I watched some of their game vs Baylor and they didn't press at all. But if they watch our performance vs WV, they might decide to.
Pregame: Illinois vs VCU (Miami, FL), Saturday, December 3rd, 2:00pm CT, CBSSN
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I watched some of their game vs Baylor and they didn't press at all. But if they watch our performance vs WV, they might decide to.
This won't happen, it almost never does. The key is to have more good wins than bad losses.
And yes, the WVU and FSU games were ugly but the committee won't know that when they look at our resume.
CBB lines come out really late. Likely won't know until Saturday morning from the real books.
I am a coordinator at a program here at VCU. Wish the Illini were playing here so I could go to the game (although VCU is tough at home). My office actually overlooks the VCU basketball practices so I get to watch them most days. Will Wade was going off on them this week ...quite the language being thrown out. lol Anyway, I think Illinois has a great shot and they can score on this group - just need to get decent looks and play some defense. VCU definitely isn't pressing and playing havoc D yet this season, but they may get there. I will keep you posted of anything else I notice in practices
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
God, this would be such a nice win ... 6-3 heading into some very winnable games with some momentum would be nice.
We didn't play lights out vs. NC State, but I did get the feeling that it was the type of game that could give the team some much needed confidence, POSSIBLY leading to a bit of a roll. Will I ever learn to stop being optimistic?
We didn't play lights out vs. NC State, but I did get the feeling that it was the type of game that could give the team some much needed confidence, POSSIBLY leading to a bit of a roll. Will I ever learn to stop being optimistic?
I couldn't stand it around here if we lost. My office is decorated in Illini gear and the VCU campus is definitely overconfident on this one. Not sure why
IllinoisFan733
- Chicago
Thanks for the update... Glad we have an Illini spy planted inside VCU.
Who's going to be our BYU spy?
Thanks for the update... Glad we have an Illini spy planted inside VCU.
Who's going to be our BYU spy?
Its what i do
Did we become UI-Miami?
Kenpom has them winning by 6.
I wish UI was in Miami... Living in the ice belt was a pain when you had 9 am classes... thank goodness attendance was optional
, though living in Miami might cause other issues with making it to class..Kind of a random question, but is this game played in the heat's arena?
chief78
- Florida
Yes, at American Airlines Arena, the home of the Miami Heat.
EfremWinters84
- S. Carolina
Illini are 5-0 in games I've been able to watch vs. 0-3 in games I've missed (due to Thanksgiving and business travel). The good news = I have no plans to miss any of the remaining non-conference games!
ILL 68
VCU 63
BTW, it appears I got my wish while I was away --- a little more TJL and a little less Tate. Next, I need to see Finke and JCL shoot half of their shots from 2-point land. Attack the rim boys!
ILL 68
VCU 63
BTW, it appears I got my wish while I was away --- a little more TJL and a little less Tate. Next, I need to see Finke and JCL shoot half of their shots from 2-point land. Attack the rim boys!
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I fear you've blown your cover, man. Have they come for you yet?
I also fear that if Wade had any thoughts of not going havoc yet in this game, those were changed drastically when he viewed tape of the WVU game.
The good news is the players can't really see into my office...i am on top looking down at the gym. Also we destroyed all WV game tape so VCU has no way to look at that
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I seem to have noticed random fan bases whose teams have accomplished a LOT less than Illini basketball over the years showing an almost aggressive lack of respect for our boys in the past several years ... obvious conference foes like Iowa (who will have no problem talking about how good MSU or Indiana is, but they could barely say our '05 team was good without muttering that we'd lose to UNC, LOL) or Wisconsin (did they forget the decades we beat their a*s??) I get, but VCU? SLU (read their boards during the Tilmon doubt phase)?! CINCINNATI (they acted like Thomas took a step down by coming here, like GMAFB!)?
I guess we incite a lot of random hatred...
Whatever.
I made a comment after VCU made the final four basically with a guarantee that would never happen again. They went crazy on me around here. I know how difficult a final four run is & as an Illini fan even with incredible teams over the years how few we have had. VCU was verrrrrry fortunate in that run and they may be a solid tourney team but had no real appreciation of going to a final four. Therefore they don't respect good, longstanding programs like Illinois. Of course our struggles have only helped their short term memory.
