(18) Indiana @ Illinois - Pregame thread - 2/25 at 2100 EST on ESPN

[Whoozhers 3,661]

Once again.... The anticipation is killing me!
Hoping the defense minded, tough rebounding, low turnover, three draining HOOSIERS show up!!!
GO HOOSIERS!!!

[johnsoniu 6,291]

Big game. At least I had 11" of slush to blow/shovel to keep me occupied. Nice little nap should get me to the early games. How you doing down in your neck of the woods CCG?

[ALASKA HOOSIER 11,257]

Let's get fired up! You know the Illini fans are. This is their "superbowl"!

Bring the heat IU, Bring the heat!

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

I must be doing something right cause my wife either asks me when iu plays next or checks the schedule herself before making plans for me. In preseason after maui much to her surprise I said we could go Christmas shopping but I still drank beer and listened to most of the game in the car lol

It's all timing here. I have only had to miss or delay games when I had something regularly scheduled over it like Sunday School and soccer practice. This game just happens to be exactly at dinnertime and I can't control the in-laws, so these things happen.

 

She's great about doing things like picking the kid up from daycare when it conflicts with a 4 pm or 5 pm game and stuff.

[coonhounds 8,808]

It's all timing here. I have only had to miss or delay games when I had something regularly scheduled over it like Sunday School and soccer practice. This game just happens to be exactly at dinnertime and I can't control the in-laws, so these things happen.

She's great about doing things like picking the kid up from daycare when it conflicts with a 4 pm or 5 pm game and stuff.

I totally understand i was just pointing out my situation. I don't have any family from out of the area but I am sure a visit would create a issue. Same as weddings and funerals and other important out of your control scenarios

[ALASKA HOOSIER 11,257]

Illinois basketball looks for major upset over Indiana

Photo by Austin Yattoni | The Daily Illini

Illinois' Malcolm Hill takes a layup off a fast break during the game against Rutgers at the State Farm Center on February 17. The Illini won 82-66.

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By Joey Figueroa | 14 hours ago

It may not be tournament time just yet, but a few Big Ten courts have been rushed by rabid fans lately.

Illinois vs. Indiana

When/where: State Farm Center, 8 p.m., Thursday

Broadcast: ESPN

Quick note: After being embarrassed in Indiana early in the year, Illinois will go for a massive upset at home Thursday night.

Hidden stat: Over their past three games, the Illini have not been outrebounded and hold a plus-3.7 margin on the glass in that stretch.

While the elite teams are gearing up for the postseason, it’s upset season for the squads without much else to play for, and the Illinois men’s basketball team will have a chance to continue a conference trend Thursday night.

Last week saw two major upsets in the Big Ten. On Wednesday, Penn State pulled off a 79-75 win over No. 4 Iowa — the Nittany Lions had lost five of their previous six contests before the win.

The next night, the even more improbable happened when Minnesota, previously winless in Big Ten play, knocked off No. 6 Maryland. Two nights, two postgame court rushes.

Illinois (12-15, 4-10 Big Ten) will have the opportunity to pull off another Big Ten upset when Indiana (22-6, 12-2) comes to town for the teams’ second bout — and considering the lopsided results of their first meeting, a narrow Illini victory would almost guarantee a half court invasion by the home fans.

 

“Well-done is better than well-said,” Groce said of his team’s chances against Indiana. “We need to go out and play the right way.”

Since the 34-point drubbing Indiana handed Illinois at the end of January, plenty has changed. In that game, center Mike Thorne, Jr. made his short-lived return and struggled — he hasn’t played since.

Junior Jaylon Tate started and logged 24 minutes, neither of which he’s done in the past five games. Junior center Maverick Morgan and freshman forward D.J. Williams combined for nine total minutes in Bloomington and have since turned into key rotational pieces.

Groce said he is optimistic about how the Illini have played over their past three games and believes they have improved vastly since their first meeting with the Hoosiers.

“There’s no question we’re better on both ends of the floor than the last time we played them,” Groce said. “It’s going to take a great effort by our guys — great concentration, great attention to detail — to defend them and then make sure we’re having quality offensive possessions on the other end of the floor.”

