Belo's latest snap indicates he is not playing tomorrow
Pregame: Illinois at Northwestern, Saturday, January 29th, 3:30pm CT, BTN
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I'm beginning to think we're going to see increasing production from Goode. The guy has a very high ceiling IMO.
That's my opinion too. Coleman has got to shake it off and catch a break in this breakout game I am predicting. He is better than we have seen
Every game worries me. The other team always wants to win.
Hells yes. I L L
Not to be a debbie downer here but my predictions: no kofi and belo tomorrow, and a L leaving Evanstown. We cannot to win games like last game.
True dat re. stats. Looking at the names that are on that list I certainly couldn't tell you anything about their defense other than the stats that I read and the comments that I hear from the talking heads. How many games can these voters watch.? How many Illinois games have they watched? Of the Illinois games that they've watched, were they focused on defensive play. Heck, most on this board watch every Illinois game but, looking at some of the posts, some aren't looking at defense.
No, stretch 3
Just asking, "Did you think we'd lose to Michigan State the other night too?"
Honestly yes i did and i am super thrilled with the outcome. However, i feel like if that game had gone any longer we would have lost. Jmo
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Why not?
As well all know road games are super hard to win anyway. After tomorrow 3 of our 5 games are on the road in difficult venues. We are to reliant on shooting the 3 without a consistent inside presence. Is it most likely that we are super hot from 3 for those 5 games, probably not! We also know our offense runs stagnant for a significant time period each game. I feel like if shots arent falling and this happens we become very beatable. Northwestern will come to play with everything they have tomorrow including the kitchen sink. They have had a few close games against tough opponents. We will be very fortunate to win and if we do i will politley eat any crow available and be thrilled. Go Illini!
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I agree that the Kittens will be motivated, and we all know some Illini trips to Welsh-Ryan have been painful. I didn't see the NU-MSU game in EL a couple weekends ago. MSU did, however, turn the ball over 17 times in that game, seemed sluggish from the highlights I watched (which, mind you, were HIGHlights), and it still came down to the final seconds.
Our offense certainly did not run stagnant against MSU until the final five mins when the guys on the wings and point were completely gassed from their shooting and D efforts all night. We dominated them for the middle 30 mins and led that entire time by double digits. This without KC and Papi. BBV had been playing only ~3-4 mins a game in BT play until suddenly he had to come off the bench and play 20 against Purdue. He did well but he also likely played most of that time on sheer adrenaline. Friday night at Maryland was a different matter. He knew he was starting, played 24 mins, and clearly weakened down the stretch against Donta Scott. But on Tues v. MSU I was impressed at him in the 22 mins he played. Much savvier on the defensive end and opportunistic offensively. I don't expect regression tomorrow.
The guys have learned to play lockdown D down the stretch much earlier in the season than in the two previous ones, and it has yielded wins where we would have otherwise lost. I'm also really impressed at the mins Goode played against Purdue, MD and MSU. Nice long stroke, tenacious D, and palpably high BB IQ.
We have become necessarily a perimeter-oriented team w/o KC. I believe we can sustain that, however, even if Kofi is slow to return as long as we get solid minutes from Omar, BBV continues to improve as he's done, and CoHawk plays smarter and with more assertion than he has done.
Gotta get Trent healthy, the flu/'Rona flushed out of the team, and get Papi and KC back in there, for sure. In the interim, however, I see no reason why the boys can't go 3-1 over the next four. They know what to do and they are doing it. I feel alarmingly serene about this team, even in its current condition.
No need for any of us to eat crow, regardless of the outcome. We're all pullin' in the same direction.
The thing I like about Goode is he has good size, he plays solid, confident, under control, and he doesn't make careless mistakes or screw ups. I can't say that about the others that back up Jacob or DMW off the bench. I hope Goode sees more time compared to some of the others off the bench. He has earned it by playing well.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Goode is precocious for a frosh. I had high expectations for him... by the time he was a junior. Man, he has knocked my socks off lately. Frankly, if he hadn't got knocked in the head against MD diving for that loose ball in the first half, that game might have turned in our favor ultimately. He does things that create opportunity for others; that evening he was a spark for the team until he got pulled. Dude got 5 mins v. Purdue, 6 v. MD before he went out, then 28 (!!) v. MSU w/ 9 pts and 4 D boards.
The way Goode has played lately and it sounds like he has practice. I would not be shocked if he is going to help out in free up DMW to not cover as many minutes at the 4 where he is out matched often. Goode may be cutting into Hawkins minutes and hopefully between the 2 of them and others getting healthy we can be at our best in March. Depending on our matchups Goode, Hawk, BBV, and Omar can really help us at our biggest need. Guarding guys like Liddell, Scott, Harper, and other quality 4s in the B10. Plus I really think Goode and hopefully Hawk could help on offense too.
Agreed! Goode is as Goode as advertised. (lame attempt at a joke that's probably already way past being played out. I'll see myself out now)
I'll be there with my 2 young boys. Does anyone know if the players come back to the court after they do post-game presser, change, etc. before they hit the road? I figure with COVID, they may limit that fan interaction.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
Why are people being so pessimistic now? Cause of the BU presser? He’s keeping things shaded on purpose, we have no idea who is playing tomorrow.
That intensity does not carry over game to game.....talent does....we need our full talent back
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