Watched IU vs NC. Was impressed by how quick both teams seemed. Not sure if correct impression but seems to be our biggest problem on defense. Don't think you can coach it or charge Fletch with it. Needs to be recruited. TJL seems better than our other players but he isn't Dee B. Comments?
Quick we ain't, especially moving feet on D.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Lots of Kool-Aid going around here!
This is going to be a really tough game. VCU plays a similar physical aggressive defensive style to WVU. They will zone press the entire game and have plenty of length and athleticism. I'm not saying we can't win, but we'll need to show a pretty spectacular improvement taking care of the ball.
Two big keys:
1) Take care of the ball (duh). TJL, Abrams, Tate (yes Tate), Hill, and possibly even DJW will all need to provide ball handling to beat the press. Our mobile bigs like Finke and Black will need to help receive inbounds passes and play in the middle of the press.
2) Get the ball inside. We did a little better with this against NCST, but we can take it a step further. Our ball movement looks so much better when we get a post touch on a possession, even if it doesn't result in a post score. This will also help slow the game down, which works in our favor.
This is going to be a really tough game. VCU plays a similar physical aggressive defensive style to WVU. They will zone press the entire game and have plenty of length and athleticism. I'm not saying we can't win, but we'll need to show a pretty spectacular improvement taking care of the ball.
Two big keys:
1) Take care of the ball (duh). TJL, Abrams, Tate (yes Tate), Hill, and possibly even DJW will all need to provide ball handling to beat the press. Our mobile bigs like Finke and Black will need to help receive inbounds passes and play in the middle of the press.
2) Get the ball inside. We did a little better with this against NCST, but we can take it a step further. Our ball movement looks so much better when we get a post touch on a possession, even if it doesn't result in a post score. This will also help slow the game down, which works in our favor.
I'd like to see us feed Thorne like we did at the beginning of last year. He performed well offensively and I think if we get him going it'll open everything else up.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I'd like to see that too, but the Thorne I've seen so far this year is a much different Thorne from what I saw last year. There seems to be a hesitance, or perhaps a reluctance to get physical. JMO.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Holy moly, just read one of their boards. I'm fully willing to admit we have some arrogant fans (who doesn't?) who are ignorant of their program and just think it was all Shaka, but they certainly return the favor! They're talking about us like we're Oregon State or something. We're not very good this year and are definitely in some dark years ... but for God's sake, we're the winningest team in Big Ten history (including IU), have been to 30 NCAA Tournaments, 5 Final Fours, won 17 Big Ten titles and until about three years ago, we were one of the ten winningest programs in the country since 2000; we're still one of the 15 winningest programs all-time.
None of this is to mention we're the flagship school for the fifth biggest state in the Union, are prevalent in both the Chicago and St. Louis media markets, are a top ten public university in the country, have a freshly renovated arena, have a large and passionate fan base that has caused us to finish in the top ten for attendance the last three decades until last year...
Sorry to flatter ourselves, but the complete lack of respect over there is astounding. Are they that mad that we had the audacity to try to hire their coach away from his mid-major job and try to convince him the sky's the limit at U of I? Jeez.
EDIT: In regard to this year, I'll be surprised if we win, but I'm sure hoping for it! Unfortunately, we've seen Groce improve greatly from one game to the next only to revert. As I said, this could get us on a bit of a run if we can steal a win, so I-L-L!
None of this is to mention we're the flagship school for the fifth biggest state in the Union, are prevalent in both the Chicago and St. Louis media markets, are a top ten public university in the country, have a freshly renovated arena, have a large and passionate fan base that has caused us to finish in the top ten for attendance the last three decades until last year...
Sorry to flatter ourselves, but the complete lack of respect over there is astounding. Are they that mad that we had the audacity to try to hire their coach away from his mid-major job and try to convince him the sky's the limit at U of I? Jeez.
EDIT: In regard to this year, I'll be surprised if we win, but I'm sure hoping for it! Unfortunately, we've seen Groce improve greatly from one game to the next only to revert. As I said, this could get us on a bit of a run if we can steal a win, so I-L-L!
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