Pregame: Illinois vs Winthrop, Monday, November 21st, 7:00pm CT, ESPN3

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#76      

CAHALL15

C
Central Illinois
CAHALL15
TriCityBurbs said:
How many minutes should we expect from Black tomorrow night?
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I'd say somewhere around 15-20. Groce said he'd come off the bench initially, but Groce beams talking about him. You just wonder about the fouls.
haasi said:
Next 3-5 games definitely tell us a lot about where we are now. But OTOH a lot of our core guys haven't played much together yet (Black, Thorne, Abrams, TJL), so even if we have some rough patches in the next 3-5, not sure super strongly indicates our long term prospects. Over the next three, I do think we have to win at least 2. Losing to Winthrop at home would be bad. And if we lose to WV (we'll be serious dogs, they just destroyed NH 100-41), we can't lose to Temple, which lost to NH. After that, NC State at home and VCU neutral will both be tough.

If we come out of the next 5 games 3-2 or better, I'll be pleased.
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I'd concur. We'll have a general idea about our team, though it remains to be seen what our team looks like now that we are adding Leron and less than a month from Kipper's debut. 3-2 in our next five would be solid.
 
#78      

CAHALL15

C
Central Illinois
CAHALL15

According to the "printable stats" Keon Johnson is not a probable starter, but is not officially out for the game.
 
#79      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
haasi said:
Next 3-5 games definitely tell us a lot about where we are now. But OTOH a lot of our core guys haven't played much together yet (Black, Thorne, Abrams, TJL), so even if we have some rough patches in the next 3-5, not sure super strongly indicates our long term prospects. Over the next three, I do think we have to win at least 2. Losing to Winthrop at home would be bad. And if we lose to WV (we'll be serious dogs, they just destroyed NH 100-41), we can't lose to Temple, which lost to NH. After that, NC State at home and VCU neutral will both be tough.

If we come out of the next 5 games 3-2 or better, I'll be pleased.
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Yeah if we play well and lose some close non-conference games against good teams, it is not the end of the world, but it will definitely hurt our fans perception of the team and could affect the team's a bit.

Michigan State is a good example where many years they are "eh" in the non-conference, but start to put things together and are good by conference time.

:shield:
 
#80      

Cubby Blue

C
Cubby Blue
rtbritt said:
Michigan State is a good example where many years they are "eh" in the non-conference, but start to put things together and are good by conference time.

:shield:
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that is only because their timekeeper has an itchy trigger finger...:D
 
#81      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
TriCityBurbs said:
How many minutes should we expect from Black tomorrow night?
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Guessing 15-20.

Will he avoid picking up needless fouls from over aggression?

Black's presence is definitely the most interesting angle to this game, beyond seeing how the team responds to better competition.
 
#82      

Newman

N
Newman
Joel Goodson said:
Guessing 15-20.

Will he avoid picking up needless fouls from over aggression?

Black's presence is definitely the most interesting angle to this game, beyond seeing how the team responds to better competition.
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I'm sure he'll still pick up some dumb fouls but I don't think it'll be worse than his freshman year. He played 15 mpg back then and averaged 2.7 fouls. Even if he doesn't improve in that area, I can live with that for this year since we have Finke at the 4 as well. I'd rather see hard fouls (not dirty though) instead of easy buckets. We definitely need his motor, we're too soft right now in the frontcourt.
 
#83      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
Joel Goodson said:
Guessing 15-20.

Will he avoid picking up needless fouls from over aggression?

Black's presence is definitely the most interesting angle to this game, beyond seeing how the team responds to better competition.
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For me also, seeing Black back in the lineup is the most intriguing aspect of this game.
 
#84      

ChiefIllini

C
ChiefIllini
TriCityBurbs said:
How many minutes should we expect from Black tomorrow night?
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I'd be surprised to see over 15. If we jump out early without him on the floor I see him being used sparingly in the first half. If its close and we are struggling, he'll come in and hopefully spark something.

I'd love to see him out there as much as possible, given the importance of our next game (or at least difficulty) but on the same note, I believe Finke will play a lot in the WV game due to their extreme full court approach. Black doesn't match up well against that.

So the optimist in my says Black plays 20 in this game, the realist in me says 15, and the engineer in me says is it thank god its a three day work week.
 
#85      

Calvin

C
Calvin
rtbritt said:
Michigan State is a good example where many years they are "eh" in the non-conference, but start to put things together and are good by conference time.

:shield:
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I would not use MSU as an example that applies to anyone except MSU. I can't think of a better coach in all college basketball at using early season loses to improve his team than Izzo.
 
#86      

Rad

R
Nashville, TN
Rad
Black has the ability to do things on the court that no other player we have. His rebounding stats/40 his freshman year were as good as anyone in UI history. He will not be used sparingly unless in extreme foul trouble. jmo
 
#87      

WesterveltVictoryCigar

WesterveltVictoryCigar
WesterveltVictoryCigar
I could see Black playing quite a bit tonight. Winthrop has quick post players, similar to the guy for Detroit that caused our bigs so much trouble by driving to the hoop. Thorne, Mav and Finke are slow to react, Black would have more success guarding these guys, IMO. Of course, he's also not had a chance to get used to the way the refs are calling games so may have difficulty staying out of foul trouble.
 
#88      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
Calvin said:
I would not use MSU as an example that applies to anyone except MSU. I can't think of a better coach in all college basketball at using early season loses to improve his team than Izzo.
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Agreed, Izzo is 60-0 all time at home in November.
 
#89      

Illini B-Ball Fan

Illini B-Ball Fan
Illini B-Ball Fan
The Illini November reign is on the line tonight, let's keep it going-

"Illinois is a perfect 18-0 at State Farm Center in November under Coach John Groce. The Illini have two home games remaining in college basketball's opening month: Monday vs. Winthrop and Nov. 28 vs. N.C. State.

The Illini have won 35 straight home games overall in the month of November, with the current streak beginning on Nov. 11, 2007. Illinois' last home November defeat came at the hands of Maryland in the 2006 Big Ten/ACC Challenge (Nov. 28, 2006)."
 
#92      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
Calvin said:
I would not use MSU as an example that applies to anyone except MSU. I can't think of a better coach in all college basketball at using early season loses to improve his team than Izzo.
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Agree that you are saying they consistently do this and Izzo is a great coach.

I obviously used them as an example because they seem to always do this.

That is why Illinois should thrive to do this. It can be done. We need a coach and team that is willing and able to get better from losses.

:shield:
 
#93      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
rtbritt said:
Agree that you are saying they consistently do this and Izzo is a great coach.

I obviously used them as an example because they seem to always do this.

That is why Illinois should thrive to do this. It can be done. We need a coach and team that is willing and able to get better from losses.

:shield:
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When you're stacked, you're doing your team a disservice not to strongly challenge them early. When you're not, better be careful.

WRT our schedule, the challenge seems about right.

"We need a coach and team that is willing and able to get better from losses." Care to elaborate?
 
#95      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
Joel Goodson said:
When you're stacked, you're doing your team a disservice not to strongly challenge them early. When you're not, better be careful.

WRT our schedule, the challenge seems about right.

"We need a coach and team that is willing and able to get better from losses." Care to elaborate?
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I just think they poster who replied to mine was saying that we shouldn't be held to MSU's standard of getting better after early losses. I think we should be held to a standard of "yes we must absolutely get better from the losses and not just look at close losses as missed opportunities.

I also agree that our schedule is a great challenge for this team. I think we need to be challenged and hopefully prove we can play at the level of these teams.
 
#98      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
Still no Vegas line (I couldn't find one). I wonder if the Keon Johnson injury status is the cause.
 
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