Tonight vs. Minny
IGPs have been few and far between in the month of February. I am sorry for that loyal readers, but I've been travelling a bunch for work and school is kicking my ass. But do not worry, I've kept my eye on the Big10 Network and my ears open to everything except Dick Vitale's bogus ramblings collecting material for when I get a spare moment.
Last weekend (post PSU and pre-OSU), after playing some pick up basketball at the Moody Bible Institute (the same court where Dee Brown broke his leg before his senior year and was forced to return to school), a few friends engaged me in one of my favorite discussion topics...Illini Hoops.
"Man, we suck. 33 points?! Weber did not have his team ready to play," said one Illini alum.
"Yeah, not a single one of these guys would start on the 04, 05, or 06 team. We are so over rated," exclaimed another Illini Alum.
Ooompfh. It felt like someone had disparaged my mother, soiled the Nett family name, or blasphemed Michael Jordan by claiming that he cheated on his wife. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I will not name these lost Illini souls because I hope they will find their ways home.
So this is my invite. This is me being mother bird and cucawing my fallen Illini friends back to the nest. Come home friends. Here's why...
Why I love the '08-'09 Illini
- Chester...A quote from an NBA scout, "The test for whether you can make the NBA is if you can score on Chester Frazier."
- Heart...The Northwestern Game. We were down 14 with 6 minutes left!
- Chemistry...We have assists on 71% of all baskets - #1 in the nation.
- Da Coach...We have the '08-'09 Big10 Coach of the Year. We were 16-19 last year!
- Mid-Range J...Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale, and Calvin Brock all have great pull up jumpers. Davis was exceptional against tOSU on Sunday.
- Charity... 71% this season vs. 62% LY
- Jerrance Howard. He's excitable, he's a great recruiter, and he has almost as much style as Wayne McClain.
- Defense...Teams are averaging a mere 56pts a game against us - 3rd lowest in the country.
- 1,000 points...Don't look now, but Trent Meachum is 4 baskets shy of scoring 1,000 points in his collegiate career. Not bad for a walk-on that many thought could not hack it as a starter.
College basketball has been crazy this year. Number 1 Pittsburgh was just knocked off by a mediocre, unranked Providence team (Providence was leading by 20 in the 2nd half). Oklahoma lost its last 2 games. Yes, they were without Blake Griffin, but they looked horrendous in losses to Texas and Kansas. Missouri, who we clobbered by 16 points, is ranked 8th in the country!
Folks, these Illini are overachievers and they are for real. Let's start treating them that way.
Cucaww!Illini vs. Lophers
The Golden Gophers created a defensive template that held the Illini to only 36 points in the first meeting. PSU used a similar defense to hold Illinois to 33 last week. It's pretty simple actually, in your jersey man-to-man defense, avoid switching on picks, do not double anyone, and avoid helping out on defense. Sound simple?
Illinois scores 71% of their baskets off assists. When the opposition over rotates, or double teams, or hedges on picks, Illinois hits the open man. If you stay at home on D, Illinois only has 1 real player that can beat you consistently off the dribble - Demetri McCamey. OSU tried the exact opposite game plan on Sunday and look how that turned out. OSU's over extended zone played right into Illinois' hands because we found Davis open in the hi-post and short corner for easy baskets.
Minnesota is playing for their tournament lives right now, so they will bring the intensity. You can bet that the Illini are a bit embarrassed by the last game these teams played. It is going to be a Big10 brawl tonight, and I can't wait to see the blood and emotion being mopped off the floor during timeouts.
The quicker we can get he ball up court, the less time Minny has to set their defense. I would love to see us push the pace tonight. We need some slashing and energy from Chester Frazier, some bench energy from Calvin Brock, and our big men will have to play far more physical than they did in last contest.
Illinois - 57
Lophers - 53
Sincerely,
The Bubble
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