Pregame: Illinois at Northwestern, Wednesday, January 4th, 8:00pm CT, BTN
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The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
We're in a 0-2 hole. Time to dig ourselves out of it. Beat the wild kitties and finally get this conference season started.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
We don't lose to Northwestern...
Northwestern hosts Ohio State Sunday night prior to playing Illini. Game is at 6:30 PM and will air on BTN.
The ship gets righted here. We cannot drop this one.
Looking forward to this game, team looked much more comfortable and engaged on defense last night, especially first half. The switching defense is difficult for freshman and a roster with little experience playing together.
My prediction: Skyy comes back and is a difference maker with something like 10/4/3 and pretty good defense on their guards, and we win an uncomfortably close one.
I may be wrong, but overall this season I’ve been impressed with Skyy’s game. Has generally played within himself, rebounded well, and generally held his own defensively. Last 2-3 games he’s definitely forced some shots and obviously got abused defensively vs Mizzou, but overall I think he’s been fine. A pretty typical up and down FROSH. I haven’t noticed issues with effort, body language etc. with him like I’ve seen with other players. But maybe I’ve missed it.
First college season can be a grind, and if he was a little nicked up good excuse to give him mental health break as well as a physical one. Sometimes that can help reenergize/refocus and I think it will here.
I may be wrong, but overall this season I’ve been impressed with Skyy’s game. Has generally played within himself, rebounded well, and generally held his own defensively. Last 2-3 games he’s definitely forced some shots and obviously got abused defensively vs Mizzou, but overall I think he’s been fine. A pretty typical up and down FROSH. I haven’t noticed issues with effort, body language etc. with him like I’ve seen with other players. But maybe I’ve missed it.
First college season can be a grind, and if he was a little nicked up good excuse to give him mental health break as well as a physical one. Sometimes that can help reenergize/refocus and I think it will here.
What's new on the Skyy injury? Is it long-term, day-to-day, or other.
I watched his body language and being a teammate while on the bench last night. Did anybody else watch him, others while not in the game?
No. What did you see?
Purring the ball in Clark's hand and less in Hawkins hands might also reenergize.
Agree. This is pretty much a must win. Cannot dig ourselves into an 0-3 hole.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I hope the Illini fans who have presumably been planning to go for months show up ... last year, the huge Illini contingent was undoubtedly essential in pulling that close game out, IMO. This will unfortunately be the first time in four years (excepting 2020-21, of course) that we can't be there.
However, looking at Northwestern's ticket website, this game is sold out ... and based on their sales to other games (including weekend games), I would HAVE to assume that a ton of Illini fans will be there?
--- First number is the number of upper deck sections that are sold out, second number is the number of non-student section lower deck sections that are sold out---
vs. Ohio State (SUN): 0/20 upper, 1/10 lower
vs. Illinois (WEDS): 20/20 upper, 10/10 lower
vs. Rutgers (WEDS): 0/20 upper, 2/10 lower
vs. Wisconsin (SAT): 1/20 upper, 6/10 lower
vs. Minnesota (SAT): 0/20 upper, 2/10 lower
vs. Michigan (THURS): 0/20 upper, 4/10 lower
Also, the cheapest price on StubHub for two tickets:
vs. Ohio State (SUN): $21
vs. Illinois (WEDS): $76
vs. Rutgers (WEDS): $8
vs. Wisconsin (SAT): $45
vs. Minnesota (SAT): $26
vs. Michigan (THURS): $63
I would have to assume that means there will be a ton of orange in the building (like usual), and I really hope that can inspire these guys to play tough and intense basketball for 40 minutes! Because as you said ... this really is a must-win. These scenarios are VERY different heading into a Saturday home game vs. a ranked Wisconsin team and a road game against a Nebraska team that just whipped Iowa:
W: 9-4 (1-2) with another Quad 1 win and possibly ranked again
L: 8-5 (0-3) with conference title hopes all but gone, three straight losses to Power Five teams and no real reason to think we don't start 0-5...
Let's win this one and show that we are back on track!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Last year was like a true neutral court ONLY because the NU student section actually showed up big time and were rowdy and loud ... the rest of the arena had to be at least 60%+ Illini fans, though it was kind of hard to tell because over half seemed to be in blue. When we went in 2019-20, the Krush made that their road trip and it was legitimately 75%+.
Agree this is a must win in the conference race and hope there are a ton of LOUD Illini fans. I believe we are already 9-4 though, right?I hope the Illini fans who have presumably been planning to go for months show up ... last year, the huge Illini contingent was undoubtedly essential in pulling that close game out, IMO. This will unfortunately be the first time in four years (excepting 2020-21, of course) that we can't be there.
However, looking at Northwestern's ticket website, this game is sold out ... and based on their sales to other games (including weekend games), I would HAVE to assume that a ton of Illini fans will be there?
--- First number is the number of upper deck sections that are sold out, second number is the number of non-student section lower deck sections that are sold out---
vs. Ohio State (SUN): 0/20 upper, 1/10 lower
vs. Illinois (WEDS): 20/20 upper, 10/10 lower
vs. Rutgers (WEDS): 0/20 upper, 2/10 lower
vs. Wisconsin (SAT): 1/20 upper, 6/10 lower
vs. Minnesota (SAT): 0/20 upper, 2/10 lower
vs. Michigan (THURS): 0/20 upper, 4/10 lower
Also, the cheapest price on StubHub for two tickets:
vs. Ohio State (SUN): $21
vs. Illinois (WEDS): $76
vs. Rutgers (WEDS): $8
vs. Wisconsin (SAT): $45
vs. Minnesota (SAT): $26
vs. Michigan (THURS): $63
I would have to assume that means there will be a ton of orange in the building (like usual), and I really hope that can inspire these guys to play tough and intense basketball for 40 minutes! Because as you said ... this really is a must-win. These scenarios are VERY different heading into a Saturday home game vs. a ranked Wisconsin team and a road game against a Nebraska team that just whipped Iowa:
W: 9-4 (1-2) with another Quad 1 win and possibly ranked again
L: 8-5 (0-3) with conference title hopes all but gone, three straight losses to Power Five teams and no real reason to think we don't start 0-5...
Let's win this one and show that we are back on track!
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Bigtex
- DFW
In the switching defense skyy has been the target of most teams. Maybe he can guard his man without switching but so far I would give him a “d” efence
I say we get rid of the constant switching on D. We are too young and we have not been together long enough to successfully switch. On offense, I want to go back to the low post game with Dain. I think he is a better passer out of the post than Kofi was and we can get better looks or more driving opportunities. We have an NBA look now where our guys are standing around waiting for someone to dribble a bit and take a shot of drive. Too much ISO. I would even bring the weave back to get teams moving on D.
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