Pregame: Illinois at Rutgers, Sunday, December 20th, 12:00pm CT, ESPN2

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#76      

Cubuffsdoug

C
Cubuffsdoug
RUtrumpet92 said:
I expect we would play Myles and Cliff at the same time, with Myles on Kofi, Cliff on Georgi, and Harper playing the 3.
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Rutgers used Myles and Cliff together against Maryland and Syracuse. It gave them trouble as those teams couldn't match up with Rutgers. Myles would play the high post position dumping the ball down to Cliff at times. If Rutgers swung the ball around, Myles would get position on the weak for easy rebounds and putbacks. On defense, they controlled the paint and made teams settle for outside shots.
 
#77      

DRS

D
DRS
Fanview said:
Rutgers Previews Illinois

Thank you Pikiell for pronouncing our players' names correctly @Cuonzo smh.

Overall, this should be a good game. There's a lot of mutual respect, and I know a bunch of our players have friends at Rutgers.
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Pikiell is such a good hire for Rutgers. He comes from the Howie Dickenman coaching tree at Central Connecticut who in turn comes from JIm Calhoun. So Pikiel is like a grandson of Calhoun in coaching terms. The Northeast is a different landscape for college basketball but grabbing him at a place like Rutgers is an inspired choice. He is a players coach that gets max effort out of his guys. Having moved out to PA a couple of decades ago it has been great that the Big 10 followed me to this area. Having Pikiell in at Rutgers and, dare I say it, Chambers at Penn St was really exciting to watch.(Chambers and Pikiell had a great year in '11 in the American East coaching against each other and battling for the automatic bid.). Hopefully Penn ST. can move on and continue the success, last year's Illinois-Penn St game at Bryce Jordan was by far the best atmosphere that place has produced since I've been going there. The RAC is one of the East Coast's best venues, not having the fans there will help Illinois in this game, they are all over you at that place.
 
#80      

logjam

logjam
logjam
Let's see if we can get a winning streak together, we honestly should be 10-0 to 8-2 after 1st 10 games. Koolaid, lol.
 
#81      

LutherHead4

LutherHead4
LutherHead4
Getting close to tip-off time, with a really tough game coming up on Sunday.

ILL 63
RUT 61
 
#82      

LutherHead4

LutherHead4
LutherHead4
RUScangg said:
I really enjoyed reading your thread on Rutgers. A lot of respect being shown to our program under Pikiell and knowledgeable fan base that knows this isn't the same ole Rutgers. Illinois is my favorite out of the rest of the B1G programs and like your coach and style of play. I was really high on you guys last season and again this year. It should be a real tough battle this weekend.

Rutgers has 2 legit big men to guard Kofi. Cliff Omoruyi the stud freshman who is very athletic long and raw and Myles Johnson the seasoned vet with more weight long arms and solid defender. He has been much better this season so far but he has a history of foul trouble which could be a big factor in the game as he is the better and more experienced player than Cliff right now.

The major mismatch Rutgers has in this game is clearly Ron Harper Jr. who is playing 1st All B1G basketball this season shooting the lights out from 3 but scores inside and has a mid-range and post game too. Looks like Williams is 6'3 215 vs 6'6 245 and Ron knows how to throw that weight around near the rim. The lack of a 4 seems like the biggest hole on the Illinois team and curious if there is a reason for the roster construction not having anyone to play that roll?

Montez Mathis is a strong defensive minded perimeter defender who will take Ayo and hopefully slow him down.

Jacob Young has been absolutely electric so far this season scoring and dishing. He is probably the quickest player in the B1G and really gets Rutgers going if he can get out in transition. He brings a different dimension to Rutgers offense and will be a major key to our success. Young is also an elite pesky on ball defender and creates a few steals for breakaways a game.

Geo Baker is hobbled but hit some big shots as always. Likely familiar with his game at this point

Paul Mulcahy is a 6'7 pass first second third point forward with great handle and elite vision but doesn't look for his own offense and the weakest defender in the Rutgers rotation.

The rest are freshman who were cut from the rotation in our first B1G game beating Maryland besides Doucoure who is a backup big who may bang for a few minutes against Kofi bc he has muscle but lacks awareness and skill.
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Andre Curbelo says hello.....(and yes, Jacob Young is indeed quick).
 
#83      

Double ACL

D
Double ACL
I respect Rutgers but we are going to beat them tomorrow.

Kofi> Cliff/Myles
Ayo> Harper
Illini Freshman> Rutgers Freshman
Illini>Rutgers


Go Illini!
Bring it tomorrow!
 
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