Oh. Well then maybe I should just shut my big dumb mouth.
This is me as I posted my last comment.
Pregame: Illinois vs Minnesota, Wednesday, February 28th, 8:00pm CT, BTN
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This is me as I posted my last comment.
I like Nico, but Curbello was a different level. I wish he would have not gotten hurt and stayed. Human highlight reel. Nico is going to be boring and good. Can live with that!
I can't agree with that. While their loss to Nebraska today was a terrible one, they hadn't lost a single game in their previous 8 by double digits including wins @PSU, NW, MSU, Rut, and OSU, a 5pt loss @Iowa, an 8pt loss @Purdue, and a 2pt loss vWisconsin. Minnesota is a team who has shown a lot of effort this year and will play to the final whistle. In fact, they've only lost 4 games by double digits all season. It is more likely than not they will at least be in striking distance late and we will need to close them out to get the win. As well, with games of Wisconsin, Purdue, and Iowa ahead of us, I would put this in the danger game category. While we should be focused based on our recent play, if we let off the gas in this one after say going up by double digits, this might be another nailbiter.
All in all, just have to win this one, and if the team is coming into this one thinking Minnesota is anything but dangerous we very well could walk out of there with a loss. Need intensity from beginning to end on this one and stretch the lead as much as we can early.
I wasn’t comparing Nico’s talent level to Curbelo’s. I said he appears to me to be our fastest player since Curbelo. And I was really referring to the speed at which he brings the ball up and looks to get the offense moving.
"Should win comfortably." Your point is that if we don't come out with intensity, it will be close. I do not expect that to be the case as I think they have shown plenty to not be overlooked. They are definitely a frisky team with some legit talent, but if we are locked in, this should not be a stressful game in the last few minutes playing at home
There are likely no comfortable wins left for IL at this point in the B10 season. Minnesota will require maximum effort and continued improvement on the defensive end. They are not a bad team by any stretch and have some impressive players who are becoming very comfortable playing at a high level, sitting at .500 in league play. Opportunities for the defensive to click are becoming few; here's hoping we see it Wednesday.
I do hear what you're saying, but I think it's slightly more than that. We've gone up double digits in the first half half this year only to give it back before half. I think we'll come out with intensity but whether we'll be able to keep our foot on the gas and stretch the lead out instead of taking lazy shots and playing lazy defense once we go up is of bigger concern to me in this one. I agree that talentwise we could win by double digits, but mentally we have to be stronger than we've been recently.
I know I know little about basketball, but that said, if the hockey line works in hockey, why not in basketball? If you have good depth, you can throw in a completely different look, and before then opposing team can get to acclimated to their new opponent, send the first string back in, like a timeout with a timeout, refreshed and ready. I don't know how deep Iowa went on its bench, but watching their players line up for freethrows...
I know I know little about basketball, but that said, if the hockey line works in hockey, why not in basketball? If you have good depth, you can throw in a completely different look, and before then opposing team can get to acclimated to their new opponent, send the first string back in, like a timeout with a timeout, refreshed and ready. I don't know how deep Iowa went on its bench, but watching their players line up for freethrows...
We could go ahead and embrace our lack of defense and just go 100% Grinnell College-style. Get our scoring up to the 150's or so. We will, of course, allow somewhere around 148 but it would be a hell of an experience to see in the Big 10.
He's been the least efficient scholarship player on the team this year. Great athlete with big potential. Needs to play in the rhythm of the offense instead of chucking shots. Not sure how he grades out on defense, but seems like he needs to work on not fouling so much.
I sure hope so, and significant minutes again. He's a true point guard and apparently a good shooter from distance. That spreads the floor.
Until I see a consistent defensive result for more than a half I am done thinking there are any games left we should win comfortably. Quite frankly the last 6 or so games Nebraska is playing better defense than us. The PG and bigs for Minnesota could certainly cause some issues. We have struggled vs those types of players defensively. Our offense should put up 85 plus but which defense will show up? I can't confidently say whether its the first or second half vs Iowa will show up. If its like the second half D then we win by 15 or more.
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Agree. We should win comfortably, however they gave Purdue a game at Mackey. Have to be locked in.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
You have company. For some reason all month I've been under the mistaken impression that this one is in The Barn. Instead, @LvilleILL assures me it's in The Bag.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I hope you are right! However, my fan PTSD has me worried that we will be sweating it in a similar fashion to the Iowa game ... let's hope we close it out again if that is the case, because this is the last loss we simply cannot afford to have!
Also, since the 2022 BTT loss to Indiana, we have forfeited really fun winning streaks vs. Iowa, MSU and Indiana, the latter of which turned into an annoying losing streak before we beat them recently. I hope the team plays with the necessary pride to keep our streaks vs. Wisconsin and Minnesota going, as we have beat both six times in a row!
drsmitty74
- Rochester
I Agree, but MSU, PSU, NW and Maryland all thought the same thing when playing Minny.
Sorry, I see aaeismacgychel beat me to it.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I bet Nebraska did as well, and they were right. I didn't watch the game last night between them. But the box score is ugly.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I have been recording as many B$G games as I can this season and last night I watched the goofer-nebby game.......I humbly submit my opinions on the goofers......................
Elijah Hawkins........PG...............he reminds me of a waterbug on the surface of a pond ............fast as hades , but doesn't make the best decisions on the court.....He can score at all 3 levels , but is a streaky shooter................our D needs to guard against his penetration and cuts for layups in the paint....
Mike Mitchell Jr. ...........................SG..........he loves to shoot ........I have not seen him make a lot of 3's this year .....He disappears a lot then pop's up with an ill advised 3 pt attempt.........drives to the paint some , but would rather chuck some 3's...............
