I kinda like the attitude....if you treat each next game as "most important" you can avoid let down. Let's roll with that...Fair enough
I probably am being a bit overdramatic, but I guess I just feel like it's time to show we can beat a team of this caliber, if we really can (which I believe is true). A win like this would get things right back on track.
Pregame: Illinois vs Michigan State, Tuesday, January 25th, 6:00pm CT, ESPN
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I have a sneaky feeling he will play. But Underwood has been vague as wants to keep Izzy guessing right up until game time.. I hope I am right..
Only way I think we win this game without Kofi, is Curbelo has the game of his lifeā¦.
I will be at this game, I like our chances (as long as Kofi plays). Home crowd needs to show up. Stop the turnovers and play some defense and Illinois is back on top of the big ten standings. I was at the last game when MSU came to Champaign and I left feeling awful, tip dunk by MSU and then Ayo went down. Letās flip the script.
That's a little harsh. Barring injuries BBV is a non-rotational role player. He's like the 11th guy in a 9 man rotation. And he's a good player for that role. I think he'd certainly be a starter for a low major or the right mid major. Jermaine Hamlin is playing 20mpg at a D-I school (Eastern Ill.)
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illini80
- Forgottonia
Iām curious why the team looks gassed at times. Did the lack of conditioning earlier in the season not have them as prepared for the grind? Is this a longer term covid issue? Or is the shorter rotation weāve seen taking itās toll? I understand we have had lots of guys miss time for various reasons.
Covid doesn't affect everyone the same. Some it bothers very little or they didn't even realize they had it. I didn't have it too bad but it really sapped my energy. 4 weeks after I tested negative I was still only around 50%.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
I can't wait for this game. I know we are behind the eight-ball with Kofi's injury. I know we just had a loss that hasn't exactly united the fan base (see the Maryland post-game thread). Even still, I really love this team and believe in BU's ability to overcome adversity. With or without Kofi, I think we're gonna come out and look significantly more cohesive on Tuesday and give MSU everything they can handle.
Maybe all of the above? I do think the heavy minutes for Trent, Damonte, and Kofi need to come down a bit.
I hope we win this game but we just need to get healthy and play together for a solid month+, get a 4,5 or 6 seed in the big dance and make a natty run. If we win the Big10 reg season and/or the btt great, but it's time to have a national title run and for that to happen we need to get healthy and have time to gel. Let's get it boys!
Please stop posting until you reach at least 80%. You're killing the thread!
Go ILLINI!
Trent and Alfonso cannot carry this team alone. If Kofi can't play they will need the bench to step up. Maybe move Haw in the paint, he is more mobile and not much help on the outside. Williams and Hawk need to provide some offense. Goode and Melendez can score if given the opportunity. If the Illini can't have inside outside scoring they will lose.
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Agreed on the sentiment, but if this Illini team can gel as a healthy unit over a month+ of practices and games, I would expect to see a 3 seed at the very worst.
Calillini
Now appearing in Tampa
Well, I guess we deserve that, given how we have been playing. But, it sets us up for re-entry against MSU, assuming our heat shields are intact.
Next three are all quad one games. Win all three and I believe the team sheet will have 8 quad one plus quad 2 wins with half of those being quad one.
That would make for a heck of a resume with 9 B10 games to go.
That said, I donāt think we win this one without a healthy Kofi, as he should/would feast on their bigs.
A few posters have mentioned that the goal for the regular season needs to be to get and stay healthy and maybe aim for a top four finish in conference with them playing their best ball in March. Itās unfortunate the injuries and illnesses and other disruptions may cost us a protected seed when Chicago is a regional site and there are close Midwest pods for the opening rounds, but I think weād all rather see a deep run in March than anything else.
That would make for a heck of a resume with 9 B10 games to go.
That said, I donāt think we win this one without a healthy Kofi, as he should/would feast on their bigs.
A few posters have mentioned that the goal for the regular season needs to be to get and stay healthy and maybe aim for a top four finish in conference with them playing their best ball in March. Itās unfortunate the injuries and illnesses and other disruptions may cost us a protected seed when Chicago is a regional site and there are close Midwest pods for the opening rounds, but I think weād all rather see a deep run in March than anything else.
Minus officiating perks, I'd take Underwood over Izzo as a coach any day.
Assuming Kofi gets the all clear, I'm hoping (foolishly, yup!), that Kofi's missed abuse from the Purdue game gets us a little bit of sympathy in the way the Sparty game is called. Somebody queue up Ayo's abuse last year. A couple elbows or arm slaps called for us, especially early, and I think we take 'em!
Assuming Kofi gets the all clear, I'm hoping (foolishly, yup!), that Kofi's missed abuse from the Purdue game gets us a little bit of sympathy in the way the Sparty game is called. Somebody queue up Ayo's abuse last year. A couple elbows or arm slaps called for us, especially early, and I think we take 'em!
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I'm not getting these either/or B1G championship or deep NCAA run takes. Aim for both, dammit! [throws laptop across room]
We are also forgetting that BBV came here as an outside shooter. For whatever reason (quite possibly to have someone taking up space in the paint and to take advantage of his offensive rebounding abilities), on offense, we are using him as purely an inside scorer, now. That has to be a huge adjustment for him to make.
A win on Tuesday is almost a "must" if we are going to win a BIG title.
sacraig
- The desert
Sure. So I don't see why that shouldn't still be the goal.
Perhaps goal was the wrong choice of word on my part. Swap it for āexpectation.ā I donāt expect to win a B10 title with what remains schedule-wise and how few breaks this roster has caught. Get healthy at all costs, even if you drop a game or two to ensure Kofi is 110 percent when he returns.
It makes Kofis suspension look pretty stupid
illini80
- Forgottonia
Unfortunately I donāt think that helped us last year with Ayo. Wasnāt it the Loyola game he took a couple lesser shots to the head and wasnāt the same the rest of the game?
Zorak
- Naperville
Hell, it's a must if we're gonna even compete.
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