Pregame: Illinois at Rutgers, Sunday, December 20th, 12:00pm CT, ESPN2
- Status
We just handed Minny their first L. Why don't we do the same for Rutgers?
Yes, he dropped 15 against Maryland last night
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
Illini in a nail biter by 4. Rutgers is a very good team at home. We need to get a little more selfish, most turnovers are made making an useless extra pass.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
They will be ready to hammer Kofi and send him to the line, as well as go at him and get him into foul trouble.
I'd like to see the ball dance around the outside a little with Trent and Ace shooting it well now. Spread them out and take the pressure off of Kofi, then it will open up for him. Could be a big night for Giorgi if he's ready.
I'd like to see the ball dance around the outside a little with Trent and Ace shooting it well now. Spread them out and take the pressure off of Kofi, then it will open up for him. Could be a big night for Giorgi if he's ready.
10-0 would be insane considering the B1G currently has 11 teams in the top 50 on Kenpom.
I think 4 losses will win the conference outright this year. That should be the goal. So 8-2 would be nice through the first 10.
According to TORVIK, Rutgers has a 51% chance to win this game. Illinois is favored in the next 8 games with our lowest % chance to win being 57% in game 3 (@Penn State on 12/23). After that it's 64% in game 4 (vs Indiana on 12/26). So I'd expand on what you said to say that our next 2-3 games are really going to be a good prediction for how well we do in conference play this year - but I agree @ Rutgers is likely to be our biggest challenge in our first 10 games.
It was nice to start against Minnesota since we can't come out flat for the first 5 minutes like that against Rutgers or Penn State if we want to have a shot at going 10-0 to start conference play.
These Rutgers games on the road always make me nervous. Never thought I'd be saying that.
That said, I think we come out with high energy and hang on for a 4-6 point win.
That said, I think we come out with high energy and hang on for a 4-6 point win.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
And Ken Pom has Rutgers with a 54% chance to win. But even so, the "spread" on KP is only 1 point. Remarkably similar outlooks for the two services and remarkably tight expectations.
Go Illini
Illinois players, coaches and logistical team...travel safely.
You guys can tunnel yourself to The RAC after around 20 inches of snow due here tonight.
This is a definite “circle this one” game.
We’ve got two 6-11 centers to try and occupy Kofi, with Ron Jr. and Geo both capable of making 10 three’s between them.
Then you’ve got to worry about Jacob Young because no one knows what he’s going to do including his teammates, knifing, dishing and pulling up.
This is gonna be a war.
No clue who wins....lol
RU Fan
Stay safe
You guys can tunnel yourself to The RAC after around 20 inches of snow due here tonight.
This is a definite “circle this one” game.
We’ve got two 6-11 centers to try and occupy Kofi, with Ron Jr. and Geo both capable of making 10 three’s between them.
Then you’ve got to worry about Jacob Young because no one knows what he’s going to do including his teammates, knifing, dishing and pulling up.
This is gonna be a war.
No clue who wins....lol
RU Fan
Stay safe
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
RU board seems awfully confident! I hope our loss to Mizzou can serve as both a chip on our shoulder AND allowing other top-half Big Ten teams maybe underestimating us a bit. When we play to our potential, there is no one in this conference that we can't run with, including Iowa and Michigan State and definitely Rutgers. With that said, I think RU is a very good team, and this will be a REAL challenge for us. If we win this game, I will buy right back in to us as a sure-fire top 10 team that is playing for a top 2 seed this year. I worry about matchups in this one, and our guards will have to be hitting some shots to take some pressure off both Kofi and Ayo. My prediction as of now:
#13 Illinois 76
#19 Rutgers 71
P.S. I really like Rutgers, and they are probably my second favorite Big Ten hoops team right now. While our success in basketball over the years obviously outshines theirs by light years, I also see many similarities between our schools. It's easy to root for another big state school in a populated state that probably prioritizes professional sports. Their NYC is kind of like our Chicago (massive metro area nearby that is full of transplants, definitely prefers pro sports, but also jumps on the bandwagon when a local team is good), and Philly is kind of like our St. Louis (smaller metro in the opposite direction, with suburbs in two states, that is mostly dominated by Mizzou/PSU but is still good recruiting ground for us), though I'd say we have a much stronger pull in and around St. Louis than Rutgers does in Philly.
#13 Illinois 76
#19 Rutgers 71
P.S. I really like Rutgers, and they are probably my second favorite Big Ten hoops team right now. While our success in basketball over the years obviously outshines theirs by light years, I also see many similarities between our schools. It's easy to root for another big state school in a populated state that probably prioritizes professional sports. Their NYC is kind of like our Chicago (massive metro area nearby that is full of transplants, definitely prefers pro sports, but also jumps on the bandwagon when a local team is good), and Philly is kind of like our St. Louis (smaller metro in the opposite direction, with suburbs in two states, that is mostly dominated by Mizzou/PSU but is still good recruiting ground for us), though I'd say we have a much stronger pull in and around St. Louis than Rutgers does in Philly.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Especially considering Rutgers is better than Mizzou IMO. We’ll need to come out ready to go for this one.
- Status