Game Thread: Indiana vs. Illinois State

by Alex Bozich in Game Threads | November 23rd, 2007

Opponent: Illinois State (Chicago Invitational Challenge)

Date: Friday, November 23, 2007 | 8:36 EST

Arena: Sears Centre (10,000) – Hoffman Estates, Illinois

TV: Big Ten Network; Radio: IU Radio Network

Probable Starters:

Indiana (3-0): Armon Bassett, Eric Gordon, Jamarcus Ellis, DeAndre Thomas, D.J. White
Illinois State (3-0): Osiris Eldridge, Boo Richardson, Dom Johnson, Anthony Slack, Dinma Odiakosa

Keep an eye on:

Guard play: Both teams are led by high scoring guards. For the Hoosiers, Eric Gordon is second in the nation at 28.0 ppg. Osiris Eldridge, the MVC’s freshman of the year a season ago, is averaging 21.7 ppg for the Redbirds.
Something’s gotta give: Illinois State is holding opponents to 60.0 ppg while Indiana is third in the country at 98.0 ppg.
Shooting the three: The Redbirds are attempting 22.6 three’s per contest thus far, while Indiana is not far behind 19.7. Illinois St. is shooting 44.1 percent while the Hoosiers are at 54.2 percent.

As always, your predictions and comments are welcome in the game thread.

Tags: Illinois State Redbirds

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Steve O

We'll win by at least 20. Illinois State is the best team we'll have seen so far though.

John

Does any one know what places have the BTN in Bloomington?

Big A

I would try Yogi's or Nick's. I'm guessing Scotty's would have it as well.

bama chris

i think this could be closer than the experts think... 87 IU 79 Ill State

bama chris

I am listening to the game on the radio, but it sounds like IU is taking advantage of a little "star struck" ill state team. But finally a quick start!

bama chris

Big A does this game look as sloppy as it sounds?? and as a side note the radio crew keeps dogging the stadium, bad scoreboards and markings on the floor.

jaime gongora

I'm getting annoyed how DJ and and big dre go waaaaaaaay beyond the arch to guard off the screen. That could hurt us if a team has an excellent guard and passes it down low to a wide open man. GOrdon is a beast but Armon is having a off game so far. Armon just went to the training room. I think he's cramping agiain. I hope it doesn't become a reacuring problem as the season moves forward.

Big A

Bama Chris,

I'm not a fan of the court. They've got 3 different three-point lines.

Big A

First half in the books:

IU 38, Ill St. 28

Gordon leading the way with 20. We're struggling to establish an inside game. Definitely need to get D.J. more good looks. A lot of bad fouls by DeAndre where he left his feet and tried to block shots. Ellis is having a solid game, but not much out of Bassett so far. EJ is also doing an excellent job shutting down Eldridge.

jaime gongora

yeah D.J White is not being aggresive enough. he shouldn't be losing the low post position so easily. Ellis is grinding it out and doing a good job on the boards, and fighting for baskets. I want to see Holman play more so he could improve. You can tell the kid has heart, and will get better. I'm already seeing better defense from him.

jaime gongora

crawford made a nice down low pass to D.J. Even though D.J. missed crawford looks like he will be a great point guard. He's not forcing any bad shots and again is in control of the basketball.

jaime gongora

Gordon's dunk was just sick. I think I just wet myself.

ray

will someone please explain to me why dj white is playing so timid? i know i've been down on dj, but i guess because i expect so much more. he's not rebounding like he should as i've stated over and over on this site. tonight, i've seen several prime opportunities for dj to block shots. as the one of the premier shot blockers in the country, why does he just stand there when he has time to go up and contest shots? this year, less than any other year, he has back-ups...that is, if foul trouble concerns him. i don't know, it just seems like he isn't giving everything, but instead giving very little. i expected so much more, what do you all think.

ray

on another note, deandre thomas should have been a quarterback. he's made a couple of passes tonight that blew my mind. they gave all the credit to gordon, as expected, but it was deandre's pass early on that was amazing to me.

ray

stemler just fouled, but this isn't the nba. so, that should only be two free throws and no bucket, what the hell?

matt

I personally think DJ knows what lies ahead for this team and doesnt need these games to get ready for the season if you remember he played in the summer and actually did some serious work. There are a lot of youngsters on this team and i think he is taking a back seat so they can learn and experience this level of ball. he knows if he has guys like crawford, ellis, thomas, eric, etc. playin with confidence (i know eric can play on this level) but still getting him to play even better, this possabilities for this team are endless. Give more work to eli and brandon they can be a big help later in the year.

ray

my point earlier...crawford's bucket should count if that's how they are going to officiate.

ray

crawford's rebound and putback...beautiful.

ray

i know what people will say, dj had 6 rebounds (as of now), but those all pretty much fell into his hands. there was no blocking out or anything, just in the right place at the wrong time. okay, so let me tell you that he is still my favorite hoosier, but come on dj, show us what you have in you...it's your senior year!

jaime gongora

The last five minutes, is the type of defense I want to see from DJ. He worked hard the past two rebounds. I know he can do it. I just want him to have theat mean edge.

ray

okay, more than anything that i've complained about earlier...i've concerned about basset.

L. Rubes

I heard Armon went to the hospital

ray

matt,

i know where you are coming from...i guess that's why i expect so much more. when your team is only up by a couple of possessions (regardless of the situation) you go after every steal, every rebound, every drive to the bucket...like it's your last opportunity to win a game. after all that commentary, i think you're right (as i've said before on this site) dj will come up big when needed. what i want from dj though...come up (not big, but...huge!) every game. this should be dj's team, not his rhymer-want-to-be's team (which it doesn't matter if dj scores forty points a game...it's already in the commentator's selected speech to let everyone know this is ej's, not dj's team). on that note, i disagree. i think ej is amazing, but i would like to give credit to the best shooter in the country...armon basset. i would also like to say, even more than armon basset, this is dj's team.

ray

holy shit l.rubes, i hope you're wrong. if you ask any of the espn (b-10 commentators) they'll tell you that it won't matter. i'll tell you though, that they are completely wrong. i enjoy watching jordan crawford, but he isn't armon basset at point.

L. Rubes

Let me explain myself. I know Armon and his sister personally we are from the same high school and I just got word from his sister via internet (facebook) that he went to the hospital

ray

look guys, i like iu basketball more than most people would condider possible...but their major players need to play better (thomas - stay out of foul trouble; gordon - make smart, selective passes; dj - rebound and contest shots; basset - get healthy; stemler - play like you did against unc-w; crawford - play under control with a good shot sellection; ellis - keep playing hard, you've not let me down yet) if they want to beat a very, very good southern illinois team.

ray

keep us informed l. rubes...i think armon is the glue to this team...regardless of what all the commentators are saying. without armon, this team is very different. he keeps the game running smoothly, not to mention he's the best shooter in the country at this point in the season.

ray

l. rubes, anything knew? please send something as soon as you know...i'm VERY CONCERNED!

L. Rubes

Ray
posted info on the next article

ray

i will also say that i've screwed up on numerous occasions tonight...for instance, i said dj has less back up than ever before (absolute typ-o...i meant to say that he has less reason to be concerned about foul trouble than ever before...therefore, go after rebounds and contest shots dj!)

ray

i've been bouncing back and forth, sorry to miss your last post l. rubes. i am even more concerned now. let him know (if he's within reach that we hope the best for him...and that we need him on the court). good luck armon!

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