it's time:
Imagine if the boys all run out friday freshly-shorn.
Imagine if the boys all run out friday freshly-shorn.
Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan, Friday, February 27th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
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We have played 28 games across which we have enjoyed a +16.1 scoring differential and won 22 games with 5 of the 6 losses being 4 points or less (3 were in overtime - 1 of those without Boswell, one of those without Boswell AND Andrej - another buzzer beater, a 4 point loss vs Alabama without Tomi)
Seems we've been able to hold large leads just fine all season outside of a couple of games which isn't abnormal in any way whatsoever when taking into account the sample size (28 games)
Looks like, after all, he was not right
EDIT: Zero basis for this statement.. we were just down 6 late vs UCLA and came back, duh
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Precisely, the team gets rattled once down. I think this stems from a lack of confidence on the defensive side of the ball that we can string some stops together when the other team is feeling itself. This especially applies against top 15 teams. But it seems even a bubble team like UCLA not known for its offense can also go on on a 10-min 33pt run.
The D was ridiculous but UCLA offense at home is a different animal. They shoot quite well.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Not a chance. That night was 1 of 1.
I don't really care that he transferred anymore, he signed an NIL and backed out. His decision looks decent for him at this time but if he didn't want to play here who cares about him. I think Booing somebody just gives them more fire to play better/harder, fires them up. Never want to add fuel to the fire, they are already the number 1 team for a reason and he has a lot to do with that.
I think we matchup better with Michigan than we do UCLA, their bigs won't drag us out to the 3 point line. I think Ben should start and guard Yaxel and have Mirk guard Morez.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yes. And, though I don't have the KenPom subscription, I'd bet that his model will predict Michigan by ~3 pts or so.
Everything else is just spirited chatter at the rail. Good for the sake of argument and bonding.
Or starting bar fights.
Placeholder fans. Lol. Get off your high horse dude.
You have an equally good chance at rebounding shots that are closer to the rim. I think at this point we’re allowed to be frustrated that on the nights our shot isn’t falling that we don’t get in the paint more, especially given how good of a free throw shooting team we are. It doesn’t mean we aren’t an incredible offense.
Your last point is correct though, defense is the main reason we lost against UCLA and it’s likely the main reason we will succeed or fail going forward.
Yes. And, though I don't have the KenPom subscription, I'd bet that his model will predict Michigan by ~3 pts or so.
Everything else is just spirited chatter at the rail. Good for the sake of argument and bonding.
Or starting bar fights.
Yup, KP has Michigan favored by a tad
Torvik has Illinois favored by 1.1 points with 54% chance of winning
ESPN analytics has Illinois with 51% chance of winning
Certainly not a situation where the average result would be Illinois getting beat by 20+ (we're also 17-11 ATS this season so we typically outperform the analytics/sportsbooks)
Hmm.. ESPN doesn’t have any of our pictures up for our players… hmmm
In all seriousness … A Bam or Tomi chest bump would be incredible … That’s called setting the F’ing Tone !!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully our players can flip the page quicker than us loyalty members. Going to take a concentrated effort on D and cant have Michigans size and length scare us on offense. Absolutely think we can come away with this one and wash this nasty taste out of our mouths and start a mini streak heading into the BTT.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
"a placeholder fans say" not "placeholder fans", man. Good lord with the high horse nonsense.
Many fans say "live and die by the 3" when a team doesn't shoot well from 3. Live and die by 3 implies it's the only thing you can do, and when shots dont go in you're scewed. As @Fly Illini Fly! has pointed out probably a dozen times now, we had more offensive rebounds than UCLA did defensive and got to the line 31 times (taking away more 2-point field goal attempts) - the points per possession would be the number 1 mark in all of college basketball this year that game.
and despite all of that, you ended the post agreeing the defense is why we lost and the offense should have been more than enough.
That's not what that sentence was intended to convey. "The placeholder that fans say..." is what he was aiming for.
illini55
- The Villages, FL
If you’re willing to spot me those 20 points, I’ll wager any amount you want and take the Illini. Ridiculous comment.
I was really really disappointed how that situation played out, but he was a warrior for us last year. I'll boo him as hard as anybody else on Michigan but IDKWTI was a different time and scenario. I won't root FOR him like I do with some other fellas that have moved on, that's the best I can do.
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