Illinois vs. the Golden Lophers

6:30 p.m. at Assembly Hall
TV: BTN

Add a few more Illini themed gifts to your shopping list for next year.  I received Illini cheese dip, salsa, tabasco sauce, chips, mug, and hot chocolate mix.  These will be consumed at an Illini themed taco night (dedicated to Timothy Ore) sometime very soon.

Mizzery


Mizzou lived up to expectations during the first half of last Thursday's contest by building a 41-30 halftime lead in St. Louis.  I was watching the game with a few fans who reminisced about how much the Tigers looked like the '04-'05.  They were hard to keep out of the lane, and they were shooting lights out.  The game was threatening to turn into a blowout until, lightly used red-shirt sophomore Joseph Bertrand sparked the Illini on a 17-2 run.  Bertrand poured in 19 points on 9-9 shooting, but the Illini fell short to the Tigers 76-74 after a pair of costly turnovers in the final minute.

Bertrand was spectacular in going strong to the rim and burying short jumpers.  The Illini played much more of a 4 guard lineup to counter Mizzou's speed.  Weber also installed Brandon Paul at the high post when Mizzou went zone.  Against a zone, the middle is always vulnerable to attack.  By having Paul who can shoot the short jumper or drive to the hoop, the Illini had many  more options to attack Missouri.

Minny


The Gophers frontcourt was looking solid early this year as shot blocking machine Ralph Sampson III ruled under the basket and forward Trevor Mbakwe was scoring 14ppg.  But Mbakwe suffered a torn ACL against Dayton a few weeks ago and is out for the remainder of the season.  The Lophers have actually excelled without Mbakwe defeating Virginia Tech and USC in back to back games.

I'd love to see the Illini repeat some of the strategies they used Thursday night against Missouri.

1. More Joseph Bertrand (I'd like to see more Crandall Head as well - Breaking News: Crandall Head has left the team per Illini beat writer Paul Klee.)
2. Play a 4-guard line up.  
3. Put Brandon Paul in the middle against a zone.  This gives the Illini more ways to score if the 3-pointer is not falling. 

The Illini need to start the game off right by putting the ball down low to Myers Leonard.  I expect a big game from him and from Brandon Paul who scored well against Missouri but made a few key turnovers late.

Illinois - 63
Lophers - 57


Sincerely,
Chips & Dip