Illinois vs. Mizzery

Tonight, 8pm @ The Barn & Company (950 W. Wrightwood)

Email me if you are going to come out.

Saturday was painful as the Illini fell to UNLV 64-48. It was difficult to watch for those in attendance at the United Center. There was even a smattering of boos as the final seconds ticked off the clock. The IGP does not condone booing a college team. Sitting in the 300 level, it was interesting to watch the game from above. I could see the sets develop much better than on TV and now understand why coordinators in football like to watch the game from above.

There was a lot that concerned me about the game:

· What’s the play?: Several times in Saturday’s game, the Illini looked at each other and pointed in different directions. Some on the court didn’t know the play or how to start the set. We need to know every play from every position on the court.

· Entry Pass: UNLV played up on the Illini and denied the first pass. When Maniscalco or Abrams couldn’t get rid of the ball after crossing mid-court, the offense looked discombobulated. After the screen and re-screen to get open, the shot clock was already down to 20 seconds and the offense had not been initiated yet. We need a counter when this happens – usually some sort of back door screen or cut to create a lay-up and hopefully loosen up the defense on future possessions.

· Inbounding the Ball: Have we ever scored off an inbounds play? I often watch them and wonder if we are trying to score or just avoid a 5-second call. We need to turn inbound plays into scoring opportunities.

· Middle of the Floor - Drive: The ball spun round and round the perimeter like a top. For Weber’s offense to be effective there needs to be a scoring threat. When Dee, Deron, and Luther were in their heyday, the Illini would pass around the perimeter but they were always a threat to drive to the front of the rim. This kept the defense off balance and created open three pointers, unlike the highly contested shots the Illini were taking Saturday.

· Middle of the Floor - Post: Feeding the ball into the post opens up the offense just like a drive. Meyers Leonard is a great passer from the post. When he was getting double teamed early, he drew fouls or found the open man. We need to keep going to the big man.

· Loosen up and play ball: I’d like to see our young athletes have some more freedom. Whenever a young player makes a mistake, he is benched. Coach, let these guys improvise a bit and see what happens.

UNLV exposed some holes, but let’s see how the team improves throughout the year. It’s early, and there is a lot of promise.

Mizzery

Missouri looks fantastic early in the year. They remain undefeated through 11 games and are ranked #9 in the country. They have played a cream puff schedule, but they are wining in impressive fashion. While the Illini have been allowing bad teams to stick around (Cornell, Illinois State), Mizzery is scoring 87.9 ppg (2^ndin the nation) and winning big.

UNLV ran the floor against us and so will Mizzou. They are fast and can light it up from long distance. Marcus Denmon is a deadeye shooter. Averaging 19.6ppg and shooting 45%from behind the arc, he is as pure as they come. Whoever draws him on defense cannot lose him for a second or 3-pointers will assuredly be raining down.

Paul Pressey runs the show. He’s fast and can distribute, averaging 6 assists per contest. The Illini have had trouble with fast guards all season. Instead of helping on defense, let’s make him finish. Once Leonard swats a few shots into the second row, Pressey won’t know where to go.

If we want to win, everyone has to play well - most importantly - Meyers Leonard. He needs to touch the ball every possession. If the offense runs through him, we will stand a fighting chance.

The Illini bench is the other place where we need solid production. They’ve been abysmal in the last few games. They have been outscored in the last six games and put up only three points in the last two. Tracy Abrams, Crandall Head, Nnanna Egwu, and anyone else willing to contribute are all welcome to the party.

It’s going to be an uphill battle folks, but I know we can do it.

Illinois – 76

Mizzery – 74

Sincerely,

The Newest Illini Fan - ALW

Illinois vs. The Runnin' Tarks

Tomorrow, 4pm at the United Center

You only have a precious few days before Hanukah, Christmas, or Kwanza to buy a great gift for that special someone in your life.  Let me give you a few ideas for some last minute shopping...Illini style.

I recieved an Illini glassware set during my first Christmas ever at the Haberkorn household (great Illini family).  "What an unbelievable gift," I exclaimed.  "Give me 6 beers, I need to test these glasses out."

