Pregame: Illinois at Tennessee, Saturday, December 9th, 11:00am CT, CBS
- Status
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I find the Sleepers media guys to be reasonable in their analysis here:
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
And Knecht, as proficient as he is on offense, is a minus defender who also happens to be dealing with a bum ankle. They will have to try to “hide” him somewhere on defense.
Marcus’ breakout game vs FAU will make them think twice about putting Knecht on him. So it might come down to the Quincy/Luke duo to exploit that matchup on offense.
Their overall defense is highly rated, but mostly because they dominated some cupcake teams. Against currently ranked competition, their points allowed is so-so:
Wisconsin (W) 70
Purdue (L) 71
Kansas (L) 69
N Carolina (L) 100 (!)
Can’t wait to see how it all shakes out!
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I think it will be a fun game. They're generally bigger and tougher than Tennessee.
And Knecht, as proficient as he is on offense, is a minus defender who also happens to be dealing with a bum ankle. They will have to try to “hide” him somewhere on defense.
Marcus’ breakout game vs FAU will make them think twice about putting Knecht on him. So it might come down to the Quincy/Luke duo to exploit that matchup on offense.
Their overall defense is highly rated, but mostly because they dominated some cupcake teams. Against currently ranked competition, their points allowed is so-so:
Wisconsin (W) 70
Purdue (L) 71
Kansas (L) 69
N Carolina (L) 100 (!)
Can’t wait to see how it all shakes out!
I expect James will guard Shannon and is probably one of the few guards Shannon will play against that is as strong as him though I don't think he can keep up with Shannon once he gets moving.
Vescovi is a pest defensively but I don't think him or the other guards have the size to guard Domask so I'd expect Knect to guard him unless they go Vescovi and double/help inside which means Goode and Harmon will need to be knocking down shots.
Coleman should match up fairly well with Aidoo but needs to limit his own 3 pt attempts and not get bullied.
Tennessee isn't a great shooting team but they do have a couple guys that can get hot. I think the Illini have a good chance if they can run them off the 3pt line and use their size advantage to contest 2s.
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Link to the Illini video they mentioned near the beginning. Agree with the kudos for the Illini social media team that put it together. Have really stepped up their game the last few years.
As a fellow Knoxville citizen, I approve of these recommendations. I can't wait to see the right shade of orange walking around town this weekend. Gonna feel like home. I'll be reigning down INI's from the 300 section
Think the sleepers guys are on to something… IF we can win this game the schedule the next few weeks is pretty favorable on paper.. Colgate isn’t a gimme but we will be favored, we will be favored in BR, we will be favored against FDU & at home against Northwestern…
A top 5 matchup in Mackey on January 5th. Win that game and we’re #1 in the country, and Terrence is the NPOY frontrunner……
Let’s get this MF roadkill.
A top 5 matchup in Mackey on January 5th. Win that game and we’re #1 in the country, and Terrence is the NPOY frontrunner……
Let’s get this MF roadkill.
I think this next game will go a long way in answering some questions that a lot of people have about this team. FAU was great but as we know it is a Long season. A lot can happen. I like the positivity here. That is for sure. The thing that I am enjoying is that this program's stock is on the upswing. The main thing that concerns me is not the point guard issue or 3 point shooting or any of that. For me, it comes down to how this team handles success?
Another pet peeve of mine. Though I suppose we really agree, I do NOT want to see "loose," and I do NOT want to "swagger." I want to see laser focus, and determination on winning every single possession.
Bigtex
- DFW
absolutely correct. A few years back Barnes was the worst NCAAT coach (regarding winning vs seeds) Barnes was just slightly ahead (or behind) of Henson.
couldnt find the article from a few years ago but found this.
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Not sure how to take this
You could take it as meaning that an ~#10 beating an ~#4 on the road does not equate to a bump to a #1 ranking.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Really interested to see if Shannon can hold Knecht down. I think he will, but to what degree? Huge game for his draft aspirations.
Well he did say that winning a top 5 matchup would bump us to #1. So this would be a weird way to take it
Doubt we see TSJ on Knecht until the second half.
… if we win @Tennessee and then win all of our games up until January 5th.. We would be 12-1. Let’s take a look at some other teams schedules, shall we?
Arizona: vs Wisconsin, @Purdue, vs Alabama, Vs FAU, Vs Colorado
Kansas: vs Mizzou, @Indiana
Houston: vs Texas A&M
Purdue: vs Alabama, vs Arizona, @Maryland
UConn: @Gonzaga, Seton Hall, St John’s, @Butler
Baylor: @MSU, @Duke,
Gonzaga: @Washington, Vs UConn, Vs SDSU
Marquette: Vs Creighton, @Providence,
UNC: @Kentucky, @Oklahoma, @Pitt, @Clemson
Creighton: Vs Alabama, vs Nova, @Marquette
Texas lost last night, CO State plays St Mary’s & New Mexico in that stretch, Miami plays Clemson & Colorado…
Lots of these teams will lose games no matter what… there could be a few more upsets… if we get out of Mackey at 13-1, there may only be 2-3 other teams that have a similar record or resume.. not entirely out of the question for us to jump to the #1 spot…. But think how you want
Most likely it’s us, Kansas, Houston for #1. Voters loves recent results and there wouldn’t be a better win nationally than @Purdue. On top of wins over FAU, Tennessee, #1 in B1G & a 11 game win streak…
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Hard for me to rationally pick us to win this one. We are so evenly matched but Tennessee has the benefit of homecourt. I think for us to win, Goode will need to have a 3 or 4 three pointer day while holding his own defensively. Would be really nice if Coleman shoots it the way he shot it against Kansas, too.
If we win, I'll be on the Final Four contender wagon, though. Going away from home and beating two very good teams in a row is exactly how you go deep in the tournament.
If we win, I'll be on the Final Four contender wagon, though. Going away from home and beating two very good teams in a row is exactly how you go deep in the tournament.
band camp
- STL City
band camp
- STL City
I just asked a question. Thought there was something rational I was missing. /s
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Status