Illini-Purdue Pre-Game discussion Thread!

[Big Phil]

game is 7:30 Wednesday

Goes without saying it is a must win. Lose and we are solid in NIT. Lunardi has us a 12 seed today.

Purdue has beaten us SIX STRAIGHT in this series

no way we can lose 7 of 8, can we?

Illini  64
Purdue  59

[chief321]

I've been picking us to lose these last two games and we have....
So I will say we win...even though I don't have good feelings about the way things are going...almost seems like our program is going down like a jet airplane with no functioning motor....
Regardless
Illinois 58
Purdue 52
COTG ML with 20 and 20.   

[Musson]

ML will struggle again. There is no personal match up for him to have on Purdue.  He plays his best when there is someone on the other team to keep him in the post and near the rim on D, and then his pride takes over, and he tries to win the battle against his match up on O.

So, I would put him at 8 points and 8 rebounds.

It is almost the exact opposite of what we all want to think when we see a smaller line up where he should dominate down low. History shows us much different though.

He has to have a personal battle to keep him engaged, or he wonders around and does dumb stuff fouling little dudes who dribble good and run fast.

[chief321]

ML will struggle again. There is no personal match up for him to have on Purdue.  He plays his best when there is someone on the other team to keep him in the post and near the rim on D, and then his pride takes over, and he tries to win the battle against his match up on O.

So, I would put him at 8 points and 8 rebounds.

It is almost the exact opposite of what we all want to think when we see a smaller line up where he should dominate down low. History shows us much different though.

He has to have a personal battle to keep him engaged, or he wonders around and does dumb stuff fouling little dudes who dribble good and run fast.

I agree that's what he's been doing..I have a feeling he will have a big game against PU though...not sure why, not about matchups...just feel like he'll come out and make Purdue adjust to us. 
I don't think we've done a good job of catering our offense to our strengths...but I think the staff is about to pull out all the stops and let them play a little more open...they really have nothing to lose. 

[misterp]

Well when a coach takes you out for 12 minutes despite only two fouls, you are not going to have a big game. But I would say it will be Purdue 70 - Illinois 65.

[Musson]

I suppose BW is the only coach in America who does that. Just another nail in the coffin I guess.

[obmtl]

I suppose BW is the only coach in America who does that. Just another nail in the coffin I guess.

I don't fault Weber for that call. It's a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. Leonard doesn't do any good on the bench, but is probably going to give up a lot of points playing soft on D so as not to pick up a 3rd foul or will pick up more fouls if you leave him in.

Yesterday we were hanging within 6-8 pts without him through the first half, so Weber could buy more time. If we had been falling 12-15 down, Weber may have put him back in to try to stem the tide.  As it turns out it didn't matter either way. We didn't close the gap in the 2nd half with Leonard in anyway.

[Big Phil]

agreed and thats in the past this is for the Purdue game only 

other postgame is still open

[obmtl]

agreed and thats in the past this is for the Purdue game only 

other postgame is still open

But the post to which I responded was in this one. 

To get back on topic - all streaks must end. Purdue's streak ends Wednesday. Illini 65-62

[JimmyChitwood]

PU - 67
IL - 63