Pregame: Illinois vs Washington, Thursday, January 29th, 8:00pm CT, FS1

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#201      
jrichisamazing
Rebounding Dog said:
Does anyone want to disuss Illinois vs Washington? Come on now!
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Sure! 3 things I'm watching...

1) I'm interested to see what we do with Steinbach. Do we let him get his like we did with Toppin? Or do we try to get the ball out of his hands?

2) The past 2 games without Boswell have been our highest 3pt attempts of the season. I don't think that's a coincidence. Luckily we are hitting them at a decent clip and offensive rebounding like crazy the last few games. Hopefully this keeps happening and we cruise. But if it doesn't, can we find a way to score inside and/or get to the FT line without Boswell.
 
#203      
Fighter of the Nightman
There's not a lot that is super interesting or groundbreaking to say about this game in a pregame thread. Anything "high-level" that you could say is pretty obvious. Illinois is coming off of an emotional win, and we could see a bit of a comedown. We have a very hyped matchup coming up on Sunday, so this could be a trap game. Washington is a more dangerous team than their record might indicate, so we need to make sure we "show up." Blah, blah, blah. Lol.

So with that said, there is one interesting thing I will be looking for ... and that is the crowd at State Farm Center, specifically the student section. You might expect a sleepy crowd on a cold weeknight vs. a terrible Rutgers team and with no Orange Krush in the building. You could also maybe expect a sleepy crowd for an 11:00 am tip vs. a Minnesota team that we felt we should beat, again with the students still not in the building. And you might also excuse a lackluster crowd on another weeknight vs. a terrible Maryland team, this time admittedly with the Krush there. But tomorrow night??

We are on a 9-game winning streak, just secured a MASSIVE resume-defining win at #4 Purdue, we are hosting an at-least-decent Washington team, it's the fans' first time seeing Keaton and Co. after the historic performance and it's a frickin' 8:00 pm tip on a Thursday night (i.e., no one should have trouble making it there after work, and for those so inclined the drinks should be flowing!). I really hope we see a much better homecourt atmosphere and don't save everything we have until the Michigan game.

#9 Illinois 90
Washington 76
 
#205      
Kernal12
Fighter of the Nightman said:
There's not a lot that is super interesting or groundbreaking to say about this game in a pregame thread. Anything "high-level" that you could say is pretty obvious. Illinois is coming off of an emotional win, and we could see a bit of a comedown. We have a very hyped matchup coming up on Sunday, so this could be a trap game. Washington is a more dangerous team than their record might indicate, so we need to make sure we "show up." Blah, blah, blah. Lol.

So with that said, there is one interesting thing I will be looking for ... and that is the crowd at State Farm Center, specifically the student section. You might expect a sleepy crowd on a cold weeknight vs. a terrible Rutgers team and with no Orange Krush in the building. You could also maybe expect a sleepy crowd for an 11:00 am tip vs. a Minnesota team that we felt we should beat, again with the students still not in the building. And you might also excuse a lackluster crowd on another weeknight vs. a terrible Maryland team, this time admittedly with the Krush there. But tomorrow night??

We are on a 9-game winning streak, just secured a MASSIVE resume-defining win at #4 Purdue, we are hosting an at-least-decent Washington team, it's the fans' first time seeing Keaton and Co. after the historic performance and it's a frickin' 8:00 pm tip on a Thursday night (i.e., no one should have trouble making it there after work, and for those so inclined the drinks should be flowing!). I really hope we see a much better homecourt atmosphere and don't save everything we have until the Michigan game.

#9 Illinois 90
Washington 76
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Krush should give Keaton the Wayne's World "we're not worthy" bows when he's announced (kind of like the Wrigley Field bleachers used to do for Andre Dawson ... dating myself). Dude elevated himself to god-like status with 46 in Mackey and should be treated accordingly.
 
#208      
illinifan1987
Well Done Thumbs Up GIF by Lucas and Friends by RV AppStudios
 
#211      
alaskaillini
Germanboxers said:
My eyes are fine. You seem to have taken offense and written a rambling defense of your argument. I graduated in 89. I played in a couple of pickup games with several from the team (Nick, Gill, Bardo, Smith) including one featuring a Nick vs. Mitchel Wiggins battle.

None of that has any bearing on my contention that the ‘89 team had an alpha factor that allowed them to beat top level teams even when the shots weren’t falling. You could feel (and see) it with the ‘89 team if you were there. They were downright intimidating. This team hasn’t shown that yet.

Mirk has the attitude (in spades!), but lacks the athleticism to impose his will. Keaton has that calm confidence. Boswell can be a dog when he locks in. For the rest, I’m not so sure. They all seem to have a high IQ. They like each other. They have fun. Can they get nasty on the defensive end or will the narrative be “it wasn’t our night” when the shots aren’t falling?

Again, I love this team and how it’s constructed. I love their personalities…likable guys. But will they impose their will in a game in which the shots are not falling? That’s what is needed to win a championship because *at least* one game in the tournament will feel like there’s a lid on the basket. That’s what I want for them and for us fans. I’m pretty sure that’s what they want.

