One good thing is Rutgers shot 44% from line against MD and is only 57% on season.
Pregame: Illinois at Rutgers, Sunday, December 20th, 12:00pm CT, ESPN2
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JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
This is essentially a pick'em. Both teams are good and Rutgers is a load at the RAC.
drsmitty74
- Rochester
not me. it'll taste bad till we win it next year.
Our back end of the B1G schedule is loaded. If we want to end up 16-4, 8-2 in the first 10 probably won't cut it.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed from a "fan perspective," as the Braggin' Rights Game is my favorite annual sporting event. However, as far as our season's prospects go, beating Rutgers in Piscataway would indeed put us right back on track and effectively erase the Mizzou loss, especially now that the Tigers are in the top 20 and are primed to climb with a weak SEC.
AirNeezy
Orange Krush '13 -'14
Lol That feels like 5 years ago almost doesn't it?
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
That seems like, a lifetime ago, lol!
Deleted member 746059
D
Guest
Anyone know the expectations of Hutcherson when he comes back? Is he significantly better than Grandison? (I'm hoping...)
I don't think it's a sure thing he is back this year.
Hello, Illini fans. Looking forward to the game on Sunday. I expect a real battle.
Both sides have some matchup questions. It looks like your main rotation has only two guys with real size, Kofi and Georgi. I'm wondering who will be asked to guard Harper, who is playing at another level to start the year. He can score at all three levels, as the announcers like to say these days. I'm thrilled to have Geo back for this one for a host of reasons: leadership, outside shooting, and the clutch gene. He played major minutes vs. Maryland but didn't show his usual spring. I hope the added time off will help him be more of his usual self on Sunday. As someone noted above, our FT% is the biggest weakness in our team's game. We shot very well from the line vs. Syracuse but that was the exception this season. It's likely to cost us a winnable game at some point if we continue to shoot <60% from the line.
On the other end of the floor, if Myles Johnson gets in foul trouble and Kofi is not, that's a big concern to me. Cliff Omoruyi is very athletic and has size but it is a tall order to ask him to check Kofi after only playing five college games. Myles usually comes off the bench because he had a habit of getting into early foul trouble, so expect Cliff to start even though Myles is the better player right now. I expect Mathis to be on Ayo most of the game. Mathis is strong and plays tough defense. (His offense is less consistent.) Young is too short to guard Ayo, Baker might not be quick enough as he continues to recover from the ankle injury. We play almost zero zone defense.
We've had some "twin towers" play in the last two games (Syracuse and Maryland) with both Cliff and Myles on the floor. I expect we'll try a little of that this Sunday if our guys are not in foul trouble.
Once last comment on our schedules: ours is the mirror image of yours. Our first nine games: at Maryland, Illinois, at Ohio State, Purdue, Iowa, at Michigan State, Ohio State, at Penn State, Wisconsin. Six ranked opponents, and two of the unranked ones are on the road. Home court isn't the same this year with no fans right now, so that helps. After Wisconsin, we only have three remaining games against teams that are currently ranked: Michigan State, at Iowa, and at Michigan. I am bummed that we play Iowa and Michigan State twice each while the best team you play twice is Wisconsin. If you beat us, I see a real chance you will start 8-0 in conference. This is a very important game even though it's only #2 of 20.
Here's hoping for good health for all of the players this Sunday!
Both sides have some matchup questions. It looks like your main rotation has only two guys with real size, Kofi and Georgi. I'm wondering who will be asked to guard Harper, who is playing at another level to start the year. He can score at all three levels, as the announcers like to say these days. I'm thrilled to have Geo back for this one for a host of reasons: leadership, outside shooting, and the clutch gene. He played major minutes vs. Maryland but didn't show his usual spring. I hope the added time off will help him be more of his usual self on Sunday. As someone noted above, our FT% is the biggest weakness in our team's game. We shot very well from the line vs. Syracuse but that was the exception this season. It's likely to cost us a winnable game at some point if we continue to shoot <60% from the line.
On the other end of the floor, if Myles Johnson gets in foul trouble and Kofi is not, that's a big concern to me. Cliff Omoruyi is very athletic and has size but it is a tall order to ask him to check Kofi after only playing five college games. Myles usually comes off the bench because he had a habit of getting into early foul trouble, so expect Cliff to start even though Myles is the better player right now. I expect Mathis to be on Ayo most of the game. Mathis is strong and plays tough defense. (His offense is less consistent.) Young is too short to guard Ayo, Baker might not be quick enough as he continues to recover from the ankle injury. We play almost zero zone defense.
We've had some "twin towers" play in the last two games (Syracuse and Maryland) with both Cliff and Myles on the floor. I expect we'll try a little of that this Sunday if our guys are not in foul trouble.
Once last comment on our schedules: ours is the mirror image of yours. Our first nine games: at Maryland, Illinois, at Ohio State, Purdue, Iowa, at Michigan State, Ohio State, at Penn State, Wisconsin. Six ranked opponents, and two of the unranked ones are on the road. Home court isn't the same this year with no fans right now, so that helps. After Wisconsin, we only have three remaining games against teams that are currently ranked: Michigan State, at Iowa, and at Michigan. I am bummed that we play Iowa and Michigan State twice each while the best team you play twice is Wisconsin. If you beat us, I see a real chance you will start 8-0 in conference. This is a very important game even though it's only #2 of 20.
Here's hoping for good health for all of the players this Sunday!
Damonte Williams will guard Harper. He's only 6'3 but is one of the toughest players in the country. I love Harper's game, it should be a great matchup. If Damonte gets in foul trouble we will have problems because we don't have anyone else that can hang with him inside and outside. Coleman Hawkins will have that ability to guard inside and out in the future, but he's still a pretty raw freshman right now.
The scheduling thing does suck. We might have the easiest schedule but it doesn't feel right to celebrate that. Especially after the many years me and many other Illini fans complained about the schedule. This seems like the first time in a while where it's favorable for us, so I guess we were due.
Yeah, whoever brings it should have the upper hand. After that virtuoso performance against Minny, I don't think I should ever doubt this group, but my gut tells me we'll have a few off games given how long the grind is in the conference. Really enjoying how much time the new guys are getting. Kind of surprised how much farther along the program is --it shows we're getting the right recruits that a guy like Underwood is able to trust them early with this much PT. I seem to recall that coming up as a criticism in his first couple seasons.
Class post - hope to see a good game, but hope IL pulls out a tough W. Like Harper's game - like someone else said DaMonte will most likely be guarding him.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I think Hamlin made a case for a few minutes per game vs. Minn too. They were late garbage minutes but he played well.
Picked up 3 fouls. But I agree think he has the potential to help us when We have those inevitable games where Kofi and Giorgi get in foul trouble at the same time.
Seems like it. I should admit I wasn't completely sold on Hawkins when he committed, but he's shown a lot more than I expected.
It's a good thing I'm not the one making the decisions
hate to be that guy but have you seen us shoot free throws?
Yes, I have. But whether Illini should 90% or 25% from line, it is still a good thing that Rutgers shoots FTs poorly.
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