February 21st, 7:00pm CT, FOX
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I am glad Brad didn’t listen to us amateur geniuses here and run Ben and Jake off. Where would this team be without their contributions?
They don't. If they did they'd be better than what they are. You guys overhype every team we play.
Ok good for them. Every team wins a fluky game like USC winning at Wisconsin. That doesn't mean they are good. And from what I've seen from Purdue beating isn't that great.
I never quite understood why so many didn’t want Ben to even have a jersey this year. I’m not sure what people thought they’d could get better as a 8/9th guy.
IIRC, mostly everyone was okay with Ben being back, as long as it was a bench role. The problem was, he wasn't an "8/9th guy" last season.
His role changed this year, because it needed to, and he's actually played better. Worked out for everyone involved.
I think there were a few who just prefer he not be back - "many" is unhelpfully vague on my end.
The overall point, yes to the bold.
UCLA is coming off 2 embarrassing road losses:
At Michigan (86-56)
At Michigan State (82-59)
I expect to get their best effort although I don’t think they are a very good team. They’ve only played 2 good games all year (69-67 win vs Purdue which should have been a loss…they had a miracle comeback that game), and a 69-65 loss to Arizona way back in November
The only thing I associate Pauley Pavilion with as far as Illinois goes is Kevin Turner torching them.
At Michigan (86-56)
At Michigan State (82-59)
I expect to get their best effort although I don’t think they are a very good team. They’ve only played 2 good games all year (69-67 win vs Purdue which should have been a loss…they had a miracle comeback that game), and a 69-65 loss to Arizona way back in November
The only thing I associate Pauley Pavilion with as far as Illinois goes is Kevin Turner torching them.
I would even go as far to question- is he really the 8-9th guy this year? He’s tied for 5th on the team in minutes played, has had to play 25+ minutes during a 7-8 game stretch without KB (that included two road wins over top 5 teams). Both KB and Andrej back in uniform last night and Ben still plays 28 minutes. He’s only averaging 3 less minutes this year, it’s not like he took a giant step back in playing time overall.
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This team could easily be undefeated in the Big Ten. Just think lose two games in overtime and one game by a last second shot. Beat UCLA.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Let’s check in on how Mick Cronin is preparing for Saturday night.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
They are a lot better than USC. This game has always been one of concern for me. Second game of a long road trip against a team that shoots well.
Not doom and gloom, as I do think Illinois wins. Just that it’s one of those tricky road games that pop up in basketball.
You're trying to make yourself feel better. They've had a couple of rough road outings, but they can play.
They’re playing through him less and that’s definitely a positive.
Hes also become a drastically different and better player. He had a couple defensive plays last night that were better than any he had all last season. His rebounding is also completely transformed.
Personally I’d still rather see him shoot less, but the rest of his game has improved. Agreed he’s more of a utility 6th man than an end of the bench guy.
They say Underwood can't develop guys
Maybe he can't develop EVERY guy, but he can develop team players who don't have ridiculous demands. Guys that can't accept any role other than "2020-21 Ayo" are better off elsewhere if that role is occupied here.
Possibly related: we're going to win the next two games and I'm going to enjoy it.
I mean they never “played through him” last year though. Our offensive actions started with KJ, Tomi, Will. His shot attempt rate is roughly the same as last year, he’s always just been a connector/shooter.
My theory is simply that this year the team is better so there’s less need for fans to point at guys that didn’t play well. My thought last year was there was too much emphasis on “Ben went 1-4 from three again, sheesh” and not enough emphasis on “KJ had 6 turnovers”
He’s way, way better defensively this year too so that has a lot to do with it too.
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If they haven’t quit on Cronin this will be a tough game.
They’ve only lost once at home, and they probably need either this one or vs Nebraska to punch their ticket.
Hopefully Bam can slow Dent down and we have a better plan for Bilodeau. Need to limit Skyy 3s as well. That said, I think we present alot of mismatches for them. Just can’t lay an egg.
They’ve only lost once at home, and they probably need either this one or vs Nebraska to punch their ticket.
Hopefully Bam can slow Dent down and we have a better plan for Bilodeau. Need to limit Skyy 3s as well. That said, I think we present alot of mismatches for them. Just can’t lay an egg.
Sky will be fired up to face us, and will probably have a really good game. We're going to need to maintain that outstanding focus we demonstrated against USC to pick up this W.
99.5% certain that if UCLA loses this game, Crick Moanin' complains in the postgame about the travel his team had to endure to get to their home arena.
I just pray some intrepid reporter asks him about the Illinois crowd...
I just pray some intrepid reporter asks him about the Illinois crowd...
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
He’s also second in the nation (THE NATION) in fewest turnovers. Obviously he doesn’t have the ball in his hands as much as someone on the ball… but it’s still an impressive stat at this point of the season.
I sure hope Brad and the boys are tuned into all this discourse about how Michigan is just the best team that's ever played and nobody's even close to their level and you'd be crazy to think any team could possibly deserve to share even their own home court with these Wolverines and anyone who thinks their team has a shot at keeping it within single digits is a FOOL
can't wait for next friday.
can't wait for next friday.
I think for this offense to work as well as it does, everyone has to be willing to shoot open threes without hesitation. Of course they need to make a fair amount which I think Ben has this season.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Cronin needs to figure out how to stop a multi-headed scary good Illini team and how to keep his dirty player tactic's at a minimum.......ejecting his own player was a headline grabber , but it accomplished nothing in the vein of beating the beloved................
We have many who can eject his players for him by playing a scary good brand of elite analytical schemes on both ends of the court.......we are NOT last years version of Illini but a juggernaut on O & D...................
I'm more interested in what we will scheme for them than anything they try to do to us....................
another worthless prediction of mine is...................
Illini 90
ucla 78
LET'S GO ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have many who can eject his players for him by playing a scary good brand of elite analytical schemes on both ends of the court.......we are NOT last years version of Illini but a juggernaut on O & D...................
I'm more interested in what we will scheme for them than anything they try to do to us....................
another worthless prediction of mine is...................
Illini 90
ucla 78
LET'S GO ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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