Pregame: Illinois at Michigan State, Tuesday, February 23rd, 6:00pm CT, FS1

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#26      

illiniu

I
illiniu
I don't know what Coach said before Minnesota game. But repeat it. I have rarely seen a more perfect game of basketball played than the win against Minn. What happened, how, why? I'm too dumb even to guess. Just sheer ridiculosity how well Illini played. What clicked? May it happen against Michigan State.

But Izzy and the Spartans will be ready. I guarantee it.

P.S. Illinois don't need no Griffin - a headcase who would have been divisive on this here Illini team.
 
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#28      

illiniu

I
illiniu
FromTheLogo said:
I think the key is controlling Hall and Hauser on the glass. We will be about 1"-2" shorter at each position (besides Kofi).
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Yes, I understand your point and thank you. But Dee and company were a pretty "short" team. Sometimes size matters (I won't go there for a cheap joke).

It's really all about heart.

I heart Illinois, and I was never taller than 5'9".
 
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#30      

lstewart53x3

lstewart53x3
Scottsdale, Arizona
lstewart53x3
Would love to see us finish the year on a 4-1 run. That would guarantee a 2nd place finish in the B1G at worst. Potentially 1st place (if Michigan stacks up a few losses).

And a top 2 finish in this year’s B1G guarantees a 1 seed in the big dance.
 
#31      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
lstewart53x3 said:
Would love to see us finish the year on a 4-1 run. That would guarantee a 2nd place finish in the B1G at worst. Potentially 1st place (if Michigan stacks up a few losses).

And a top 2 finish in this year’s B1G guarantees a 1 seed in the big dance.
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I doubt either team will stack up losses. Our #2 B10 finish is most likely and seeding may be determined by B10 tourney success or not.
 
#33      

FromTheLogo

F
FromTheLogo
illiniu said:
Yes, I understand your point and thank you. But Dee and company were a pretty "short" team. Sometimes size matters (I won't go there for a cheap joke).

It's really all about heart.

I heart Illinois, and I was never taller than 5'9".
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But "Dee and company" aren't playing.
 
#34      

mikraso

M
The Urb
mikraso
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
Well the MSU guys are apparently playing for their scholarships now (to loosely paraphrase Izzo), so I can see two possibilities. They come out like gang busters to keep their scholly, or they say f this guy, and roll over.
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Wow, how did I not hear about this? That’s so !!!!!! for him to be having that discussion publicly.
 
#37      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
MSU B10 "leadership" categories
(MSU "top 5" categories in B10):

1st team person fouls
2d team Turnovers
4th assists
5th blocks
5th offensive rebounds
4th 2pa (12th in 2pointers made)
 
#38      

lstewart53x3

lstewart53x3
Scottsdale, Arizona
lstewart53x3
A little tidbit about Illinois in an article about the Michigan/OSU game today:
EAB999D7-8D25-474E-BC30-B73310D9F5AC.jpeg

Link
 
#39      

hoopsfan47

H
hoopsfan47
This team found themselves in the last two games. With Sr. leaders, there SHOULD be no more slow starts the rest of the year. Be ready or sit!!! Play smart and play hard....every minute. While doing so, don't make blunders with the ball and hit your free throws. Pretty simple....but for some reason, it has been a jigsaw puzzle getting it done. I do not expect that to be a problem going forward....they have all played and practiced together long enough. I understand risk/reward passing but putting the ball where only your guy can get it...or passing to another teammate should not be as difficult as this team sometimes makes it. There is too much at stake and there are indications that these kids are beginning to understand that. Confidence and focus are paramount and these guys seem to be approaching their potential. It is a beautiful thing when a team loves playing together, believes in their teammates, trusts their coaches, and don't consider losing an option.

I am no longer hoping to win out....I am expecting just that. But much depends on the frosh becoming veterans.
 
#40      

Deleted member 747727

D
Guest
Deleted member 747727
After watching yesterday’s game, this team is hungry. They will be a tough out for anyone. I haven’t seen this much fire since ‘05
 
#41      

PapaKvells

P
PapaKvells
kyillinifan said:
MSU looked a little better today against IU. Langford is beginning to do what he did before his injury. They don’t have anyone to cover Kofi. Enoch come on down to I U.
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Is Langford related to former MSU and Bears RB Jeremy Langford? Or is that just a coincidence? And we are not IU, we are U of I.
 
#44      

doowink

D
doowink
Thinking the Illini will win this one but it will not be easy....Illinois is playing well right now....be hard to top the Minny game, but I think it's possible.....this game is important in several ways....of course winning and staying on course to bump heads with OSU and Mich for a conference title....playing for a #1 seed in the ncaa tourney....and to me this game may tell us if the Illini have turned a corner....are they going to be consistently good (something close to the Minny game) or will we continue to stub our toe and play just well enough to win in certain games....so far I would categorize this team as being consistently inconsistent....playing extremely well in some games....playiing just well enough to win others....hoping we see consistently good at MSU and beyond
 
#45      

thehass

T
thehass
For whatever reason it seems when a team has a blowout win like we did the next game they play a lid goes on the basket , the ball bounces the wrong way and careless play creeps in. Let's hope we avoid this and finish the season like we are on a mission playing hard, smart and executing.
 
#46      

doowink

D
doowink
thehass said:
For whatever reason it seems when a team has a blowout win like we did the next game they play a lid goes on the basket , the ball bounces the wrong way and careless play creeps in. Let's hope we avoid this and finish the season like we are on a mission playing hard, smart and executing.
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Yes....being consistently good is what I'm hoping for....because Michigan and OSU (for the most part) have shown they are that
 
#47      

ugottabjoshinme

ugottabjoshinme
ugottabjoshinme
mikraso said:
Wow, how did I not hear about this? That’s so !!!!!! for him to be having that discussion publicly.
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People are making too big of a deal out of his comments. I believe BIG Ten rules guarantee 4 year scholarships. Izzo is just talking the media trying to light a fire under his guys.
 
#49      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
Trent is playing with a chip on his shoulder. If he and DMFW play elite D like they do....only meltdown's with TO's and FT's can stop them.
Miller playing with a ton of confidence. Curbelo growing every single minute he's out there. Giorgi finding his stride in his role now.
A couple All Americans going All American every game.
@MSU will tell us if they just had a one off performance...or are hitting a stride.

There was some more floor slapping @ Minny too. These kids know that their D can clean scUM off the floor, and crack buckeyes in half.
 
#50      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
CS Tech said:
After watching yesterday’s game, this team is hungry. They will be a tough out for anyone. I haven’t seen this much fire since ‘05
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First sign of our great potential was the second half against the Mildcats.....Our play against the goofers showed me what the beloved can do for an ENTIRE game.....not many opponents could stay with us when we play like the 2 examples referenced above......
We have it in us to go the final step in our quest for that elusive trophy...
Our defense is going to challenge anyone and we are shooting at a tremendous % both 2 and 3 point shots.....
Our rebounding has been a strength all season also.............
The key to how far we go this season is FT's and limiting our turnovers......

NimbleOrangeFeline-small.gif

I BELIEVE.................................I BELIEVE...........................
 
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