Braedan Carrington...........G.............very athletic guard who does a little of everything and plays good D.....he anticipates the opponents movements very well.........does drive the rim and is somewhat successful.......he will be the one to get some steals as we try to cut into the paint.....
Pharrel Payne...........C.......one of the most improved players in the B$G this year.....is a lot stronger this year and has improved his moves around the basket immensely on both offense and defense..........very suspect in his FT shooting and very prone to foul problems.........his vertical has also improved a lot...............
Dawson Garcia...........F.............very talented but has always left me wanting more.....is their leading scorers and can hit the 3's if left open.....great FT shooter.................his D is very suspect as he moves kinda herky-jerky on D.....also prone to fouling issues.......as I said earlier , he seems capable of much more than he is accomplishing and leaves me to believe he can be attacked for getting him into foul trouble.....
Cam Christie.....SG.......in the running for FOTY..........I am not impressed enough to put him there , IMHO..........but he does fill a big need for the goofers as he shoots well from the arc and does drive the rim on occasion......has great form on his shot , but sometimes shoots off balance instead of squaring his feet and shoulders to the rim...........he can go for 20 points or end up with less than double figures.......very similar to his brothers performance last year with the zero-izzo's.......could be the wild card ......
Parker Fox.........F............had a good game yesterday .....to me , he is their Ty Rodgers , but taller........comes off the bench and usually injects some energy to the team.....terrible FT shooter........will crash the boards on both O and D....very prone to foul trouble.....
has had major health issues to both knees in the past , but moves pretty well and never stops moving............
Joshua Ola-Joseph.........G-F.........has some skills but plays dumb a lot.....low BB IQ......fouls a lot as he takes a lot of ill advised chances on D.........will drive the paint and is an ok rebounder.........can be abused on our offensive schemes if needed......
That's what I have seen in about 8-10 games of the goofers and it is JMHO............they are substantially better than last year's team , but still are a middle of the pack , second tier team.........
Stop Hawkins penetration to the rim and guard the 3 pt shooters and we should prevail......once again , JMHO........I have it as....
Illini 88
goofers 76
LETS GO ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elijah Hawkins........PG...............he reminds me of a waterbug on the surface of a pond ............fast as hades , but doesn't make the best decisions on the court.....He can score at all 3 levels , but is a streaky shooter................our D needs to guard against his penetration and cuts for layups in the paint....
Mike Mitchell Jr. ...........................SG..........he loves to shoot ........I have not seen him make a lot of 3's this year .....He disappears a lot then pop's up with an ill advised 3 pt attempt.........drives to the paint some , but would rather chuck some 3's...............
Braedan Carrington...........G.............very athletic guard who does a little of everything and plays good D.....he anticipates the opponents movements very well.........does drive the rim and is somewhat successful.......he will be the one to get some steals as we try to cut into the paint.....
Pharrel Payne...........C.......one of the most improved players in the B$G this year.....is a lot stronger this year and has improved his moves around the basket immensely on both offense and defense..........very suspect in his FT shooting and very prone to foul problems.........his vertical has also improved a lot...............
Dawson Garcia...........F.............very talented but has always left me wanting more.....is their leading scorers and can hit the 3's if left open.....great FT shooter.................his D is very suspect as he moves kinda herky-jerky on D.....also prone to fouling issues.......as I said earlier , he seems capable of much more than he is accomplishing and leaves me to believe he can be attacked for getting him into foul trouble.....
Cam Christie.....SG.......in the running for FOTY..........I am not impressed enough to put him there , IMHO..........but he does fill a big need for the goofers as he shoots well from the arc and does drive the rim on occasion......has great form on his shot , but sometimes shoots off balance instead of squaring his feet and shoulders to the rim...........he can go for 20 points or end up with less than double figures.......very similar to his brothers performance last year with the zero-izzo's.......could be the wild card ......
Parker Fox.........F............had a good game yesterday .....to me , he is their Ty Rodgers , but taller........comes off the bench and usually injects some energy to the team.....terrible FT shooter........will crash the boards on both O and D....very prone to foul trouble.....
has had major health issues to both knees in the past , but moves pretty well and never stops moving............
Joshua Ola-Joseph.........G-F.........has some skills but plays dumb a lot.....low BB IQ......fouls a lot as he takes a lot of ill advised chances on D.........will drive the paint and is an ok rebounder.........can be abused on our offensive schemes if needed......
That's what I have seen in about 8-10 games of the goofers and it is JMHO............they are substantially better than last year's team , but still are a middle of the pack , second tier team.........
Stop Hawkins penetration to the rim and guard the 3 pt shooters and we should prevail......once again , JMHO........I have it as....
Illini 88
goofers 76
LETS GO ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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All I want to see is intense defensive effort and rebounding for 40 minutes.
i think ty stsrts but nico closes, regardless of blow out or close game
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Just give me one half of really good D. I’m not greedy. One half of solid defense, with our offense, is gonna win ~90% of our games.
That’s where I’ll leave my expectations for March.
If we put two halves of D together? We beat anyone.
If the shots aren’t falling? We’re out like the fat kids in dodgeball.
That’s where I’ll leave my expectations for March.
If we put two halves of D together? We beat anyone.
If the shots aren’t falling? We’re out like the fat kids in dodgeball.
Lol. To my eyes, we went from having our defense and rebounding rising to ferocious levels for five or six minutes per game, to rising to that level for two or three minutes per game. If we go back up to five or six minutes per game, we'll be a threat to go deep in the tournament.
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