A full size Paint the Hall Orange picture has to be the number one consideration for any Illini fan who doesn't have one.  When friends come over, they can't believe how many people are wearing orange in the picture.  They often ask if the picture has been painted or altered.  Nope, all natural baby.


The image to the left is the Paint the Hall Orange picture from the 2004-05 season, when the Illini hammered Chris Paul and #1 Wake Forest.  My Paint the Hall picture is from the inaugural event in 2001 vs. Michigan State.  I still remember shaming Roubi and Dimitry into wearing an Orange t-shirt to the game.  Check out www.LaPayne.com to order your PTHO picture.  (Disclaimer: the IGP receives no kickbacks for these great gifts)



In 2006, my mom and dad bought me a bronze Chief Illiniwek statue for my birthday.  I received a 1 line email from my mom when it arrived at her house.  "The chief is here.  He's big."  He measures 2 feet tall, weighs about 25 pounds, and holds a position of prominence in the Nett Househ



A year ago today, the Nett household was a household of one.  Now I am married to a beautiful woman who I met as an undergrad at Illinois (of course).  Melinda is a huge Illini fan (what did you expect?).  We were married two months ago yesterday (Happy Anniversary, Honey), and my wife surprised me with a gigantic ice statue of the Chief on the day of our wedding.  How many of you can say that the Chief was a witness at your wedding?  Interested in having an ice sculpture of the Chief at a special event? Shoot me an email and I'll get you some contact information.

Melinda's brother Lou is a Black Hawk Pilot in the Army stationed in Japan (what up Lou?).  Lou and his wife Caroline are extremely creative gift givers.  They outdid themselves with the wedding present at right.  It's a beautifully painted picture of Chief Illiniwek that I am currently lobbying for placement above the fireplace.

 What's the greatest Illini gift you've received?  Send it my way, because I am always looking for ideas.  Looking for a last minute gift?  I have two extra tickets to Saturday's game at the UC.  Email me if you are interested.  Apologies that the comments section of the IGP is not working.

National Champions?


The Illini basketball team is undefeated, but I am not drinking the Final Four cool aid just yet.  It's the women's volleyball team that we need to be cheering for this Saturday against UCLA.  They topped the  USC Lady Trojans in the Final Four last night and take on UCLA for the National Championship (ESPN2, 8:30pm on Saturday).  After you watch the Illini men top UNLV at the United Center (BTN, 4pm), make sure to tune in for the volleyball match.

The Rebs

For those of you headed to the United Center, it is a rematch of last year's 8 vs. 9 first round tournament game that featured the Illini shooting lights out from 3-point land en route to an 11 point win.  The Rebs are without our favorite unibrowed coach, Lon Krueger.  Still, we'll need the same shooting tomorrow to turn around a run of bad games at the UC.

UNLV is equally as streaky as the Illini have been this year.  They defeated #1 UNC Thanksgiving weekend, but then lost to Witchita State a week later.  Both teams are looking for consistency as we get closer to conference play.

In the front court, Chace Stanbeck and Mike Moser are the Reb's top scorers.  Both measure in at 6'8", so we'll have to keep them off the boards.  The veterans need to play well for the Illini who have lost two straight at the United Center.  Expect Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson to lead the way.

Illinois - 69
Runnin' Tarks - 64

Sincerely,
Two Tickets to Saturday's Game

Illinois vs. The Bonnies

Tonight @ 8 pm
ESPN2

She’s smoking hot, isn’t she?

Last week, we compared the Illini to a blind date.  We weren’t quite sure what to expect.  So far she’s smoking hot, isn’t she?  First, the Illini overcame a slow start to turn away Maryland 71-62; then they handed number 18 Gonzaga its first loss of the season with a commanding 82-75 win.  I can’t wait for the next date tonight.

