Illinois Jekyll and Hyde

[Aike]

Since the beginning of February, they’ve had only 1 game where the final score was within 5 points.

They’ve had 5 losses in that time by an average of 22 points.

7 wins by an average of 13+ points.

When I’ve watched them they haven’t looked great, but I guess I just watched on the wrong nights. Hope their alter ego shows up Sunday.

 

[trueblujr2]

Since the beginning of February, they’ve had only 1 game where the final score was within 5 points.

They’ve had 5 losses in that time by an average of 22 points.

7 wins by an average of 13+ points.

When I’ve watched them they haven’t looked great, but I guess I just watched on the wrong nights. Hope their alter ego shows up Sunday.

Are they Missouri or Ole Miss like as a comparison?

 

[fatguy87]

It might come down to the three point lottery. Illinois takes a ton of threes while we concede a bunch. If they make less than 10 in 40 attempts, we will be sitting pretty. If they make 15, we are in trouble.

 

[Aike]

Are they Missouri or Ole Miss like as a comparison?

I don’t know. Almost more like Alabama. Come at you in waves. Some great individual talent. Loose with the ball. Not that great defensively.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

Not feeling great about Sunday.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Are they Missouri or Ole Miss like as a comparison?

The best comparison I can make is the version of Arkansas that came to Rupp. Athletic, not as old as most of college basketball, and a 7 foot plus 3 point shooting big.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Not feeling great about Sunday.

I think we match up well with illinois. Have faith, brother.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Illinois shot 50 percent from the field and 12-29 from 3. They also went 18-18 from the foul line and won by 13. They can win but likely won’t put up numbers like that again Sunday.

 

[Aike]

Not feeling great about Sunday.

On the plus side, we’ve spent a week working on protecting the defensive boards. Big strength of Illinois is offensive glass.

We can potentially have some combo of Amari/Carr work to get Ivisic into foul trouble.

Oweh should be able to at least somewhat check the Lithuanian pg. Will need Brea to play the game of his life guarding Riley.

Really too bad we don’t have JR for this one.

Edit: or maybe Oweh will get Riley. Either way, Chandler and Noah better be ready.

 

[fatguy87]

They take a ton of threes, average over 30 attempts a game, and only had made 31% of them coming into the Xavier game.

For reference, they shot 12-26 from 3 against Iowa and won by 12. They then shot 6-27 in their next game and lost by 23. Let's hope they keep up that pattern.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

On the plus side, we’ve spent a week working on protecting the defensive boards. Big strength of Illinois is offensive glass.

We can potentially have some combo of Amari/Carr work to get Ivisic into foul trouble.

Oweh should be able to at least somewhat check the Lithuanian pg. Will need Brea to play the game of his life guarding Riley.

Really too bad we don’t have JR for this one.

Think it comes down to the “4 spot”. Will we be quick enough at that position and will they be big enough at that position to handle Carr finishing around the basket.

 

[The_Answer1313]

This teams success/failure almost seems to be completely tied to their 3 pt FG% lol.

Check what they shot in the games they lost then check what they shot in the games they won.

It's wild.

They are a team much like Troy.........they take a ton of threes but overall don't hit many............however when they do....

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Not feeling great about Sunday.

Ehh. They are way to inconsistent to get a feel for

 

[MakinMusic]

They beat Xavier…….not Duke. Why are many of you scared? Let’s roll! GO BIG BLUE!!!

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Kentucky opens as the favorite I’ll be it only -1.5 on FanDuel

 

[The_Answer1313]

It's sort of wild to me that a team that's 16th in 2pt FG% and 296th in 3pt FG% feels the need to take 47% of their shots from 3 LOL.

 

[NociHTTP]

On the plus side, we’ve spent a week working on protecting the defensive boards. Big strength of Illinois is offensive glass.

We can potentially have some combo of Amari/Carr work to get Ivisic into foul trouble.

Oweh should be able to at least somewhat check the Lithuanian pg. Will need Brea to play the game of his life guarding Riley.

Really too bad we don’t have JR for this one.

Edit: or maybe Oweh will get Riley. Either way, Chandler and Noah better be ready.

What I hope doesn't happen is Carr and Amari in foul trouble. I think they're going to right at us under the basket.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Since the beginning of February, they’ve had only 1 game where the final score was within 5 points.

