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

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#26      
Brosky
KJ's long range jumper is textbook stuff. Serious elevation and then a beautiful release. Best of all, the shots seem to land in the basket. I think we're going to love this guy if we already don't. He's only a freshman, playing in environments new to him. He'll adjust and reduce the turnovers. Next thing up is to toughen up Riley (another freshman). The weight room is imperative for this guy.
 
#27      
SescIllini
Think Illinois matches up well with Indiana. Miles Rice and Joey Galloway @guards aren't as dimensional as Kylan/KJ.

Ballo is an old school center, Tomi has him on outside shooting, mobility, passing.

Match-up to watch is how well Tre/Riley guards Mbacko. Think Humrichous guards Renauld.

Goode getting a ton of minutes today, looking solid.

Overall, Illinois offense and team work seems more in sync.
 
#30      
Goillinikobd
IF, and i do mean IF, we shoot 3s like we did yesterday, it’s over after 10 minutes.
 
#31      
CDRUSN
I think one of our big advantages that other teams don't appreciate until they play the Illini is Fletch. He's not just a fitness coach but a body sculptor, tailoring individual diet plans and workouts to maximize the power, strength, speed, and endurance of each player to the role the coaches want them to play. Exhibits A and B among others are Tomi (much more muscular and fit than his twin) and Kylan (whose photos from Arizona last year and the Illini this year show a startling transformation). Gives us a great selling point with recruits too, who are looking to play professionally after college.
 
#33      
OrangeBlue98
I know that NW always seems to be a thorn in our side, but I just don't see it this time. It'll be a very pro-Illini crowd, and NW will have a really hard time defending this group. I also think Illinois' size and length will cause NW a lot of trouble when they have the ball.

Maybe it stays close for 12-20 minutes, but I don't think the final score will be terribly close.

Illinois 92
Northwestern 71
 
#35      
fatboyslim
IlliniFan42 said:
I could be overconfident, but I think Northwestern will be easy. The bad man (Boo Buie) is finally gone.
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Yep not worried. No Boo Buie who has been a thorn in our side. He made a big difference and he's not there anymore.
 
#36      
NashvILLe05
Don’t forget about big man Nicholson. Barnhizer is a big threat. He played great tonight in a win over UNLV. I see us winning but it being tighter than we’d like. As always, need to dominate the boards and limit TO’s.
 
#39      
foby
NashvILLe05 said:
Don’t forget about big man Nicholson. Barnhizer is a big threat. He played great tonight in a win over UNLV. I see us winning but it being tighter than we’d like. As always, need to dominate the boards and limit TO’s.
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And Martinelli is averaging around 20. Not sure exactly, but he was at 23.8 before two down games. This one can go one of two ways..... either we win one that is tighter than we like or we cruise. Our talent level is way beyond theirs, so if we would lose it will be a really really bad performance.
 
#40      
pruman91
Nicholson looks like that beef jurkey guy and Barnhizer has really big nostril openings ....

They really really do.....that 3 pter that Barnhizer hit was crazy good...too bad it didn't count.....
Too bad
So sad
I'm glad .......
 
#41      
Fly Illini Fly!
They love to trap... have to handle the traps well. They key will be TOs. Cannot afford any more than 15 at max IMO. Can't see them winning if we take care of the rock.

And when we get it over, don't pass up wide open shots like last year.

Take care of the rock, take good shots, make good shots.
 
#42      
1m4tr
Pruman you’re a poet. You really are.
 
#43      
Brosky
NashvILLe05 said:
Don’t forget about big man Nicholson. Barnhizer is a big threat. He played great tonight in a win over UNLV. I see us winning but it being tighter than we’d like. As always, need to dominate the boards and limit TO’s.
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Agreed. Turnovers are a problem for us and need to be addressed. I think we can. We have smart players who will learn to value the ball.
 
#44      
Vinegarben
Week long layoffs generally are not very good. Players come out going thru motions, shooting eye is off. I hope this doesn't happen to us but it has in the past.
 
#45      
Illinicpa14
foby said:
And Martinelli is averaging around 20. Not sure exactly, but he was at 23.8 before two down games. This one can go one of two ways..... either we win one that is tighter than we like or we cruise. Our talent level is way beyond theirs, so if we would lose it will be a really really bad performance.
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He’s shooting 60% from 3 and went crazy the first 3 games of the year averaging 30 on like 80% from 3. Unless he’s Steph curry now, that was just a red hot in a small sample size.
 
#49      
Bigtex
Northwestern trapping will cause some problems but will see how Illinois limits turnovers and then after they beat the trap have open shots and hopefully make them.
 
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