I predict KL will take J H to school...as long as he stays out of the trees.
I've grown to appreciate Lewis. He plays tough.
Do we just try to pack in a zone and take away the post make them beat us from 3?? The 3 ball has to go in less than them having 7 footers drop it in the basket all game right?
He does play tough. If only he could shoot.
He's an ok shooter... better than Tate. So I'll take it.
Although they definitely have a size advantage down low, this isn't so much the problem. It's really just our crappy interior defense. In terms of size, we actually match up with them as good as anyone else because even with our depleted front court we can start two 6'10" guys at the 4/5.
Game Notes
BTN: Jeff Levering & Jon Crispin
http://www.fightingillini.com/news/2016/1/8/MBB_0108164511.aspx
Groce: Two good days of practice. Wasn't happy other night. Execution was awful in every area except defensive rebounding.
Groce: Little bit concerned about competitive toughness. Didn't like 2H vs. Michigan and game vs. MSU. We can control that.
Groce: We have to be much more consistent, regardless of who we have on the floor. They should be used to guys being out.
Groce: Played well vs. Xavier, Providence with guys out. We have to man up and be better at controlling things we can control.
Groce: Purdue "another great test of toughness."
Groce: Purdue elite at rebounding, defending. They have great depth.
Groce: We understand how big they are. We have to be smarter about attacking size. Too many shots getting blocked.
Groce: Johnny Hill and PJ Thompson are steady at PG. Take care of ball, get ball to shooters and bigs. They're very reliable.
Groce: Some progress from Finke, Mav in the post but I need them to do more. Both played career highs vs. MSU. Asking a lot of them.
Groce: They got to learn to push through that. They got to toughen up. They know that.
Groce: Swanigan "makes them enormous."
Groce: I dIdn't like much about anything the other night.
Don't expect Groce to go back to that lineup with Mav and Finke much. Calls it "an option." That means Hill will have to battle inside.
Groce: Alex Austin needs to get back to where he was earlier in the season on D. Three bad fouls vs. OSU. Needs to sharpen up
Groce: Kendrick Nunn practiced the last two days. Everything's fine with his family and his son, Kason.
Groce: No other changes to the roster "unfortunately. I wish I had more to report there."
Per Vegas Purdue is a 9.5 pt fav. Illinois getting 9.5 pt @ home hasn't probably happened in 40 years.
I think Indiana was a 15 point favorite a few years ago when we knocked them off as #1.
Quick google search-> lines.com says it was a 7.5 spread vs #1 IU in 2013.
Did you seriously bet that Michigan State/Illinois game? #HopeNotI think Indiana was a 15 point favorite a few years ago when we knocked them off as #1.
You know, I remember the days of Doug Altenberger (who stood the same 6'4" that I do) battlling hard as a small forward in the early/mid-80's. I know we're undersized with all the injuries, but doesn't anyone use the fundamentals any more? You know . . . watching the shot (a shot from the L wing is probably going to rebound to the right, and vice versa), boxing out,etc.?
I know it's a different game today with different players, but there were teams with 7 footers back then, and I didn't see anyone whining about our lack of length. In fact, if I recall correctly, our frontcourt stood 6'4" )Altenberger, 6'9" (Montgomery), 6'8" (Winters) and 6'9 Welch. And we started out the season ranked #1 in the country, finishing #12.
I also believe that was pre- 3p if not mistaken?The 84 team with Montgomery, Winters, Altenberger, Douglas and Richardson was wonderful, the most overachieving UI squad in school BB history. Only went 7 deep, too. Reached the Elite 8 and should have gone to the F4 if not for a bad foul call near the end of the game and the locale being Lexington.