Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Friday, November 28th, 11:30am CT, FOX

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#101      
biglug58
The Galloping Ghost said:
I enjoy everything about Mihailo. He's fast and shifty enough to create his own shot, but is also looking to get everyone else involved. He brings energy off the bench. He's completely unlike any other player on the roster, which will cause teams fits. And he basically looks like if this meme became a college basketball player.
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He also seems like he has a bit of fire in his belly. We need someone like that. This team seems too passive. What caused that little dust up with Geoff?
 
#102      
CDRUSN
For the nervous among our fan base, believe in the Illini to prevail against UConn.

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#104      
Fighter of the Nightman
NarrowJ said:
True, I was just going by Alabama being -3.5 favorite and UConn being ranked slightly higher than Alabama... definitely could be as even as you say... we are only 2 spots behind them on KP as it sits now

If this message board was setting the line it'd be -17.5
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I just checked out a UConn board, and they’re giving us more respect than many here! I’ll say this, for a program with FIVE national titles in 30 years, they’re astonishing down to Earth compared to any other Blue Blood (or BB-adjacent) fan base. A couple 30-0 run jokes (honestly, fair enough, lol…) but mostly giving us respect as a tough test.
 
#105      
BrownTown
NarrowJ said:
True, I was just going by Alabama being -3.5 favorite and UConn being ranked slightly higher than Alabama... definitely could be as even as you say... we are only 2 spots behind them on KP as it sits now

If this message board was setting the line it'd be -17.5
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My hesitancy lies in shooting. Specifically, how finicky that can be on the road.

I don't know if I'm hopeful Tarris Reed comes back from injury or not Friday...I'm more worried about UConn going to a small-ball lineup than I am having their dominant center back...it's crazy I know!

We just have shown very little ability to punish smaller lineups with either Ivisic. Z is devoid of a low post game, Tomi's post game with the knee situation...not great either.

Really minimizes the stretch big when they can't defend a smaller player on the perimeter THEN can't take advantage of them down low on offense...
 
#106      
tuffy7
Sit near them during a NCAA tourney game. Astonishingly down to earth is not remotely close to what these people are.
 
#107      
NarrowJ
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I just checked out a UConn board, and they’re giving us more respect than many here! I’ll say this, for a program with FIVE national titles in 30 years, they’re astonishing down to Earth compared to any other Blue Blood (or BB-adjacent) fan base. A couple 30-0 run jokes (honestly, fair enough, lol…) but mostly giving us respect as a tough test.
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My crazy theory is they're more 'new money' blueblood fans, and probably have less bandwagon following. At least, less so than say Duke, UNC, Kentucky, etcetera. Anytime I've visited the Northeast, folks have seemed pretty friendly and down to Earth too, I suppose lol.

BrownTown said:
My hesitancy lies in shooting. Specifically, how finicky that can be on the road.

I don't know if I'm hopeful Tarris Reed comes back from injury or not Friday...I'm more worried about UConn going to a small-ball lineup than I am having their dominant center back...it's crazy I know!

We just have shown very little ability to punish smaller lineups with either Ivisic. Z is devoid of a low post game, Tomi's post game with the knee situation...not great either.

Really minimizes the stretch big when they can't defend a smaller player on the perimeter THEN can't take advantage of them down low on offense...
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I agree with you. On one hand, Alabama killed us with it. On the other hand, you could consider Texas Tech essentially played a small ball lineup the entire game. I'd rather play them at full strength, so I'm hoping Reed & Mullins both are able to play. Reed isn't going to pull our centers out to the 3 point line and shake and bake them, but he is a load down there and will score with efficiency, no matter the opponent.

As far as shooting goes, we've not been below 30% from 3 in any game until the UTRGV game. Hopefully guys were just tired/flat. I saw a stat that we scored over 80 points in the first 7 games for the first time since 1988-89 (36 years). I don't think we will struggle to score.
 
#109      
OB positive
I don't know if it's this game or one 10 games down the road I am confident that this team will pull out a statement win putting everyone on notice. We have a decent amount of returning players but with several newcomers. It will take a little while to get it all to gel especially with our new euro players.
 
#111      
Brosky
Petrovic has been a model of offensive efficiency. The more minutes he gets the better. In our last game, when he got about 16 minutes, he was 4-5 from the field, 3-3 at the line, to go with 4 assists. He makes beautiful passes. He scores from distance and is explosive attacking the rim. The best news, IMO, is that he's going to get better and better. Here's hoping that begins with UConn.
 
#113      
BoiseBaller
grantlab said:
Time for BH to replace DM in the starting lineup. Feels like we’re not setting the tone defensively to start the game, and that could bury us against UConn — Brad yanked Mirk after like 2 defensive possessions + a missed boxout. I love the skill and versatility he brings on the offensive end, but I think he’s better suited as a spark plug off the bench right now. The game needs to slow down for him. We absolutely need his rebounding and passing, but I’m not sure we’re getting much from him that Ben hasn’t shown he can do consistently better.
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Please no. Mirk struggled but his ceiling is so high, making this kind of move would be a huge mistake. Ben is fine for a change of pace off the bench but his ceiling is low. Especially on offense.

I'd rather take some lumps in these early games and lose a few to get the best players up to speed and gelled.
 
#115      
Illini B-Ball Fan
Calvin said:
KP has us virtually identical, with Illinois a smidge* ahead. Let's hope that translates.

*haven't seen anyone use the word smidge in forever, so I'm posting it so the kids can learn from us vets
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Thanks, I get it, yet not to be confused with smudge.
 
#116      
BWA
BoiseBaller said:
Please no. Mirk struggled but his ceiling is so high, making this kind of move would be a huge mistake. Ben is fine for a change of pace off the bench but his ceiling is low. Especially on offense.

I'd rather take some lumps in these early games and lose a few to get the best players up to speed and gelled.
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Also a serious consideration: we want Mirk to stay beyond this year. BH is a senior and a role player. Let him be that.
 
#119      
hodgesonfire
I’m assuming the starting line up will be Kylan, Keegan, David, Andre and Tomi? Any bets on if this will be the season-end line up?

I really want the team to try Z at the dunker spot/corner 3 spot with Tomi at the top of the key Kylan and Andre as primary ball handlers and Keegan on the perimeter 3 spot. Not sure if any team can match up with that line up.

Run out of horns sets with Tomi and Keegan up high to set screens Have Z and Andre in the corners. UConn would be the game to pull it out.
 
#122      
GoodePodzMelendez
I think we start Tomi, Ben, AS, Wags and Boz with DM, Petrovic, Lee, Big Z off the bench. Play all 9 and try to wear out a possible short handed UConn team.
 
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