Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Sunday, February 27th, 1:00pm CT, CBS
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
And what a difference ... I want no part of Gonzaga or Arizona, and they'll both easily be 1-seeds. As we know from some of our very good teams over the years, being a 4-seed SUCKS if you have the type of team that can get hot and make a run, as you just run into the freight train of a 1-seed in the Sweet Sixteen right after a brutal battle with a 5-seed in the Second Round. I guess we also know from last year that 1-seeds can always go down...
Anyway, I loved what I saw during the comeback vs. OSU, specifically from Coleman Hawkins. The thing I thought this team would actually improve on this year is the droughts/not knowing what to do when Kofi or Ayo weren't on ... Trent and 'Monte are going to be solid/consistently what they are, and teams are going to swarm Kofi, so our success in March will largely depend on consistent defense and good 3-point shooting. Hawkins adds to both, as his ability to be a serviceable 3-4 REALLY helps Plummer and Grandison and Trent get some breathing room from deep.
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Agreed...we also got very little out of Ayo this year./s
Yep...saw travel shot of RJ. Would not expect that fast of return... cant wait to have him back
coach said RJ. is getting looked at by doctor again on Monday. I imagine he should hopefully be ready by tourney time if not before. It would be great to have him back for Iowa.
Yep that 3 seed is the most important thing by far, IMO
What I'd like to see tomorrow and going forward is Kofi NOT putting the ball on the floor when he gets the ball down low. If he would just catch and take it to the rim, I think his game improves 100% (on the offensive side) and the Illini's chances of winning go up dramatically. Trying to establish his position with a dribble or two...well, it makes a lot less work for the defense and results in bad shots or turn overs.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
What I'd like to see tomorrow is no dj bald head ref or Larry S***head ref or Fatso Dorsey ref
DJ is a completely incompetent and petulant individual that is touchy about being criticized. Dorsey's nickname is the grudge, and he is a t$%^ with ears. Larry has been fired TWICE for corruption..... WHY IS HE ALLOWED NEAR AN ACTIVITY THAT INVOLVES GAMBLING???????
Dan
Admin
CBS (Ian Eagle & Bill Raftery)
fightingillini.com
Game Preview | #15 Illini at Michigan Sunday - University of Illinois Athletics
ā¢ No. 15 Illinois plays its final road game of the season on Sunday afternoon at Michigan (1 p.m. CT, CBS).
fightingillini.com
I can't imagine it would be worth it for Iowa..he could tear something. At 13 I had mine out and after I was stuck at home for a week or so...I was bored so I sawed 3 broomsticks and such, connected them to make a hang glider....ripped a sheet for my glider...got all the neighborhood kids over...got on my garage to fly....and went almost straight down and...tore all my stitches and such out....my Dad was so pissed..my Dr. too...and almost forgot my Mom was pretty mad too.
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Captain 14
- The Last Best Place
You forgot smellyMUCK FICHIGAN lets beat those disgusting rodents in Ann Arbor. GO ILLINI!
I had appendicits when I was 27 and buff from riding/racing dirt bikes. Nurses had me naked a lot... Anyway, long, long before arthoscopic surgery, but doc cut along the obliques rather than across them, so I was up walking around within 12 hours of the surgery. (If I knew that young nurse was going to bathe me I wouldn't have gone ahead and done it myself). Anyway, for that they had me off any kind of athletic stuff for six weeks. But like I said, before orthoscopic...I can't imagine it would be worth it for Iowa..he could tear something. At 13 I had mine out and after I was stuck at home for a week or so...I was bored so I sawed 3 broomsticks and such, connected them to make a hang glider....ripped a sheet for my glider...got all the neighborhood kids over...got on my garage to fly....and went almost straight down and...tore all my stitches and such out....my Dad was so pissed..my Dr. too...and almost forgot my Mom was pretty mad too.
That said, at six weeks I was back on the bike, but still concerned about my belly, so of course I crashed and broke my collar bone, aka, the motorcycle bone.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
I think everyone on the team (and on this board) knows that tomorrow is the difference between:
- Shot at a share of the B1G title vs just getting close again
- Probability of a 2/3 seed instead of a 4/5
- Sweeping mUchigan vs just ābeating them at home without Dickinsonā
Big differences. I just hope this makes them come out focused and determined instead of nervous and sloppy.
Regardless of the outcome, I love this team a lot. But I think now is where our guys gotta show what we got left in the tank for March. A loss doesnāt bode well, while a winā¦ well the skyās the limit
- Shot at a share of the B1G title vs just getting close again
- Probability of a 2/3 seed instead of a 4/5
- Sweeping mUchigan vs just ābeating them at home without Dickinsonā
Big differences. I just hope this makes them come out focused and determined instead of nervous and sloppy.
Regardless of the outcome, I love this team a lot. But I think now is where our guys gotta show what we got left in the tank for March. A loss doesnāt bode well, while a winā¦ well the skyās the limit
I canāt believe you remember the time we spent in the hospital together. It was so long ago. Miss you.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois with some new wrinkles coming out of loss to Ohio State
Illinois may have found some new wrinkles in its loss to Ohio State on Thursday.
CHAMPAIGN ā Illinois had itās Big Ten title hopes take a dent in Thursdayās loss to Ohio State, but the performance did come with a couple silver linings.
