hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
when will/would fatigue start playing a role? tomorrow? Saturday?
Pregame: #12 Illinois vs #4 Purdue, Friday, March 11th, 1:30pm CT, ESPN
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I struggle seeing Illinois beating Indiana too.
Fortunately, I can easily see Indiana beating Indiana.
Gotta assume fatigue's a factor from here, on..... gotta show great motor because part of beating a (much) bigger team is dictating pace.
We won't win a half-court game, and also probably don't have the legs to run for 40. Catch 22.
Another great test of Groce & Co's resolve when the season is on the line.
ILL
We won't win a half-court game, and also probably don't have the legs to run for 40. Catch 22.
Another great test of Groce & Co's resolve when the season is on the line.
ILL
The Josh Whitman effect is in full force and I've been wasted on orange kool aid since Lovie was hired.
Let's beat Purdue. We've had two games now to get used to the rims, them - none.
Michigan upsets IU. Ohio St. gets past Penn St. and upsets MSU, and we've got a chance!!!
Let's beat Purdue. We've had two games now to get used to the rims, them - none.
Michigan upsets IU. Ohio St. gets past Penn St. and upsets MSU, and we've got a chance!!!
We beat them this year, we beat them last year, and we were up by 20 @ their place last year before collapsing. They are a really good matchup for Groce's defensive philosophy. Pack the lane, take away easy 2's, and force them to shoot jumpers. I don't know if stats back this up, but they seem like a much better 3pt shooting team at home.
But I think the biggest key to this game will unfortunately be the refs. We need them to call the freedom of movement stuff this game more than any. Can't let Purdue use that Painter hand check defense. Also, if they don't let us be physical with Hammons and Haas inside then it's going to be a tough game. And if Mav gets in foul trouble it's going to be a really tough game.
But I think the biggest key to this game will unfortunately be the refs. We need them to call the freedom of movement stuff this game more than any. Can't let Purdue use that Painter hand check defense. Also, if they don't let us be physical with Hammons and Haas inside then it's going to be a tough game. And if Mav gets in foul trouble it's going to be a really tough game.
hoosierlandillinifan
- Normal, IL
I went to the Minnesota game on Wednesday, and am going tomorrow as well. Hoping to see a decent amount of Illinois fans even though Purdue and IU both play.
I believe that since we beat them once, we have a chance to do it again. Especially if we play as well as we've done the last two days.
I believe that since we beat them once, we have a chance to do it again. Especially if we play as well as we've done the last two days.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I won't be so lucky to have this one on at work! LOL.
Definitely taking my lunch hour the second I see the game has started on my ESPN app and spending that whole hour watching as much as I can! Go Illini!
Definitely taking my lunch hour the second I see the game has started on my ESPN app and spending that whole hour watching as much as I can! Go Illini!
As with the first meeting, an interesting match up. They dominate inside, but our guards are much better. IIRC last time we doubled their post a lot and dared them to make 3s. Seems like a good strategy to try again....
EfremWinters84
- S. Carolina
Based upon BTT history, we can easily go 3 games. Fatigue seems to set in during game 4 (historically the Championship game), and particularly in the 2nd half of that game.
EfremWinters84
- S. Carolina
Exactly. You nailed it.
Purdue did not play well if you watch the film. Yes we game-planned the right way. They took the open 3's and missed enough. Their size/talent differential SHOULD enable them to just force their will on us inside, regardless of doubles.
Here's hoping they go back out to the arc.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Yes, I recall thinking that we deserved credit for a good plan and good play, but also felt that they had a bad day. Some of the credit for that bad day goes to us. Hope it was the lion's share that we earned so that we can do it again
Our only shot at the post-season is winning this whole thing.
The odds of us winning 5 games in 5 days is slim no matter who we play. Goes down considerably if we have to face Indiana, Michigan St, Maryland or Wisconsin.
To win 5 games in 5 days, the bench needs to play more minutes than usual, the team needs to shoot well from deep (2 for 2 on that front) and the team has to dig deep and play over their heads. Not impossible, nor not likely.
Does Groce start playing the subs more in this game v. Purdue knowing that Hill, Nunn and JCL have to stay fresh for us to have a chance in the semi-finals should we beat Purdue? Or, does he go all out to beat Purdue, make the semi's thus salvaging the season somewhat. Making the semi's would be a good way to end the year and give them momentum going into next season.
I'm kind of blabbing, but thoughts?
The odds of us winning 5 games in 5 days is slim no matter who we play. Goes down considerably if we have to face Indiana, Michigan St, Maryland or Wisconsin.
To win 5 games in 5 days, the bench needs to play more minutes than usual, the team needs to shoot well from deep (2 for 2 on that front) and the team has to dig deep and play over their heads. Not impossible, nor not likely.
Does Groce start playing the subs more in this game v. Purdue knowing that Hill, Nunn and JCL have to stay fresh for us to have a chance in the semi-finals should we beat Purdue? Or, does he go all out to beat Purdue, make the semi's thus salvaging the season somewhat. Making the semi's would be a good way to end the year and give them momentum going into next season.
