Game Thread: Illinois @ Indiana

by Alex Bozich in Game Threads | January 13th, 2008

Opponent: Illinois

Date: Sunday, January 13, 2008 | 4:30 p.m. EST

Arena: Assembly Hall (17,357) – Bloomington, Indiana

Line: Indiana by 11.5

All-time series: Indiana leads 81-77

TV: CBS (Verne Lundquist and Billy Packer)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Todd Leary and Joe Smith)

Probable Starters:

Illinois (8-8, 0-3 Big Ten): Demetri McCamey, Trent Meacham, Calvin Brock, Brian Randle, Shaun Pruitt
Indiana (13-1, 2-0 Big Ten): Jordan Crawford, Eric Gordon, Jamarcus Ellis, Mike White, D.J. White

Game Notes (Adobe Reader required to view):

Gameday links:

Illini Loyalty (Illinois fan site)
Fresh (man) in his mind (Chicago Tribune)
Got Gordon? (Indiana Daily Student)
Illini need new strategy to defend Hoosiers (Indianapolis Star)
Illini come face-to-face with Gordon (Springfield Journal Register)

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

Tags: Illinois Illini

Chris

Finally..... Gameday!! oh yea almost forgot GO COLTS!!

ray

does the writer from chicago (from one of the articles in your blog) actually believe that iu and ui would likely have swapped records if gordon went to ui instead of iu? does he honestly think that iu would be 0-3 in the big ten without gordon? uh...sorry, but iu is far too deep!

ray

i question whether this chitown writer has watched any iu games...i sent a little comment his way to clue him in.

chris

gordon (iu) 69
ui 51

matt

What percentage of fans u think are going from this colt game to Assembly?

James

Wow it looks like SD might pull this game out. At least the HOOSIERS will alleviate some of those playoff blues.

IU 77
UI 56

Bleeding Crimson

IU 81
UI 69
Gordon 33
Here's a thought. Does anyone know of an UI game thread where we could sneak on and act like UI fans and talk about...how great it would be it we had Gordon...Acting as if we can't stand IU...getting under their skin inside out. Just keep talking about how great IU really is this year, and how it would be nice to have Sampson as our coach...Just some thoughts to drive them crazy. I just like the idea. I thought I hated Ky fans but I have a new set to hate.
bc

James

The NFL postgame is killing me, the game has started! I have to watch stupid Shannon Sharpe and not the game?

Stephen

Yeah and then let's have seven minutes of commercials instead of showing the game. Seriously...I knew this was going to happen.

chris

yea i am already pissed at the outcome, i dont need to hear a bunch of people who are shocked that the chargers jv beat the colts.. and illinois out to a fast start.. what a bad day

James

GRRRR...im on the west coast i got bumped for oregon state stanford. This sucks.

Big A

Thank you CBS for showing us about 100 commercials and NFL postgame. Total BS.

chris

yea i think i need jarred to show me some more of the new subs from subway at halftime..

Stephen

Mike White can pass...nice dish to DJ for the dunk to give us the lead

chris

nice rotation and block my stemler!!

Stephen

I think might have to listen to this on the radio and watch the TV on mute.

James

Yeah I am not happy I dont get to watch on TV. During the football game they were even saying UI IU next on CBS. BS!

PostmanE

Those unable to watch: I feel your pain. I'm doing the rare work-on-Sunday thing today, and couldn't get out of it. Planning on watching the game on DVR later, but I've been sneaking snippets here and there in the break room. Nervewracking stuff so far.

Stephen

Verne and Billy are way too old to be doing a game together. I really don't need to listen to them bumble through this game.

chris

DJ looks hurt hes limping

Stephen

No he just runs funny.

chris

anyone else notice he seems to be favoring a leg when he tries to run?? i noticed it when he was in transition

chris

oh ok i guess i never noticed it. after the colts game i am paranoid

KC

anybody know of a radio station streaming IU games?

James

I listen to it on yahoo, but I pay 5 bucks a month. I am not sure of a free broadcast.

chris

www.wiux.org is the student radio, they are usually on it.

Stephen

http://www.wjcpradio.com/

Stephen

Well I don't think it's playing right now. I've used that before. Sorry

chris

Gordon looks tight...

James

Ratliff!!

PostmanR

I must say, Illinois under Bruce Weber has always given IU fits.

I suppose we should have expected this, no matter how bad the Illini has been this year.

Stephen

I know this is a gross understatement, but that was not a very good first half. Hoosiers need to start making better decisions.

Big A

Ugly first half by the Hoosiers. Need to find a way to get better looks and push the tempo.

James

I did not expect us to have this much trouble with them, especially with Pruitt and Alexander hardly playing. They shot waaayyyy better than they should have.

Stephen

Illinois probably can't keep this up the whole game, but even if they don't we still have a lot of work to do.

James

Yeah, I am not watching but it seems we are not using EJ as much as we should be. Is he being double teamed?

TerryIU

Billy Packer......SHUTUP!!!!!!

bootsie white

IU needs Bassett to create some offense.

Also DJ to find people quicker out of the double teams.

Would say Stemler needs to make a shot, but that's a silly thought.

bootsie white

like i just said, I would say Stemler needs ...

chris

alright now its time to cover the 11.5!

James

AJ again with a big 3! They just might cover.

chris

gordon hasnt got worked in the offensive flow at all today. iu as taken wayyy to many 3s

bootsie white

illinois better than its record.

Hoosiers need a third scoring option

Stephen

Every big three we hit, we let Illinois come down and answer with another big three.

If Armon was 100%, he hits that floater.

bootsie white

bad offense.

very bad offense.

Stephen

Do Verne and Billy even know what is going on out there?

Bassett was risky trying to spin away right by the Illini basket.

chris

i think this is purely illinois circling this game on their schedule over the summer and playing their hearts out. IU looks like they are going to pull it out though. i think a full week of pratice is needed!

Stephen

Weber is such a little BEEEOTCH.

Nice handshake and then he just walks away.

Go cry now!

Nice try Illini, but no go....

Big A

Ugly win, but I'll take it. R will have a recap soon.

dabig

The offense sucks. Anytime someone other than Gordon dribbles from outside the 3 point line and takes a shot, it is a wasted possession, even if the ball accidentally goes in. Everyone else on the team needs to understand that Gordon and DJ are the primary offensive weapons, and the goal has to be to get the ball to them. After Gordon is playing in the NBA, Crawford will get to be the superstar. Not this year, though.

Game Thread: Illinois @ Indiana

Joe's Bar on Weed Street Poll

Resources

ITH on Twitter

Recruiting Classes

Recommended Reading