Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Saturday, April 4th, 5:09pm CT, TBS

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#378      
RabidDawgClassic
PrandonBaul said:
Looking back at the November game against Uconn. Petrovic and Lee played a combined 28 minutes while Keaton only played 13! That's mind blowing!

EDIT: I did not look at the Ant Wright tweet before posting. My mistake!
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I think a lot of that was Brad trying, early in the season, to find the lineup that works best together. Remember, this was a team of mostly newcomers attempting to mesh with a few established players. Add to that the seemingly non-stop illness and injuries that plagued the team at the offset, so it’s no surprise the lineup today looks radically different.
 
#379      
jrichisamazing
fatt lacosse said:
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?
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Not much comparison there. 2 completely different styles on offense and defense. Houston liked to pressure/double and force turnovers. UConn likes to run you off the 3pt line and funnel you into the paint where they have one of the best block rates in the country. And UConn runs a much more sophisticated offense.

Not saying we match up poorly with UConn. Just that it's a completely different game than Houston.

Two things I really like that Houston and UConn have in common...

1) Both have struggled with scoring droughts all year long.

2) Both have bad FT discrepancies. They foul a lot and don't get to the line much.
 
#381      
ChiefGritty
jrichisamazing said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2038417806073397282

This stat is mind blowing to me. Doesn't mean squat for this specific game. But it's incredible how boom or bust UConn has been. Think about how many programs have been so consistently good but almost always lose the big games when they get to the sweet 16 and beyond.

It's time to break the streak.
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18 straight wins after the first weekend, and also in their program history they had 7 Final Fours and 6 National Titles entering the season.

Michigan State playing in Detroit with Draymond Green, Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, etc is the only team to ever beat UConn at a Final Four. They're 12-1 all time.
 
#385      
HailtotheChief
I just went back and looked at the box score from our UCONN game at MSG. Wagler took 3 shots, scored 3pts, and played 14 minutes, Mihailo played18 minutes. Z took 5 3s. Bozwell took 8 3s, Lee played 11 minutes. My point is that game means nothing. That game means very little. Brad wont play it like that again and our D is much better than it was then too. I am much more positive after looking at that but i do realize UCONN is likely much better too. I just think thecway minutes were distributed and the growth of our young guys and newbies our jump is much more significant. I believe we should be favored and will win this game.
 
#386      
InDaAZ
skyIdub said:
First game UConn had Wagler: neat.

Second game, Wagler: Ice
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The Iceman Cometh
1769044338.153147-1C71BF7C-2922-46F1-B822-0E5142DDD1FD.png
 
#387      
One Man Fast Break
In the Iowa postgame I said I think Underwood has improved as a coach, and well, this will be the ultimate test. Two years ago, let’s be honest, Hurley completely schooled Underwood schematically. Ultimate shot at redemption for Brad here.
 
#390      
Orange Roughy
Iloveorangekoolaid said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2038498341298844010

Hurley is insane. Wasn’t sure if it was real until I saw this version of the video…

https://twitter.com/x/status/2038632271113068575

Basically going forehead to forehead with a ref with time still on the clock…
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I sorta get it...probably like "look we did this in spite of your cheating for Duke". But it also would have been funny if he got T'd up and UConn lost because of this.

Also not sure if there was really any time left on the clock (or would be put back on the clock)...but Hurley could not have known that for sure at "that" time.
 
#398      
Rebounding Dog
skyIdub said:
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.
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Take one for the team! Thanks!
 
#399      
RandyfromTuscola
Saw this in the comments section of a Wall Street Journal article this morning about the UConn comeback. We're not alone:

View attachment 49079
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I get having morals about terrible behavior or things that rise to the level of being a criminal (think Penn State and JoePa) for fans to say that they are done rooting for a team, but as crazy as Hurley is, he wins titles and has kept UCONN as a powerhouse year after year. If a fan doesn't like his antics as a coach and says they aren't watching anymore, they aren't a fan.
 
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