I'm kind of blabbing, but thoughts?
With DJ and AJ playing very limited minutes today, they MUST play tomorrow. and DJW has to be highly effective. That said, at this stage, you cannot be doing any projecting on to the next round(s). The task at hand is too big. Gotta trust your conditioning program. Maybe get some ice baths going at the team hotel.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
You can't win the second game if you don't win the first.
He's gonna be playing to win. Sub patterns will be slightly different tomorrow, not because he is saving the stars but because they are already tired.
You worry about one game at a time. Saving legs for the next day would and should only cross their minds if there's a complete blowout.
Certainly the most excited i've been for an Illini b-ball game all year. So, admittedly, i've been thinking about what each player's individual optimal performance at this stage entails. Here are the ramblings of a kool-aid drunk man:
Hill: Pretty easy, draw the Defense. go to the rim early and often to open up shooters. Have to be a general on D, getting guys in correct positions and calling switches.
Nunn: Play smarter. Be the plus defender he can. Get in to passing lanes and create transition scoring opportunities. Offensively, no more lazy passes. Be a shot-maker, but don't try to be a hero.
Morgan: Stay out of foul trouble. Need him able to hold position on D. Not going to be able to pound it in by the rim, so gotta get that face-up jumper going.
Finke: Confidence. Keep loose and shooting the ball, and have the guts to make the tough passes he's capable of. Be strong on D, be willing to take charges.
JCL: utilize the fact that people are hounding you at the arc to your advantage. Ball fakes are your friend. Off the dribble to start, open up your shot.
Lewis/Tate: goals for both are fairly similar. On-ball defense must be exceptional. Aggressively closing out on shooters when we double. Try to draw contact and get to the foul line is the way you can help on offense. Facilitate.
DJW: total X-factor here. Has to use his athleticism and versatility to help on double teams, rebound, score and spread the floor. Needs to be a swiss army knife off the bench.
Jordan: If he can come in and knock down threes, while not being a liability on defense, i'd be elated.
Austin: uh.....hm.....ah........defense?
Hill: Pretty easy, draw the Defense. go to the rim early and often to open up shooters. Have to be a general on D, getting guys in correct positions and calling switches.
Nunn: Play smarter. Be the plus defender he can. Get in to passing lanes and create transition scoring opportunities. Offensively, no more lazy passes. Be a shot-maker, but don't try to be a hero.
Morgan: Stay out of foul trouble. Need him able to hold position on D. Not going to be able to pound it in by the rim, so gotta get that face-up jumper going.
Finke: Confidence. Keep loose and shooting the ball, and have the guts to make the tough passes he's capable of. Be strong on D, be willing to take charges.
JCL: utilize the fact that people are hounding you at the arc to your advantage. Ball fakes are your friend. Off the dribble to start, open up your shot.
Lewis/Tate: goals for both are fairly similar. On-ball defense must be exceptional. Aggressively closing out on shooters when we double. Try to draw contact and get to the foul line is the way you can help on offense. Facilitate.
DJW: total X-factor here. Has to use his athleticism and versatility to help on double teams, rebound, score and spread the floor. Needs to be a swiss army knife off the bench.
Jordan: If he can come in and knock down threes, while not being a liability on defense, i'd be elated.
Austin: uh.....hm.....ah........defense?
I get what some are saying on here about Austin's few timely contributions but he and Tate look pretty substantially out of place on the floor. It was really bad when both were on the court at the same time. No wonder there are scoring droughts when they are playing 5v4 or worse 5v3. I was surprised Tate played as much later in the second half. It is obvious to me at least that Lewis brings much more to the table even if he occasionally forces things. Tate is a great passer but he is absolutely no threat to score and not a great defender. Going to be very hard to justify playing time next season barring any injuries. Austin as a walk on makes his play justifiable and even admirable. He is simply out classed as an athlete compare to the others on the court.
And that's why I think he was on the bench at the end of the game. When you have Nunn, JCL, Hill, Finke, and Morgan capable of making shots then you don't need your mediocre PG taking shots away from them. Tate understands that. Sometimes Lewis doesn't.
I think the thing that bothers me most about tate, and I've been a big supporter of him in the past, is his seeming lack of urgency. He wastes way too much time walking the ball up the court, especially against the press, or dribbling around not running offense, particularly towards the end of the game today. He's not a ball stopper in the sense that starks was, but there's so many times when I want to yell at him through the tv to get going.
ILLtilIdie
- STL
I am huge fan of Groce, but this is one of the areas that absolutely drives me crazy. I don't know what he teaches against the press, but we get dangerously close to 10 seconds almost every time and today it really bit us in the butt. I can't stand seeing them throwing it from side to side instead of just pushing the ball up court.
With that being said, great win! JCL and Finke are going to be monsters when they are upperclassmen.
And, we are making some shots. Helps to balance out the droughts when you hit several shots in a row. I like the ball movement/extra pass that we have seen these last couple of games.
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