Game Thread: Illinois vs UConn

[SoCal Illini]

Funny thought…. The good UConn teams historically have a notable big man… dating way back to jake voskuhl, okafor, and now this Star Wars (or Star Trek???) character Klingon.

 

[Troop44]

If you notice Shannon never plays off 2 feet on drives. He is almost solely a one foot jumper. This allows timing for shot blockers. It is key for Clingan to contest. He needs to gather or jump stop off 2 and finish or kick out. Lets Go! Expecting a better 2nd half from everybody!!

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Well Ty still can't shoot 3s so he has to sit.

Right now, Ty can’t shoot threes, free throws, or layups.

 

[Fighting I 95]

Tsj hasnt shot a 3 and goode only shot one. Thats not good we need to get them going shooting to open up the paint

 

[LJ22]

we can’t have everyone have a bad game at the same time. i think TSJ will get his in the second half but someone out of the goode, guerrier, hawkins, dainja group has to hit some shots

Hawkins has been (rightfully) talking a lot about this game and how he doesn't feel the pressure. Four year guy. I hope it's him and he just lights up the second half on both ends of the court.

 

[FloridaMan]

I get the complaints but there a few uncalled fouls on us as well.

Very few, compared to what they've let them get away with. They've also called some pretty weak fouls on us.

 

[fatboyslim]

I agree with Charles Barkley, we should be ahead! Too many missed layups.

We haven't missed that many layups unless you count the blocks by Clingan. Ty missed a couple but it's not outrageous.
Don't agree with Charles either, I rarely do. We started out the game behind 9-0. I don't know how he figures we should be ahead.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Charles Barkley says we should be winning.

If we make layups and free throws, we're probably up 5.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

We are not going to get any calls. Play through the contact. Layup line before the 2nd half, have Hansberry shoving them while they shoot.

Rebounding? Shove them first.

 

[illini510]

I loved it when Stan Van Gundy said that the college game is more physical than the NBA game. That's why college basketball is better than the NBA. Yes, the NBA has the athletes and superb offensive game but who needs 140 pt games. We want physicality, we want defense, we want offense, and we want a better product than what the NBA provides. The 1990s were the glory days for the NBA. Ever since then, the NBA has gotten soft while college basketball is the more physical of the two. That is a sad state of affairs for the NBA

 

[FoundersClub]

If the come out and blitz us first 4 minutes, it will be hard to recover

This.

First 4 will decide the game IMO. Will either be a fight to the finish or they’ll stretch this to 12-15, which will be very challenging to recover from.

Will be interesting to see who, and with what strategy we come out with.

 

[Champaign88]

You'd think that having played against Edey for multiple yrs, that they wouldn't be intimidated by Clingan but they have let Clingan affect their shots and their game

Clingan is way quicker and a much better shot blocker than Edey.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Simple analysis....had the Illini more loose and purposeful...we would be leading by about 5.

Great defensive effort but turnovers and missed layups were the difference.

Gotta get TSJr. involved in half court. Illini did a good job of using mismatches on offense, but he did not get enough chances and was fouled 2-3 times that were not called. Missed FTs once again cost big time.

This half of play should prove one thing as a fact ....the Illini can win this game!

As a Arizona Wildcat who pulls for the Illini hoopsters...always...Bear Down Illini and get a victory for the Illinois Var si ty,

 

[grantlab]

20 minutes to play your best basketball and get this thing done. I believe we can do it.

 

[Ryllini]

We are going to win this fu*king game. I'll see you in the postgame.

 

[FleetFeetIllini]

When their big is in we need to shoot 3s or a midrange and not drive into a 7 2 player when the refs are calling the way they are

I don't know how they didn't make that adjustment 5 minutes into the game.

 

[zentrails]

I get the complaints but there a few uncalled fouls on us as well.

And that is the reason we've missed so many shots IMO, we're looking for the foul we usually get.

 

[InDaAZ]

Just two TOs for each team is an insane stat in a game with this much defensive intensity (& fouling)…

 

[azillini1]

When Creighton beat UCONN on Feb 20 by an 85 to 66 score, the Bluejays made 14 threes. We have only 2. They also shot 55% from the floor. Just seems too many times we have driven and been unable to finish. Can another team member (other than MD) knock down a short jumper mixed with a few open 3's? QG has been horrible at decision making.

 

[genxrex]

we can’t have everyone have a bad game at the same time. i think TSJ will get his in the second half but someone out of the goode, guerrier, hawkins, dainja group has to hit some shots

Can't hold TJ down, no way

 

[neukm]

Hate to be that guy, but there was entirely too much celebration for just making the second weekend. The play so far has reflected that.

 

[illinifreak30]

I am so pumped... down five to UConn at the half. We are a second-half team.

Thought these guys were supposed to be unbeatable, but they look like nothing special aside from their big guy. We can lock down all their guards.

Here's to hoping for a huge second half from Shannon.

We weren’t a 2nd half team against Iowa St

 

[Manual3for4peat]

Ty is what he is. He just can’t be sped up and miss layups. Dunk the ball. If you lay it up this guys gonna block it. Ty had two layups he missed that were easy dunks.

He doesn’t need to make threes to be effective.

 

[blife]

20 minutes to right the ship, make some adjustments, play like we are capable of and get to the Final Four. LFG!!!!!

 

[JAbada]

This UConn team is close to perfection. I consider them a top 5 team since it became the norm to not stay 4 years (last 30 years or so). Similar to Iowa State, they are very unselfish with the basketball and they are always moving it around. They also have very balanced scoring and any game it could be one of a number of players that are the one to be the hero on offense. However, unlike Iowa State that didn't have a single player that could carry an offense for a multi-game stretch, any of UConn's starters could be 18+ PPG guys on different teams, no problem. They also have 4 players that average 2.5+ assists per game and that doesn't include their 7'2 guy who is an excellent passer out of double teams.

Three point shooting? Spencer is one of the best three point shooters in the nation and they have a 6'8 guy who shoots 38.5 % as well. Transition? Stephon Castle is a one and done likely NBA top 10 pick elite athlete. Offensive rebounding? Oh god, literally their whole team can rebound, look at what they did to San Diego State there. Dribble penetration? Castle's athleticism is hard to stop. Steady point guard? Yup, they got two 5th year seniors back there. Back to the basket? Good luck with Clingan.

All you can really do is hope to go bucket for bucket. Shannon's averaging 31.2 points on .676 TS% in six postseason games, and they will need every bit of that today. Then just hope it comes down to a few missed shots on their end. This is a true juggernaut Illinois has run into. My expectations are low, but I will hope for the best.

Thanks Admiral Encouragement..