I worry that this team’s offensive potential *can* route them, in the heat of the battle, into a belief that they will win by scoring more…even when the shots aren’t falling. If they don’t develop that alpha attitude on the defensive end, their tourney success can be easily upended in any round when the shots aren’t falling.

And I’ll say it again…I love this mf’ng team!!! :):hailtotheorange:
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I am not arguing with you, but I went back and refreshed my recollection of that year. That 88-89 team was 5-4 on the road in the Big10 and would have had a losing record but for a near miracle at Indiana in the final seconds. The current team is currently undefeated (4-0) on the road in the B1G - that is pretty tough, maybe not in the same way, but tough mentally. I seem to recall that 88-89 team always seeming to have a run, usually in the second half, where they would continue to score but the other team would blink and go cold for a few minutes and Illinois would separate from them. That final four game, Michigan just never blinked for them. They often intimidated other teams, especially with their athleticism. The current team just doesn't often get intimidated - they just keep cool and plug away trying to play good basketball. That is how I would describe the different toughness of these two teams. Mirk and Boz have some edge to their game, but the other guys not as much.
 
#212      
AirTran
Washington is 2-5 away from home and they have 2 players that get minutes who are taller than 6' 5" - If the game is that close and Washington scores 76 points it could lead to one BU's largest tantrums of the 2025 - 26 season.
 
#217      
blackdog
alaskaillini said:
I am not arguing with you, but I went back and refreshed my recollection of that year. That 88-89 team was 5-4 on the road in the Big10 and would have had a losing record but for a near miracle at Indiana in the final seconds. The current team is currently undefeated (4-0) on the road in the B1G - that is pretty tough, maybe not in the same way, but tough mentally. I seem to recall that 88-89 team always seeming to have a run, usually in the second half, where they would continue to score but the other team would blink and go cold for a few minutes and Illinois would separate from them. That final four game, Michigan just never blinked for them. They often intimidated other teams, especially with their athleticism. The current team just doesn't often get intimidated - they just keep cool and plug away trying to play good basketball. That is how I would describe the different toughness of these two teams. Mirk and Boz have some edge to their game, but the other guys not as much.
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I agree with most of your post but i think Jake Davis would disagree that he isnt tough!
 
#223      
aaeismacgychel
Fighter of the Nightman said:
There's not a lot that is super interesting or groundbreaking to say about this game in a pregame thread. Anything "high-level" that you could say is pretty obvious. Illinois is coming off of an emotional win, and we could see a bit of a comedown. We have a very hyped matchup coming up on Sunday, so this could be a trap game. Washington is a more dangerous team than their record might indicate, so we need to make sure we "show up." Blah, blah, blah. Lol.

So with that said, there is one interesting thing I will be looking for ... and that is the crowd at State Farm Center, specifically the student section. You might expect a sleepy crowd on a cold weeknight vs. a terrible Rutgers team and with no Orange Krush in the building. You could also maybe expect a sleepy crowd for an 11:00 am tip vs. a Minnesota team that we felt we should beat, again with the students still not in the building. And you might also excuse a lackluster crowd on another weeknight vs. a terrible Maryland team, this time admittedly with the Krush there. But tomorrow night??

We are on a 9-game winning streak, just secured a MASSIVE resume-defining win at #4 Purdue, we are hosting an at-least-decent Washington team, it's the fans' first time seeing Keaton and Co. after the historic performance and it's a frickin' 8:00 pm tip on a Thursday night (i.e., no one should have trouble making it there after work, and for those so inclined the drinks should be flowing!). I really hope we see a much better homecourt atmosphere and don't save everything we have until the Michigan game.

#9 Illinois 90
Washington 76
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I honestly expect a letdown game. Coming off a huge win and we haven't yet felt the pains of missing Boz while on a 9 game win streak, against a team that's better than their wins and losses. We're due. Goal is if we do have a letdown game to still be good enough to keep this one out.

And that's what I have us doing. Winning a way too tight game that people will lose their minds over but a win is a win. I'll take Illinois by 5 or less and I have a feeling this will be an Andrej game.

Just get the W in this one even if it's by a single point and stay healthy and I'll be happy.
 
#224      
Rebounding Dog
aaeismacgychel said:
I honestly expect a letdown game. Coming off a huge win and we haven't yet felt the pains of missing Boz while on a 9 game win streak, against a team that's better than their wins and losses. We're due. Goal is if we do have a letdown game to still be good enough to keep this one out.

And that's what I have us doing. Winning a way too tight game that people will lose their minds over but a win is a win. I'll take Illinois by 5 or less and I have a feeling this will be an Andrej game.

Just get the W in this one even if it's by a single point and stay healthy and I'll be happy.
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For what ever reason I feel no letdown…I my gut says we dog walk them by 20+ . Team is rolling and keeps getting better!
Even we win by one… I will take it! Just win🙂
 
#225      
AirTran
What's a "letdown game?" You play how you practice. These guys looked to me as if they were developing some swagger.
 
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