Illinois at Texas Tech, Tuesday, November 10th, 7:00pm CT, Peacock

[casemeau]

Illinois 101
Texas Tech 90

 

[AssemblyHallForever]

No way can that be the strategy for Atwell. He’s a career 42% shooter from three including 46% last year on really high volume. In the conversation for best three shooter in the country. You must close out and run him off the line or you’re asking for trouble.

The best way to tire a shooter is to throw lots of different looks at him. Plus, since TT isn’t deep, we can wear them out. We play our game and dictate pace, we should win by double digits.

 

[InDaAZ]

Beer chug by Tomi after we destroy TT

Family tradition…

 

[SescIllini]

The name of this game is going to be "tempo". Illinois is 40th in the country in tempo. TT is 309th or something crazy. We need to force them to get up to our speed and wear them out. On defense, we need to be in the passing lanes and forcing turnovers. We need to double team when possible. TT only has one reliable 3-point shooter up to this point in the season, and they as a team shoot terribly from beyond the arc. So we can afford to concern ourselves less with attacking exterior passing lanes and try to deny the entry pass or the driver. Make them beat you from outside. Especially Atwell, who has made only three of eighteen attempts.

It is easier to slow down a team IMHO, controlling tempo is a strategy and a very good one. Illinois will need to take an early lead to control the tempo. Trying to play fast while missing shot or having turnovers will work against us against a methodical slower tempo team.

 

[Kernal12]

The best way to tire a shooter is to throw lots of different looks at him. Plus, since TT isn’t deep, we can wear them out. We play our game and dictate pace, we should win by double digits.

Totally agree ... I think we can wear these guys down with our depth and size. I sense we might have to withstand a three point barrage in the first half, but just weather the storm and keep playing and we should prevail.

 

[IlliniHardwood]

I miss him. I don't miss his mother.

I didn't know AceWolf had any eligibility left...

 

[PepeSilvia]

DGL the archetype of guard that has roasted Illinois

Also seems like the type to play with a chip on his shoulder either real or imagined.

 

[Oracle21]

After watching the first couple games I have a couple observations:

#1. I can see why Coleman is high on draft boards. I think he’s clearly our best player. He can get his own whenever he wants.

#2. I was expecting Brown, Zens, Williams to be low cost fill out the roster type players. But after seeing the confidence and poise Brown/Zens show in taking and making open 3s, those two are the type of guys that could average lot of points at a lower level then get big paydays to move up. So good scouting by Illinois to get them in initially. And Lincoln Williams is a revelation. From a late addition after thought recruit to now starting as a true freshman in a Ty Rodgers role. That’s the biggest surprise of the season for me.

I think the level we played at vs Cincy/Baylor is going to need to be raised to beat TT on the road. Our vets Tomi, Vaaks, and Stojakovic need to bring it. They are capable.

 

[Birdus]

Illinois 101
Texas Tech 90

I see this coming down to the last few possessions. Whether it is 80's or low 90's. It would be great to get this one but we shall see. Our rookies are really good but this is ON THE ROAD in a very hostile environment.

 

[Ga65]

After watching the first couple games I have a couple observations:

#1. I can see why Coleman is high on draft boards. I think he’s clearly our best player. He can get his own whenever he wants.

#2. I was expecting Brown, Zens, Williams to be low cost fill out the roster type players. But after seeing the confidence and poise Brown/Zens show in taking and making open 3s, those two are the type of guys that could average lot of points at a lower level then get big paydays to move up. So good scouting by Illinois to get them in initially. And Lincoln Williams is a revelation. From a late addition after thought recruit to now starting as a true freshman in a Ty Rodgers role. That’s the biggest surprise of the season for me.

I think the level we played at vs Cincy/Baylor is going to need to be raised to beat TT on the road. Our vets Tomi, Vaaks, and Stojakovic need to bring it. They are capable.

Believe our defense is going to depend on rim protection I.e. the twins. We have the athleticism to keep pressure on the ball and keep the ball movement uncomfortable. Dre, Q, Lincoln and Ethan will be good and Vaaks will be adequate.

 

[Det_Illini_fan]

I see this coming down to the last few possessions. Whether it is 80's or low 90's. It would be great to get this one but we shall see. Our rookies are really good but this is ON THE ROAD in a very hostile environment.

Yeah this will be a big litmus test for our depth, the freshman, and the season without Mirk. I have been extremely impressed with how we’ve played thus far, and it feels even better than last year even after the initial two warm up games (how we’ve looked against both this season’s warm ups and how we looked against last season’s warm ups). The speed and tenacity have been elevated. Though again, things change on the road and against top opponents without your best players.

A win here would be incredibly convincing, even though both teams don’t have their best players, as it shows our bench gives us a very high floor, and means at full strength we can be dangerous to take down any team in the country.

Defense needs to step up against players that are the type to have torched us last year. But in all I’m nervous. I think we can absolutely win, but Tech is a great team that can absolutely win too. Maybe that’s why the betting line is nearly dead even.