What this game will come down to in my view is:
1. Who out-hustles the other for the 50-50 balls?
2. Who hits shots?
3. Can the Illini keep turnovers to single digits and that stat to a min. of -2 or better?
Expecting that NW will foul DD and Ty often around the hoop...will they convert FTs or will the opportunity turn into a 2 miss blunder/turnover? Ty has really improved his FT tech...i.e. keeping his eyes in a tight, vertical cylinder while getting much more consistent in his length and speed of lift along with consistent arc. The result is a pretty consistent delivery....and I really, really like it (a tip of the hat to Pru). DD is still very inconsistent with those fundamentals but seems to be working on it hard. At least he is not moving his head back 8 in. during his lift and release which will always produce a flat arc.
This game is extremely important for many reasons and I do not expect our guys to come out and wander around for 15 min. BU has his "old" team and they know better....but who knows if the gnomes will be guarding the rim on a cold night in Jan....we have seen it 1000 times or more so keep your fingers crossed! Love these guys...they deserve a win and I am looking for a big Illini crowd to push them to victory...Illinois...var-si-ty. The rest of the team, all good shooters, has seemed to become more consistent at the line...likely as a result of tons of practice leading to confidence.
Of course, this is Illinois basketball, and the basketball gods are generally opposed to Illini success (and don't call me paranoid...it is a proven fact the world is in a conspiracy against all Illini teams...pure fact.) It is up to us, Illini nation, to beat those surly, unbelieving hoops gods into submission!!! Go Illini!!!