Pregame: Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, February 4th, 1:30pm CT, FOX

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#27      
DeonThomas
If Penn State can pull off the upset tonight, the top spot in the conference standings suddenly comes into view. We'd be just two games back in the loss column and we play the Boilers in the last game of the season, likely with a national TV audience..........and a win there could bring us one game closer.

Purdue might have the toughest remaining Big Ten schedule.
 
#28      
jrichisamazing
DeonThomas said:
If Penn State can pull off the upset tonight, the top spot in the conference standings suddenly comes into view. We'd be just two games back in the loss column and we play the Boilers in the last game of the season, likely with a national TV audience..........and a win there could bring us one game closer.

Purdue might have the toughest remaining Big Ten schedule.
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Realistically, we'd need to go 4-0 over the next 4 games to even have a chance. Unless something crazy happens like Edey getting injured. That's...

@Iowa
Minnesota
Rutgers
@PSU

It's definitely possible, but that's tough. I've convinced myself I'm only getting my hopes up if we can go undefeated during this stretch AND Purdue has to start dropping some games. This is their schedule during that same stretch....

PSU
@IU
Iowa
@NW
 
#30      
RML
I like to think we've played our best against the best. Iowa seemed like a disaster early in the year, but I think our guys will know that they need to be their best to win this one.

Oh, and hey, when they sag off RJ, maybe we should send CoHawk out the to contest the shot. It will feel more like practice then.
Good Mythical Morning Agree GIF by Rhett and Link
 
#31      
Sedino
DeonThomas said:
If Penn State can pull off the upset tonight, the top spot in the conference standings suddenly comes into view. We'd be just two games back in the loss column and we play the Boilers in the last game of the season, likely with a national TV audience..........and a win there could bring us one game closer.

Purdue might have the toughest remaining Big Ten schedule.
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Our remaining schedule is tougher than theirs.
 
#32      
pruman91
illinipimp said:
I live in the Illinois QC 11 blocks from the mighty Mississippi right across from the border of the alien nation known around here as "sqwaukeye". On a hot summer day with a westerly breeze I can smell the stench of iowa city. There is no more despicable fan base then iowa. Excuse making sore losers. Arrogant poor winners. A snapshot of their cry baby coach. For Illini fan here there is no bigger game, no bigger rival. Its THE game circled on our calendars the day the schedule comes out. Its a must win. Nothing shuts up sqwaukeye like a loss to our Illini. He will disappear into the shadows like the roach he is. So guys please dont make me beg. Take this with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. We need your best. 110% from every man. 40 minutes of focus and intensity. I am far from a religious man but on gameday I will pray to the basketball gods for a victory with the belief you will deliver us from evil ! Amen!
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#34      
ThunderousBear
Iowa feels like a more extreme version of our team. Very inconsistent and prone to mistakes. Capable of beating everyone and also losing to anyone (shoutout to Eastern lol). Barring a 3 point loss to Wisconsin they are undefeated at home in B10 play, so we definitely have an tough battle.
 
#35      
hoopsfan47
Iowa is as aggressive on offense with all five positions as any B1G team. Sometimes, they get so aggressive to outscore their opponent, that they seemingly allow hoops on defense in order get the ball back and score again. They are the only team to fire up from the arc at a peer rate to our Illini who have made the same number of 3s but have taken 10% more shots from the arc. This will be a battle. Focus and effort on defense will be key along with taking good shots....and using the arc with kick outs rather than early 3s off the dribble. That idea is basic, fundamentally sound offense played by disciplined, smart, winning teams and done too little by this Illini team. If our guys come out waiting to see if the Hawkeyes will be hitting shots from the arc, they will be down 10 in a blink while the crowd goes crazy. Having a mindset to stop them from scoring any pts. all night as soon as the ball gets tipped as paramount to victory. Victory for the Illinois varsity can be had, but not without a war mentality from the get go.
 
#36      
Fighter of the Nightman
ThunderousBear said:
Iowa feels like a more extreme version of our team. Very inconsistent and prone to mistakes. Capable of beating everyone and also losing to anyone (shoutout to Eastern lol). Barring a 3 point loss to Wisconsin they are undefeated at home in B10 play, so we definitely have an tough battle.
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Yeah, and what terrifies me is that Iowa goes as they shoot ... and they always seem to hit three after three against us in Iowa City, even when we end up beating them! If we are ice cold shooting and are not taking advantage of their relative weakness down low, we are going to be in trouble, IMO. However, if we bring the effort/shooting ability that we did against, say, UCLA ... we'll run 'em out of their own gym. I would LOVE the latter. :)
 
#37      
altgeld88
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Roll call!
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Am envious of those who will attend on Saturday. On my TO DO list before I depart this veil of tears is to attend an Illinois-Iowa game in Carver-Hawkeye... and emerge with a smile on my face. Have never seen a game there (well, Iowa v. Somebody volleyball 20 yrs ago, the evening before a football game, but that doesn't count.)
 
