No champaign in Champaign

[BuiltLikeWilt]

To pull off this monumental task we may have to go with the same lineup we went with for the majority of past night's game. Spread them out on defense.. Combs could be a key.

I'd have to go back and see how Wisconsin beat them twice. Suspect Boyd was a factor.

Other issue is I'm not sure if illinois' guards will play as poorly as hoiberg did last night. Can't be underestimated how off he was last night.

I'd look at Nebraska and UCLA film against them too...............oh ya we beat both of those guys ddidnt we ??

 

[Seth53]

Illinois curbs alcohol sales Sat. with Final Four at stake

Champaign officials announced an emergency order limiting alcohol sales on the Illinois campus on Saturday night in anticipation of potential property damage and excessive celebrations if the Fighting Illini beat Iowa to advance to the Final Four.

www.espn.com

Hope it all goes stale...oh wait...they'll have to drown their sorrows in something...

 

[Dadman]

Little over confidence there, banning booze in the event they beat us?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Welp, there will be a house divided here come Saturday.

Me: started following Iowa in 1970. From Hampton Iowa. Still vividly remember listening to the last second BB loss to Jacksonville on WHO. Graduated from Iowa. Hawks are in my DNA. But now I live in western Illinois.

Wifey: born/raised/indoctrinated to all things Illinois. She's a bit older than me. Same DNA issue. No compromise, no quarter.

Should be a fun(?) two hours...

 

[Grady]

Illinois' 1st half vs Houston was about a bad of a half I've seen them play all year, which gives a glimmer of hope. That said, the first game was a blow-out, and the only reason it ended up a 6-pt game was because Ill took out all their starters and Iowa went on something like an 8-0 run to end the game. It wasn't that close.

Like most games at this point of the tourney, it will come down to who can hit their 3 pt shots. My goodness, there were games this season where Iowa couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from beyond the arc -- then there have been the last 2 games, when Koch, Sage, Big A, heck, even Howard -- have stepped up and nailed big 3s when we absolutely needed em' to stay alive. Shoot 45-50% from treyland, and we'll probably have a chance.

 

[Seth53]

 

[ajdwhs87]

So, it came back to bite them again. They do have a shot blocker but the Illinois defense can't get the big stops in big games.

Almost thought it might be a special year for them buuuut....they had a nice road with two easy games then Houston which is pretty easy to defend esp. if you rebound and lower their second chance points, then Iowa with Alvaro nowhere to be found plus the size issue and slower tempo was fools gold there. Looked like they were playing better defense but not really the real deal. Defensive efficiency...




Though in Pom rating(adjusted for opponent) it is a little better 1,2 for Michigan and Arizona, 8 for Uconn, and Illinois at 20. Better but not in league with the other FF teams.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

So, it came back to bite them again. They do have a shot blocker but the Illinois defense can't get the big stops in big games.

Almost thought it might be a special year for them buuuut....they had a nice road with two easy games then Houston which is pretty easy to defend esp. if you rebound and lower their second chance points, then Iowa with Alvaro nowhere to be found plus the size issue and slower tempo was fools gold there. Looked like they were playing better defense but not really the real deal. Defensive efficiency...

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Though in Pom rating(adjusted for opponent) it is a little better 1,2 for Michigan and Arizona, 8 for Uconn, and Illinois at 20. Better but not in league with the other FF teams.

God, I love that we have a coach who can coach defense.