3/3 Games

#101      

the national

the Front Range
Bask in the Glory Illini fans! The worm has turned in our favor. For once all season we get the stars to align. So the table is set. The roast is prepared, now we need to feast on those buckeyes on Thursday!

this week is awesome. opportunities to get Ws over two ranked teams. This will certainly boost our net if we can Win out. We win these two, how many wins would we have over ranked opponents this season?
 
#102      

Illini_1979

Oregon
Saw this on SportsCenter and thought it was great. A young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury before he could play his first college basketball game was given the chance to score his first basket as a senior. The other team assisted by agreeing to score first and then let him score. Heartwarming...

From ESPN

Five years ago, Josh Speidel suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident when he was a senior in high school, shortly after the former prep standout and three-star recruit committed to playing for Vermont.

On Tuesday, Speidel made his first Division I start on Senior Day, and he registered the first points of his collegiate career in a matchup against Albany.

In a prearranged moment, Speidel scored on his team's first possession.

With 19:40 on the clock in the first half, Speidel caught a pass from teammate Everett Duncan, took one step and scored off the backboard.

Players from both Vermont and Albany hugged Speidel, before he went to his bench and hugged every player and coach. He also shared a moment with Albany coach Will Brown.

"I did it, I'm a college basketball player," Speidel said after Vermont's 85-62 victory. "I scored in a college basketball game.

"You can't take that away from me. I'm just so forever grateful."

Speidel joked that he considered missing his shot -- if only for the chance to add to his stat line.

"I was thinking of maybe missing it, maybe to get an offensive rebound in there," he said. "But I figured I might as well go 1-for-1 and shoot 100% in my college career."

 
#103      
Saw this on SportsCenter and thought it was great. A young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury before he could play his first college basketball game was given the chance to score his first basket as a senior. The other team assisted by agreeing to score first and then let him score. Heartwarming...

From ESPN



Saw this, was wondering the back story. Thanks
 
#105      

haasi

New York
So, why can the Illini destroy Purdue at Purdue, Purdue handily wins at Iowa and we can't beat Iowa at Iowa? Just one of those things? Also, in regards to reasons for an MSU victory over PSU last night is that that may aid BU in getting B1G coach of the year. I think up to the last couple of weeks Chambers and Pikiell are/were his main competitors. Now I suppose it would be Gard and Turgeon?

I think some of it is just normal ups and down and we happened to play much better against Purdue both times than we did at Iowa.

But some of it is definitely matchups. I think in general we tend to beat teams that don’t shoot well from 3 and we’re more vulnerable to teams that make a lot of 3s. Purdue is an elite defensive team but shoots poorly away from home and they didn’t shoot well against us at home either. we’ve shown time and again that we’ll win grind out games where we contain the other team from 3. Purdue shot 3 for 8 and 3 for 17 from 3 in our two games. Indiana almost beat us because they got hot and hit a bunch of 3s, going 8 for 16. Iowa is a great offensive team, they made a bunch of 3s and beat us. They went 10 for 23.

Last night, Purdue outshot Iowa from 3. Purdue went 8 for 27 (not great) but Iowa went 8 for 30. That’s one key to beating Iowa, and Purdue did it. Purdue is 30th in the country in defensive 3 point percentage at 30% and were down around 150th at about 33%, so Purdue might be a better matchup than we are against a team that relies heavily on 3s.

I feel pretty good if we get matched up with a meh 3 point shooting team. We rebound really well, don’t turn ball over much, our fouling is now under control compared to last year, and we have good interior D with Kofi. it’s tough to beat us shooting 2s.

If we get matched up in tourney with a good 3 point shooting team, whether we win will probably depend on how we contain the 3. Ohio State is a really good 3 point shooting team - by far the best in conference at 38% and they make about 9 a game- so that will be a very good test tomorrow.
 
#106      
I think some of it is just normal ups and down and we happened to play much better against Purdue both times than we did at Iowa.

But some of it is definitely matchups. I think in general we tend to beat teams that don’t shoot well from 3 and we’re more vulnerable to teams that make a lot of 3s. Purdue is an elite defensive team but shoots poorly away from home and they didn’t shoot well against us at home either. we’ve shown time and again that we’ll win grind out games where we contain the other team from 3. Purdue shot 3 for 8 and 3 for 17 from 3 in our two games. Indiana almost beat us because they got hot and hit a bunch of 3s, going 8 for 16. Iowa is a great offensive team, they made a bunch of 3s and beat us. They went 10 for 23.

Last night, Purdue outshot Iowa from 3. Purdue went 8 for 27 (not great) but Iowa went 8 for 30. That’s one key to beating Iowa, and Purdue did it. Purdue is 30th in the country in defensive 3 point percentage at 30% and were down around 150th at about 33%, so Purdue might be a better matchup than we are against a team that relies heavily on 3s.

I feel pretty good if we get matched up with a meh 3 point shooting team. We rebound really well, don’t turn ball over much, our fouling is now under control compared to last year, and we have good interior D with Kofi. it’s tough to beat us shooting 2s.

If we get matched up in tourney with a good 3 point shooting team, whether we win will probably depend on how we contain the 3. Ohio State is a really good 3 point shooting team - by far the best in conference at 38% and they make about 9 a game- so that will be a very good test tomorrow.
Excellent reply