Pregame: Illinois vs Northwestern, Tuesday, February 16th, 8:00pm CT, BTN

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#81      
I'm gonna predict a 15+ pt win.....and AC dazzles with 8-10 assists and 10 pt with his best performance as an Illini
 
#82      
I think Illini will come out ready to play. All Coach BU needs to do is show them the first half of the first NU game a couple of times where they were down by 15 at halftime. Show them Northwestern is capable of beating this Illini team unless they come out ready to play.

There are no guaranteed wins in the Big Ten this year.
 
#83      
No streak to bust tonight! We have won four in a row against NU at home and 5 in a row overall. All-time, we are a staggering 70-14 vs. the 'Cats in Champaign. However, we are currently on a 5-game winning streak, which is our longest winning streak lasting into February since the following 2010 and 2013 streaks:

2009
2/1 W 62-54 vs. Iowa
2/5 W 63-50 at Wisconsin
2/8 W 66-48 vs. #12 Purdue
2/12 W 60-59 at Northwestern (the comeback!)
2/15 W 65-52 at Indiana
We'd finish 3-2 from there and earn a 5-seed in the Tournament.

2010
1/27 W 77-67 at Penn State
1/30 W 72-70 vs. Indiana
2/3 W 57-49 at Iowa
2/6 W 78-73 vs. #5 Michigan State (College Gameday)
2/9 W at #11 Wisconsin
We'd go on to lose 6 out 7 to close out the season and miss the Tournament.

2013
2/7 W 74-72 vs. #1 Indiana
2/10 W 57-53 at #18 Minnesota
2/13 W 79-59 vs. Purdue
2/17 W 62-41 at Northwestern
2/21 W 64-59 vs. Penn State
We'd go on to lose 3 out of 4, but we still got a 7-seed in the Tournament.

If we win tonight, it would be our longest winning streak that went into February since ... 2005. :cool: I hope you area all enjoying this ride as much as I am! It feels so good to be back. Hopefully we get a similar result to our home game vs. NU in 2005, lol:

#1 Illinois 84
Northwestern 48

GO ILLINI!
 
#85      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I might throw my TV out the window tonight if Bad Illinois shows up.
 
#86      
This team has had back to back bad games only once this year (Maryland and Ohio St). I don't think it will happen again. I think they see the light at the end of the tunnel, their preseason goals are within grasp, and they're ready to finish.
 
#89      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Probably won't even dent it with the 13 feet of snow it will land on.
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#90      
Wondering who's going to break out for Northwestern tonight, we seem do that quite often. Don't think we run away with the game but looking forward to improvement from our younger players and bench. Probably see some zone surrounding Kofi also. Should be a good night to shoot 3's.
 
#92      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
This will be another street fight. NW is going to be out for blood...and the first half of the last game proves to them they shouldn't be scared.

The second half should prove to the Illini that they have to play like that every night in the B1G.

I expect a close game that the Illini find a way to win again in the 2nd half.
 
#93      

Deleted member 747903

D
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Wondering who's going to break out for Northwestern tonight, we seem do that quite often. Don't think we run away with the game but looking forward to improvement from our younger players and bench. Probably see some zone surrounding Kofi also. Should be a good night to shoot 3's.

Please for the love of god don't let it be Buie. Dude seems destined to erupt for a 30 pointer before the season is over. Been struggling big time...
 
#94      
No chance this game gets canceled because of awful weather conditions, right?
 
#97      
I think we're safe. BU says NU is already in Champaign.
I don't know if that necessarily means no chance. Is my memory playing tricks on me, or wasn't there was a cancellation simply because the university didn't want people coming and going to the stadium given the travel hazards? (I don't live anywhere near Champaign by my weather app shows clear skies and getting very cold into the evening, so...seems safe.)
 
#98      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I don't know if that necessarily means no chance. Is my memory playing tricks on me, or wasn't there was a cancellation simply because the university didn't want people coming and going to the stadium given the travel hazards? (I don't live anywhere near Champaign by my weather app shows clear skies and getting very cold into the evening, so...seems safe.)

Who else was at that Penn State game where they let everyone down into the lower bowl? That was a fun one.
 
#99      

IlliniwekKDR

Colorado Springs, CO
Who else was at that Penn State game where they let everyone down into the lower bowl? That was a fun one.
I was there in Orange Krush. I was literally just talking about that game randomly this morning. They didn't make us stand outside before the game for that one. Just check in and go home until the doors open. In the middle of the game, they announced school was cancelled for the next day. The whole student section erupted.
 
#100      

GallopingGhost

Denver, CO
Tough situation. On the one hand, I agree that we shouldn't be overlooking any B1G opponent. On the other hand, we need to keep developing our depth to prepare for the stretch run. This team is going to stall out if we can't get some consistent production out of the Grandison, Williams, Hawkins, and Bezhanishvili group. Need at least one to be really dependable on both ends of the floor. Ideally two or three (to hedge against injury, foul trouble, or an off-night). And if you can't play these guys against Northwestern, how are you going to play them past the second rounds of the B1G or NCAA tournament? Can't just think short-term here. Not with the types of goals we have in mind.
I should have clarified perhaps. I think that playing our regular rotation guys at a bit higher clip during a game like this is fine. Our rotation guys 6-9 absolutely need a bit more floor time and if we can swing it, NU is a fine opponent to try it against with their weaker bench.

What I was referring to more as “bench minutes” was the guys you put in at the last minutes of a blowout- Padilla, Hamlin, Underwood, etc. There was some of that talk before the Nebraska game and it pissed me off.
 
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