Has anyone even looked at Tennessee Chattanooga's schedule. They've played no one. Why is anyone afraid of them? Why are they underseeded?
Pregame: Illinois vs Chattanooga, Friday, March 18th, 5:50pm CT, TNT
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Badgers have a great path. Purdue tougher than ours
Tourney games aren't easy. Time to go play well or go home.
I see that Smith is from Belleville. Started out at Wright St.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I really do hope they play with a chip on their shoulders.
Agree, if we can't beat Chattanooga and Houston, we would have no chance to get past the first weekend. That doesn't mean I have to like our draw though.
.....who just put up 17 and 14 in the conference championship.
Look, im not saying Chatty is a world beater or anything, but in terms of matchups, this is a tough draw. Monte is going to have to step up and play perimeter D on Malachi (big time guard from STL metro) but they also have Baptiste who a big time scorer to go alongside competent wings. For a 13, they got some names and talent...and a good young coach.
Good, extra chip for the shoulder.
I actually like the feeling everyone currently has. It doesn't seem like the fanbase (really doesn't matter) or hopefully the team (does matter) will be overlooking this draw what-so-ever.
Classic case of loyalty envy.
Chattanooga is more scary than Houston. Houston has been major frauds all year with injured players.
Not true, been to Chattanooga games this year, he’s looked good. Also if his social media is to be believed he seems to have learned from this incident
Meet the Mocs! The team Seth Davis referred to as "major conference long and experienced"
Their starting 5 is made up of 3 seniros, a junior and a sophomore (so, the Illini are actually a more experienced team), with 2 seniors and a junior and sophomore getting decent playing time off the bench.
Their bigs are 6-10 255 lb Senior bench player Avery Diggs and 6-9 250 lb starting senior Silvio De Sousa. They aren't in the Kofi range, so expect a lot of doubles (or Kofi dunks, whichever they prefer I guess).
Their major player is Malachi Smith, a 6-4 sophomore who plays 90% of their minutes and takes 28% of their shots while on the floor. Efficient scorer, passing rate similar to Grandison (lower than Curbelo and Frazier), doesn't turn it over a ton.
Smith and De Souza are the focal points of the offense, effectively accounting for over half the team's shots in the game.
Limit Smith and De Souza offensively, draw fouls on their bigs, make open shots, and beat them. They're effectively a slow tempo team that isn't great defensively, they just limit points by slowing the tempo. Offensively they're pretty good, but you have to shut down their primary options.
Their best win this season was beating VCU away. The only tournament team they played this season was Murray State, and they lost by 11 on the road. They're about as efficient as Rutgers. Don't take em lightly, take advantage of the height difference down low, and try to push forward when possible.
Their starting 5 is made up of 3 seniros, a junior and a sophomore (so, the Illini are actually a more experienced team), with 2 seniors and a junior and sophomore getting decent playing time off the bench.
Their bigs are 6-10 255 lb Senior bench player Avery Diggs and 6-9 250 lb starting senior Silvio De Sousa. They aren't in the Kofi range, so expect a lot of doubles (or Kofi dunks, whichever they prefer I guess).
Their major player is Malachi Smith, a 6-4 sophomore who plays 90% of their minutes and takes 28% of their shots while on the floor. Efficient scorer, passing rate similar to Grandison (lower than Curbelo and Frazier), doesn't turn it over a ton.
Smith and De Souza are the focal points of the offense, effectively accounting for over half the team's shots in the game.
Limit Smith and De Souza offensively, draw fouls on their bigs, make open shots, and beat them. They're effectively a slow tempo team that isn't great defensively, they just limit points by slowing the tempo. Offensively they're pretty good, but you have to shut down their primary options.
Their best win this season was beating VCU away. The only tournament team they played this season was Murray State, and they lost by 11 on the road. They're about as efficient as Rutgers. Don't take em lightly, take advantage of the height difference down low, and try to push forward when possible.
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If we make our 3s we roll. If we get cold or look scared to take shots we lose. Pretty much this team.
It’s also why Belo is the X factor.
It’s also why Belo is the X factor.
80'sIllini
- Arizona
Excellent take. If Smith doesn't go off for a career-scoring night( like has happened seemingly all too often with teams playing us) I think we can bury this team. Essential that Kofi stays out of foul trouble, Hawkins has double-digit rebounds with hopefully at least 5 offensive boards. Provided we get past them, I can see the Houston game being an ugly 59-54 affair with us coming out of the first weekend getting ready to play a re-match against Arizona. Ridiculous how Wisconsin has such an easier road to sweet 16 when we beat them head to head and are co-big 10 champs with them.
Werner's perspective on the match-up: https://247sports.com/college/illin...ket-March-Madness-Chattanooga-Mocs-184362233/
Hope we beat them both like a rented mule, but I never take any team for granted after being an Illini fan for 50 years.
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
To put a positive spin on the day…it feels much better wondering if we are a 3 or 4 seed and who we will play instead of wondering if we’ll get into the tourney. its a good trend!
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
Not to look ahead too far, but Houston is #4 in KenPom and #2 in T-Rank. Was hoping to avoid a 4/5 matchup with them.
Zorak
- Naperville
I appreciate this but I'm not going to take you seriously when you get Jacob Grandison's name wrong.
schnaurt
- Phoenix, AZ
They best Furman with a prayer three from almost 40 ft or they are sitting at home.
Play smart and this is a W
Because we're 0-2 against them all time.
No but really if we're afraid of Chattanooga, we might as well give up our tourney spot now and stay home.
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