Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Saturday, February 5th, 11:00am CT, ESPN

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#176      
After every game Trayce has been writing the name of the next opponent on a white board for his teammates to see as they walk into the locker room. It's his way of reminding them to focus on the game that will be at hand instead of self congratulating.

I'm fairly certain that a team as successful as Illinois has been this year is not especially concerned with an opposing player reminding his teammates who the next game is against, or the opposing coach pronouncing a silent consonant.

Peace
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#178      
Also, Assembly Hall will be on full-blast for this one. It will have a big-game atmosphere.

It's been over three years since Illinois has played in Assembly Hall when there have been fans in the stands. Only Frazier and Williams were on the Illinois roster back then. That may add an interesting dynamic; it had a real effect on a veteran Purdue team.
 
#179      
I guess it's not surprising, but interesting that they went ahead and said that they plan to do a lot of screens on the offensive side to try to pull Kofi out of the paint where they can take advantage of their superior quickness.
1) They do not have superior quickness. 2) TJD can’t shoot outside of 15 feet.

This game worries me because B10 officials will be involved. If they call a game similar to Wisconsin, I like our odds a lot. If it’s like Purdue, then we are in for a tough morning/afternoon. Wish Belo was in 25 minute territory instead of 15 based on what they like to do on D, but maybe he will surprise us and be available for more.
 
#180      
1) They do not have superior quickness. 2) TJD can’t shoot outside of 15 feet.
Of the five starting positions, Indiana has a quickness advantage at one spot; the 5. Trayce is hyper-quick near the basket; that's the talent that's made him a success. And agreed, the odds of either team's post position star shooting a 15 ft+ jumper is very low. Race has come around shooting threes the last few games.

I'd also call the pg quickness a wash - Xavier Johnson is a strong, quick burst player, though sometimes as has been said here, he loses control.

Kopp and Stewart start as catch and shoot guys and are really slow. Galloway, Bates, and Geronimo play a least as many minutes as those two and are much more athletic. Phinisee is one of our best defenders and is out injured. Lander will be the backup pg. Very quick and slick on offense, but a terrible defender.
 
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#181      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Also, Assembly Hall will be on full-blast for this one. It will have a big-game atmosphere.

It's been over three years since Illinois has played in Assembly Hall when there have been fans in the stands. Only Frazier and Williams were on the Illinois roster back then. That may add an interesting dynamic; it had a real effect on a veteran Purdue team.
The junior AH is indeed a tough place to play for a visiting team. OTOH, so is Carver-Hawkeye and our boys took care of bidness there in early December, even though they had lineup turmoil at the time. Iowa is a couple notches ahead of IU on Pomeroy.

I expect nothing less than a hard-fought, tough BT game tomorrow, and a slim margin of victory.
 
#182      
The junior AH is indeed a tough place to play for a visiting team. OTOH, so is Carver-Hawkeye and our boys took care of bidness there in early December, even though they had lineup turmoil at the time. Iowa is a couple notches ahead of IU on Pomeroy.

I expect nothing less than a hard-fought, tough BT game tomorrow, and a slim margin of victory.

There's another Assembly Hall besides the real one in Bloomington, Indiana?

Didn't know that. :)
 
#184      
The junior AH is indeed a tough place to play for a visiting team. OTOH, so is Carver-Hawkeye and our boys took care of bidness there in early December, even though they had lineup turmoil at the time. Iowa is a couple notches ahead of IU on Pomeroy.

I expect nothing less than a hard-fought, tough BT game tomorrow, and a slim margin of victory.
I will say that the atmosphere are Carver-Hawkeye was unimpressive in December. So many empty seats. Interesting building but the fanbase wasn't nearly as into it as I had been expecting.
I haven't been to see the candy stripers on their home court yet, maybe next year if we have a home and away.
 
#186      
Also, Assembly Hall will be on full-blast for this one. It will have a big-game atmosphere.

It's been over three years since Illinois has played in Assembly Hall when there have been fans in the stands. Only Frazier and Williams were on the Illinois roster back then. That may add an interesting dynamic; it had a real effect on a veteran Purdue team.
My kids are Purdue alumni, so I have watched Purdue a lot. Going into this one, Purdue had beaten IU nine times in a row. I watched this game, and I saw complacency in Purdue more than I saw environmental jitters. They took IU for granted. Little Assembly Hall can be loud, but it's not what it once was.

In my opinion, right now the most intimating environment to play in the B1G is Purdue - and we get to go there next.
 
#187      
State Farm Center has a great ring to it and IU actually first used the name Assembly Hall in the 1890's.

IU might be favored, which makes it unfortunate I can't legally hammer Illinois ML.
 
#188      
Let's hope it remains that way until the tip on Saturday. It's reasonable to project that, even with limited mins, Papi will do some damage to IU tomorrow.
No we want him to be an afterthought. That’s where he’s most dangerous
 
#189      
It looked to me that Andre was wore out by the end of his stint in the first half against Wisconsin but that can change daily. When I had covid it lingered on for five weeks draining my energy and strength. Then it was like someone flipped a switch and it started improving about 20 to 25 percent a day. He could be up and going strong sooner than we think.
 
#190      
My kids are Purdue alumni, so I have watched Purdue a lot. Going into this one, Purdue had beaten IU nine times in a row. I watched this game, and I saw complacency in Purdue more than I saw environmental jitters. They took IU for granted. Little Assembly Hall can be loud, but it's not what it once was.

In my opinion, right now the most intimating environment to play in the B1G is Purdue - and we get to go there next.
Having been to both, I'd say Mackey has a more organized student section and is better for a middle of the road game. But IU is louder/crazier for a big game environment.
 
#199      

DeonThomas

South Carolina
I've attended just one game in Bloomington --- a Bruce Douglas-led blowout (in 1985 maybe?). Seems like we led by 20 or so in the second half. I was essentially the only orange in a sea of red. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!

I'm sorta expecting the same outcome this Saturday, provided we're at full-strength and Belo can get at least 18-20 minutes. If we're going to compete for the Big10 title, we have to win these games against mid-tier conference opponents, whether at home or on the road. It should be raining 3's all afternoon!

77 - ILL
66 - IND
 
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