The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in made threes and points per game — their 83.7 points per game overall is good for 12th in the nation. Senior Yogi Ferrell is the clear-cut team leader and demands defensive attention on every possession.

The prolific point guard leads the Big Ten with 504 points produced — a combination of scoring and assists — but is in the midst of a seven-game stretch of sub 20-point games. He has tallied at least four assists in all but four Big Ten games.

On the other end, junior captain Malcolm Hill will try to match Ferrell’s pace and lead the Illini offense with similar prowess. The dynamic forward has been on a torrid stretch, averaging 19 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.4 turnovers per contest in his past five games.

Groce recognized the Illini will need to play close to perfect in order to pull out a win Thursday — and a victory over one of Illinois’ fiercest rivals could very well outshine the darkness this season has produced to this point.

“I want them locked in,” Groce said. “I tell them to keep swinging the hammer every day. Keep swinging that thing.”

jfiguer2@dailyillini.com

@joeyfigueroa3

[Brass Cannon 24,291]

I mean jesus christ, if they do upset us and rush the court I will have to feel bad for them.  Rushing the court because you upset the #18 team in the country. 

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Thanks Alaska.

 

The article should have said they are playing like they did on January 10, 2016, that would make me more nervous than saying they'll play like they did the last three games.

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

I must be doing something right cause my wife either asks me when iu plays next or checks the schedule herself before making plans for me. In preseason after maui much to her surprise I said we could go Christmas shopping but I still drank beer and listened to most of the game in the car lol

Score!

My wife set the DVR for the Purdue game for me without me even prompting. If that's not love....

[southsidehoosier 4,977]

In-law brothers! Mine are coming in about 2.25 hours, so no carrying at risk, but they will want to eat dinner at the same time the game is on over here. I politely asked my wife if we can go somewhere with a TV and she managed not to sustain any permanent eye damage while rolling them and sighing. So, I think I'm good. I also got an annoyed "Maybe you should just stay home" which would really be the ideal solution for me.

Don't stay home! It's a trap!

[FloridaHoosierGirl 4,614]

ESPN2GO ON YOUR PHONE.  Eat and watch at the same time.

[VO5 8,272]

We can't let Nunn and Hill go off. If they're hitting shots, Ill be really worried about the outcome. Hopefully we take them seriously this time around and don't pull a Penn State :)

[Parakeet Jones 3,741]

Is it too early to say I hope FSU/Duke doesn't go to overtime?

In laws getting in at 7:00, so I should have my Clark Griswold luggage duty over by then.

Crap, that is in less than an hour.

[southsidehoosier 4,977]

Going to Yogis with some friends for the game. Let's do this!

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Is it too early to say I hope FSU/Duke doesn't go to overtime?

In laws getting in at 7:00, so I should have my Clark Griswold luggage duty over by then.

Crap, that is in less than an hour.

We should all hope for that. That'd be a bad sign for Duke and we need them to keep being a good loss!

 

Going to Yogis with some friends for the game. Let's do this!

 

Say hi to Doc Libby for us!

[southsidehoosier 4,977]

Is it too early to say I hope FSU/Duke doesn't go to overtime?

In laws getting in at 7:00, so I should have my Clark Griswold luggage duty over by then.

Crap, that is in less than an hour.

"The sh*tters full"

[attachment=3494:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1456442169.448055.jpg]

[southsidehoosier 4,977]

We should all hope for that. That'd be a bad sign for Duke and we need them to keep being a good loss!

Say hi to Doc Libby for us!

Hahahaha took me a sec

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

Piss on that.  I hope they get blown out of the gym.

 

We should all hope for that. That'd be a bad sign for Duke and we need them to keep being a good loss!

 

 

 

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Piss on that.  I hope they get blown out of the gym.

Yeah, you're right, what am I thinking? I hope they get beat so bad Coach K has to resign and start working at another school because of the embarrassment.

 

Maybe another traditional blue blood, but in a cooler climate to help preserve him as he's aging. Maybe a school who is recruiting and playing well, but not living up to their potential. I think the University of Indiana would take him.

[HoosierAloha 30,026]

Oh boy, DD and Greenburg are going to be behind the benches tonight during the game.  I have a feeling this is going to be annoying...