They’ve had 5 losses in that time by an average of 22 points.

7 wins by an average of 13+ points.

When I’ve watched them they haven’t looked great, but I guess I just watched on the wrong nights. Hope their alter ego shows up Sunday.

Kentucky will get wide open looks all game--it's just a matter of getting stops and turning them over. Amari Williams/Garrison will have to avoid foul trouble and Oweh/Brea need to be on.

Teams get any shot they want and if Boswell actually makes shots and plays like a Power Conference guard and not the total nothing he did for 70% of the season they look better.

I like this matchup for the Cats.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I'm not terribly concerned about the rebounding. We are 23rd in defensive rebounding %.

We've played in a league that has a TON of good offensive rebounding teams.

Our bigger issue with rebounding has always been on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

It's sort of wild to me that a team that's 16th in 2pt FG% and 296th in 3pt FG% feels the need to take 47% of their shots from 3 LOL.

It is wild to us Illini fans, too. 🤣 Our patented move is to get into the bonus with 10+ minutes to go in a half and then shoot like 2 more free throws from that point on.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

This is like the quintessential Cal game.

A team led by a trio of super first year guys in Illinois vs a less talented very experienced team that runs good offensive sets.

 

[fatguy87]

Our bigger issue with rebounding has always been on the offensive side of the ball.

Yeah. Williams is ok on the offensive glass. Garrison and Carr are poor for 4/5's. All three players have been that way their whole careers.

Pope's system doesn't emphasize OR% but it also doesn't completely abandon it.

 

[Chief Paducah]

I have no idea if we can win the game Sunday as banged up as we are but I do know this much, this team has put together some of its better performances against teams or games I didn’t think we would win. If we lose, I hope the boys go down swinging.

 

[Fox2monk]

Since the beginning of February, they’ve had only 1 game where the final score was within 5 points.

They’ve had 5 losses in that time by an average of 22 points.

7 wins by an average of 13+ points.

When I’ve watched them they haven’t looked great, but I guess I just watched on the wrong nights. Hope their alter ego shows up Sunday.

They are either world beaters or totally off. We have to have butler go because their PG is legit. We need Carr and Williams to play very well.

 

[Fox2monk]

Kentucky will get wide open looks all game--it's just a matter of getting stops and turning them over. Amari Williams/Garrison will have to avoid foul trouble and Oweh/Brea need to be on.

Teams get any shot they want and if Boswell actually makes shots and plays like a Power Conference guard and not the total nothing he did for 70% of the season they look better.

I like this matchup for the Cats.

That gives me hope because you definitely know you game. I hope we are healthy enough. A sweet 16 birth in Popes first year would feel so amazing after all the great wins so far. I want this team around another week at least. They deserve the pub and to play another game after this.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

After Dook they've been on a tear winners of 5 of 6 and beaten 2 ranked teams.

They killed Xavier on the glass, by 20, but they only played 7 guys with 5 guys playing the bulk of it which is music to my ears. Also I know we don't turn people over but they had 14 TOS to Xaviers 5.

Going by the numbers if we shoot well and pound them inside. AMARI ACTUALLY FINISHING. I think it's ours to lose.

The negative. Come on, it couldn't all be Rose's. They went 18-18 from the line for you guessed it 100%. Don't want it close at the end.

 

[Mike-D]

I think we match up well with illinois. Have faith, brother.

How? I don't think we match up at all, especially short handed. They seem to be bigger and rebound better. Not saying we can't win, but I honestly don't expect to.

 

[Aike]

After Dook they've been on a tear winners of 5 of 6 and beaten 2 ranked teams.

They killed Xavier on the glass, by 20, but they only played 7 guys with 5 guys playing the bulk of it which is music to my ears. Also I know we don't turn people over but they had 14 TOS to Xaviers 5.

Going by the numbers if we shoot well and pound them inside. AMARI ACTUALLY FINISHING. I think it's ours to lose.

The negative. Come on, it couldn't all be Rose's. They went 18-18 from the line for you guessed it 100%. Don't want it close at the end.

Right. After that humiliating blowout to Duke, they’ve played some of their best basketball…except when Maryland blew them out by 20. 😁

 

[HagginHall1999]

I don’t know. Almost more like Alabama. Come at you in waves. Some great individual talent. Loose with the ball. Not that great defensively.

