Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Saturday, February 11th, 1:00pm CT, FS1
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Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I guess we will now be overly rested for the Rutgers game. They have to play on Tuesday in Bloomington, so we will have the supreme advantage in fresh legs. The biggest downside to this game being postponed is that we will be unable to ease Goode back into game action.
On to the Rutgers game! Just a shame that we will have to wait an additional 4 days to get the Iowa stink washed off.
On to the Rutgers game! Just a shame that we will have to wait an additional 4 days to get the Iowa stink washed off.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Since I didn't see a post on this week's rankings, I think it's worth noting that the Illini are still receiving votes and currently at #31. Would a win against #24 Rutgers be enough to get us back in the rankings? I know some folks don't care about that, but we have a ways to go before our next game and I definitely like having that number next to our name. These are the games where I think the teams barely ranked and almost ranked can genuinely lose this week, excluding Rutgers/Illinois:
Auburn (RV #31) at Texas A&M
#3 Alabama at Auburn (RV #31)
Clemson (RV #29) at North Carolina
Duke (RV #27) at #19 Miami (FL)
Duke (RV #27) at #8 Virginia
#25 San Diego State at Utah State
#24 Rutgers at #18 Indiana
#23 Creighton at Seton Hall
#22 NC State at #8 Virginia
#21 UConn at #23 Creighton
Two Auburn losses, two Dukie losses, an upset by Utah State, Creighton reproving they are overrated and an Illini win oughta do the trick if you ask me!
Auburn (RV #31) at Texas A&M
#3 Alabama at Auburn (RV #31)
Clemson (RV #29) at North Carolina
Duke (RV #27) at #19 Miami (FL)
Duke (RV #27) at #8 Virginia
#25 San Diego State at Utah State
#24 Rutgers at #18 Indiana
#23 Creighton at Seton Hall
#22 NC State at #8 Virginia
#21 UConn at #23 Creighton
Two Auburn losses, two Dukie losses, an upset by Utah State, Creighton reproving they are overrated and an Illini win oughta do the trick if you ask me!
soupy17
- MI
Really putting your insider status on the line here!
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
He must have seen the script. Glad to hear it!Really putting your insider status on the line here!
I am sure you’ve forgotten more about basketball than I’ll ever know but having confidence in what you’re going to see from this team on a given night isn’t for me. Never seen “good shooters” that can look so bad. Backboard, side of the backboard, air balls. Then they’ll make 7-8 the next night. I don’t get it. Hopefully you’re right!
This current group of players is consistent only in that they are inconsistent from game to game.
In the Trent and Ayo and Kofi and Damonte years, you pretty much knew what you were going to get from game to game. Sometimes Trent and Damonte would give you a bit more on the offensive side on any given day or night... but otherwise this particular group team play was within an anticipated range.
With the current Illini group there is no such consistency. Lately, Mayer has been on a roll with his offense. His Threes have been particularly sweet (could he please have a personal session with just he and Melendrez going over ‘technique’!?). And Epps has made significant strides. Silky and mesmerizing. Hawkins with his defense driving his guarded man crazy. But the other players have all over the map with their level of play.
Even though the Illini have a decent wins/losses record they still seem not to have hit on all cylinders for any given stretch of time. Which is a bit frustrating because you can see the talent there in each player... but not all at the same time it seems. And this must frustrate them as players as well. Not to mention the Coach and staff.
This is concerning for March. If they have an early off night it will be a quick exit from The Dance. If they could build up some consistency with a higher level of play... this team can still be dangerous.
There are so many teams in the NCAA right now that are so close in talent level that the Dance will really be wide open. Especially if someone derails Purdue.
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
I truly believe Rutgers’ pace and style of play suits us more so than Iowa’s…
We will out-tough Mulcahy, Omoruyi, et al.
We need to shut Spencer down
Pizza Hut parking lot
Not having the meaningful home win bounceback win after a close loss is a bummer before heading into this one. Rutgers very good team, Illinois at home, this will be a close one in an likelihood. Going to be very "UGLY" with "fans" commenting on how "awful" both teams look when that won't be accurate. Rutgers is #119 in KenPom AdjO and #2 in KenPom AdjD, and we know Illinois gets into games like that as welll. So be prepared for every possession to be impactful.
