Pregame: Illinois at Rutgers, Wednesday, February 16th, 6:00pm CT, BTN

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#103      
Illinifanalways
There is no doubt that they are playing better as a team. I guess it is called jellying at the right time. We have to put together two good halves. You take the first half of the PU game along with the first half of the NW game we win. It is amazing how Plummer can shoot lights out in the first half and then shoot bricks in the second half. We have to have him put together two good halves. I think Trent is tired and hurting. I think we will need to see Luke get some time against Rutgers. The word is just beat them.
 
#104      
Rocky
InDaAZ said:
Mulcahey is listed 6’6”… Rutgers starts four very big guards to go along with 6’11” Omoruyi. We sometimes have three 6-footish players on the floor together. Thus, the challenge.

We’ll probably see BU throw a lot of different combos at them, and stick with the one that’s working best.
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As far as starters against starters, Plummer will probably be assigned Mcconnell. Hope he can close out the three. Mulcahey runs their offense and actually likes to post up smaller guards, so I expect Da'Monte much of the time on him.
 
#105      
IlliniFandom
I cringe when I hear people state "we owned them last time" or something similar to that fact. Sure we may have, but this is a team that crushed Michigan state, beat wisconsin and ohio state in their last 3 games. This is a dangerous team that is clearly different than the team we played early on in the season. They are playing better, we are playing worse....So I'm not sure we make it out of this game TBH. If we play like we did against Wisconsin or 1H yesterday, sure, I'm picking us. But with Trent chucking 3's and airballing them (what's up what that btw?....in the 4 years prior, I don't remember seeing one airball from him...and now one the last 4 games?..injury?) and belo with his erratic play, and Hawkins not playing as well as he did early on...especially defensively...I'm not sure what to make of this team. Need to tighten things up these last games and get back into form. I assume it's us trying to figure out the pieces and finally playing a full roster...but let's figure this out quick
 
#106      
thehass
This game will be no cakewalk. Rutgers has steadily improved over the season and is very formidable. 40 minutes of high energy,focus and smarts will be required to get the W. No droughts or sloppy play please.
 
#107      
blackdog
InDaAZ said:
I’ve seen a lot of posts decrying our weave action, but opposing coaches actually fear it. Dakich was interviewing one - Painter, I think - who was asked about Illinois’ weave. He said it’s so much faster in person than it seems on tape. There’s no way to replicate the speed and sharp cuts in practice. He mentioned Trent by name, and how effectively he is able to separate in that style of offense, and how it stresses the defense and creates mismatches.

Moral to the story: There’s a reason BU is on the bench at game time and we’re all on our couches (not to restart all the couch puns…).
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It also leads eventually to a pick and roll action where all the defenders are already in motion and worried about following their man and not as able to help on the roll. If the defense isn't dialed in the weave is almost always going to lead to an open look. BU has talked about it numerous times that the more actions and the more the ball moves sides the more likely the defense will break down.

It just really confuses me that people complain about the weave because they get soooo many good looks out of it. I would love to see the numbers but I bet they're really high which is why they keep running it.
 
#108      
727ill
Rocky said:
As far as starters against starters, Plummer will probably be assigned Mcconnell. Hope he can close out the three. Mulcahey runs their offense and actually likes to post up smaller guards, so I expect Da'Monte much of the time on him.
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Agreed with Plummer on McConnell. He's a nice scorer but probably touches the ball the least with Baker, Harper and Mulcahy on the floor.
 
#114      
Illini in Italy
D1959 said:
We play Wednesday like the 2nd half today we’ll lose by 20
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#115      
Retro62
Mulcahy has had a breakout part of the season, he didn't start out that way. He's confident and comfortable now. That is what we are all waiting for with Hawkins, who has way more natural talent. If it can happen to Mulcahy within a season, maybe it can happen with Hawkins before we hit tournament play. A lot to ask, I know, but as has been said ad nauseum, he has the tools.
 
#118      
Emerson Bigguns
Retro62 said:
Mulcahy has had a breakout part of the season, he didn't start out that way. He's confident and comfortable now. That is what we are all waiting for with Hawkins, who has way more natural talent. If it can happen to Mulcahy within a season, maybe it can happen with Hawkins before we hit tournament play. A lot to ask, I know, but as has been said ad nauseum, he has the tools.
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I think what we have been waiting for from Hawk, we are seeing from RJ. Playing composed, confident, in the moment, and not over-thinking. RJ also gives us a legitimate threat in transition, which has been sorely lacking all season.
 
#119      
Rocky
blackdog said:
It also leads eventually to a pick and roll action where all the defenders are already in motion and worried about following their man and not as able to help on the roll. If the defense isn't dialed in the weave is almost always going to lead to an open look. BU has talked about it numerous times that the more actions and the more the ball moves sides the more likely the defense will break down.

It just really confuses me that people complain about the weave because they get soooo many good looks out of it. I would love to see the numbers but I bet they're really high which is why they keep running it.
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In theory, yes. But it's the execution. Would really love to see more effective pick and roll, dribble drive penetration, and interior passing. I feel like we are worried about TO's with our more interior passing.
 
#121      
blackdog
Rocky said:
In theory, yes. But it's the execution. Would really love to see more effective pick and roll, dribble drive penetration, and interior passing. I feel like we are worried about TO's with our more interior passing.
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But the execution on the weave has been good...
 
#122      
ptgrd23
Illinois is a veteran team. Everybody will remember how we lost at Rutgers last year and it cost us the B10 championship.

Trent and DaMonte have played at Rutgers 4 years in a row. Kofi 2 years, Jacob and Andre last year.

It will be a dog fight but I think we pull it out. This is not January John time. Brad's teams improve throughout the season.

Remember we have an All American center King Kofi on our team. He only had 13 pts 15 rb while we beat them 86-51.
 

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#123      
Rocky
blackdog said:
But the execution on the weave has been good...
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Wow. Like I said before, maybe I'm in the glass half empty camp on that one. I'll define good execution as leading to a score ... not just getting the defenders moving and creating potential problems for their D.
 
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#125      
The Sprouting Divot
IlliniRunIn07 said:
I'm going to say something that may get me a ban on this board. I've enjoyed watching Mulcahy play this year. That being said, I hope we can make him cry on Wednesday.
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Same. I don't mind the booing, but I don't hate the guy like I hate Brad Davison, decades of Iowa players, Grayson Allen, etc., and have found Rutgers to be a fun team to casually root for and have enjoyed watching them have some success. I'll continue to root for them to win games as long as it's not at our expense.

I hope Rutgers takes IU's place in the NCAA tournament and makes some noise.
 
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