Pregame: Illinois at Michigan State, Saturday, February 10th, 1:00pm CT, CBS

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#51      
It does strike me that the proper setup position for the "recievers" might be just in front of the baseline rather than just behind it, for that reason.
Theoretically, having them behind the baseline could disguise who the in-bound passer will be. I think we've ran a variation of this in the past where the player who starts with the ball passes it to someone else behind the line who then in-bounds it.

I'm of the camp that it's an execution flaw vs a design flaw.
 
#53      
The stats/data/metrics love them. Top 15-20 across the board, anything you look at.

5 of their 8 losses are to top 10-15 teams, with the other 3 being the home opener against JMU, at Nebraska and at Northwestern.

They throttled Baylor.

Make no mistake, they are a very good team.
I understand but I just think they’re extremely eh. If Izzo decides to play Booker & Carr more we could be in trouble but they put no fear in me. We should win this game. They’re a really good team who doesn’t win games. They can be computer darlings all they want but we should score more points than them, preferably by like 10.
 
#54      
This is the first of 3 very tough road games this month at MSU, Marlyland, and Penn State. IMO we need to win 2 of those 3 to have a shot at a conference title, which will be very difficult especially considering our recent struggles with Maryland and PSU. A win here would be huge.
If we're going to have a shot at the conference title, we'll need all three....unless you're assuming wins at Wisconsin and Purdue at home.

Second point here, if we're going to put a game at Penn State as a very tough road game, I'm not sure that there's a deep belief that we can string the wins together. All road games are a challenge and we have to play well, but that's a game we will be favored to win and we should win. The other two....fully agreed. Maryland is our kryptonite.
 
#55      
I understand but I just think they’re extremely eh. If Izzo decides to play Booker & Carr more we could be in trouble but they put no fear in me. We should win this game. They’re a really good team who doesn’t win games. They can be computer darlings all they want but we should score more points than them, preferably by like 10.

I would say instead: "They're a really good team who *hasn't* won games"

As we see our IL team sub-300 in luck rating, MSU is even farther down toward the bottom of that list: https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankLuck

Great metrics + average record = a team that is way, way better than it's W-L record.
 
#56      
I would say instead: "They're a really good team who *hasn't* won games"

As we see our IL team sub-300 in luck rating, MSU is even farther down toward the bottom of that list: https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankLuck

Great metrics + average record = a team that is way, way better than it's W-L record.
Sure. This senior group from MSU has the least B1G wins out of all of Izzo’s senior classes. They’ve lost 20+ games since the beginning of last year (sorry don’t have exact number I think it’s 22?)…. They are who they are, and I’m sure they’ll somehow get to a sweet 16. But we own this group, we’re the better team, we have TJ back… until proven otherwise we own this MSU era of guys.
 
#57      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Theoretically, having them behind the baseline could disguise who the in-bound passer will be. I think we've ran a variation of this in the past where the player who starts with the ball passes it to someone else behind the line who then in-bounds it.

I'm of the camp that it's an execution flaw vs a design flaw.
That's my working assumption. Our execution lately has been lacking.
 
#58      

The players botched it the second time....no one went deep...normally you have two guys go deep and 2 curl back....and you can mix and match responsibilities
Also felt like our comebacks were happening too early, so we were catching (or at least attempting to) too close to the baseline and/or sideline
 
#59      
Sure. This senior group from MSU has the least B1G wins out of all of Izzo’s senior classes. They’ve lost 20+ games since the beginning of last year (sorry don’t have exact number I think it’s 22?)…. They are who they are, and I’m sure they’ll somehow get to a sweet 16. But we own this group, we’re the better team, we have TJ back… until proven otherwise we own this MSU era of guys.

That we can agree on. We beat them by 3 at our place, think it'll be tougher in EL.
 
#60      
If we're going to have a shot at the conference title, we'll need all three....unless you're assuming wins at Wisconsin and Purdue at home.

Second point here, if we're going to put a game at Penn State as a very tough road game, I'm not sure that there's a deep belief that we can string the wins together. All road games are a challenge and we have to play well, but that's a game we will be favored to win and we should win. The other two....fully agreed. Maryland is our kryptonite.

PSU has been playing better as of late (just won 2 straight road games) and also beat Wisconsin at home. Not to mention they really had our number last season. Hard for me to feel good about that one. But I would agree that on paper that’s a game we’re expected to win.
 