If you watched either of these games, you became a huge fan of Senior transfer Sam Maniscalco.  Maniscalco was a clutch performer against Maryland (24 points) and Gonzaga (6 assists).  He does not look like your prototypical Division I basketball player.  He looks more like he could have a guest role on the Jersey Shore than be First Team All Big Ten.  He is chubby stocky and sports a buzz cut with ever present stubble on his chin.  What are we going to call him?  Last week, my wife suggested "Butterball" or "Sammy the Salami."  What do you think?  Leave your ideas in the comments section.  Whatever he looks like, he is a winner.  Even as a Freshman at Bradley University, Maniscalco was named captain of the team and continues in that role despite being the new guy on the block at Illinois.

Sophomore Center Meyers Leonard on the other hand looks every bit of his 7’0” frame.  He is athletic and has showed limitless potential early in the season.  What I’ve enjoyed the most is watching him get open by moving without the ball.  He has great spacing on the pick and roll and his slip screen reminds me of James Augustine, who would routinely show screen and break to the hoop early for an easy bucket.  Leonard is only going to get better as we get deeper into the season.

St. Bonaventure Bonnies

We have some pretty standard shtick over hear at the IGP.  We always pick the Illini to win, we hate the opposing team’s coach, and we make fun of the other team’s name by changing it in some way (i.e. Purdon’t, Loosiers, MerryLand, etc.).  We are playing the Bonnies tonight.  Seriously, that’s their team name.  Does anyone know what it means?

I am equally as clueless about the Bonnies basketball skills – though I have an idea because they play in the Atlantic 10.  They are 3-3, and we should have our way with them.

Illinois – 75

The Bonnies – 62

Sincerely,

“The Restricted Area”

Illinois vs. Merry Land

Illinois vs. Merry Land

Tonight @ 6:30 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN3

Illini fans, for the last year, our emotions have been toyed with.  We have been led on by a beautiful woman promising to meet us out for a night of drinks and dancing, but we were stood up…left waiting at the bar with a whiskey in hand. 

Last year’s basketball team started with sky high expectations, but fell flat during an up and down season that saw us lose the UIC at the United Center and barely make the NCAA tournament.  A few months later, our football team started 6-0. and we were talking Rose Bowl.  Instead, we ended up losing 6 straight and the Zooker was given his walking papers. 

What’s in store for this year’s Illini hoops team?  I have no idea.  We’re still at the bar (whiskey in hand), and we’re waiting on a blind date.  She could be drop dead sexy with long legs and an ass you could bounce quarters off of or she could show up with glasses, braces, and a slight resemblance to Mary Katherine Gallagher.

I’m hoping to put the quarters to good use, you?

Questions

After seeing a few pre-season games and the Cancun Classic (which was played at the same resort where IGP editor Matt Spitz took his honeymoon), I don’t know what to expect from these Illini.  Here are the most important questions as I see it.

How have Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson improved?

So far, DJ’s shooting has been sniper like, but neither has showed the aggression for which I was hoping.  Paul showed a few flashes against ISU…but it was ISU.  Red-shirt Sophomore Joseph Bertrand, playing solid minutes, could start stealing time from Paul.

How dominant will Meyers Leonard be against Big10 competition?

He’ll be good…as long as he can stay in the game.  Please don’t take after Robert Archibald or Mike Tisdale.

Will any of the freshman make a difference?

I like what I’ve seen so far.  Nnanna Egwu and Tracy Abrams have seen the most minutes, but my favorite player has been Mychel Henry.  He’s got great size and gets to the hoop.

Who is going to rebound for us?

Super important stat #1.

How many turnovers will we average?

Super important stat #2.

Illinois vs. Maryland

The Big10 has won the last two ACC-Big10 Challenges, but we still trail in the series 10-2.  Last year the Illini looked tremendous in a 79-67 shellacking of North Carolina.  Then we hobbled into the tournament, while UNC won the ACC and ended the year ranked #7.

The Merry-land Terrapins are playing shorthanded without 7-1 Alex Len and senior playmaker Pe’Shon Howard (broken foot).  With losses to Alabama and Iona already, the Terps are up against the ropes and are in desperate need of a W.  They have only seven scholarship players active, with Terrell Stoglin being huge bright spot (20.2 ppg). 

