Well, half the posters on the Illinois message board are now convinced they'll run the table and a few predicted a 30 point win against us. If guys on here ever got that confident I would assume we were about to lose, but maybe that's just a Rutgers thing...
THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-ILLINOIS PREDICTION THREAD
- Thread starter bac2therac
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Until RU beats someone on the road not named Penn St I will go with a loss
Illinois 77
RU 64
Yeah if the game was here I would say it was ours. Haven’t played well on the road so Illinois 68-RU 61
You're only looking at the record. I think these teams are pretty even, but play different styles. It's a home game for Illinois and they've played a much harder schedule than RU. Can't just look at record.
lets not overdue it on Illinois. While greatly improved from earlier in the year, whether they can bring that level of play consistently each game is another story. Thats why I am not so sure I agree that they can finish 7th or 8th which would include passing Ohio State and Minnesota two schools projected to the NCAA tournament.
this is a game that in year 3 of Pikiell that is a measuring stick game against a program who has struggled a bit. I think there is a defeatist attitude in this thread. I am picking Illinois but RU can beat this team.
this is a game that in year 3 of Pikiell that is a measuring stick game against a program who has struggled a bit. I think there is a defeatist attitude in this thread. I am picking Illinois but RU can beat this team.
I wouldnt say they have to win this game...I would say they HAVE to split these two road games...while true when this is a rebuilding year (again) and there is no post season, you have to perform well vs the competition in your vicinity which both NW and ILL are....RU is 4-2 vs teams in vicinity and even above (OSU/Indy).
Beyond a win and loss today, I am looking at particular things in this game....its definitely a measuring stick game for me. Something like last years 30 point drubbing would be unacceptable. I dont want to see a Minnesota or Purdue result. I want to see this team compete hard and players who have been struggling to step up their game..play smart, limit turnovers, value the possessions and rebound...if they do that win or lose I will be okay
Very reasonable assessment, split these games.
They have played a tougher schedule AND they have played much better of late. The early losses are less relevant to how they’re playing now.
I think on a neutral court today (not two months ago) these teams are evenly matched although they have different strengths. Any objective assessment of this game would have to give the edge to IL if for no other reason than they are playing at home.
Underwood is an excellent coach. He lost quite a few transfers this season and got his kind of players in the program. He lost a pre-season 5 star early and got arguably another one (I've seen Dosunmu as both a 4 and 5 star). His frontcourt was decimated and Nichols has been a disappointment for most of season. He just lost the top player in the state for next season to Ohio State (OSU has a top 10 national class coming in right now). Orlando Antigua (remember him?) does a great job recruiting though.
He tested the team very early with a brutal non-conference schedule and the team took their lumps but they did hang with Gonzaga early in the season. This team is very young and improving dramatically. They will be no slouch in the B1G tournament,
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I think posters are just on an emotional high, only natural. :) We used to be very, very good at basketball, and now - as a program with WAY more built-in advantages than most - we have sucked for a decade. Not a good combo for logic and mental stability! LOL.
I am nervous for this one, you guys are another team much better than your record. I have some cautious optimism since we’re playing well and at home, so I’ll take us by 7-8 after free throws ... a loss isn’t even close to a “shock.”
Here’s to a good game with no injuries!
Illinois is talented but this is a letdown game for them.
I think RU has a ways to go but I have the (irrational) feeling that RU has improved enough not to get rolled by a bottom half B1G team
I think Vegas has it about right. Illinois 73 RU 66
I think RU has a ways to go but I have the (irrational) feeling that RU has improved enough not to get rolled by a bottom half B1G team
I think Vegas has it about right. Illinois 73 RU 66
Another thing to consider... Illinois has been relatively injury free, while we played 3 terrible games without Eugene and are just getting him back to (maybe?) full strength...
So when comparing performances and records, I think we might be slightly better than our stats.
So when comparing performances and records, I think we might be slightly better than our stats.
Can we make some FTs, maybe. Will it be the difference, probably not. Will we keep them under 80 ?
However I did save a bunch of money on my car insurance.
Seriously though, I did say these teams were evenly matched and expected similar shooting from both 2 and 3pt range. I predicted a very close game (1pt victory) with the winner outscoring the loser at the foul line. I just picked the wrong winner (then again I am a fan of RU, so).
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