Pregame: Illinois at Northwestern, Friday, December 6th, 8:00pm CT, BTN

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#76      
Coach Henson's Blazer had a lot to do with orange becoming the 'it' colour.
On that note, the annual Coaches vs Cancer "Suits and Sneakers" week is January 27-Feb 2. Illinois plays Ohio State at home on February 2. Here's one vote for Underwood to bring out the orange blazer to go with the sneakers for that game.
 
#77      
On that note, the annual Coaches vs Cancer "Suits and Sneakers" week is January 27-Feb 2. Illinois plays Ohio State at home on February 2. Here's one vote for Underwood to bring out the orange blazer to go with the sneakers for that game.
He only wears it for the orange out these days except randomly in against 2022 against Bethune-Cookman when I think he thought the team looked dead.
 
#78      
I'd say should win. Must win language in Nov/Dec is talk for mid-major teams.
Can't agree. It's a must win because of the three games that follow it. It's probably the softest road conference team we will face.
 
#79      
IMO, this isn't really close to a "must win". If we lose, it's just a Q1 loss, of which we're bound to have several.

It's all the games after this one that will determine our season.
 
#81      
Is there normally a section with mostly illlini fans? I’ve surprisingly never been to Welsh Ryan for a game, though I assume most sections have an abundance of us, figured I’d ask to see anyways.
 
#86      
That NU-Iowa outcome leads me to wonder how good those two teams are.
 
#87      
Illini-Beware of the Cats at home and you are coming off a week off. Better be ready to play for 40 minutes. I think it will be close.
 
#88      
Goodness. NW with 2 back-breaking loses in 3 games.

I'm not sure how that might impact their collective psyche.
 
#89      
Barnhizer will be in for a long night with Boswell's physicality. Curious on who we put on Martinelli, hoping for a big Tre White game.
 
#91      
Anybody else experiencing Illini hoops withdrawal?
I am. Two more sleeps.


Its Been A Long Time Waiting GIF
 
#93      
Barnhizer is 6-6 230

Boswell will pick up whoever brings the ball up, most likely Leach.
He brought it up a majority of the 2nd half against Iowa with Brock Harding guarding him...you may be right but I also wouldn't be shocked if Bos guards him
 
#94      
This is their second conference game and our first and is at their arena. Both really big advantages.

We are the more talented team but young. Biggest key is to not get rattled and turn the ball over. We do that we win comfortably.

I agree this is one of our “easier” road games (if that is such a thing in conference), but I’m sorry this is our first game and we aren’t going up there in February. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we dropped this game and if we do it’s not the end of the world. As others have said, Q1 loss.
 
#95      
He brought it up a majority of the 2nd half against Iowa with Brock Harding guarding him...you may be right but I also wouldn't be shocked if Bos guards him

Weird that we watched the same game and saw two different things lol

In all seriousness, check this out:

I could not find full game footage, but that is everything noteworthy that happened in that game crammed into a 15 minute video.

As you can see:

1. Harding is pretty well exclusively guarding Berry (6-3) or Leach (6-4), NW's two smallest players, and
2. Barnhizer brought the ball up maybe one time, and even then he just crosses half court and hands it to Berry/Leach

Dix was on Barnhizer, primarily, but they even threw Dembele (6-8 260) on him a few possessions when Iowa had both bigs in the game.

At the 4:33 mark in the video you can even hear Bardo saying "oh they accidentally got Harding switched on to Barnhizer"

The ONLY time Harding is on Barnhizer is when there was a switch out top, and then Iowa had to scramble to switch back. Boswell (6-2 200) is a lot bigger and stronger than Harding (6-0 165) but I still bet we don't see a lot of Boswell on Barnhizer who has a 4 inch, 30 lb advantage and isn't a primary ballhandler.
 
#97      
This is their second conference game and our first and is at their arena. Both really big advantages.

We are the more talented team but young. Biggest key is to not get rattled and turn the ball over. We do that we win comfortably.

I agree this is one of our “easier” road games (if that is such a thing in conference), but I’m sorry this is our first game and we aren’t going up there in February. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we dropped this game and if we do it’s not the end of the world. As others have said, Q1 loss.
I don't think this is relevant at all. We have played a solid schedule against other power conference teams already, both of which are far better than the Iowa team Northwestern played.

Advantage: Illinois

I might even argue playing at Northwestern's arena is only slightly more hostile than a neutral site game. It's usually well-attended by Illinois fans.
 
#98      
Welsh Ryan is last of WW2 era field houses for B10 basketball. 7000 seats.

Great place to watch a game. Not a bad seat in the house.

When I attended Illinois in early 80's the others remaining were Michigan State 10,000 , Ohio State 14,000, Wisconsin 12,000
 
#99      
I don't think this is relevant at all. We have played a solid schedule against other power conference teams already, both of which are far better than the Iowa team Northwestern played.

Advantage: Illinois

I might even argue playing at Northwestern's arena is only slightly more hostile than a neutral site game. It's usually well-attended by Illinois fans.
The only advantage Northwestern has when Illinois plays at Welsh-Ryan is the student section and pep band. Other than that, it's no worse than a push in terms of fan support. In a lot of years, I'd even give the non-student advantage to Illinois. I expect that to be the case on Friday.
 
#100      
Welsh Ryan is last of WW2 era field houses for B10 basketball. 7000 seats.

Great place to watch a game. Not a bad seat in the house.

When I attended Illinois in early 80's the others remaining were Michigan State 10,000 , Ohio State 14,000, Wisconsin 12,000

The one year I could barely get a ticket there was 06 (year after F4 run) and had to sit all the way at the top and there was virtually nothing there to stop someone from falling over backwards to their nearly certain death lol
 
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