Fortunately it’s not in that hellhole known as the RAC.
We have been playing some good basketball. But, to be honest, we have feasted on the broken teams at the bottom of the B1G. Only 1 win against a team outside the bottom 4 (MSU at home).
It's time to start winning the big ones. These are that types of games that give you real momentum going into March.
It's time to start winning the big ones. These are that types of games that give you real momentum going into March.
Agreed, somewhat. But you can't change your scheduled. You play who's in front of you and you should beat bad teams badly. Most of those games against those lower teams have been double digit W's as they should be. Winning by 10 points in conference is hard to do. Especially on the road. The Nebraska game being the anomoly here. That game was scary close. Closer than that 16 point margin.
And we have played well in the recent losses. Iowa on the road is a tough W and I believe if the refs don't reverse the out of bounds call, we have the advantage and win that. That was just a good basketball game and the home team won. I'm positive it goes differently at State Farm.
I believe we beat Rutgers this weekend!
I'll be honest, I'm more than a bit nervous about this one. Luckily it's a home game as Rutgers has not beaten us outside the RAC, but they've gotten close and played us tight the past 4 years, and this Rutgers team is solid. As well, for whatever reason, we've had some sluggish starts at home compared to road and we've struggled with backcourts who are physical and can turn us over (and remarkable they have 4 players in the top 500 in the NCAA in Steal percentage!). While this isn't a must win, this is a need to win game as we've got some tough road games down the homestretch. We certainly can win this one, and should be favored, but we're going to need a good game to do it. Gotta have a fast start and put them down big early, otherwise it's going to be a fight. Will be a tough one but here's hoping we can pull it off.
In our defense, a lot of the other good teams in the league have dropped meetings with "broken" ones. You can only win the games on the schedule. If we don't lose any we should win, the season will end with a tournament bid... then we'll see what happens. Hopefully something magical.
Even so, if you look at efficiency adjusted for opponent, we've been playing relatively well. Here's where each B10 team ranks in Torvik for play over the past month:
Code:
Team Rank (Off Def) Home (Off Def) Away (Off Def)
Purdue 3 ( 7 13) 2 ( 8 17) 8 ( 19 24)
Maryland 11 ( 13 33) 15 ( 10 62) 15 ( 56 22)
Iowa 18 ( 1 194) 29 ( 1 273) 16 ( 11 69)
Illinois 28 ( 57 23) 59 (105 51) 7 ( 40 12)
Indiana 29 ( 17 63) 19 ( 9 85) 62 ( 93 72)
Michigan St. 35 ( 92 27) 25 (174 7) 59 ( 61 96)
Rutgers 39 (155 16) 43 (244 6) 58 ( 60 95)
Northwestern 51 ( 18 130) 102 ( 37 243) 21 ( 21 68)
Penn St. 64 ( 27 158) 16 ( 6 94) 179 (130 246)
Michigan 67 ( 94 60) 60 ( 97 65) 72 (110 86)
Wisconsin 103 (181 52) 127 (230 57) 81 (153 64)
Ohio St. 127 (127 144) 185 (171 184) 111 (112 140)
Nebraska 163 (219 116) 164 (276 53) 176 (167 204)
Minnesota 247 (291 156) 297 (328 187) 148 (191 118)
Rutgers is NOT a good road team. This year they are 1-6 on the road, their only win on Jan 11 against NW. if we play the same game as we played against the Squawkeyes, I see a 10 point win . . .
UI 69
RU 59
UI 69
RU 59
I agree…but preferably with less fouling and more consistency.Rutgers is NOT a good road team. This year they are 1-6 on the road, their only win on Jan 11 against NW. if we play the same game as we played against the Squawkeyes, I see a 10 point win . . .
UI 69
RU 59
Bigtex
- DFW
want to see the home numbers much stronger.
I think people are still not trusting this team because of that blip we had in December. And it was a blip and they've proved it. That said, the truth is, this team is flawed. Three point shooting and decision making in streaks is a recurring issue. If Goode ever comes back, the shooting will get better. That said, they are a good team in a tough B1G.
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