#62      

Bigtex

DFW
PSU has been playing better as of late (just won 2 straight road games) and also beat Wisconsin at home. Not to mention they really had our number last season. Hard for me to feel good about that one. But I would agree that on paper that’s a game we’re expected to win.
however a lot has changed for PSU since last year. Best players, coach, etc. are all gone.
 
#63      

blackdog

Champaign

The players botched it the second time....no one went deep...normally you have two guys go deep and 2 curl back....and you can mix and match responsibilities

It looked like when they ran it last night nobody even really threatened deep and everyone was going about 75% speed. Like 3 guys took a couple steps then stopped and turned around. Definitely an execution problem. Luke is a former QB, why can't he draw up a designed route tree in the huddle :LOL:
 
#64      
It looked like when they ran it last night nobody even really threatened deep and everyone was going about 75% speed. Like 3 guys took a couple steps then stopped and turned around. Definitely an execution problem. Luke is a former QB, why can't he draw up a designed route tree in the huddle :LOL:
Not to mention that this season the announcers can't seem to shut up about TSJ playing WR in high school
 
#65      

The players botched it the second time....no one went deep...normally you have two guys go deep and 2 curl back....and you can mix and match responsibilities
I copied this play when I coached girls basketball 2 years ago and it worked every time. As long as you vary who does what and make sure that people actually cut hard back to the ball or post up their defender, it's almost impossible to guard.
 
#66      
I copied this play when I coached girls basketball 2 years ago and it worked every time. As long as you vary who does what and make sure that people actually cut hard back to the ball or post up their defender, it's almost impossible to guard.
Yup. Just like running a a route in football you sell the go get the defender to commit and flip his hips then you break it into a come back
 
#71      
next 6 games are must win for Illinois to win B10 championship. We are one game behind. Purdue IF we beat them at home we can tie but we will need to run the table including winning @ Wisconsin.

Purdue might lose @ Illinois and or at home vs Wisconsin. Otherwise their schedule is much easier than ours - next 5 games are against B10 cellar dwellers.


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#72      
Every game is a must win at this point of the season, and yes that probably will not happen. But 3/2 and 3/5 are must wins if we want any part of the regular season title. Wisky on the road followed by Purdont at home. Got to beat the best to be the best.
 
#73      
next 6 games are must win for Illinois to win B10 championship. We are one game behind. Purdue IF we beat them at home we can tie but we will need to run the table including winning @ Wisconsin.

Purdue might lose @ Illinois and or at home vs Wisconsin. Otherwise their schedule is much easier than ours - next 5 games are against B10 cellar dwellers.


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Nice that their game with us is a 3-day turnaround for them. I just assumed with them already having played one more game than us, and us not playing until the weekend, that they were gonna get A week to get ready for us.
 
#74      
The stats/data/metrics love them. Top 15-20 across the board, anything you look at.

5 of their 8 losses are to top 10-15 teams, with the other 3 being the home opener against JMU, at Nebraska and at Northwestern.

They throttled Baylor.

Make no mistake, they are a very good team.
They are a good team, have great guard play, and could very well beat the Illini but I do think the Illini present some matchups issues for them.

MSU has some guards in Walker, Akins, Hoggard, and Holloman but those guys are going to have to guard Shannon, Domask, and Rodgers. Rodgers in particular could clean up on the boards unless they choose to put Hall on him but that creates matchup problems elsewhere. I almost wonder if we're going to see more Coen Carr than he typically plays just so Izzo can get some length on the wing.

Their bigs in Sisoko, Cooper, and Kohler also aren't great and don't look super comfortable on the perimeter where they will have to play to follow Hawkins. Also none of them are the type that score a bunch inside which the Illini can struggle defending. If they play Kohler at all I think that's a good time to let Dainja spell Hawkins and he will absolutely feast on Kohler offensively.

Gameplan should be pretty similar. Don't let Walker and Akins kill you from 3, and make them shoot over bigger defenders. Then on the offensive end don't settle for 3's and long 2's. Keep the ball moving and bully them inside.
 
#75      
I understand but I just think they’re extremely eh. If Izzo decides to play Booker & Carr more we could be in trouble but they put no fear in me. We should win this game. They’re a really good team who doesn’t win games. They can be computer darlings all they want but we should score more points than them, preferably by like 10.
I'd expect to see a lot more of Carr than you typically do matchup with the Illini's length.

I haven't really gotten to see Booker play but he seems like he's behind Sisoko, Cooper, and even with Kohler.
 
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