Lets SELL THIS OUT!! There are like 20 tickets left. If you aren't going yet go!!!!
Pregame: Illinois vs Penn State, Saturday, December 10th, 11:00am CT, BTN
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DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Dain should be able to get whatever he wants. Very much a guard-oriented team.
Penn St is going to upset some teams this year. They can put 5 guys out there who can all hit the 3 and they have the highest 3 pt rate in the conference.
That said, I think these are the games where we can really flex our depth and versatility. Let down games are not a worry because if anyone doesn't want to show up, BU has 4 other guys on the bench itching to get some PT. And we are versatile enough to defend them on the perimeter, but still use our size to punish them down low.
I won't say this game is a lock, because a good 3 pt shooting team can always catch fire. But I expect our switching defense to stifle their 3 pt offense, then it's just about taking care of the ball on our end.
That said, I think these are the games where we can really flex our depth and versatility. Let down games are not a worry because if anyone doesn't want to show up, BU has 4 other guys on the bench itching to get some PT. And we are versatile enough to defend them on the perimeter, but still use our size to punish them down low.
I won't say this game is a lock, because a good 3 pt shooting team can always catch fire. But I expect our switching defense to stifle their 3 pt offense, then it's just about taking care of the ball on our end.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
What is that animal?
Do we think Skyy remains in the starting lineup and Epps remains the 6th man? Epps clearly overtook Skyy at the end of the game, with Skyy sitting out the end of the 2nd half and OT while Epps was instrumental (scoring last 5 points in regulation to force OT) in the win.
I think Skyy will remain for now. Underwood doesn't want to discourage Skyy and I think will give him the opportunity to play through his woes, and Epps is thriving his current role. A situation to monitor for sure, despite the 5 extra minutes, that was tied for the fewest minutes Skyy played on the season with the former being a blowout mid-major win where the minutes were spread pretty evenly across the rotation (and deeper rotation guys like Rodgers and Harris played a ton).
Epps is streaky of course as well, he only played 10 minutes @ Maryland in the game prior and was 1-5 from the field for just 2 points and managed to pick up 4 fouls. Even without OT, the Texas game would have been the most minutes he played to date.
I think Skyy will remain for now. Underwood doesn't want to discourage Skyy and I think will give him the opportunity to play through his woes, and Epps is thriving his current role. A situation to monitor for sure, despite the 5 extra minutes, that was tied for the fewest minutes Skyy played on the season with the former being a blowout mid-major win where the minutes were spread pretty evenly across the rotation (and deeper rotation guys like Rodgers and Harris played a ton).
Epps is streaky of course as well, he only played 10 minutes @ Maryland in the game prior and was 1-5 from the field for just 2 points and managed to pick up 4 fouls. Even without OT, the Texas game would have been the most minutes he played to date.
Skyy will start
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Definitely something we’ll need to work on before the PSU game if they are a strong 3 pt team. Even the commentators for the TX game picked up on the over helping. I suspect Brad will focus on this with the team before the game but it may take more than a few days to completely iron out the kinks. It is going to be so fun watching this team develop this year.
As this bench continues to develop, being able to get guys like CoHawk, TJ and Matt extended rest will be so invaluable.
Damnit, I thought Myles Dread had finally graduated.
Nice to have 3 off days in-between games, Hawkins played 42 minutes last night.
JMO but Skyy is still probably recovering from knee surgery. He is also not used to having to play 100% on defense and switch onto bigger players. You can tell the handles, shooting, and ability to score in the lane are there. His athleticism is still coming back. Brad likes to play the hot hand and right now that is Jayden.
If anything Jayden is a little too agressive going to the hoop in traffic. He was stuffed multiple times last night. I think he should penetrate and either take the 10 footer or dish to shooter in corner. It will come with time.
We need to blow PSU out of the gym by pressing full court entire game and running at every opportunity so Amani knows he made the right decision to join the Illini juggernaut.
If anything Jayden is a little too agressive going to the hoop in traffic. He was stuffed multiple times last night. I think he should penetrate and either take the 10 footer or dish to shooter in corner. It will come with time.
We need to blow PSU out of the gym by pressing full court entire game and running at every opportunity so Amani knows he made the right decision to join the Illini juggernaut.
agreed, Epps has the same worst impulse of Shannon (who is older and more refined so you don't see it as often) to just drive directly into a wall of traffic, which is basically a turnover (even if you manage an attempt)
I always worry a bit about playing teams that can shoot the three because a hot shooting night is the great equalizer, but I think PSU will struggle a bit with our length and we should be able to get what we want in the paint. It'll be interesting to see who we put on Pickett since his drive and kick game with three or four shooters around him is the core of their offense. I'd like to see us put a bigger guy on him to make his life a bit more difficult, maybe Shannon? Fortunately, we've got three or four guys who are really, really good at staying in front of their man so we should be able to keep Pickett under wraps and hopefully that allows other guys to stay at home a bit on the shooters.
I also hope that Harris gets a few minutes guarding him just because I think it'll be fun as hell to watch. Not relevant to the PSU game, but I think the funniest thing about this year's team is when Sincire gets switched onto a big in the post and just absolutely bodies his guy. He'll get called for it eventually, but last night he went into either Allen or Mitchell at about a full sprint and completely took him out of the play for a few seconds. Kid's like a chihuahua that's got no idea that the mastiff he's barking at is ten times his size, it's awesome.
I also hope that Harris gets a few minutes guarding him just because I think it'll be fun as hell to watch. Not relevant to the PSU game, but I think the funniest thing about this year's team is when Sincire gets switched onto a big in the post and just absolutely bodies his guy. He'll get called for it eventually, but last night he went into either Allen or Mitchell at about a full sprint and completely took him out of the play for a few seconds. Kid's like a chihuahua that's got no idea that the mastiff he's barking at is ten times his size, it's awesome.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Love it! While this is only technically two sellouts in a row, I believe it is the fifth straight sellout for Big Ten games (obviously going back to last year). I know attendance is down across all sports and we might never see it rebound to the "old days," but I would love to start a new streak!
EDIT: It would also be nice to start another home winning streak and get SFC back to the absolute snake pit/automatic L it used to be for visiting opponents. A win vs. Penn State would push our home winning streak to 8 games, and we would LIKELY be favored in every single home game this year. If we go undefeated at home (that did NOT used to be a crazy goal, and it should not be undoable this year!), we could get the streak up to 19!
I HAVE to believe the 38-game home winning streak that was snapped in 2006 by the buzzer-beater-that-wasn't vs. Penn State is the program record.
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One of my favorite message board tropes is the push for a good bench player to start, then people saying it’s not who starts it’s who finishes. In most situations (especially here in years past) it’s been one in the same.
I find it refreshingly unique that Epps has become the closer in terms of the PG position. I’m sure that would change if Skyy ramped up his play. Either way I think that combo has done very well for freshmen PGs.
I find it refreshingly unique that Epps has become the closer in terms of the PG position. I’m sure that would change if Skyy ramped up his play. Either way I think that combo has done very well for freshmen PGs.
Has Epps shown off a floater in-game yet? He seems like the kind of dude that is going to kill teams with one for the next four years
100% agree. Most players have off nights. Even our AA, Shannon has had off nights. And Texas is brutally good at defending guards. As good as any team in the country. They gave Skyy problems which is a testament to Texas and nothing else.
Yeah, he took a hit from their big and went, fine, and just heaved him off the court with his butt... It was great
If he can develop a nice Miles Simon(AZ 97) like floater, he will be unstoppable.
I honestly am not sure...it's cute though...
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