The No. 15 Illini now have a couple more wrinkles stemming from a late comeback that fell short and a player getting out of a small shooting slump. Those will come into play more when Illinois takes on Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday.
Alfonso Plummer, the Big Tenās leader in made 3s, had a mini-slump shooting 0-for-7 from outside the past two games. It was the first time he had gone multiple games without making a 3, but he came back around with a 26-point outburst Thursday. He tied the school record with eight made 3s.
Heās someone who can stretch the defense and make tough shots to keep the offense afloat.
āIām proud. Iām never satisfied though,ā Plummer said. Other people think like oh, youāre doing great like, like you should be happy over what youāre doing. Iām happy but Iām not satisfied. I feel like Iāve got more in my tank.ā
Besides Plummerās shooting, the biggest boon for the team was its five-out sets and full court press with Coleman Hawkins as a stretch-five. Hawkins was able to attack other bigs off the bounce, find cutters and be aggressive to help force turnovers in a full court press.
āColemanās a guy that we can do different things with,ā Underwood said. āHis passing, his ability to drive the basketball. Heās finally learned to foot jump stop. That worked out great for him in the Ohio State game.ā
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GO ILLINI
Can anyone shed light on this ongoing question I have with each game: why doesn't Underwood play Podz? On the rare occasion that he puts him in, it's for about 30 seconds and then he's out again. If making a mistake is the reason, that doesn't seem to apply to other players. It puzzles me and kind of worries me, too, because with Podz's eagerness and energy to play and contribute, we might lose him and I think that would be a loss we shouldn't have.
Hoping for a big win in Ann Arbor today. Go Illini!
Hoping for a big win in Ann Arbor today. Go Illini!
Podz has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. He's freakishly athletic and has a nice long range stroke. My guess is he's leading the scout team against the starters every day (like Cory Bradford did his redshirt year and Frank Williams did his redshirt year). With so many senior guards, there's really not a place for him in the rotation.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
My lady and I are going to lie down for a couple hour's and just relax and snuggle up to each other for some napping and maybe playing around a little bit
NL # 3 and I have decided on our pre-game meal around 10 am................................
Sunrise Sandwiches/ Fried Egg.....Honey Maple Ham.....Lettuce......Tomato.........Mayo...........Cheese is optional......
Pork n Beans
Pru's Special Boiled Cabbage
Pink Lemonade
Carrot Cake
Sloppy Tongue Kisses
Gummy Bear with 420 chaser
Fire up the radio icon that Dan provides on the first game thread post @ 12 noon to listen to Brian B. and then beat the scUMmers into next week....................
Illini 76
scUM 68
We will stay in the chase for at least a share of the B1G ......Let's make it happen Illini Nation.....................take a toke , take a drink , wear your Illini garb and support our lads as they put it all together at the right time of the season............
GO ILLINI !!!!!!
NL # 3 and I have decided on our pre-game meal around 10 am................................
Sunrise Sandwiches/ Fried Egg.....Honey Maple Ham.....Lettuce......Tomato.........Mayo...........Cheese is optional......
Pork n Beans
Pru's Special Boiled Cabbage
Pink Lemonade
Carrot Cake
Sloppy Tongue Kisses
Gummy Bear with 420 chaser
Fire up the radio icon that Dan provides on the first game thread post @ 12 noon to listen to Brian B. and then beat the scUMmers into next week....................
Illini 76
scUM 68
We will stay in the chase for at least a share of the B1G ......Let's make it happen Illini Nation.....................take a toke , take a drink , wear your Illini garb and support our lads as they put it all together at the right time of the season............
GO ILLINI !!!!!!
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Short answer is there are only so many minutes to go around.
Podz is fighting for minutes against a five year starter, another player who has been with BU since heās been here and who he often calls the glue, a third who is the leading 3-point shooter in the conference, and, finally, the conferenceās reigning sixth man of the year award. As to why he gets pulled quickly when he makes a mistake and others donāt, BU has developed a trust with the other players that he doesnāt yet have with Podz. So the others are going to have a much longer leash based upon BU having been in the trenches with them before. In Plummerās case, though BU hasnāt been coaching him that long, heās an upperclassman with a unique, highly evolved skill.
All of this has been communicated to Podz, and at least on some level he understands it. Does he like it? I hope not and hope heās working his butt off to change it. And from what I see and hear that is what heās doing. Next year, 3 of those obstacles to playing time will be gone, and Podz will be one of the guys who has made deposits into BUās ātrust account.ā If Podz decides that isnāt good enough and moves on after this year, a lot of people will be disappointed (including me) because he seems to have a strong skill set and the temperament to be a very good player with Illini in the future.
BU is and should be concentrating on winning games. Iām sure he and the staff are working with Podz and other players on their development throughout the season. In Podzās case, because of the roster most of his development is happening outside of games. But Iām curious. If you believe lack of playing time will cause him to leave, what is the magic minutes threshold where that wonāt happen 2 minutes a game? 5 minutes? 8 or 12 or 15 minutes?
One final thing Iāll say is that I think Curbeloās injury issues and his inability to practice and play as much as normal this year might be negatively impacting Podzās playing time to some extent. BU is still trying to get this team to play consistent and at the expected level throughout the entire game. That takes time on the court for the main players during games. It also means that the margin for error for winning games is slimmer, leading BU to play the guards more and leaving scant minutes for Podz right now.
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