The Dave
- CA
Bottom 4 have to play on the 1st day.
Pregame: Illinois at Minnesota, Wednesday, January 30th, 8:00pm CT, BTN
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Bottom 4 have to play on the 1st day.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
How it currently stands (unless I am missing something):
Michigan State 9-1
Michigan 8-1
Purdue 7-2
Maryland 7-3
Wisconsin 6-3
Minnesota 5-4
Iowa 5-5
Ohio State 3-5
Indiana 3-5
Rutgers 3-5
Nebraska 3-5
Northwestern 3-5
Illinois 2-7
Penn State 0-9
If Vegas is right about tonight's games (i.e., the favorite wins), Maryland moves to 8-3, Northwestern moves to 3-6, Nebraska moves to 4-5, Wisconsin moves to 6-4, Ohio State moves to 3-6 and Michigan moves to 9-1. We need to root for that mediocore pack of IU, RU, UNL and NU to lose down the stretch, yes? I will be rooting for Wisconsin to win at Nebraska, Michigan to beat OSU and Maryland to beat NU tonight! If we continue to improve, jumping two of them is a very good, realistic goal for the end of the season.
I've lived in Anchorage for 35 years and it has only gotten that cold for a couple of days back in 1989. And when it does get cold the wind usually doesn't blow. Heck, we have had a winter or 2 where it didn't get below zero. Stay warm down there. I think we are supposed to get some rain this afternoon.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Forecast says -20 degrees at game time Wednesday. I know Minny is used to the cold, but gotta wonder about turnout. At the same time, they'll be fired up after their no-show performance in Champaign. How does our young team react to a good win? Recent history says to expect inconsistency.
Minny - 80
ILL - 71
Minny - 80
ILL - 71
Deleted member 746094
D
Guest
We have all talked about what “progress” would look like for this team and for the program in general. It is very hard for any team to win on the road in the B10 and especially this year. My personal feeling is that we need to play this game close, max effort(as I feel this team has given all year) and execute. A win is a huge step and a close loss in which we get beaten, not shoot ourselves in the foot, is a sign we are turning the corner. Contain their PG and Murphy again and I think we walk away with a road win!
Are you saying that the forecast calls for Pain?
Actually, I think you can. Minnesota has a guard issue from the ball handling standpoint, and I think Illinois can pressure them into turnovers. I like this matchup for that reason.
MN Basketball said:
Yes. That is our plan too.
Vegas doesn't seem to believe in us yet. If ever there was a time to take the points and some kool-aid....
I thought what hurt minny during last game was not enough guard talent to handle the pressure d. They have 2 athletic gigs but then there is a big drop off which led to easy Illjni scores.
Yeah I thought that too as I walked into the sportsbook on Sunday...
BillyBob1
- Champaign
I actually feel pretty good about tomorrow's game. And, actually, the remaining part of the season.
We need to open the doors to the Barn. Crucial.
We need to open the doors to the Barn. Crucial.
Do you know the Long Branch Saloon? At one point,that was my wife's family's homestead. My wife was brought home from the hospital there as a baby. Nowadays, they serve a mean burger
. Happy to see some Illini fans up in Alaska!!pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_10d85cce-53d4-5056-8129-62e2d05fef66.html
During his suspension, Jones’ teammates never stopped encouraging him.
“I was happy for him,” Trent Frazier said. “I told him he has to keep working. He knows how important he is to this team. He stepped up a lot. He’s been challenging guys in practice every day and going at us. That’s helping us.”
During his suspension, Jones’ teammates never stopped encouraging him.
“I was happy for him,” Trent Frazier said. “I told him he has to keep working. He knows how important he is to this team. He stepped up a lot. He’s been challenging guys in practice every day and going at us. That’s helping us.”
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
For whatever reason, warm Alaska always means doom for Illinois
Favorite game of the season. If we win tonight, it really means something. I real turnaround and some hope for the future. If we lose, it is not the end of the world for this growing, young team.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, this is the closest to a win-win we as fans have had in a while. We have had plenty of games where "just another loss" isn't that big of a deal, but the hope aspect was lacking. This game provides us an opportunity for a true statement win (yes, I think sweeping Minnesota with a road victory after they just beat Iowa at home is a bigger statement than beating the #13 team in the nation on a neutral court to snap a two-game losing streak), yet a loss really isn't anything that deterring.
We simply need to look good. Keep this positive momentum going.
EDIT: Everything went right for us last night (NU, UNL and OSU all lost), so here are the updated standings that we are watchin'!
Michigan State 9-1
Michigan 9-1
Purdue 7-2
Maryland 8-3
Wisconsin 7-3
Minnesota 5-4
Iowa 5-5
Ohio State 3-6
Indiana 3-6
Rutgers 3-6
Nebraska 3-7
Northwestern 3-7
Illinois 2-7
Penn State 0-9
If we win tonight, we will tie Nebraska, Northwestern and one of Indiana and Rutgers (they play tonight and are both 3-7) ... this is NOT that steep of a mountain to climb, we just need to bring it! A BTT run would do wonders for next year, IMO, and that needs to be what we are playing for. Besides, as our 2008 team can testify, who knows what can happen once you get in Chicago? WE don't necessarily have to be the team to get rid of Michigan or MSU, after all!
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Minnesota has played well at home, not played well on the road (won vs lost). Murphy’s splits mirror this pretty much. Have to do another good job against him. Adonis didn’t play against minn last time, will need him this game. Hopefully Giorgi does not get into foul trouble. Interesting Tevian and Adonis are two players that have really made an impact since that game, just two weeks ago. Another wrinkle minn will have to adjust too.
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