Purdue vs. Illinois overview

[nagemj02]

When: Thursday, February 22nd

Where: State Farm Center, Champaign IL

Tip-Off: 7 ET (approximate)

TV: FS1


Head Coaches:

Purdue: Matt Painter (13th season)

Illinois: Brad Underwood (1st season)



Projected Starters:

Purdue

1/2 #3 Carsen Edwards 6'0 190 So.

1/2 #11 P.J. Thompson 5'10 180 Sr.

2/1 #31 Dakota Mathias 6'4 195 Sr.

4 #24 Grady Eifert 6'7 220 Jr.

5 #44 Isaac Haas 7'2 280 Sr.


Illinois

1/2 #1 Trent Frazier 6'1 170 Fr.

2/1 #24 Mark Alstork 6'4 190 RS Sr. (graduate transfer from Wright State)

2/3 #23 Aaron Jordan 6'5 200 Jr.

4/3 #2 Kipper Nichols 6'6 220 RS So.

4/5 #12 Leron Black 6'7 225 RS Jr.



Projected Reinforcements:

Purdue

1 #20 Nojel Eastern 6'6 210 Fr.

2 #14 Ryan Cline 6'5 190 Jr.

5/4 #32 Matt Haarms 7'3 235 RS Fr.


Illinois

1 #3 Te'Jon Lucas 6'0 180 So.

1/2 #20 Damonte Williams 6'3 185 Fr.

2/3 #13 Mark Smith 6'4 210 Fr.

4 #4 Matic Vesel 6'9 210 Fr.

5/4 #11 Greg Eboigbodin 6'9 220 Fr.



Who Might Play:

Illinois

5/4 #43 Michael Finke 6'10 230 RS Jr.


(tbc...)

 

[rgarlitz]

What is the deal with Illinois's end of the season schedule? Four games in eight days! Both Purdue and Illinois played on Sunday, but the Illini have to go to MSU on Tuesday before facing Purdue on Thursday.

Maybe it's happened before, but off the top of my head, I can't remember a B1G team having to play 2 mid-week conference games in the same week --- let alone with games book ended on successive Sundays.

 

[nagemj02]

It's all because of the conference tournament starting a week earlier than usual.

 

[rgarlitz]

Are you sure about that, Nags? Purdue didn't have to play two midweek conference games in the same week this year.

It looks like the BIG just didn't schedule a game for Illinois the weekend of January 27-28. I guess at least one other team must have a similar schedule. Just doesn't seem fair.

 

[nagemj02]

Maybe the powers that be don't like the Fighting Illini.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Are you sure about that, Nags? Purdue didn't have to play two midweek conference games in the same week this year.

It looks like the BIG just didn't schedule a game for Illinois the weekend of January 27-28. I guess at least one other team must have a similar schedule. Just doesn't seem fair.

There were definitely some scheduling anomalies.....even with playing the December games, so the compression isn't the only factor. Ohio State had that stretch of four straight home games along with a "road" game in MSG. Purdue went five straight weekends on the road....some Friday and Monday games.....hopefully, it all works out for conference teams, especially the Boilers. We shall see.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Maybe the powers that be don't like the Fighting Illini.

Combes must have ticked somebody off.

 

[TX4GB]

Maybe it's happened before, but off the top of my head, I can't remember a B1G team having to play 2 mid-week conference games in the same week --- let alone with games book ended on successive Sundays.

I remember IU having something similar. They played on 1/22, 1/24 and then a Saturday game against us on 1/28.

 

[BoilerGrad2001]

I remember IU having something similar. They played on 1/22, 1/24 and then a Saturday game against us on 1/28.

Then they played 1/30 at OSU.

 

[Do Dah Day]

I remember IU having something similar. They played on 1/22, 1/24 and then a Saturday game against us on 1/28.

yeah, but that's different

 

[TX4GB]

yeah, but that's different

Gotcha, mid week. I am not defending IU in any way.

 

[Do Dah Day]

Gotcha, mid week. I am not defending IU in any way.

OK, good. That was all in jest - ya' know bro?

 

[rgarlitz]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but it also strikes me as surprising, even objectionable, that the B1G scheduled 4 games in 8 days for Illinois the week before the conference tournament.

 

[nagemj02]

So back to the upcoming game at hand: who are the best matchups on each Illini regular?

 

[ChoiceBeef]

So back to the upcoming game at hand: who are the best matchups on each Illini regular?

So are you going to cheer for Alstork?

All kidding aside, I have watched a few of their games and they are not very good but they do play hard. I think Black and Frazier will be our biggest matchup challenges.

Black and Frazier pose the biggest challenges in my opinion. Frazier is good a penetrating and Black has a decent outside shot.

Think if we can contain both of them and rebound, we should be okay

 

[JerseyBoiler]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but it also strikes me as surprising, even objectionable, that the B1G scheduled 4 games in 8 days for Illinois the week before the conference tournament.

Illinois already looking exhausted in 2nd half against MSU

 

[tjreese]

Illinois already looking exhausted in 2nd half against MSU

gotta cut tight on hand offs and off ball screens. Ill only hope is to somehow get hot on Offense, but don't see that and steals. Will PJ see a floater against this pressure or midr ange shot? Will Nojel find a few more paths to the bucket? Will Dakota get many curls for three or will it be his mid range game? Carsen will have his way and not sure where Cline figures in ...unless Ill doubles down and digs at the ball? Haas will just be a function of how effective Purdue can feed teh post with pressure. If Purdue handles the half court pressure, they should be fine...but don't get caught on back screens and cuts off the high post either

 

[Frankie611]

Vegas loves us even after the last few crazy weeks...still 9.5 pt favorites on the road.

 

[Do Dah Day]

C'mon all us old guys - it's time to BTFU .... 4.5 hours, got your drink of choice handy, and plenty of it?