Illinois or Xavier

[Boyd94]

Dook kicked the crap out of Illinois. I'm not scared.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Illinois will have a massive crowd advantage. So go X

I live up here in the Chicagoland area. Illinois will not have a massive crowd advantage. They might have a slight crowd advantage, at most.

Milwaukee is still about three and a half hours from the Illinois campus. There are plenty of Kentucky fans in the Chicagoland area. There's just not a lot of fan interest for illinois.

Plus, Milwaukee is only a seven hour drive from Lexington.

 

[Kjuk24]

Kentucky hasn't played Illinois since 1984 and hasn't played Xavier since 1968. Always cool to me when we get matched up with unfamiliar opponents.

I've always wanted a UK vs Xavier match up in my lifetime! 🙏

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I agree. We have a better chance beating Xavier IMO at this point. If healthy I wouldn’t care. Illinois is really good when they are on. We couldn’t score a 100 now if we had too I don’t think.

Ummmm, yeah. This. Whole lotta this. Illinois might score 110 on us. They’re hard to guard.

 

[GoNoles111]

Chandler needs to play more whoever it is. Why he's sitting and Perry is playing instead is mind boggling to me.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Chandler needs to play more whoever it is. Why he's sitting and Perry is playing instead is mind boggling to me.

This. It makes 0 sense.

 

[Skyguyb27]

There’s absolutely no way Xavier wins this game. I’ll go as so far to say it’s impossible.

 

[Aike]

Illinois playing better right now, but only 2 fouls helps. Xavier needs to attack more.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

I hope they go to triple overtime and give every ounce of energy they have tonight😀

 

[NociHTTP]

Better hope we don't play Illinois.

 

[KyCPA]

Illinois has 2 first round picks including one lottery pick. Definitely would rather play Xavier. This is an easy question

Yep, Illinois looks pretty good right now.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Kentucky hasn't played Illinois since 1984 and hasn't played Xavier since 1968. Always cool to me when we get matched up with unfamiliar opponents.

Illinois will be an away game for us

 

[FiveStarCat]

I live up here in the Chicagoland area. Illinois will not have a massive crowd advantage. They might have a slight crowd advantage, at most.

Milwaukee is still about three and a half hours from the Illinois campus. There are plenty of Kentucky fans in the Chicagoland area. There's just not a lot of fan interest for illinois.

Plus, Milwaukee is only a seven hour drive from Lexington.

Are you watching the Illinois game now and did you hear the crowd when Troy made it interesting? They for sure out number us. Hopefully not as dramatic on Sunday

 

[JohnnyGreen1975]

If we get Illinois, you can go ahead and write that as a win. We will blow the doors off Illinois. Their conference is very weak this year.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Better hope we don't play Illinois.

Looks like Illinois but the chances they go off twice in a row???

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Our fans are doing it again. No matter who we play from the second round on, we create a reason why we shouldn't be able to beat them.

Listen, if we can't get past Xavier or Illinois, we have no business being in the sweet 16 anyway.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Are you watching the Illinois game now and did you hear the crowd when Troy made it interesting? They for sure out number us. Hopefully not as dramatic on Sunday

Our fans didn't show up tonight because they knew that it would be a w. They will be there Sunday.

Illinois has a good fan base but it's not nearly as good as you might think. Plus, this team has been largely disappointing for them. They haven't generated a lot of buzz in the area.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

All for one and one for all.

 

[wldktz8]

No defense so far for either

Yeah I know but I wouldn’t feel good in a shootout with a team like Illinois at this point in time.

UK didn’t have to expend a ton of energy. They should be good for Sunday. Xav/Ill is expending a lot of energy for having to turn around and play Sunday.

 

[gbl97]

If we get Illinois, you can go ahead and write that as a win. We will blow the doors off Illinois. Their conference is very weak this year.

The Big Ten is undefeated.

 

[NociHTTP]

Our fans are doing it again. No matter who we play from the second round on, we create a reason why we shouldn't be able to beat them.

Listen, if we can't get past Xavier or Illinois, we have no business being in the sweet 16 anyway.