#38      
Birdus
DeonThomas said:
If Penn State can pull off the upset tonight, the top spot in the conference standings suddenly comes into view. We'd be just two games back in the loss column and we play the Boilers in the last game of the season, likely with a national TV audience..........and a win there could bring us one game closer.

Purdue might have the toughest remaining Big Ten schedule.
Click to expand...
Stranger things have happened but I would definitely relish winning the BiG TOurnament and making a run into the ELITE 8 or better. I think we have a better chance there then catching Purdue.
 
#39      
Fighter of the Nightman
altgeld88 said:
Am envious of those who will attend on Saturday. On my TO DO list before I depart this veil of tears is to attend an Illinois-Iowa game in Carver-Hawkeye... and emerge with a smile on my face. Have never seen a game there (well, Iowa v. Somebody volleyball 20 yrs ago, the evening before a football game, but that doesn't count.)
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It’s an interesting arena … so bland and boring and gray and has absolutely no visual uniqueness or beauty, lol. With all that said, there really isn’t a bad seat in the entire arena, and I’ve heard it get REALLY loud due to the flat seating. It’s also a unique setup with all seats being below the concessions. Plus, always plenty of Illini fans to make you feel right at home. 😎
 
#40      
pruman91
I didn't watch the squwakeyes in their last game more than 5 minutes but wondered how pat macfranny did ????

Of the macfranny clan he is the most talented by far.......
 
#41      
altgeld88
Fighter of the Nightman said:
It’s an interesting arena … so bland and boring and gray and has absolutely no visual uniqueness or beauty, lol. With all that said, there really isn’t a bad seat in the entire arena, and I’ve heard it get REALLY loud due to the flat seating. It’s also a unique setup with all seats being below the concessions. Plus, always plenty of Illini fans to make you feel right at home. 😎
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I liked it as an arena when I saw the volleyball game and thought it would be a great place to see a hoops game if full. It reminded me of The Pit in Albuquerque. Same configuration. A single bowl below ground level with the concessions and concourse above. The Pit seemed more menacing for some reason. Same seating capacity but perhaps the bowl is steeper.
 
#42      
pruman91
altgeld88 said:
I liked it as an arena when I saw the volleyball game and thought it would be a great place to see a hoops game if full. It reminded me of The Pit in Albuquerque. Same configuration. A single bowl below ground level with the concessions and concourse above. The Pit seemed more menacing for some reason. Same seating capacity but perhaps the bowl is steeper.
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#43      
Timj83
DeonThomas said:
If Penn State can pull off the upset tonight, the top spot in the conference standings suddenly comes into view. We'd be just two games back in the loss column and we play the Boilers in the last game of the season, likely with a national TV audience..........and a win there could bring us one game closer.

Purdue might have the toughest remaining Big Ten schedule.
Click to expand...
Definitely need one of those unconscious 3pt games from PSU tonight. Not counting on it but they have it in them.
 
#44      
john1952
McCaffery has to pay some attention to the ease with which Griesel penetrated the paint and made "bunnies."
 
#45      
john1952
I have noticed that two of the most despised opponets in the Big10 are Iowa and Indiana
I have have always had strong animosity for the Whosiers
What are some good reason for developing an intense dislike for he Hawkeyes? :)
 
#46      
DeonThomas
Sedino said:
Our remaining schedule is tougher than theirs.
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I realize I could have used NET or KENPOM rankings, but I simply went to full-season W-L records for the eight games we each have left (ignorning the potential head-to-head "showdown" on March 5th:

101-68 Illini opponents
111-60 Boiler opponents

We each have 4 at home and 4 on the road leading up to the clash on March 5. They still have to play in-state rival Indiana twice. We have one left against celler-dweller Minnesota. Purdue has no games against either NEB or MIN.
 
#47      
BRucks
altgeld88 said:
Am envious of those who will attend on Saturday. On my TO DO list before I depart this veil of tears is to attend an Illinois-Iowa game in Carver-Hawkeye... and emerge with a smile on my face. Have never seen a game there (well, Iowa v. Somebody volleyball 20 yrs ago, the evening before a football game, but that doesn't count.)
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As Fighter indicates below, there isn't a bad sightline
altgeld88 said:
Am envious of those who will attend on Saturday. On my TO DO list before I depart this veil of tears is to attend an Illinois-Iowa game in Carver-Hawkeye... and emerge with a smile on my face. Have never seen a game there (well, Iowa v. Somebody volleyball 20 yrs ago, the evening before a football game, but that doesn't count.)
Click to expand...
As Fighter indicates below there isn't a bad seat in the house from a viewing standpoint due the steep gradient (for you old engineers). However, because of that gradient. I'd recommend seats towards the top of the arena if you have cranky old knees since entrance to those seats is from the top.
 
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