Illinois should plan to wear out the Terps and put their front court in foul trouble by feeding Leonard early and often.  I expect illinois to dictate the pace of the game as Maryland is without a natural point guard and any depth.  Leonard should come up aces and Sam “Butterball” Maniscalco (or Sammy 'Ice' as Pete Gillen called him in Cancun) needs to continue his consistant shooting and scoring.

Illinois – 65

Merry Land – 58

Sincerely,

Nelly

Illinois vs. Kansas

Illinois vs. Kansas

Tonight @ 7:30

I was a bit nervous as Illinois matched up against UNLV for the tip-off Friday night. The camera zoomed in, and I could see that Senior Mike Tisdale towered over Quintrell Thomas and won the opening tip. I felt a bit better, and then I felt ecstatic when Illinois came out firing and went on a 15-0 run midway through the first – would it last. From there, the Illini didn’t take their foot off the gas. Even at half time, when we were up 46-24, there were plenty of nervous Illini fans who were not going to celebrate until the final buzzer sounded. I put a bet down with the bouncer who was giving our group of Illini fans a hard time, and he was ready to pay up at intermission. There was no I was going to jinx us by collecting the bet before the game was over.

Rock Chalk Upset Hawk!

Last year, Kansas was in a similar position to where they are for tonight’s game. Playing as a number 1 seed, the Jayhawks lost a nail biter to Northern Iowa 69-67. Aside from losing to Northern Iowa, there are a few other upset losses that Bill $elf would like to forget:

There was 2005 when 14 seed Bucknell defeated KU 64-63.

Then again in 2006, number 13 Bradley pulled off the upset over KU 77-73.

Illini fans around the world are hoping to add to $elf’s growing list of choke jobs tonight. Kansas strength is their front court with twins Marcus and Markieff Morris contributing 31 points and 16 rebounds combined per game. KU runs a 4 out 1 in offense where they run a few picks to start their set, but end with one of the Morris brothers in the post and the rest of the team lining the perimeter, working the ball inside. Constant ball reversals in this set can lead to an open dunk. Tisdale and Mike Davis will have to be quick and tall in order to avoid being beat on a weak side entry pass. Likewise, the perimeter defense must cut off the passing lanes to prevent an easy basket.

Just like Wayne McClain had the inside scoop on Lon Krueger’s playbook, he will have a similar perspective on $elf’s habits tonight. McClain was an assistant coach with $elf and even planned on joining him at Kansas before he had a change of heart.

Scouting aside, we all know that Illinois goes how Dimitri McCamey goes. Illinois is 15-0 when McCamey has 7 assists or more. McCamey had the ball on a string Friday night, and he was all the more effective because his teammates were knocking down shots. Freshman Jereme Richmond would be a big help in this game, but we have no idea if he is going to play or not - so it is up to the seniors. A scary thought, but I think they are going to step up they was they did on Friday.

Illinois – 67

Upset Hawks – 66

Sincerely,

Lou Henson – The only former Illini Coach not in our bracket.

IGP Tourney Coverage: Illinois vs. The Runnin' Tarkanians

Tonight @ 8:20.

Watching games all day. Give me a ring if you want to come out.

We'll most likely end up watching the Illini at Wrightwood Tap.

By the grace of God, or the mediocrity of the rest of college basketball, our Fighting Illini somehow managed to make the NCAA tournament this year. Many of us didn’t think they would get in based on their 6-10 record since January 11. But now that their in, I know that most of you have them Final 4 bound…or at the very least, getting by UNLV tonight. I don’t blame you, we’re Illini fans, and we have it in our blood.

March is the holiest of holies for me, and for the 5^th straight, I’ll be taking the day off with several friends to watch basketball all day and drink beer. Because the Illini don’t play until 8:30, we’ll have to pace ourselves better than we have in the past. I may do some Twitter today – follow me at netter01.

