Pregame: Illinois vs Notre Dame, Monday, November 29th, 8:00pm CT, ESPN2

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#27      

The Galloping Ghost

Washington, DC
We have already beaten teams as good as ND have you watched them we win going away settle down
It's true, I was being absolutely hysterical...
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#29      
I hate zone defense but given our team make up it maybe our best shot. Let’s assume Trent can’t play on Monday. I think you have to have Alfonzo on the floor for his ability to keep the quadrupole off of Kofi. So if AC is on the floor with him that is two very small guards and neither is very good at staying in front of their man.

so…. If JG is back why not try a 3-2 zone with JG or Hawkins at the top of the zone? That would hide our two guards and allow us to at least not having to out score top teams like Rio Grand Valley in order to win?
 
#30      

lstewart53x3

Scottsdale, Arizona
Oh wow, think we were #14 in KenPom before last night's win. Torvik now has us at #25 too.

Bet we're going to have a lot of new converts to the AP poll on here, now that they have us higher than KenPom and Torvik.
And using just this year’s data, we’d likely be quite a bit lower than that in KenPom. Have to start playing better.
 
#32      
We must do a better job taking care of the ball and improve on D. The carelessness of most of these recent turnover are from being careless. Do that and we can win most games. We can rebound and be effective if we just care for the rock.
 
#35      
We must do a better job taking care of the ball and improve on D. The carelessness of most of these recent turnover are from being careless. Do that and we can win most games. We can rebound and be effective if we just care for the rock.
“The carelessness of most of these recent turnover are from being careless.”

Hmmmmmmm. I wouldn’t know how to begin to argue with that if I wanted to.
 
#36      
It is simple....The sky isn't falling.....This team will get better.....
That was an abomination of a UTRGV game (outside of Kofi and Plummer's offensive explosion; 'Monte's servicable PG duties; and some of the role players (Goode and BBV). That defense was atrocious!
It's just that this team was hyped to be really good! Possible national player of the year AND best point guard in the country. Trent and 'Monte are back for a super-senior season. C. Hawkins supposedly made a HUGE jump between Freshman and Soph seasons. Jake looked really good last year AND Hutch, who has been really hyped as being a stud supposedly is healthy. They just haven't looked like the team that many, including me, thought they were going to see....
 
#37      
“The carelessness of most of these recent turnover are from being careless.”

Hmmmmmmm. I wouldn’t know how to begin to argue with that if I wanted to.
Yep, that is correct! They need to be more focused and have pride in how well they possess the ball. In other words, take care of the ball more carefully, not less! :)
 
#39      
Good D against Kofi...is hard to execute, but when implemented consistently, will result in beating Illini. Currently we are a one trick pony.

I still dont understand why we haven't posted Kofi high and let him be a kickout artist or trailer to basket.

With him drawing a crowd down at low post, we will almost always have conjestion and limit others from making plays at basket.
 
#40      
Have you watched Illinois play? If you forget the lofty preseason hype, IMO it's Illinois that's not a particularly great team. I'll be happy (but surprised) for a W after what I've watched. Need a lotta improvement to deserve a top-25 vote.
Read the rest of my post. I’m not exactly confident either. But in terms of level of talent on the team, yes we should beat them. I really do think we’re better than what we’ve shown recently, but our guys need to figure out how to play to that level ASAP or things will get ugly
 
#41      
I hate zone defense but given our team make up it maybe our best shot. Let’s assume Trent can’t play on Monday. I think you have to have Alfonzo on the floor for his ability to keep the quadrupole off of Kofi. So if AC is on the floor with him that is two very small guards and neither is very good at staying in front of their man.

so…. If JG is back why not try a 3-2 zone with JG or Hawkins at the top of the zone? That would hide our two guards and allow us to at least not having to out score top teams like Rio Grand Valley in order to win?
If you’re playing a 3-2 with that setup you’re counting on Curbelo and Plummer to drop and rebound on the backside. I’m all about zones but if we do one with those 2 I don’t see how it’s anything but a 2-3.
 
#42      
I hate zone defense but given our team make up it maybe our best shot. Let’s assume Trent can’t play on Monday. I think you have to have Alfonzo on the floor for his ability to keep the quadrupole off of Kofi. So if AC is on the floor with him that is two very small guards and neither is very good at staying in front of their man.

so…. If JG is back why not try a 3-2 zone with JG or Hawkins at the top of the zone? That would hide our two guards and allow us to at least not having to out score top teams like Rio Grand Valley in order to win?
Underwood sure seems like a dyed in the wool man-defense devotee. I doubt we’ll see a zone. I agree that it might be a nice change-up to throw at ‘em to keep the offense guessing. Underwood says we’re presently struggling to communicate and fight over the top of screens and discerning when not to. So if it in fact takes a while to gel playing the hard nosed, pack-line principled approach he favors…maybe a zone
played sparingly makes sense while we’re fine tuning our primary defense? Sounds good in theory.

