I am not seeing a 10 point spread in this game. If both team shot well and limit turnovers I am thinking a very close game.Duke 80
Illini 70
I am not seeing a 10 point spread in this game. If both team shot well and limit turnovers I am thinking a very close game.Duke 80
Illini 70
Wow. That is sumthin.December 23rd, 2017 over Miznoz, 70-64.
Does that mean you disagree with ubermensch? Hmmmm, so much for great minds thinking alike."JFGsCoffeeMug,
Reading through the Duke board, it looks like they're really concerned about their turnovers and ability to rebound and initiate offense against us. This could be like the Baylor game, but reversed. If Duke doesn't have a steady PG, then the defensive intensity from our guards could make things really miserable on the offensive side for them. Forcing turnovers will also give us opportunities to run.
If we can win the referee-Kofi matchup we should be fine.
Why are you so pessimistic? Would you be afraid of MSU like Duke? I'm jit. Baylor is likely the best team in the country right now and certainly elite. Our squad has had this game circled more than any other I think and I hope we see more from AC and AM. There is no crowd there and we have 2 guys that are preseason all Americans. This isnt a typical Duke team and if you take the names off the jerseys you would choose our team. I am. Illini 84 Duke 76We tend to do better when I come into these games with a pessimistic attitude. As such, I can come up with these reasons why we'll likely lose our second in a row:
* We have such little experience in the past 14 years playing in big moments like this --- on a national stage, on ESPN
* Baylor exposed the secret to slowing down Ayo; I now expect others to duplicate
* Kofi has been a slight disappointment so far. I was expecting him to thoroughly dominate our lessor opponents and perform very well against other AP Top 15 foes.
Duke 77
Illinois 68
As such, I'll just need to root even harder tonight at 9:30 eastern! Go ILLINI!!!!
It's ok for him to be wrong occasionallyDoes that mean you disagree with ubermensch? Hmmmm, so much for great minds thinking alike.
Reading through the Duke board, it looks like they're really concerned about their turnovers and ability to rebound and initiate offense against us. This could be like the Baylor game, but reversed. If Duke doesn't have a steady PG, then the defensive intensity from our guards could make things really miserable on the offensive side for them. Forcing turnovers will also give us opportunities to run.
That's got to change with such great experience like Trent and AyoWe're not a turnover-generating squad any longer. Recall, we changed our defensive philosophy last year.
In fact, I just looked and we're last in the Big 10 in TO margin. In fact, we turn the ball over more than any team in the conference (15/game) and cause the fewest of any team in the league (10) ---- for a league worst minus 5/game!
This is that early season game where we find out if we have the sauce or not.
Hoping for a W, but my gut feels otherwise.
Illinois 77 Iowa 72
Book it
Later in the year Duke might win but they are young and their D sucks. If Kofi doesn't get in foul trouble (and I realize that is a BIG if) Illinois won't lose. I'm that confident. Illinois basketball and football coaches over the past few years have complained about being younger than their competition. Both need to man up. That's no longer true. The Baylor game will help them. Duke is not as good as Baylor. Ayo should have a big game. He HAS to if he wants to impress NBA scouts after the Baylor debacle.
I don't think the answer is clear cut either way. It really depends on how we play. Let's not get lost in the outcome this early in the season.I don't know if I'm more anxious about this game or the Baylor game. The Baylor game had that feel of if we win awesome, but if not then that's ok.
This kind of feels like if we lose are we quite as good as we thought or a little overrated. Beating Duke at Cameron with or without fans would be amazing.