I don't understand the need to attack "our fans". It's just opinions. Not everyone is going to think like you, me or anyone else. Your second sentence is true, but people are always going to worry.

 

[HalHR2500]

Playing Illinois will literally be a road game

They can be brilliant offensively or horrible if pressured on D (we only 2 defenders that fit that mold) so never know, they are not that good defensively that give up 75 pts per game and only force 9 TO

But it’ll be like winning on road in SEC

85% of building will be orange

Probably have to hang 90 plus to advance

 

[wldktz8]

I didn’t think we were bad. Would give us a B-. Got to give Troy an A for effort.

Probably won’t win Sunday without our A game.

Xav/Ill are both expending a bunch of energy in this game. Should be to UK’s advantage.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don't understand the need to attack "our fans". It's just opinions. Not everyone is going to think like you, me or anyone else. Your second sentence is true, but people are always going to worry.

Who's attacking? There's irony in your post. I'm merely offering an opinion too. I didn't mock anyone. I'm just pointing out the obvious.

 

[wldktz8]

Neither team is playing much defense right now. IL does look like they could be a problem.

Hopefully gassed.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Playing Illinois will literally be a road game

They can be brilliant offensively or horrible if pressured on D (we only 2 defenders that fit that mold) so never know, they are not that good defensively that give up 75 pts per game and only force 9 TO

But it’ll be like winning on road in SEC

85% of building will be orange

Probably have to hang 90 plus to advance

You're overestimating the Illinois fan base. I live in illinois, right between the Illinois campus and Milwaukee. They will have a crowd advantage but it will be closer to 55/45.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Don't care, we have beaten better teams than both of them this season. If we play well we win.

 

[Aike]

Illinois looks great and it sounds like a home game.

 

[true blue1]

Will Riley is a pro! Kid is tough!

 

[NociHTTP]

Who's attacking? There's irony in your post. I'm merely offering an opinion too. I didn't mock anyone. I'm just pointing out the obvious.

I didn't say you were mocking anyone. You interpret what I wrote as irony, but you're missing my point. There's no need to try and police other's opinions, or how they fan. To me that was fairly obvious.

 

[darkshadesofblue]

Looks like Illinois unless something drastic happens in the next ten minutes. I remember wanting to see an Illinois matchup since 2005. Hope our fans arrive on Sunday and help counter their home crowd advantage. Should be a fun matchup..

 

[sammysdad05]

Yep, Illinois looks pretty good right now.

Yeah they’re healthy and peaking. Add in their home crowd and I don’t really like our chances much

 

[wldktz8]

Don't care, we have beaten better teams than both of them this season. If we play well we win.

I’ll is probably not going to shot 73% with 10 minutes left in the game Sunday.

 

[wldktz8]

Yeah they’re healthy and peaking. Add in their home crowd and I don’t really like our chances much

They are not going to shoot 73% on Sunday with 8 minutes left.

 

[KyCPA]

Don't care, we have beaten better teams than both of them this season. If we play well we win.

If we make shots it will at least be a close game win or lose. If we shoot poorly we lose by 10 or so. If we shoot poorly and turn the ball over we get blown out.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Illinois is shooting insanely well tonight. If they duplicate it Sunday you shake their hands and move on to next year.

Over 50% from the field, 10 made 3s, 16-16 from FT

 

[fatguy87]

If Illinois wins big, we might open as a slight underdog for our game on Sunday.

 

[Titpwhami2014]

Bring on the Silent S’s

 

[NociHTTP]

There should be ZERO excuses for anyone on the roster not being ready for the game on Sunday. I hope that Pope and staff are scouting Illinois, it will be a really tough game. I'm not sure we'll be able to counter their speed and I'm worried about the tandem of Boswell and Ivisic.

 

[wldktz8]

Illinois is shooting insanely well tonight. If they duplicate it Sunday you shake their hands and move on to next year.

Over 50% from the field, 10 made 3s, 16-16 from FT

Yes, but Xavier isn’t exactly the best team to judge Illinois by. Besides Xavier had to play the first four in game.