That Dalton Knecht Freshman Brad Underwood bought from Lithuanian - Jakucionis - is very good. IL has rebounding, good scoring ability, but has Brad Underwood as coach. Good team.
Illinois - are they the team to beat?
- Thread starter Thordog
- Start date
If they shoot under 33% from 3, they’re beatable. If they hit 16/29 than they won’t be beat.
KJ is very good but still is a Frosh and makes Frosh mistakes. Turns it over a lot, but still, a mismatch and very good.
Will be interesting how we try to matchup with them, going to be very tough.
Them and MSU teams to beat.
he seems to get better every game and reduce the mistakes. The guy is very good and will take over a game when needed.
2 road wins already - puts them in the driver's seat. Another very good championship competitive team by Underwood. Best B10 record in last 5 years.....guy knows how to secure great players and manage them for wins. That frosh likely in NBA soon
yeah. I think Purdue is a top 4 team and that would be a success. MSU, IL, UCLA and god for bid IU figures out how to play.
I’m pumped we don’t have them til the end of March. Hopefully we keep taking steps forward and have another great game there. They will let Smith hear it as I’m sure they remember the dagger 3 last year. Hope he feeds off of it and has a night.
Which is why I somehow think Purdue still has a chance?
MSU can't shoot and ILL is relatively inexperienced to expect a run through B1G gauntlet without a few bumps.
We'll see....
Also, watched Michigan for the first time last night and they pass the eye test. Could realistically see a five way tie or something crazy.
A five way tie would be crazy but that would so be the B2G haha
Didn't get to see it.....but how in the world did NW beat IL?
The NW team we beat today, looked like it was a league cellar dweller. Which indicates how good our D was I guess.....and how great Mackey is.
The NW team we beat today, looked like it was a league cellar dweller. Which indicates how good our D was I guess.....and how great Mackey is.
We’ve certainly turned it up a notch since getting pummeled by Auburn.
Barnhizer and Martinelli were the only teammates averaging 20+ - Purdue held them to 21 total, forced NW into 13 turnovers and about 9 more 3-pt attempts than average. Definitely better energy and anticipation on that end the last couple of games. Let's see if they can keep that going in New Jersey next week.
I mean you take any two teams, have one play near their apex, and one play near their worst,.and you'll get what we got today.
See also Purdue v. PSU.
You know how that crap goes, rivalry game on the road can be difficult. We know all to well lately the struggles at NW lol. Illinois is very good, I think they win the league.
Their guard whose name I can’t pronounce is very very good.
So then IU fans will have to pick between Dusty, Brad and Billy to replace Sleepy Mike?
Illinois dominating that game in Eugene was a real eye-opener. I think it will be a really tight race, but they certainly have the road-win edge so far.
Oregon has already lost 2 home games, they have to dominate on the road to have chance for BT. Illinois has 2 road wins, but lost to a bad NW team on the road. Michigan St. has 2 road wins taking down Ohio St. and blasting a good Nebraska team bye 17 at home. I would Michigan St. the edge right now. Michigan St. does not play at Nebraska, Oregon, Purdue or Wisconsin. Illinois does not play at Ohio St, Purdue or UCLA.
IU fans don't pick anyone, the coach gets to decide where he wants to work, that's the problem, IU fans think anybody who hears the "IU" calling, gets a mighty erection, but most people in the sport of basketball know the IU fan base is weird and impatient. Its not a job, its a Bobby Knight haunting. They actual think that they sellout every game, but in reality they have not sold out a season since 2013. Just like Sunday at the Plastra, they believe they sold it out because the IU fans would pack the place, but only 6.126 tickets were bought in a 8500 seat arena. What other team in college basketball shows and talks about their ancient dusty banners like IU? Does Kentucky, Kansas, UCONN, and UCLA live in the past like IU!
IMO this is the year the B10 can win it all. Contenders include UI, MSU, Michigan, Purdue, Oregon and 13 others. Ranked teams UI (13) Oregon (15) MSU (16) Purdue (20) UCLA (22) and Michigan (24) receiving votes Nebraska, Wisconsin, Maryland and IU. So that is over half of the conference. I would rule out Minn., Washington and USC. Any of the other 15 have a legitimate shot at winning the B10 Tourney. And for those who think we don't deserve to be a contender consider this 3 of the 4 losses are to teams currently ranked in the top 10 Auburn (2), Marquette (7) and Texas A&M (10). I like our chances as long as Braden looks to score first and throw it in to TKR with his 35 T/O much less.
Another thing Purdue has in its favor, is experienced players who know what it takes to win Big Ten championships. Winning 3 of the next 4 games, would make getting a piece of another championship realistic to me.
some said that, if you watch them this year, they are playing more of an uptempo type of game to their benefit and got 2 improved 7 ft ers
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