Pregame: Illinois vs UConn, Saturday, March 30th, 5:09pm CT, TBS

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#252      

Johnny Lawrence

Johnny Lawrence
Johnny Lawrence
So ILL said:
Those traps Domask was seeing would have doomed us if it wasnt for TJ’s one man show. And provided UConn with a roadmap of how to stop our offense IMO. Marcus is the key. TJ is gonna get his.
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The difference is outside of Castle they don't have the defenders to pull off what Iowa St did. Clingan hides a lot of their deficiencies on defense but they can be scored on. Especially on the perimeter.
 
#253      

altgeld88

altgeld88
Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
ChiefGritty said:
My initial scouting report thoughts on the game is that both of these teams aren't used to facing an opponent as big and athletic as they are. Them handling that worse than us is the path to making them look more ordinary than usual.

But also, with the way UConn cuts and passes and attacks their way into the paint, and our bad habit of being passive and foul-averse in those situations, it's not immediately clear how we're going to stop them from scoring a zillion points in this game.
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So Brad does his best Paul Westhead imitation Saturday evening and it ends up in the 140s.
 
#254      

FormerIllini

F
FormerIllini
ChiefGritty said:
The unfortunate counter-takeaway: their most difficult tourney game the last two years was playing 3rd seeded and KenPom #1 offense in the country Gonzaga in the Elite Eight last year and they absolutely destroyed them.
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ChiefGritty said:
My initial scouting report thoughts on the game is that both of these teams aren't used to facing an opponent as big and athletic as they are. Them handling that worse than us is the path to making them look more ordinary than usual.

But also, with the way UConn cuts and passes and attacks their way into the paint, and our bad habit of being passive and foul-averse in those situations, it's not immediately clear how we're going to stop them from scoring a zillion points in this game.
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I now know who ChiefGritty is

Debbie Downer Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live
 
#260      

sacraig

sacraig
The desert
sacraig
BionicHippo10 said:
Who else thinks we should rock chief jerseys Thursday? Media is against Illinois because of the TSJ situation, so why not?
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Just stop with the "media" narrative, good grief.

TSJ was charged with a serious crime. You might think he did nothing wrong. We all might think that. But the evidence that has been released publicly is scant, as is often the case in active legal cases before trial. If you actually objectively look at the evidence that is publicly available, we all honestly have no idea what really happened in that bar.

So that brings me back to the media boogeyman that some of us like to deride so heavily. They aren't looking at this through the same orange-colored glasses we are, and objectively, there are a lot of open questions. Their job is to ask those open questions and report on the answers. That's what they are doing.

Go Illini!
 
#264      

Vinegarben

V
Vinegarben
I'm not sure if we can beat UConn or not. It will take a complete 110% effort by everyone on the team diving after loose balls, rebounding and playing some good defense. If we don't win and keep the game close that will be a moral victory against a team that has been destroying opponents thus far. Seniors remember this may be your last collegiate game. Leave it all on the floor from start to finish. Regardless I have been a critic at times, but you have shown in you last 7 games you you have heart and fight. You are the underdog once again, Go prove them all wrong and make history!
 
#265      

Navy_illini

N
Navy_illini
ChiefGritty said:
Lol. Newsflash: UConn is good
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They are very good but not unbeatable

What they have done in the tournament over the last 2 years is the most dominant performance I have seen in my lifetime.

They destroyed a very good SDST team but I think their 2023 team was better with Johnson
They destroyed a NW team who we spilt with this year but that NW team is different team on the road and had key injuries
The 16 seed they played looked like a D2 team compared to UCONN

They have 3 loses this year KU Creighton in a blow out and Seton Hall. Not every one of their wins have been by double digits

To beat them we have to score and be disciplined with the basketball.

If you had to pick an Illinois team in the last 25 years that was going to beat a one seed I would pick the 2005 team followed by this team and then the 2001

Have to have confidence
 
#266      

jmm

J
jmm
BBIQ said:
Seth Davis pointed out they haven't really played great competition. We might just punch them in the mouth and they won't know what hit em!
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Yep! Would love to see this turn out to be like the Illinois vs Cincinnati regional game in 2003-04. Cincinnati thought that !!!! was over before it began. They found out.
 
#267      

Illini IndyCar Fan

Illini IndyCar Fan
Illini IndyCar Fan
sacraig said:
Just stop with the "media" narrative, good grief.

TSJ was charged with a serious crime. You might think he did nothing wrong. We all might think that. But the evidence that has been released publicly is scant, as is often the case in active legal cases before trial. If you actually objectively look at the evidence that is publicly available, we all honestly have no idea what really happened in that bar.

So that brings me back to the media boogeyman that some of us like to deride so heavily. They aren't looking at this through the same orange-colored glasses we are, and objectively, there are a lot of open questions. Their job is to ask those open questions and report on the answers. That's what they are doing.

Go Illini!
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TBH, I think we've come out well in this media environment so far. No huge expose or major backlash around TSJ playing, and it hasn't boiled up to become a distraction.

And like Fanta(?) said last night, our best player is benefiting from not having any tourney media obligations and is able to just focus on prepping for the games. I bet most coaches would love to eliminate the press conference/media distractions off their best player's shoulders.
 
#268      

SoCal Illini

S
SoCal Illini
The consensus here, which I agree with, is UConn is indeed the team to beat, and rightfully so. However the illini are certainly capable of winning. Need to make free throws and minimize stupid plays, like fouling on a three pointer. Effort is sure there (that’s something that’s been lacking at times past 19 yrs).

That said, my small school I went to upset UConn in the first round one year while one of my roommates at the time was from Hartford, and a die hard UConn fan. He was pissed, also an a$$hole

I’ve been emotionally invested in a UConn upset before, it can happen. I’d like to experience that again. My odds are 50/50. Go illini!
 
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#269      

jjv0004

J
Greenville, SC
jjv0004
Line is +9.5 right now. If they are within that spread, I would consider that quite a feat. I think they have almost no weaknesses.
 
#271      

PIT_ILL

P
PIT_ILL
The only way I see the Illini winning this is unfortunately with a decent officiating crew. UConn’s only real weakness is they foul and aren’t particularly deep especially at key spots. Put pressure on them and hope the crew doesn’t let them play like ISU. A lot of officials will not want to put a team in trouble (unless it is James Augustine).

From there keep it close and hopefully the pressure of a close game gets to them. If it is a single digit game with 10 to go I like the Illini’s chances.
 
#273      

Pikeillinifan

Pikeillinifan
Pikeillinifan
We can win, but we can't have anyone in foul trouble, nobody can have an off game, and we have to hit free throws at 75-80%+

If we play like we did against ISU, we'll lose by 15+

I like our chances; let's get to the Final Four and turn Phoenix orange!!!
 
#274      

NarrowJ

NarrowJ
NarrowJ
jjv0004 said:
Line is +9.5 right now. If they are within that spread, I would consider that quite a feat. I think they have almost no weaknesses.
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I think that's the biggest line we've faced this season, for sure. Well, maybe not the first Purdue game w/o TJ... I want to say that one was +10.5?
 
#275      

Emerson Bigguns

Emerson Bigguns
Emerson Bigguns
We will have the best player on the court. We haven’t lost by double digits all year. As much as I respect all that UConn has accomplished in the last 12 months, I think the odds of them running us off the floor are slim. We’ll get good shots.
The tournament is nothing, if not an exercise in variance. Let’s go variance!
 
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