Does anyone remember the 1-2-2 half court or 3/4 court zone press he used 2-3
years ago? I wonder what happened to that? I think that might be worthwhile bringing
that back. (I wish our guards we’re taller tho.)
 
#43      
If you’re playing a 3-2 with that setup you’re counting on Curbelo and Plummer to drop and rebound on the backside. I’m all about zones but if we do one with those 2 I don’t see how it’s anything but a 2-3.
Your right I am sure but we have 2 small guards to hide would seem to be nice to have a tall player out top to affect 3 point shots. I just know our guards (especially without Trent) can guard the driver coming off the pick. It just puts so much pressure on our back line defense.
 
#44      

MDchicago

Lake Norman NC
  • Conference: ACC (since 2013-14 season)
  • 36 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2017 (second round exit).
    • Appeared in 6 of last 10 tournaments (3 of 7 since joining ACC)
    • ND made 13-24 3FGs and beat Illinois in the second round of the 2003 tournament (Dee and Deron’s freshman year/Brian Cook’s senior year) in what turned out to be Bill Self’s final game at Illinois
  • 6 NBA draft picks (3 first rounders) since 2000, most recently in 2016 (Demetrius Jackson, 2nd round - 45th overall)
  • Illinois all-time record vs. ND: 27-15 overall (12-2 in Champaign)
    • Half of all the games in the series took place in a 20 year stretch from 1954-1973, including an annual game at the old Chicago Stadium between 1958-1973. Illinois was 15-6 vs ND in that period.
    • Only 3 games in series since 1973 (ND 3-0)
    • Last Meeting: November 27, 2018 (South Bend): ND 76, Illinois 74. Trent Frazier’s potentially game winning 3FG rims out at the buzzer. "I thought (the last shot) was in," said Illini coach Brad Underwood, who gave Frazier an extended hug after the miss. "I told Trent to keep shooting. I told (the team) I loved them, and our time's coming."
  • 2020-21 Season:
    • 11-15 (7-11 ACC, 11th of 15 teams)
    • 1-7 vs ranked teams, beating FSU in South Bend
    • No post-season tournament
    • KenPom.com (ND/Illini) rank
      • Ranking: #85/4
      • Adj OER: #21/8
      • Adj DER: #203/7
      • Adj Tempo: #227/79
  • 2021-22 Season:
  • Quant models favor Illinois (ESPN 82%, Barttorvick.com 74%), but those numbers feel far too high given recent injuries, illnesses and play. Still is a game Illini should be able to grind out and win at home, but just haven't seen the heady play, cohesiveness and defensive intensity yet to give me a high confidence level. Team build is clearly still underway... hopefully can figure out some things while grinding out wins/winning ugly, but know that won't always be the case.
 
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#45      
I don’t think there’s any chance this team implodes and misses the dance entirely. That said, I think the height of their ceiling will come down in large part to how they navigate this four game stretch, all against high majors (with two conference games). Win 3 out of 4 and that still keeps a top seed in play down the line (a huge advantage this year because the Midwest sites are VERY close to home). Frankly, if they can defend home court like the Illini of old, there’s three wins right there, including against a very good Arizona team.
 
#46      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I don’t think there’s any chance this team implodes and misses the dance entirely.
On the one hand the Big Ten schedule provides an endless procession of opportunities for Quad 1 wins. On the other hand, that's because it's brutally tough.

This team has imploded, frankly. The question is whether it can pull itself back together on the fly. Hard to predict the future.

I'd feel more confident if the whole personality vibe of this team didn't feel so weird and off. But on the plus side Plummer looks like he's emerging from his funk and if he and Frazier and Goode can force defenses to respect them there's just no way for them to adequately guard Kofi, the stress of which then puts Curbelo back in his comfort zone, which then pulls the gravity away from Plummer and Goode and it's a virtuous cycle.
 
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#47      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
On the one hand the Big Ten schedule provides an endless procession of opportunities for Quad 1 wins. On the other hand, that's because it's brutally tough.

This team has imploded, frankly. The question is whether it can pull itself back together on the fly. Hard to predict the future.

I'd feel more confident if the whole personality vibe of this team didn't feel so weird and off. But on the plus side Plummer looks like he's emerging from his funk and if he and Frazier and Goode can force defenses to respect them there's just no way for them to adequately guard Kofi, the stress of which then puts Curbelo back in his comfort zone, which then pulls the gravity away from Plummer and Goode and it's a virtuous cycle.
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#48      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
On the one hand the Big Ten schedule provides an endless procession of opportunities for Quad 1 wins. On the other hand, that's because it's brutally tough.

This team has imploded, frankly.

Come on now?? The Gritty Hyperbole Machine is cranked up again! Lol. (feel free to TM)

We have certainly "imploded" in a game this year.....but to assert that the injuries and lack of consistent line up so far this year is a full on team implosion is ridiculous hyperbole.
 
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