Technically neutral court, no?
Pregame: Illinois at Washington, Sunday, January 5th, 3:00pm CT, BTN
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100% crazy.Am I crazy to think we could get 120+ and double them up?
It wasn't on Alabama's campus, but it was in Birmingham, AL, so neutral evil at best.
Great story
Dan
Admin
BTN (Guy Haberman & Don MacLean)
fightingillini.com
#22 Illini Close Northwest Road Swing Sunday at Washington - University of Illinois Athletics
Tipoff vs. Huskies, from Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Wash., set for 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network.
fightingillini.com
Let's take care of business and head into the new week at least being rank in the top 15. Maryland lost to Washington because their best players laid an egg. I don't think our guys will do that. We will get enough from a couple of our guys to get the dub. Let's avenge that 2006 second round tournament lost.
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We’re 10-3
BillyBob1
- Champaign
Are these announcers former PAC 10?BTN (Guy Haberman & Don MacLean)
#22 Illini Close Northwest Road Swing Sunday at Washington - University of Illinois Athletics
Tipoff vs. Huskies, from Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Wash., set for 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network.
Cool play. Mike LaTulip talked about this play quite a bit in Jeremy's podcast after the game.
Yes. Game tied at 81. Meatchicken misses a shot with five seconds remaining. Sean Higgins climbs up the back of Nick Anderson and gets a game winning putback with two seconds remaining.
Too soon
- llinois' top three scorers and rebounders are all in their first year of collegiate basketball. Freshman G Kasparas Jakucionis ranks first in scoring (16.3 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.6 rpg). Sophomore C Tomislav Ivisic nearly averages a double-double at 14.2 points and team-leading 9.2 rebounds per game. Freshman F Will Riley is the Illini's No. 3 scorer at 12.0 points per game. And Freshman F Morez Johnson Jr. ranks second on the team at 6.2 rebounds per game.
- Only 13 games into his college career, Jakucionis already has six 20-point games, just two away from equaling the Illini all-time record for 20-point games by a freshman. Cory Bradford (1998-99) set the current Illini mark with eight, followed by Ayo Dosunmu (2018-19) and Kiwane Garris (1993-94) at seven each.
- Jakucionis is the fifth freshman of the Underwood era to record at least five total 20-point games in his rookie season, joining Dosunmu (7 in 2018-19), Trent Frazier (5 in 2017-18), Giorgi Bezhanishvili (5 in 2018-19), and Kofi Cockburn (5 in 2019-20).
- Jakucionis, at 16.3 ppg, is on pace to break the Illini freshman scoring average record of 15.9 ppg set by Kiwane Garris 31 years ago.
blackdog
- Champaign
As BU said the majority of the opportunities to push come off defensive rebounds. They are MUCH faster getting the ball down court off a rebound than inbounding off a make. It makes the it super important for everyone to be locked in on defense because it leads to better scoring chances, especially against a team that plays a slow pace.
This team has experienced the joy of playing for each other and the team. Finally, they are understanding that they can score and defend as a team and each one can make a considerable contribution when they play as a team and trust their teammates to find the hot hand. We see them getting better every game and know they do too. We also know, for a fact, that no team makes shots every game as they did in Eugene. Simply, they have to play without fear, choosing and expecting a tough game, but focused on playing to strength and ready for a hard tough battle. Dedication to team glory is paramount.
But all that is nothing new. Every coach preaches the same. What makes this team elite is that they have so many weapons and scorers and need to see and trust every teammate will play with joy and confidence and is dedicated to getting better. Keep the turnovers to single digits, rebound with a vengeance, and focus on tough, helping defense and get the ball to the hot hand or advantage match-up. We see them getting better at these facets and that must continue.
Three things I like are the growing confidence of:
1. Tre White - he seems to be grasping the ways he can contribute, especially rebounding, and is not forcing offense...while hitting open shots. His talent is being used properly.
2. Kylan - has always worked his tail off and is now starting to trust his shot while being patient and more aware when he drives. Just starting to understand what he needs to do.
3. BH - when he plays a diversified and aggressive offensive game and a more efficient defensive game, he is a huge cog in a huge wheel as we saw in Eugene. Getting him to be efficient is tantamount to this team reaching their potential. We have no idea why he stepped to a new level of play against Oregon, but it does not matter. Instead of writing him off, as many have, he needs encouragement from us all as he is so important to this team being consistently elite at both ends.
As for Riley and Morez, their talents are obvious and elite. They only need to be patient and work hard. Both seem to want to dominate with their elite skills, but the only deterrent to consistency is confidence which, IMHO, takes time, experience, and patience to bloom.
We are all giddy with what we saw Thur. night. But this team is far from reaching their potential...and will always have some flaws that can be exploited. Fortunately, few teams have the talent to exploit those flaws, especially when there is a guy on the bench that can take those opponent advantages away. My felling is that they are slowly learning this...and I hope that continues.
But all that is nothing new. Every coach preaches the same. What makes this team elite is that they have so many weapons and scorers and need to see and trust every teammate will play with joy and confidence and is dedicated to getting better. Keep the turnovers to single digits, rebound with a vengeance, and focus on tough, helping defense and get the ball to the hot hand or advantage match-up. We see them getting better at these facets and that must continue.
Three things I like are the growing confidence of:
1. Tre White - he seems to be grasping the ways he can contribute, especially rebounding, and is not forcing offense...while hitting open shots. His talent is being used properly.
2. Kylan - has always worked his tail off and is now starting to trust his shot while being patient and more aware when he drives. Just starting to understand what he needs to do.
3. BH - when he plays a diversified and aggressive offensive game and a more efficient defensive game, he is a huge cog in a huge wheel as we saw in Eugene. Getting him to be efficient is tantamount to this team reaching their potential. We have no idea why he stepped to a new level of play against Oregon, but it does not matter. Instead of writing him off, as many have, he needs encouragement from us all as he is so important to this team being consistently elite at both ends.
As for Riley and Morez, their talents are obvious and elite. They only need to be patient and work hard. Both seem to want to dominate with their elite skills, but the only deterrent to consistency is confidence which, IMHO, takes time, experience, and patience to bloom.
We are all giddy with what we saw Thur. night. But this team is far from reaching their potential...and will always have some flaws that can be exploited. Fortunately, few teams have the talent to exploit those flaws, especially when there is a guy on the bench that can take those opponent advantages away. My felling is that they are slowly learning this...and I hope that continues.
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