Coaches of the Past

The Illini play former head coach Lon Kruger and his UNLV Running Rebels tonight. Kruger was the head coach for 3 years while I was at Illinois. A major difference between Kruger and Weber is that Kruger runs a lot of set plays, whereas most of Illinois’ points these days come from a set offense. Running set plays is something that Weber should take notes on because when the Illini go for days without scoring at the end of regulation, set plays can help break the drought. Do you remember Cory Bradford? Bradford had great success at Illinois because Kruger ran so many plays for him.

Sergio McClain is another former Illini who played under Kruger. Sergio recently sat down with his dad, Assistant Coach Wayne McClain, to watch some footage “It's really interesting because Sergio and I have been watching a lot of tape," Wayne McClain said Tuesday. "Sergio's watching it and knows the names of what Kruger is doing offensively. He actually recognized some of (the plays and sets). He gave me names." That should help. (Klee - http://www.illinihq.com/news/2011/03/15/man_in_the_middle_mcclain_binds_three_staffs/)

The Rebs have a fairly short lineup with the tallest player coming in at 6’8”. Tisdale and Davis need to control the boards for the Illini win. The Rebels also have a balanced scoring attack so there is no one player to key in on. Though, Tre’Von Willis is a 6’4” senior and leader of this club.

It’s been some time since the Illini claimed victory in the Big Dance. Let’s do it boys.

Illinois – 67

Rebelious – 63

Illinois vs. tOSU

Illinois vs. tOSU

Tonight @ 6pm

We were 21-15 last year, and we finished 5^th in the Big 10 with a 10-8 record. Typically, the top 5 teams in the Big 10 are virtually guaranteed a spot in the big dance. But last year, the tournament committee pulled the old switcheroo and put Minnesota, the #6 team, into the tournament.

This year, we sit at 17-10 overall and 7-7 in conference. Looking at the record, and judging by our recent play, I’m not sure that there are many casual Illini fans who think we are tourney bound. But what was expected to be an exceptionally strong year for the Big 10 has turned out to be very top heavy conference.

Only tOSU, Purdue, and Wisconsin have winning records in the Big 10. Illinois is actually tied for 4^th with MSU, while PSU and Michigan are only a ½ game back at 7-8. Illinois will make the tournament this year, but they will have to split the last 4 games at the very least.

TEAM	CONF	OVERALL
Ohio State	12-2	25-2
Purdue	11-3	22-5
Wisconsin	10-4	20-6
Illinois	7-7	17-10
Michigan State	7-7	15-11
Michigan	7-8	17-11
Penn State	7-8	14-12
Minnesota	6-8	17-9
Northwestern	6-9	16-10
Indiana	3-11	12-15
Iowa	3-12	10-17

I’ve been an Illini fan my entire life, and I’ve never thought of the Illini as a team that measures success based on making the tournament. We win Big 10 Titles and make deep runs in the tournament. I thought that this year was when we would return to those standards. That is why 2010-11 has been so frustrating for all of us. We returned 5 starters and 7 letter winners that were joined by a top 10 recruiting class. It is going to take a deep run in the tournament for most Illini fan to consider this season a success.

tOSU – Time to get to work.

The Muckeyes have only lost twice this year. If you missed the 2^nd loss, it was this past Saturday at the hands of the Purdue Boilermakers 76-63. What does this mean for the Illini? It means the Buckeyes are mad.

The last time we played tOSU, we were on the losing end of a hard fought, 73-68 game. Two players made the difference for tOSU. Of course, one of them was Jared Sullinger who scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in 40 minutes of play. The other player was freshman guard Aaron Craft. Craft only had 5 points in the game, but he absolutely shut down Dimitri McCamey. This was the beginning of D-Mac’s February slump.

We’re playing the #2 team in the nation after a home loss. We need more than a few players to step up and have a good game; we need everybody. We need McCamey, Mike Davis, Brandon Paul, and Jereme Richmond. We need Coach Weber, Coach Price, Coach McClain, and Coach Howard. Even Graduate Assistants Chester Frazier and Sean Harrington need to be in top form. Hell, the water boy better bring his A game. With all that, I’m still nervous.

Illinois – 61

tOSU – 65

Sincerely,

The Bubble