Pregame: Illinois vs Houston, Thursday, March 26th, 9:05pm CT, TBS

[bdutts]

2.4 miles from the Fertitta Center to the Toyota Center. But remember that ticket sales for the NCAA tournament are vastly different than for a typical Houston home game.

If you think that’ll keep Houston fans away, you’re mistaken.

 

[FloridaMan]

Hopefully we can take their probable punch in the first half, keep it close or be up by the break. We have been trending to be a second half team lately. Will need an effort at least as good as tonight on defense and I like that we have been getting the ball to the rim. With our rebounding and ability to control misses I like our chances if we continue doing that!

 

[BBlock24]

Road games are our friend.

Rob the fu**ing bank!

 

[CleverHandle1]

I do. And I hate to say that, but these are exactly the types of teams we struggle with and this is one of those teams x10.

They literally had this same type of team a few years ago and handled us pretty easy.

Now saying that, I hope I'm insanely wrong.

Fair enough. I am hoping this year will be different. Last year's Illinois team would have folded like a tent in my opinion.

This team has talent, and tonight we saw how they can react to a strong, stubborn, I-will-foul-you-every-damn-second-of-the-damn-game type of team.

 

[IllinistrandedinHouston]

There playing at rice

No, they are playing in the Toyota Center, where the Rockets play.

 

[RollChief]

Why do road wins matter they’re playing at home? Five minutes from campus.

My point is they’ve lost all of there marquee tests, they haven’t won home, away or neutral against top opponents. There best wins are Arkansas, and splitting Kansas and TTU 1-1. If you look at the 1 seeds, they all have better wins.

 

[IlliniTaffy]

Playing in Houston is a joke but not surprised

 

[bdutts]

Hopefully we can take their probable punch in the first half, keep it close or be up by the break. We have been trending to be a second half team lately. Will need an effort at least as good as tonight on defense and I like that we have been getting the ball to the rim. With our rebounding and ability to control misses I like our chances if we continue doing that!

As long as we don’t sleepwalk through the first half.

 

[Altuve27]

They are a MUCH better version of Tennessee. Yes, I am aware Tennessee beat them by 1.

Have to match the physicality and intensity they bring. They play HARD every possession.

 

[CleverHandle1]

Hopefully we can take their probable punch in the first half, keep it close or be up by the break. We have been trending to be a second half team lately. Will need an effort at least as good as tonight on defense and I like that we have been getting the ball to the rim. With our rebounding and ability to control misses I like our chances if we continue doing that!

Great point. I'd like to punch them in the face early as well--let's see how they react.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

My point is they’ve lost all of there marquee tests, they haven’t won home, away or neutral against top opponents. There best wins are Arkansas, and splitting Kansas and TTU 1-1. If you look at the 1 seeds, they all have better wins.

True, but I’m not arguing they’re better than the 1 seeds.

I’m saying I’d rather play the 1 seeds ON A NEUTRAL than Houston ON THE ROAD.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Absolutely everything we know about this team says we lose this game. But much like WI-vs-IL, the better team doesn’t always win. Let’s go.

 

[BrownTown]

RJ MELENDEZ REVENGE GAME!

 

[OskeeLoyalty]

Love our supersoaker tradition
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWK6UXSjGFN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

 

[Mr. Roberts]

 

[MidwesternCowboy]

Aside from Michigan, this might be the toughest game all year. Gotta come out guns blazing. Unlike Penn and VCU, Houston will easily take advantage if we have a shaky 1st half.

And the Cougars having de-facto HCA certainly won't help matters.

But nothing is impossible. We're back in the Sweet Sixteen. We can win. Go Illini!

 

[Grange Grover]

74-67 ILLINI!!

 

[Trueblue777]

Illini women up by 6 1:31 to go

 

[Illini in Indiana]

Going to require a top flight effort mentally and physically to beat Houston in essentially a true road game. Fortunately this team has shown they can absolutely lock in for those games.

That being said absolutely no shame if this as far as we go this year.

True, let's just go have fun and play loose! Playing with house money right now.
I might even root for Iowa tomorrow.

We still a the 7 most likely to win it all.

 

[BBlock24]

Houston opens at -2.5, per DK.

 

[ILLFAN67]

Everyone that was complaining about the refs and VCUs physicality will need to prepare for next week.

Houston's defense is built around being so physical that the refs cant call everything and they've got the reputation for being elite defensively and not fouling so the refs don't call them for anything.

They could call everything like the Arizona/Illini game in the Elite 8 and fouls everybody out for Houston. But they won’t since the game is in Houston.

 

[fuggles]

draftkings opens houston -2.5

 

[AirTran]

Houston has trouble scoring against teams that rebound well and they don't don't defend the three point shot all that well.

However, they have terrific interior defense and if they can get the board they will run on us.

Not alot of depth there either. They really depend on 6 players.

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Was able to write that entire summary without metioning Houston's head coach, Whatshisname.

 

[skyIdub]

Play defense like tonight for 40 full minutes and I think that beats Houston.

Now to decide if I want to see it in person. $400/ea is insane. I doubt they come down much because Houston.

 

[AnnaMay]

Play defense like tonight for 40 full minutes and I think that beats Houston.

Now to decide if I want to see it in person. $400/ea is insane. I doubt they come down much because Houston.

Yeah those prices are nuts