Pregame: Illinois vs IUPUI, Tuesday, December 6th, 7:00pm CT, ESPN3
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Need consistent effort in this game and for Morgan and Finke to shoot their way back in. Side story: Will djw play????
Hopefully this becomes a game where everyone plays.
Looking forward to another win. In 2 weeks it will become even more crowded with Kipper on tap.
I'm thinking kipper may make the rotation
Based on interior defense and quickness. We need bench help there
Based on interior defense and quickness. We need bench help there
IUPUI seem to be going on a tour of the state of Illinois. They've already lost to SIUE and ISU. Hopefully we keep them shut out in the state. They can go ahead and beat the Mildcats when they play them later in the season though :thumb:
What game does Kipper come back for?
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
According to this article, he is eligible against BYU on Dec 17
http://www.thechampaignroom.com/201...linois-fighting-illini-basketball-roster-news
Ok thanks!
It's probably pretty simple. There are very few minutes available backing up hill, and they are going to go to whoever shows the most defensive improvement in practice. Don't overthink it.
That's my hot take anyway, not that I know jack.
Illini1221
Peru,IL
Looks like IUPUI can be pretty competitive (when I say that I mean in the Summit). The player to watch and shut down is Combs. He is their everything.
illinitrav
- NW Suburbs
IUPUI is a small team. They'll go about 8 deep in their rotation. They don't shoot the 3 ball particularly well and they aren't a great rebounding team. Combs is their stud... he's a senior guard from Chicago.... we've seen how kids like this have burned us in the past.
Could be a sleepy game coming off two emotional wins but if Illinois plays with intensity, it should be a double-digit win.
Could be a sleepy game coming off two emotional wins but if Illinois plays with intensity, it should be a double-digit win.
I just can't understand why AJ is clearly favored over DJW right now. AJ looks lost out there. He missed a wide open tip-in that DJW probably would have slammed home, and he turned the ball over in the 2nd half when he had plenty of room to shoot or drive. Makes me think there is something going on off the court/behind the scenes.
Let's not jump to conclusions, I would like to see DJW play more as well, but it's not like he would make our rotation immediately stronger. He has always been a high risk high reward player since he makes a lot of mistakes and kills ball movement, but is also able to make ridiculous plays out of nowhere. If he is able to settle down out there and learn our offense, he could be an absolute stud.
This. While I like DJW's ability to make ridiculous plays out of nowhere, it would be nice to see him make a few ridiculous plays within the system.
It will be transmitted digitally over a network to my TV, why so concerned about the underlying details?
And it's free.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
There was a time where the radio was the only way to get more that 6 or 8 games a year. And the radio has always been free, how about that?
I know I'm opening up myself to ridicule after our two wins but, I still have not seen JG's offensive "system" work at all.
How can DJW work in the "system" when all I see is 3 to 4 guys standing around while someone dribbles looking for an open shot ? His playground mentality actually is a better option in our seldom screening/ little motion offense.
I know some of you are giddy, but our Big Ten foes are gonna tear us a new place where our offense used to be.
We're able to get many good looks on offense when we're not being pressured full court and I don't expect that to happen often at all during conference play. Our bigs are still in a funk, so that's my primary concern heading too conference play. We still have a few games for JCL and Finke to get out of their shooting slump too but I'm not as concerned about that. There are some teams like Indiana and Wisconsin that are capable of tearing us a new one, but I expect us to be competitive in most games. We have a favorable schedule. There aren't many great teams in the conference but it's still good enough to get 7-8 teams in the dance. Most will be high single digits IMO so we need to be able to win a few against those types of teams.I know I'm opening up myself to ridicule after our two wins but, I still have not seen JG's offensive "system" work at all.
How can DJW work in the "system" when all I see is 3 to 4 guys standing around while someone dribbles looking for an open shot ? His playground mentality actually is a better option in our seldom screening/ little motion offense.
I know some of you are giddy, but our Big Ten foes are gonna tear us a new place where our offense used to be.
These next 4 non conference games are very important. If we can rattle off 4 more to end the non conference schedule we will be sitting at 10-3 going in to B1G play which is great. Sure, we have 1 bad loss in Winthrop but we would have a couple somewhat decent wins in VCU, NC State and BYU. If we sweep the rest of the non conference schedule, I really like our chances. 2 home games and 1 at United Center and 1 in St. Louis. Lets try and support this team. Hopefully the students can get on board, we need to get back to the big dance!!
Before the season I defined a successful non-conference record of 11-2 or 10-3, assuming loses to WV and one or two of NC State, VCU, and BYU. If we run the table with the rest of the non-conference schedule, I'd say we are performing as expected (in my mind), given the fact we may have a bad loss to winthrop (albeit in OT FWIW) but three good looking wins ( VCU, NC State, and BYU), they offset any negative or positive thoughts.
Two things: I think the team needs to look at the past two wins less as good overall play, and more of spurts of good offense and defense against teams missing key players. I think if both VCU and NC State were fully healthy and eligible, we probably lose one game. Not taking anything away from those teams, but its important to note we didn't have wire to wire fantastic wins. VCU was a couple of three's falling and a stop or two from making an 18 loss into a very close game--similar story for NC State.
Second, we can't over look IUPUI, Central Mich, or Mizzou. They are all wins we should have... but we need to compete and win--especially in the game against Mizzou (rivalry games are always a different breed--regardless of how awful they've looked so far). I'd like to see us play hard defense against IUPUI and get DJW and AJ some quality minutes.
Side Note: Has Groce been asked about DJW recently (I think he said something after the FSU game?)
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
I know I'm opening up myself to ridicule after our two wins but, I still have not seen JG's offensive "system" work at all.
How can DJW work in the "system" when all I see is 3 to 4 guys standing around while someone dribbles looking for an open shot ? His playground mentality actually is a better option in our seldom screening/ little motion offense.
I know some of you are giddy, but our Big Ten foes are gonna tear us a new place where our offense used to be.
I honestly am in the camp of : I don't know if its JG's offense or the team's inability to execute and follow directions. I don't think this is a good court vision or passing team in general. TJL has both. The number of times I've seen the roll on a pick be open for the pass and then no pass? Way too many to count. MH's pass to Thorne against VCU was so wide open he had no choice but it was nice to see. With a few exceptions, I think we are a hesitant passing team. We do seem to kick it out nicely though.
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