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NCAA Round 1, Illinois vs WKU: Dont Believe the Hype

So, by now you have read all about it, without Chester, the TV says, this team is sunk. Forget the strong team defense, forget the massive height advantage the Illini big men enjoy, and most of all forget the bad losses the Hilltoppers suffered to teams outside of the top 100 RPI. All you need to know? Illinois can't score, the Big Ten is always and forever will be weak, WKU made the Sweet 16 last year with the #22 overall draft pick, and a coach that doesn't coach there anymore. I don't know why I am even bothering to right a preview for this game, because the outcome seems preordained.

Star-divide

But you of course know something better, that on a team where every thing is balanced, and revolves around operating as a unit. even the loss of Chester Frazier wont drastically change the face of this defense. This team is alot like the Michigan team which we faced in the BTT, but not as good. A team we beat without Chester. While Chester is the best defender by far, Jeff Jordan and Calvin Brock are no slouches themselves, and will I believe show the Hilltoppers the best defense they have seen all season.

Given the height advantage enjoyed by Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale, if the guards can work the ball into these two, the scoring should not be entirely too difficult. WKU has given up huge amounts of points all year long, their defense is not as good as Purdue's, Minnesota's or Penn State's. Scoring droughts, with the Illini are always a worry, but these scoring droughts occurred  against teams that are much better equipped size wise to defend them, and against teams that do not rely on purely outscoring their opponents, as WKU does.

Yes Slaughter and Mendez Valdez are talented players, but neither are Courtney Lee. As much as has been advertised about their team knowing how to win in the tournament, it is important to know that the coach that took them there is now the head coach of South Carolina.

I have every confidence that with the amount of rest the Illini have been allowed, and with the advantages we enjoy among personnel, the Illini will be successful against WKU.This game seems to me very similar to the last game against Michigan, with the amount of rest a team with our lack of depth has been afforded  by the week  off, and a week for Bruce to prepare a gameplan this game should be a victory.

I think Chuck D and Flav said it best.

 

0 recs  |  Comment 27 comments |

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We gotta push

the guards out on defense and pound’em inside on offense. This is a good matchup for us.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 7:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Public Enemy was

my favorite when I was a freshman in high school. I am really fucking old.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 7:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Anyone,anyone...

Bueller….Bueller?

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 7:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Clemson almost pulled it off against the Wolverines.

For a minute there, I thought it was going to overtime.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 8:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Even though

it is good for the conference, it pains me to see Michigan win. Even more to be… urrp…uh…pulling for them.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 8:45 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I had such a hard time picking this game.

I eventually decided on Clemson, but they decided to stop hitting shots.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Me too.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 9:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

They look jittery.

Hopefully Bruce can calm them down in this timeout.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It is so nice not to be playing a Big Ten team.

McCamey can actually drive to the hoop.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:38 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Fuck our shooting woes.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Fuck my life.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Easy

Killer. We’ve got to defend better. We’ll get them.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 9:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Still

this kills me. Brain dead play. No one gets back. No defensive rebounds. Shots will fall, but you’ve got to defend and rebound. We only do half.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 9:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Single digit deficit!!

WOO HOO!!!!

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

OMG

he can make it

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Got

’em right where we want ’em

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Got to

make some shots. How many easy looks have we fucked up today?

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 10:23 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Even Weber said

he didn’t know if Jekyll or Hyde would show up.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK, that call sucked.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hyde, apparently.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 10:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It would be really nice if

we could get it inside some more. Tis and Davis have a huge advantage that we haven’t gotten yet.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This dribble and pop offense

is kicking our ass. They’re wide open for every 3 they take.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

We're behind

and can’t dictate the tempo.

[Homer shows Bart "Wonderbat".]
Bart: Wow. How many home runs you gonna hit with that thing?
Homer: Let's see... We play thirty games. Ten at-bats a game. Mm...three thousand.

by boog on Mar 19, 2009 10:45 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well, at least he tried.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

OK, seriously.

GIVE THE BALL TO DAVIS HE IS YOUR BEST PLAYER LET HIM MAKE SOME GOD DAMN PLAYS

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:50 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey game thread has been up this entire time. Oops.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by Cruiser on Mar 19, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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