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

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#276      
Hopingfor500
CentralILifer said:
I know Michigan is better this year, but I really can't quite put my finger on why. Dickenson is an obvious upgrade over Teske. Is the transfer PG that much better than the little guy from last year (his name escapes me)?
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Dickinson is the key reason. He's a 7'1" presence, who is extremely nifty around the hoop offensively and defensively, he gives them that back line protection and can erase shots. He's a real problem.

Livers is healthy this year and has played a full season. From December to almost February last year, he was on the shelf. Wagner is significant improved and I think Smith is an upgrade over the kid from last year, as he can shoot it.

They're good and probably the favorite to cut the nets down. I'm interested to see how we stack up.
 
#278      
Wokker
CentralILifer said:
I know Michigan is better this year, but I really can't quite put my finger on why. Dickenson is an obvious upgrade over Teske. Is the transfer PG that much better than the little guy from last year (his name escapes me)?
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They’re a really good, balanced team. The two transfers (Brown and the PG) are both perfect additions and Wagner has been huge in all phases of the game this year.

Having said that, I think they’re due for a clunker...
 
#279      
Pikeillinifan
I'm not sure what to think about this game, looking forward to it but tempering my expectations without Ayo.
 
#280      
TheFameProtector
I'm of the opinion I'd rather Ayo sit this one out. I think the risk/reward ratio just doesn't make sense to play him, and it also gives the rest of the guys another good learning experience without Ayo. Plus, if we lose, we have a ready-made excuse that we can use to get under scUM fan's skin (yeah y'all won the regular title, but with an even bigger asterisk).

I think my dream scenario is Trent dropping absolute 🔥 (30+) on them while locking up Smith and stalling their offense, pulling us to an epic win (with or without Ayo). Would love to see him shine on the biggest stage -- so far -- this season and get the recognition he deserves.
 
#281      
Blue Walmart
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
 
#282      
DB11Headband
Hopingfor500 said:
Dickinson is the key reason. He's a 7'1" presence, who is extremely nifty around the hoop offensively and defensively, he gives them that back line protection and can erase shots. He's a real problem.

Livers is healthy this year and has played a full season. From December to almost February last year, he was on the shelf. Wagner is significant improved and I think Smith is an upgrade over the kid from last year, as he can shoot it.

They're good and probably the favorite to cut the nets down. I'm interested to see how we stack up.
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Dickinson can really put it in the hole. But Cockburn can prevent that from happening.
 
#283      
IlliniLion
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Breaking: fans of team believe in said team.
 
#284      
KrushCow31
Someone said the line has moved 1.5 pts since Illinois posted that picture of Ayo lol.
 
#285      
LostinNebraska
CentralILifer said:
I know Michigan is better this year, but I really can't quite put my finger on why. Dickenson is an obvious upgrade over Teske. Is the transfer PG that much better than the little guy from last year (his name escapes me)?
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Smith is a significantly better perimeter player than Simpson, not putting up nearly the same assist #s as Simpson but I think that's probably because Michigan is much more balanced. He's also a much better free-throw shooter. He's been impressive adjusting his game to his role with Michigan vs. being the primary scorer at Columbia. Michigan gets significantly more assists per game from the rest of the roster vs. last year, which is a reflection of much better ball movement, and makes them more dangerous. I think Trent will do very well against him, but we need everybody on full-blown court slapping defensive level #5 to win this.
 
#286      
logjam
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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But we have Beet Juice!
 
#287      
Deleted member 747903
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Can I see some identification?
 
#288      
sbillini
Hopingfor500 said:
Dickinson is the key reason. He's a 7'1" presence, who is extremely nifty around the hoop offensively and defensively, he gives them that back line protection and can erase shots. He's a real problem.

Livers is healthy this year and has played a full season. From December to almost February last year, he was on the shelf. Wagner is significant improved and I think Smith is an upgrade over the kid from last year, as he can shoot it.

They're good and probably the favorite to cut the nets down. I'm interested to see how we stack up.
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last year's kid was X(Z?)avier Simpson. Smith is probably an upgrade offensively, but defensively and team leadership, I think Simpson is a step above.

I've watched a fair bit of Michigan (wife is an alum..house divided tonight!) Very concerned about this game. As you mention, Dickinson changes the complexion of the team. Much like Kofi has done for us. They're just so balanced now. The range of PPG on their starting lineup is ~6pts. ours is 17. And of course, the high end of ours is a player that may not play or is coming back from injury. However, my biggest concern is the same issue we had with MSU and Maryland. Tall, athletic wings that can score. Livers and Wagner are those. Our only hope, imo, is to 1) find a way to shut them down (least likely, imo), 2) make it up by shutting down smith and dickinson (very possible) and/or 3) shoot lights out on the other end (possible).

I do think we have better depth though. Austin Davis has decent size and experience, but isn't a difference maker like Giorgi can be on certain nights. And they don't have anyone close to Belo coming off the bench. We get them in foul trouble (unlikely, but who knows) or make 'em run and get them tired, could pull this out.
 
#290      
danbor
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Illinois just wants you to believe we can't hit free throws and turn the ball over....our master plan will be revealed tonite when we only commit 15 turnovers and hit 70% from the line! Mwahhahahah.
 
#292      
altgeld88
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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I'm favorably impressed when an apparent partisan of an opposing team goes out of his way to register on our site (this morning) simply to post snark and disparage the #4 team in Division 1. Exactly what I would expect given my longstanding experience with your sort.

Dan doesn't charge for admission to his site. Reminds me of a fundamental lesson of economics: when one can't tax social flatulence he has no way directly to decrease its prevalence.
 
#293      
altenberger22
danbor said:
Illinois just wants you to believe we can't hit free throws and turn the ball over....our master plan will be revealed tonite when we only commit 15 turnovers and hit 70% from the line! Mwahhahahah.
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Those two stats are essentially our season averages. Let me instead suggest 9 TO's and 84% from the line.
 
#294      
TheFameProtector
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Hmmm. Not an Illinois fan, yet no true Michigander prefers Walmart over Meijer. A double impostor?!?
 
#295      
KnoxIllini2
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Seems legit.
 
#297      
BlueLeader
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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I appreciate that you are at least not hiding that you are a Walmart Wolverine.
 
#298      
illiniguy24
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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You’re playing the #4 team in the country tonight. Not #40
 
#300      
LostinNebraska
Blue Walmart said:
Am I missing something or do you Illini fans really not see your team's huge, glaring weaknesses. UM's big guy can shoot free throws, yours can be Hack-a-Shaq'ed all night. Also like MSU revealed, once Cockburn has the ball you can send 5 players in on him. He simply will not, can not, won't ever look to pass once he gets the ball.

I'm sorry but the Illini are rubbing two sticks together while UM has a zippo.
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Given your lack of bodies to throw at Kofi, by all means, I approve of your plan to foul out your big man in the first 20 minutes.
 
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