They are also VERY young and I'm hoping that plays a role in game tomorrow.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

They are also VERY young and I'm hoping that plays a role in game tomorrow.

If you’re looking for another thing for positive thinking I think you have to go to the bench. They only play 3 bench guys.

Not only that but those 3 bench guys are all a pretty big drop off from their starters.

Besides the injuries on our team my personal biggest concern was could our bench play with our opponents? This is a game where statistically our bench should be able to match theirs.

 

[Aike]

If you’re looking for another thing for positive thinking I think you have to go to the bench. They only play 3 bench guys.

Not only that but those 3 bench guys are all a pretty big drop off from their starters.

Besides the injuries on our team my personal biggest concern was could our bench play with our opponents? This is a game where statistically our bench should be able to match theirs.

Got to love that BG “mostly” made the simple play last night.

Great to see Noah bang a three in a critical moment, and he always battles.

Chandler getting more comfortable every time out.

Need the lid to come off the rim for TP and this has the potential to be one of those special games.

Can’t imagine not being excited about the chance in front of us.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Got to love that BG “mostly” made the simple play last night.

Great to see Noah bang a three in a critical moment, and he always battles.

Chandler getting more comfortable every time out.

Need the lid to come off the rim for TP and this has the potential to be one of those special games.

Can’t imagine not being excited about the chance in front of us.

All great points and I have a sneaky suspicion about one of our other bench guys. I trust our guy Ralph especially on the B10 teams and he’s pointed out they tend to leave guys open from time to time.

Have a feeling Ansley hits a couple of corner 3s tomorrow night.

Also preach about Perry. He’s such a good shooter, only shoots when he’s open typically, and is still somehow down to 32% on the season.

 

[Coach Marrow]

Their point guard is a sneaky good rebounder and Will Riley will be tough to defend.

 

[BassProCat]

If you’re looking for another thing for positive thinking I think you have to go to the bench. They only play 3 bench guys.

Not only that but those 3 bench guys are all a pretty big drop off from their starters.

Besides the injuries on our team my personal biggest concern was could our bench play with our opponents? This is a game where statistically our bench should be able to match theirs.

Yup was thinking this last night…if we can get into their bench it will be a recipe for a W.

 

[Aike]

All great points and I have a sneaky suspicion about one of our other bench guys. I trust our guy Ralph especially on the B10 teams and he’s pointed out they tend to leave guys open from time to time.

Have a feeling Ansley hits a couple of corner 3s tomorrow night.

Also preach about Perry. He’s such a good shooter, only shoots when he’s open typically, and is still somehow down to 32% on the season.

Great point on AA. Hope he has at least one more in him this postseason.

Feel like the falling percentages with both TP and Noah are an adjustment period. Going from spot minutes where maybe their main job is to shoot an open shot, to being forced into more integral roles. More on their plates, more to think about.

Chandler, on the other hand, is going the other direction. Shaking off the rust and coming into his own. He has another gear that the other freshmen do not possess.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Great point on AA. Hope he has at least one more in him this postseason.

Feel like the falling percentages with both TP and Noah are an adjustment period. Going from spot minutes where maybe their main job is to shoot an open shot, to being forced into more integral roles. More on their plates, more to think about.

Chandler, on the other hand, is going the other direction. Shaking off the rust and coming into his own. He has another gear that the other freshmen do not possess.

Some of this is duh and obviously the benches have changed due to injuries. But we can agree our bench is pretty much just 3 point shooters? With that, in 9 of our 11 losses, our bench combined for 2 or fewer 3s. In 7 of 11 they had only 1 or 0.

Our only losses with more 3 point bench makes are the UGA game where Koby came off the bench and had 9 3 point attempts alone where UGA shot a million free throws. The other one was the Bama home loss where we scored 97.

 

[Aike]

Some of this is duh and obviously the benches have changed due to injuries. But we can agree our bench is pretty much just 3 point shooters? With that, in 9 of our 11 losses, our bench combined for 2 or fewer 3s. In 7 of 11 they had only 1 or 0.

Our only losses with more 3 point bench makes are the UGA game where Koby came off the bench and had 9 3 point attempts alone where UGA shot a million free throws. The other one was the Bama home loss where we scored 97.

Yeah it’s where we miss JR. If our bench is clicking we can still hang with anybody. But we lost that redundancy where it was rare for both Koby and JR to be off.