Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Tuesday, March 2nd, 6:00pm CT, ESPN

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#26      
Dickinson has been the major surprise. Smith fit a huge need and Brown adds depth. Three additions and a completely different team. Have to give coach credit for adding the right pieces and blending them. That said I hope it was sxxx luck and never happens again.
Yeah, I'm not getting my hopes up on this being some kind of fluke. Michigan has the top rated class in the country for 2021, per 247, and that class has the school's #1 and #2 rated recruits of all time, since 247 started keeping track. I would guess we're going to have to contend with quality Michigan teams for a while
 
#27      
This one’s been circled on the calendar for a while for me. My brother goes to Michigan and is a huge wolverine fan, and I just got accepted and committed to go there as well. But I’ve been a die-hard Illini fan my whole life so it’s tough to decide who to root for.

Oh wait, no it’s not.

MUCK FICHIGAN!!!!!
 
#30      
This team has the talent to win this game if they play smart. Particularly interested to see how Kofi and the big Dick fare vs each other.
 
#33      

foby

Bonnaroo Land
Dickinson reminds me of a bigger, slower Giorgi. If Giorgi had that size.....wow.
 
#34      

Deleted member 186590

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Michigan is legit obviously- I had some questions early on because they hadn’t played anyone yet and they benefit from the easiest B10 schedule- they schedule helped them no doubt- they didn’t have to play anyone very good for a while so got into a Groove and haven’t looked back- they haven’t had to play the other top teams until after their hiatus- But they’ve squashed all those doubts

it’s a veteran team with a freshman playing unbelievably well - and they’ve just clicked- it’s not like the talent or athleticism is overwhelming like Baylor seemed to be- Michigan is just on an offensive efficiency roll that is incredible- playing at a really high level

If someone can take them out of what hey like to do with some intense on ball pressure - stay in Wagner’s face and have a big that can make life hard for Dickinson they can be beat. They are good, not great defensively.

We have all of those ingredients but doing it is easier said then done- on paper we should be the toughest matchup they’ve played all year (with a healthy Ayo to matchup with Livers)
 
#35      

DICKnaggie

Champaign
I don’t know about you guys, but I think Cockburn has the upper hand vs. Dickinson more times than not
Going to be a great matchup. Kofi clearly has the physical advantage but Dickinson is very savvy for his age and size. Michigan as a team has incredible spacing and Dickinson takes full advantage of that. I wish Kofi was coming in a bit more rested, but it will be a great matchup either way.
 
#36      

Deleted member 186590

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Going to be a great matchup. Kofi clearly has the physical advantage but Dickinson is very savvy for his age and size. Michigan as a team has incredible spacing and Dickinson takes full advantage of that. I wish Kofi was coming in a bit more rested, but it will be a great matchup either way.
Agreed- will be fun to watch, certainly you would hope Kofi has the advantage but I would have thought Garza would have too with him being the National player of the year and Dickinson Outplayed him

it will be the first time Kofi has played someone taller then him I believe - but Kofi is so much stronger and bigger I would think Dickinson would have a hard time stopping him like everyone else- Kofi needs to be smart and use his strength against Dickinson, not try to shoot over him, getting him in foul trouble early on would be big
 
#37      
I don’t know about you guys, but I think Cockburn has the upper hand vs. Dickinson more times than not
I agree with this If our guards can get him the ball.....that's where I think there will be a problem for our guards......Mich puts tremendous pressure on the perimeter and makes the enter pass to the middle difficult.....we get Kofi the ball where he can do something with it, we got a chance
 
#38      
Too bad we didn't play this game when we were supposed to, with Ayo.

B10 didn't hold them as accountable as they did the UM women's bball team.
 
#39      
I want to be slow to judge a kid. So if I am reading this wrong, let me know. But Coleman Hawkins telling his Instagram about Ayo really boils my blood. Underwood is obviously keeping things under wraps and that is smart.

I wasn’t on the live but an illinois basketball page said he said that.
Everyone needs to relax, I found the source of the leak ...
images.jpeg
 
#40      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
Too bad we didn't play this game when we were supposed to, with Ayo.

B10 didn't hold them as accountable as they did the UM women's bball team.
The UM women's team had more grit and integrity and opted to play. The men didn't.

(They also had a much easier opponent and likely saw them as the perfect tune-up)
 
#41      

altenberger22

South Carolina
Michigan is legit obviously- I had some questions early on because they hadn’t played anyone yet and they benefit from the easiest B10 schedule- they schedule helped them no doubt- they didn’t have to play anyone very good for a while so got into a Groove and haven’t looked back- they haven’t had to play the other top teams until after their hiatus- But they’ve squashed all those doubts

it’s a veteran team with a freshman playing unbelievably well - and they’ve just clicked- it’s not like the talent or athleticism is overwhelming like Baylor seemed to be- Michigan is just on an offensive efficiency roll that is incredible- playing at a really high level

If someone can take them out of what hey like to do with some intense on ball pressure - stay in Wagner’s face and have a big that can make life hard for Dickinson they can be beat. They are good, not great defensively.

We have all of those ingredients but doing it is easier said then done- on paper we should be the toughest matchup they’ve played all year (with a healthy Ayo to matchup with Livers)
While I absolutely want to win this one, I'd be willing to accept a close loss on the road..........

just as long as we get revenge in the National Championship game in 5 weeks!!!
 
#44      
I can't imagine that the program would've had Ayo travel and then appear on College GameDay if it could've came out that he was still in any way concussed, that wouldn't be a great look. Obviously hope he can play Tuesday, but if he can't I still wouldn't jump to the conclusion that he's had a concussion.
 
#45      
I expect Ayo to play at MI

And, this will be a very close game, either way. Will actually IMHO place MI a notch below IL - bot by too much, but sufficient enough to make a diff

I think the tOSU game will be more meaningful (for IL) than this one
 
#46      
I can't imagine that the program would've had Ayo travel and then appear on College GameDay if it could've came out that he was still in any way concussed, that wouldn't be a great look. Obviously hope he can play Tuesday, but if he can't I still wouldn't jump to the conclusion that he's had a concussion.
I feel there is zero chance they would have let him be at the Nebraska game, or travel to MSU, if he had a concussion.
 
#47      

Deleted member 747903

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I can't imagine that the program would've had Ayo travel and then appear on College GameDay if it could've came out that he was still in any way concussed, that wouldn't be a great look. Obviously hope he can play Tuesday, but if he can't I still wouldn't jump to the conclusion that he's had a concussion.
So then 4D chess by Coleman?
 
#48      
So then 4D chess by Coleman?
geez, who knows.

but not knowing all the info, holding Ayo out until the scUM game is/was a smart idea.

he will need time to practice and get used to wearing the mask
 
#50      
If we win this one, I think we can all book the final four tickets. These last two are for seeding. We are playing for a 1-3 NCAA seed now.

Incredibly exciting to really conceptualize this! Seems like yesterday that I was insecurely begging for respect for our Illini as we made our late season runs to possibly climb onto the Bubble, lol. If Ayo isn't healthy for the Michigan game, fine ... let him rest and let the guys play with house money again at what will likely be the #2 team in the nation on the road.

If he can play? Give it all we've got and try to knock 'em off! This is so exciting and such a relief that we got past Wisconsin.
 
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