Pregame: Illinois vs Texas, Tuesday, December 6th, 6:00pm CT, ESPN

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#101      
That’s fine how many minutes is he playing where he’s a focal part of what we are trying to do?

Skyy and Jaden have the ball in their hands whenever they’re out on the floor. Be patient.
He's a 4. Why would he have the ball in his hands as much as Epps or Clark? If there's any freshman we should worry about getting going offensively, its our starting PG who has the skillset but seems to be deferring way too much. Right now Epps should be starting.
 
#102      
Hawk is having a good year, but I doubt anyone at this point would have him as an AA. Probably not even All Big Ten first team.

TSJ on the other hand.
Yes, that’s who I meant. I think he’s basically behind both guys.

Either way, I think it’s really early to be worrying about his production.
 
#103      
The Illini's shooting from behind the arc has been pretty poor since the UCLA game, despite getting plenty of good looks. I think whether they win tonight depends a lot on whether that improves. I think this is a good shooting team, and at some point they need to regress to the mean, right?
 
#104      
The Illini's shooting from behind the arc has been pretty poor since the UCLA game, despite getting plenty of good looks. I think whether they win tonight depends a lot on whether that improves. I think this is a good shooting team, and at some point they need to regress to the mean, right?
My sense in the Maryland game was that they were rushing their shots unnecessarily. Open shots, but they didn't take them in rhythym. I hope that doesn't happen tonight.
 
#108      
It looks like we have faced Texas five times throughout our history, most recently at Madison Square Garden!

2010-11: Texas 90, #13 Illinois 84 (New York, NY)
2000-01: Texas 72, #5 Illinois 64 (Austin, TX)
1997-98: Illinois 105, Texas 80 (Champaign, IL)
1993-94: #22 Illinois 83, Texas 78 (Champaign, IL)
1992-93: Texas 89, Illinois 72 (Austin, TX)

I always enjoy looking into series like this, where you are very familiar with a program simply due to casually watching hoops over the years and yet the Illini have such little actual history vs. them. I don't really remember the 2000-01 loss, but looking back, that seemed like a very out-of-place loss. Just goes to show that it's always a long season, and no one game makes or breaks how good this squad can be if we keep getting better. With that said, I am strangely confident tonight!

#17 Illinois 70
#2 Texas 67
This team has too much talent not to give its fan at least one or two major surprises, which shouldn't be a surprise when that talent clicks. Tonight might be the night we close out a close game against a tough opponent.
 
#109      
This team has too much talent not to give its fan at least one or two major surprises, which shouldn't be a surprise when that talent clicks. Tonight might be the night we close out a close game against a tough opponent.
It does seem like we are due for it. Of our major conference opponents so far, we have not all been 100% in sync - and that is okay, we are young and it's only December!

UCLA: We arguably are quite even to a very talented UCLA team, but let's face it ... it's hard to beat ANY team that has a player playing like Shannon did that night!
Virginia: We played a truly elite team evenly, but our lack of "go-to plan" in crunch time sort of showed ... just growing pains!
Syracuse: We arguably just outclassed them due to superior talent, considering the rough start vs. the zone.
Maryland: We hung tough in our first true road game vs. what might turn out to be a VERY good Maryland team, but again - in crunch time, they were a bit more experienced and it showed. This will improve with time.

I predicted a loss at Maryland and a win tonight precisely because I think the lessons we have learned so far, the huge stage of MSG plus #2 Texas and the lingering frustration/motivation from the loss in College Park are going to lead to a perfect storm. I think (hope!) this is the night where we just might catch fire and get a little lucky and it all comes together for a signature win. :cool:
 
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