Pregame: Illinois vs VCU, Saturday, March 21st, 6:50pm CT, CBS

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#53      
lstewart53x3
Fly Illini Fly! said:
He was outstanding:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2034805722303582261
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#61      
zuma
As someone who has watched a lot of A10 basketball the last 5+ years, this VCU team is very capable of beating anyone. This is NOT the Duquesne team we faced a couple years ago. That team was overmatched. Illinois should win, but VCU will fight, and they are very very hot and confident right now.
 
#67      
SuperintendentChalmers
Reflections from someone who watches a lot of VCU games:

Notwithstanding how great SLU looked last night, VCU has been the best A-10 team over the second half of the season. As noted, this isn't a '24 Duquesne team that was essentially .500 in the league then went on a run during the conference tournament. Only loss in the last two months was at SLU, where they came out like a house afire, led by 14 in the first half and 9 at the break. From about 12:30 to 7:30 of the second half, SLU went on a 21-2 run, and ran away.

Hill might have led the country in points off the bench. As he was on fire (34 points, 7-10 threes), he played 40 minutes against UNC, so not really a bench player. He is streaky, and struggled in his last eight games prior to breaking out last night. Preventing him from getting open looks will be key like it was against Power.

Belle was always a great defender, but started as a huge offensive liability. In his third year with the program, he's significantly improvedon that end. While he doesn't take a lot of threes, he's hit more than half this year. "I'm not surprised he showed up big against UNC."

Rebounding is not as good as you might think. Team margin is only 2.2 playing the A-10 (ours is 10). Got outrebounded by 6 against UNC, "but they actually looked better there than in a lot of games."

Not great depth. They might have problems if they get into foul trouble. They expected a lot more from P5 transfers Tyrell Ward (LSU, 0-4 last night) and Ahmad Nowell (UConn, DNP last night). Backup center Keshawn Mitchell, whom Martelli brought from Bryant, is also buried on the bench.

"Every game, Djokovic has a life-threatening injury that lasts about 45 seconds."
 
#71      
DewLou
While VCU's comeback was impressive. I was not impressed by their play throughout the game. The Illini should handle them easily. If I were to venture a guess I'd say a win by at least 12. Go Illini, can't wait until Saturday.
 
#72      
texasbestillini
The Illini have trouble with athletic and physical teams that talk trash. That's VCU. Look at the clip at the end of the last game between VCU and SLU, where they started a fight when the game was over. These guys are nasty. This will be another test of our toughness, which we have failed at all year. If we prevail, I will be more confident that we have a shot against an always super athletic H-town in their house.
 
#74      
thefalcon5
DewLou said:
While VCU's comeback was impressive. I was not impressed by their play throughout the game. The Illini should handle them easily. If I were to venture a guess I'd say a win by at least 12. Go Illini, can't wait until Saturday.
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Agreed. Heck I didn’t think UNC looked all that good either, I’d go as far to say they played better basketball for 30 minutes.

Both teams were really relying on ISO wins. Not trying to say VCU isn’t capable of doing it again, but our team is much more fundamentally sound.

UNC made some extremely boneheaded plays down the stretch. Again, VCU is good, we’re objectively better and it isn’t particularly close.
 
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