YOUR thoughts and Mine on the Illinois-Minnesota game

Previous Entries

3/18/2010
Prediction Standings, plus ILL-KENT Prediction
3/15/2010
NCAA Selection Thoughts, Prediction Standings, ILL-SB Prediction
3/12/2010
Taking predictions for ILL-OSU here!!! Just comment below.
More…

For the Fans

Posted by: Tom Young

Friday, February 27, 2009 6:29 AM

#20 ILLINOIS 52 MINNESOTA 41

Who says a low scoring game can’t be exciting? I enjoyed watching every minute of Illinois’ defensive clinic against Minnesota, and Minnesota’s D wasn’t too much worse. I enjoyed seeing Illinois cause 20 turnovers. I enjoyed watching the Illini register 11 steals and 6 blocks. In a game where the final score would have been a halftime score in the ACC, there was plenty of action to get excited about. Who else out there went nuts when Chester Frazier raised up for a monster block at the rim in the first half? I forgot who was attempting the layup at the time, but I am sure the last thing they expected was for Frazier to redirect the heck out of that shot.

Now at 23 wins on the year and 11 in the Big Ten, Illinois is stilling a whole lot better than they did before the day started. For that, we say thank you Michigan (that felt weird) for their 87-78 win last night against #16 Purdue. The Illini are now a half game up on Purdue for 2^nd in the Big 10, but still two back in the loss column to Michigan State. The good news is the Spartans still have games left against Illinois and Purdue, so their schedule doesn’t get any easier.

With Sparty coming up on Sunday, the Illini need to do one thing better to have a chance to win, and Loren Tate nailed it in today’s News-Gazette. They got to rebound better. This will be pretty tough since Michigan St. is one of the best rebounding teams in the country, but we can match them if we rebound using fundamentals instead of athleticism. Last night was a bad example of fundamental rebounding by the Illini, and another performance like that on the glass could spell a loss against the Spartans.

Let me know what you guys think about last night’s game. I’m sure you all got some things to say, whether good or bad. I have enjoyed reading all of the comments from the previous games, and I look forward to reading your thoughts again about this one.

I-L-L…

Program note: I know this has nothing to do with the Illini, but News Talk 1400 is carrying High School basketball tonight around 7:30. We're either doing the Class 2A regional final in Monticello between the Unity Rockets and the Sullivan Redskins, or the Big 12 season finale between the Central Maroons and the Normal West Wildcats. Either way, we will have a pretty good game on the air tonight as Brian Moline and I bring you the action.

Comments

Did we just actually all root for Michigan? I feel wierd saying that I did.

Id like to see Tisdale actually block someone out this weekend.

But wow what a great game that was to watch. I love this roll that Mike D is on right now. It was nice to see the D play that way. Id like to see us scoring in the 60s at home thou. Frazier was just totally amazing last night he played great.

Sunday will be an emotional day, Senior day... with the 4 guys going it will be sad to see Frazier go. (who thought we would be saying that a year or two ago??) And with Deon Thomas coming back also wow... and can to top it off a top 10 team coming in. Can it get better?

One thing id like to see if something off the bench. We are basically only playing what 3 guys off the bench. That can really hurt us in the long run in B10 tourney and NCAA tourney. If Tisdale or Mike D get into foul trouble against bigger guys we will be SOL.

Note-- Tom you do a good job on those high school games.

Posted by Jshaw on February 27, 2009 at 11:02 AM

I feel like a terrible illinois fan but i missed the game last night and it sounded like it was an excellent game. I was so proud of weber for his post game comments. I am so sick and tired of people coming down on the big ten. Our conference plays defence and plays it very well. I have a theory why defence has dissappeared across the country accept the big ten. The NBA is to blame. When is the last time you saw a NBA game where there was excellent defence played? The NBA is taking and drafting kids from these "offensive juggernaut Conferences". In the 2008 draft 1 bigten player was selected in the first round. 7 pac ten players and i think 3-5 ACC players. These numbers tell me that the NBA looks at the scoring stats. Mike davis is like mr. Double double, but how awesome would he be in a conference that lets you shoot those 10 ft jumpers all day. Personally I love the big ten style of play. I enjoy a defensive struggle. this is just a crazy theory what do you think?

Posted by jweeks on February 27, 2009 at 12:48 PM

I hope you had a good reason to miss the game.

Its a crazy theory Jweeks. Our talent in the B10 isnt as athletic, but that mostly bc of the coachs that you have in our confernaces. All the coaches are defense oriented coaches. Thad Matta is the only coach in the B10 that might be the outscore you with shaky defence coach in the leauge.

Posted by Jshaw on February 27, 2009 at 1:04 PM

Add a Comment

Join the discussion
groups here.

Bleill – Illinois' NCAA connections
Posted: 03/19 at 6:09:59 PM

» More Blogs