Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Saturday, April 4th, 5:09pm CT, TBS
- Status
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
Oh NO.....another game of basketball with the absolute whinning/complaining master......HURLEY.
Andrej is new to the team so there is that aspect to it. He also had a knee injury upon arrival and then a high ankle sprain, plus a bout of the flu.
He, Kylan and Tomi were supposed to be the emphasis on offense. In reality it has become Keaton and Mirk. Abdrej is showing his skills this tourney and I hope BU maximizes his minutes.
blackdog
- Champaign
Big key for the game compared to last will be the interior defense against Reed. He has been a load recently but Im wondering if Brad doesn't fall back on his philosophy of playing post guys straight up. Maybe Crocker will add some wrinkles to the it but essential for Tomi and Z to stay out of foul trouble.
What are people's thoughts / experiences on tickets for Monday's game? Better to buy before the Saturday games or after?
I would rather face Michigan. I think the key to beating them is having the bigs make tons of 3s. So even though Illinois couldn’t beat them the first time, I think they at least know a game plan on how to do it.
With Arizona, to me that just seems like another 2024 UConn matchup where there isn’t a way to realistically beat them. They are just that good.
In 2005 I got cheap tickets to the championshp game after MSU lost in the semis. I would say after.
Would it be fair to compare UConn to Houston?
I remain stunned that we dismantled the Cougs the way we did. Any hater could dismiss running through a 14, 11 and 9 seed, but I would have thought Houston was beyond what we could do. I don't know where this defense has come from these last few games.
In the pregame thread I requested that we run the ball between the tackles with Stojakovic, which we did for tremendous success. I gave him a lot of flak for not having a complete enough skill set to dominate a game as our highest paid player, but he's incredibly effective at the thing he does best.
Wouldn't say we've had a good shooting game yet in this tournament. How about two in a row?
I remain stunned that we dismantled the Cougs the way we did. Any hater could dismiss running through a 14, 11 and 9 seed, but I would have thought Houston was beyond what we could do. I don't know where this defense has come from these last few games.
In the pregame thread I requested that we run the ball between the tackles with Stojakovic, which we did for tremendous success. I gave him a lot of flak for not having a complete enough skill set to dominate a game as our highest paid player, but he's incredibly effective at the thing he does best.
Wouldn't say we've had a good shooting game yet in this tournament. How about two in a row?
No Cinderellas here. Not this time.
Four Heavyweights remain. Four top roundball legacy programs. Four programs that have a history together -- some of it painful for the Illini. Four rosters loaded with talent.
The next two games that the Illini play (yes, two!) will of course be their biggest challenge of the Season – and maybe in many years. And the Illini have some serious pay-back to administer as well.
This is the kind of rarified air that the Illini belong in ALL the time. It is what the Illini heritage is all about.
And having the Illini Name prominently displayed among the Final Four on the World stage will not be a bad incentive for future Illini recruiting of new incoming talent ahead. Lots of talented guys around the World are pulling up maps on the web to figure out What Is This Illinois And Where Is It Again?
And is the food good?
Nevertheless if there is a Cinderella here it's Illinois. Lowest seed, most losses, only program of the four without a championship.
The other three schools have already had Teams Of Destiny. Just sayin.
What would Izzo say? Bully Keaton, flop on contact, and kick them in the nuts?
(That actually didn't work too well for Fears in the tourney)I lean after, only because if Michigan loses, I would expect the prices to go down. Michigan would travel well, and drive up prices if they advance.
Illinois-Arizona would likely be the cheapest situation for Illini fans.
I hope Z actually makes his 1-3ptr he will take in this game. He is way over do. Illinois Needs to take care of the ball and actually make some shots this time. Should help it’s not a virtual home game for UConn like MSG and we should be well represented. As long as our same D shows up I think we have a really good shot to win this!
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Right, plus, UCONN has already played us once so they already prepared for us before. Hurley doesn't need any insight or intel at this pointWhat would Izzo say? Bully Keaton, flop on contact, and kick them in the nuts?
