Defense wins a lot of things, including games like these
by Adam Hoge on Feb 9, 2010 1:57 PM CST
in UW Men's Basketball
7 comments
If you're wondering what Illini fans are thinking about their game at Wisconsin tonight, just check out the lead in the Hail to the Orange game preview:
The Illini are going to lose this game. I have prepared myself for it.
Sure the Illini are on a four-game winning streak and just beat Michigan State at home Saturday night, but forgive me for not really caring about that. The first three wins on the current streak came against Penn State, Indiana and Iowa -- the conference's three bottomfeeders. The Spartans were playing without Kalin Lucas and quite frankly, the Illini should have beaten Wisconsin's sloppy seconds.
Before the current winning streak, Illinois lost three straight to Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern. The Illini have yet to beat a +.500 Big Ten team on the road. Is that going to happen tonight in Madison where the Badgers are on an 18-game home winning streak? Where the Badgers have beat three Top Five teams this season? Where Bo Ryan is 8000-10 in his career?
It's simple. Wisconsin plays defense, Illinois does not.
Like Joe from Hail to the Orange said: The Illini are going to lose this game.
Keys to the Game
- Play big defensively. Illinois is one of the rare big teams in the Big Ten. The Illini will play four guys taller than Keaton Nankivil tonight, two of which average double figures in points. It will be a different defensive challenge than the Badgers are used to.
- Rebound, rebound, rebound. The Illini might be big, but Bill Cole and Tyler Griffey are two 6-9 starters who only average just under four points a game. Of bigger concern is rebounding, which UW will have to do to control the game on its home court.
- If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keaton Nankivil and Jordan Taylor flipped a switch when UW was losing to Penn State at home Jan. 23 and the UW offense hasn't looked back since. What they have done without Jon Leuer has been very impressive and it involves Trevon Hughes taking a few less shots and getting his teammates involved. It's working, so keep it going.
Prediction
Wisconsin 63, Illinois 52
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I don't even think the illini are getting past 50 pts
47 sounds more like it.
No overconfidence here
The Illini HAVE killed us when we’ve been on an upward swing. A win would be nice, but the Badgers cannot, absolutely CANNOT afford to have a turnover fest. Fortunately Bo’s teams don’t do that so much. We’ll see, but Jason Bohannon needs to have another great game to help the Badgers put the game away.
Besides, a win for Illinois would be all the incentive in the world for them to be ranked.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 9, 2010 3:48 PM CST reply actions
EEESH
HUBRIS.
That is all. I preemptively blame this post for whatever unfortunateness unfolds over the next few hours.
Yeah
but have some consolation: you AREN’T Trevon Hughes. Or Jarmusz. Or Nankavil.
This was deflating. Does ANYBODY like Illinois besides Illini fans? I don’t think so.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 9, 2010 8:14 PM CST up reply actions
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Big Ten Conference Standings
(updated 4.3.2010 at 10:04 PM CDT)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
Purdue Boilermakers
|
14 | 4 | 29 | 6 |
| Ohio St. Buckeyes | 14 | 4 | 29 | 8 |
|
Michigan St. Spartans
|
14 | 4 | 28 | 8 |
|
Wisconsin Badgers
|
13 | 5 | 24 | 9 |
|
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
10 | 8 | 21 | 15 |
|
Minnesota Golden Gophers
|
9 | 9 | 21 | 14 |
|
Northwestern Wildcats
|
7 | 11 | 20 | 14 |
|
Michigan Wolverines
|
7 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
|
Indiana Hoosiers
|
4 | 14 | 10 | 21 |
|
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
4 | 14 | 10 | 22 |
|
Penn St. Nittany Lions
|
3 | 15 | 11 | 20 |
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