Pregame: Illinois at UCLA, Saturday, February 21st, 7:00pm CT, FOX

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#201      
I don't think we're paying Andrej what we're paying for him to come off the bench.
We're paying him that money to play 30 minutes, have the ability to affect games by playing at a high level. It shouldn't matter if he's coming off the bench or coming off a rocket ship from Mars. If he's getting the bulk of the minutes and is in the game at the end, it shouldn't matter. Some guys play better after watching the start of the game, seeing the pace, then seamlessly implementing themselves into the rest of the game.

People who care THAT much of an issue starting vs not starting has an ego issue. They want to hear their name called to start a game.

Would you rather start and play 6 minutes or come in at the first media timeout and play 32 minutes?
 
#202      
Unpopular opinion: Having mercurial, outspoken coaches like Mick and Fran in college basketball adds to the whole experience.
It's the Bob Knight, Gene Keady, etc type coaches. It's the hero/villain dynamic. Players fall into that category too. Who was hated more by opposing fans than Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimber? When he signed with the Bulls, who loved antics more than us Bulls fans?
 
#203      
That’s the B1G ref when he saw Kylan’s rebound dunk.
Reminded me of Father Pat, the ref in Semi-Pro after he saw the first alley-oop and didn't know what to think.
"Foul. No, two fouls."
 

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#205      
Call me crazy, but I don’t think it’s the worst idea to put Kylan on him. If we just play drop, and give him those wide open pick and pops…. we’re in for a long night.
Mirk should do fine, imo. Probably Ben too.
 
#207      
This is going to be a great team effort again, as a relaxed and confident Illini team dominate the undersized Bruins. Wagler will reassert his elite shooting, and lead all scorers with at least 25 points. Let's finish this road trip with 2 wins, no injuries, and prepare for the B10 showdown game with Michigan next Friday.
 
#208      
Agree completely, adds to the entertainment value. What's a hero without a villain? I always check to see his response after a loss lol.
OT:

This is why Trevor Bauer would have been good for the MLB to welcome back.

It's absolutely good to have villians in sports. It's why professional wrestling is so popular. Villians and heroes and their battles are deep in the human subconscious.
 
#211      
Man, I hope Illinois fans take this place over today. I will be arriving early to find parking and look around for a bit at Pauley.

PSA to anyone going to the game:
- Clear bag policy in effect
- Prohibited: Any outside beverages other than factory sealed water 32oz/1 liter or less, (empty reusable bottles are allowed; no glass)
- Allowed: Outside food is allowed inside, but must be brought inside a clear bag.
 
#213      
In a weird way this game worries me more than Friday against Michigan.
 
#214      
We're paying him that money to play 30 minutes, have the ability to affect games by playing at a high level. It shouldn't matter if he's coming off the bench or coming off a rocket ship from Mars. If he's getting the bulk of the minutes and is in the game at the end, it shouldn't matter. Some guys play better after watching the start of the game, seeing the pace, then seamlessly implementing themselves into the rest of the game.

People who care THAT much of an issue starting vs not starting has an ego issue. They want to hear their name called to start a game.

Would you rather start and play 6 minutes or come in at the first media timeout and play 32 minutes?
Where does the relevance of what players are getting paid come into playing time? We pay the coaches to win. There is no connection to what any player gets paid in any sport to playing time. The coach decides that.

I just don't understand the conversation. This team has pieces to win a National Championship. But to do that, you can't be selfish or one bit concerned about who gets paid what or how much players are paid.
 
#216      
Where does the relevance of what players are getting paid come into playing time? We pay the coaches to win. There is no connection to what any player gets paid in any sport to playing time. The coach decides that.

I just don't understand the conversation. This team has pieces to win a National Championship. But to do that, you can't be selfish or one bit concerned about who gets paid what or how much players are paid.
Agree 100%, which is why I responded the way I did. Don't care who starts.....win.
 
#218      
Last year our gameplan, apparently, was to not guard Tyler Bilodeau at all. That needs to change. Please and thank you. 😂
 
#219      
And Skyy Clark was the one who called it.
I might me completely wrong here. But we lost 2 games in the past 12 that had we been healthy or had we made 1 more FT we would have won.

UCLA gets 32 rebounds a game and unless I am mistaken they turn the ball over more than we do. This Illini team is gaining moementum but more importantly, they are at this point very difficult to both attack and defend. If the team is focused (and I suspect they will be) its going to be long night for UCLA. Keep in mind what all good coaches tell their teams before games like tonight's. "If you do not take care of business tonight against UCLA, the Michigan game is meaningless."
 
#221      
A little bit of useless history here. During the 30's and 40's the UofI's Marine Geology Lab had a summer field camp at the Scripps Institute.
A little-known fact is the Scripps family which founded the Scripps Institute in La-Jolla, CA is originally from Rushville, IL. There is a park located in Rushville, IL that is named Scripps Park for the family. It used to be that the Scripps family held a family reunion in the Rushville park every year. Not sure if they still do.
 
#222      
In a weird way this game worries me more than Friday against Michigan.
I’m always more nervous for the “should win” type games, especially games with special/unusual circumstances like this one: 1. Second game of a long road trip 2. A team that excels at home and 3. Shoots 3s well. All kinds of ways for this game to go sideways.

We have enough Q1As banked we should be on the 2 or 3 line no matter what, so Michigan is house money and playing for an outside shot at a one seed and/or a conference title. Not really anything to lose and alot to gain.
 
#223      
I’m always more nervous for the “should win” type games, especially games with special/unusual circumstances like this one: 1. Second game of a long road trip 2. A team that excels at home and 3. Shoots 3s well. All kinds of ways for this game to go sideways.

We have enough Q1As banked we should be on the 2 or 3 line no matter what, so Michigan is house money and playing for an outside shot at a one seed and/or a conference title. Not really anything to lose and alot to gain.
4. skyy revenge game. he goes for 20+
 
#225      
Revenge for what? Collecting a paycheck for 10 games of half effort before shutting it down?
Agree I think the revenge storyline is pretty fizzled out at this point. Skyy had another stop at Louisville, seems to have settled in at UCLA, and by all accounts said good things about Illinois and encouraged Tre White to transfer here. Also seems like he has a little bit of Ace Wolf type regret for leaving how he did.

I tried to edit but wasn’t able to, but the other storyline that’s concerning for me is UCLA is a team fighting for its tourney lives coming off 2 embarrassing losses. They are probably on the right side of the bubble right now but if they win tonight I think they are a lock. We will get their best shot.
 
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