If anyone is on the fence about going and doesn't have anyone to go with, let me know. I'm currently on the fence about buying a ticket. I got some insight from Redditors about viewing experiences at large football stadiums like Lucas Oil and the consensus seems to be that the 600 level seats are not great for viewing just b/c you're so far away from the court that you can't really make out much. You can tell what's going on but probably can't recognize the players or numbers on their jerseys. So, you end up spending time watching the jumbotron which I could honestly do that from home or at a bar. I did get insight that corner 400 level seats although dealing with the obstruction view of one of the baskets, does make you feel closer to the action. So, if I were to go, I'd consider getting one of those. But, still on the fence about. Pricing not really an issue. It's the in game viewing experience that has me hesitating as I place emphasis on that
God, if we can add Jake or Ben getting hot to the mix of things clicking at the moment we have a real shot at this thing. Uconn will make a concerted effort to stop our bigs down low, kick out 3’s will play a major part here for both teams.
Significant improvement by Keaton and Mirk since the first meeting but also Kylan became a liability on offense.
0-5 FG against Houston
0-3 FG against Iowa
0-5 FG against Houston
0-3 FG against Iowa
FightinIllini30
Future insider
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
So, everyone do with this what you will.
It is very obviously serious juju that I have been allowed to wield with limited knowledge and control this season.
I did not post it after the Wisconsin loss in the tourney because it was weird and still fresh. And there was lots of doubt about this team.
But for the second time this season, I had called off of work to watch the Illini play basketball against Wisconsin.
So, twice, I’ve eschewed my responsibilities to enjoy this team.
Twice they have lost.
In overtime.
To Wisconsin.
I am scheduled to go to work all weekend.
I am going to work this weekend.
It is very obviously serious juju that I have been allowed to wield with limited knowledge and control this season.
I did not post it after the Wisconsin loss in the tourney because it was weird and still fresh. And there was lots of doubt about this team.
But for the second time this season, I had called off of work to watch the Illini play basketball against Wisconsin.
So, twice, I’ve eschewed my responsibilities to enjoy this team.
Twice they have lost.
In overtime.
To Wisconsin.
I am scheduled to go to work all weekend.
I am going to work this weekend.
I like a matchup with uconn more than Duke. Duke can match our size better than UConn can. I thought Sarr could really bother Keaton as I think he’s a better version of Jordan Scott. And to me Boozer is a more athletic Mirk.
Reed will be a problem because of his quickness. But I’m not sure a big scoring down low is hugely concerning, plus we have 2 7 footers that I think will bother him enough with their length to make him slightly inefficient.
The 2 two types of players who have killed us all year are quick penetrating guards and stretch bigs.
All of their starting guards are around 6’4. And from what I can see decently quick/athletic but it looks like they really more on sets to generate looks than just breaking down a defense. Malachi Smith fits the type but only plays about 16 minutes a game. I think we can contain their guards
Although he’s 6’8, to me Karaban is more Fletcher Loyer than Tyler Bilodeau. He’s going to get his looks coming off movement rather than pick and pops. So I don’t think he will punish our drop coverage like a traditional stretch big.
I think Mirk will have a hard time chasing. But we absolutely need to find a way to keep Mirk on the floor because Karaban is only 220 pounds and Mirk just eats matchups like that for lunch.
I think we may need to cross match. Maybe start Kylan on Karban and then use Andrej and Ben when they are in the game. But we need to find someone for Mirk to guard. My nominations are Demery or Mullins and that’s based purely on the fact that they are lower volume shooters which would hopefully limit the damage they can cause on that mismatch. But I’m open to ideas.
I’ll hang up and listen.
Reed will be a problem because of his quickness. But I’m not sure a big scoring down low is hugely concerning, plus we have 2 7 footers that I think will bother him enough with their length to make him slightly inefficient.
The 2 two types of players who have killed us all year are quick penetrating guards and stretch bigs.
All of their starting guards are around 6’4. And from what I can see decently quick/athletic but it looks like they really more on sets to generate looks than just breaking down a defense. Malachi Smith fits the type but only plays about 16 minutes a game. I think we can contain their guards
Although he’s 6’8, to me Karaban is more Fletcher Loyer than Tyler Bilodeau. He’s going to get his looks coming off movement rather than pick and pops. So I don’t think he will punish our drop coverage like a traditional stretch big.
I think Mirk will have a hard time chasing. But we absolutely need to find a way to keep Mirk on the floor because Karaban is only 220 pounds and Mirk just eats matchups like that for lunch.
I think we may need to cross match. Maybe start Kylan on Karban and then use Andrej and Ben when they are in the game. But we need to find someone for Mirk to guard. My nominations are Demery or Mullins and that’s based purely on the fact that they are lower volume shooters which would hopefully limit the damage they can cause on that mismatch. But I’m open to ideas.
I’ll hang up and listen.
We will remember your sacrifice.
- Status