Pregame: Illinois at Michigan State, Sunday, January 19th, 11:00am CT, CBS

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#204      
Dang, vegas knows
This team is something else. When we are on, we're nearly unbeatable. I can't recall an Illini team in my memory that has the ability to be so overwhelming to an opponent. We just need to clean up the cold/lackadaisical streaks and we will make a deeeeep run.
 
#206      
I new this was a huge game, but after messing around with Torvik's BT title odds, I now realize this is a MASSIVE game for conference championship purposes.

Illinois' current* odds to share title: 37%
Illinois' current* outright title odds: 19%
*including the games today

With an MSU win-
Illinois' odds to share: 24%
Illinois' outright title odds: 10%

With a UofI win-
Illinois' odds to share: 50%
Illinois' outright title odds: 29%
 
#207      
This team is something else. When we are on, we're nearly unbeatable. I can't recall an Illini team in my memory that has the ability to be so overwhelming to an opponent. We just need to clean up the cold/lackadaisical streaks and we will make a deeeeep run.
Live by the three and die by the three. It's who we are and when we're hitting them, there's nobody we can't beat, but when we're not.....USC, NW and the second half against Washington is the result.
 
#210      
We need to be able to hold our own in the paint. MSU, per usual, has a team of bullies and if a game is close late, they operate well.

Not sure how we're going to fare against a roster of bigs like this. We're just not deep on the interior and we're not overly physical. Plus, we haven't shown a great ability to close out tight games. We're never safe with an 8 point lead with 5 minutes to play. Inevitably, it's a one possession game, we have a ridiculous turnover, we can't get the ball in bounds or we rely on the three because we really don't run an offensive set that gets us a great shot or at very least, get us to the line.

We shall see!
Also, when Rez goes for the block the Illini have shown an inability to get a defender to pick up Rez's guy which leaves a guy open under the basket and can lead to easy hoops for msu. This is the type of weakness izzo will exploit.
 
#212      
We need to be able to hold our own in the paint. MSU, per usual, has a team of bullies and if a game is close late, they operate well.

Not sure how we're going to fare against a roster of bigs like this. We're just not deep on the interior and we're not overly physical. Plus, we haven't shown a great ability to close out tight games. We're never safe with an 8 point lead with 5 minutes to play. Inevitably, it's a one possession game, we have a ridiculous turnover, we can't get the ball in bounds or we rely on the three because we really don't run an offensive set that gets us a great shot or at very least, get us to the line.

We shall see!
We have two really good bigs and Humm can hold his own. We will be fine. I can think of 5 excuses why we might not win which you have just mentioned. Now let me mention just one as to why I think we will win. We will score more than they do.
 
#213      
What is it they know? Lol you're scaring me a little 😅 Are we going to be missing another key player for this game that caused the line to move in MSU's direction?
Relax. We are still the favorites.
 
#214      
Live by the three and die by the three. It's who we are and when we're hitting them, there's nobody we can't beat, but when we're not.....USC, NW and the second half against Washington is the result.
We've diversified somewhat. Boswell still struggles to finish contested layups, but he, White, and Gibbs-Lawhirn have all been getting to the rim more (at least it feels that way, I have no numbers).

I'm more concerned about our handful of lapses where we just don't seem to play as hard as usual, meaning our heavy rebounding advantage evaporates and we don't get the second chance points when we are missing threes.
 
#217      
Just beat them, cut out the gambling crap. This game. This game.
Jimmy Two Times Goodfellas GIF
 
#218      
We will go as KJ goes and the amount the refs lets us have Tomi and Rez on the floor.
Agree....we need this to be a fast paced game...slowing things down will expose our bigs (Tomi and Rez) and more than likely will lead to foul trouble....lace em up boys and run em til their tongues are hanging sideways out their mouths
Illini Basketball Dancing GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics
 
#220      
We've diversified somewhat. Boswell still struggles to finish contested layups, but he, White, and Gibbs-Lawhirn have all been getting to the rim more (at least it feels that way, I have no numbers).

I'm more concerned about our handful of lapses where we just don't seem to play as hard as usual, meaning our heavy rebounding advantage evaporates and we don't get the second chance points when we are missing threes.
"Lawhirn"...

I should just stop posting from my phone.
 
#221      
Expect Pizza Hut Parking Lot. We've seen this movie before. Ayo saw it with one eye. Izzo was a linebacker and reverts to old form when he knows he can't play straight up. Glad our coach is used to it. Who will be our Kofi or TSJ today? Like you, would love for that to be Morez, but definitely going to need someone to play rough.

KJ is ready.
 

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