Comments on: Phew!: IU escapes at home against the Illini

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:06:48 +0000

Yeah but Meachem nails big threes. He killed us a couple of times as we tried to pull away. I knew he’d hit some big shots. Illinois was without Frazier, too. If the Hoosiers want to win at THE OTHER Assembly Hall, Sampson better get this team playing better basketball.

Hopefully AJ keeps improving his shot. His wingspan on defense if very helpful to this team. With Bassett healthy, Ratliff shooting better, and Gordon..we have a lot of solid perimeter shooters when they double on DJ. I’d almost like to see the lineup with Bassett, Gordon, Ratliff, Ellis, and White when matchups allow.

We have a tough game at Minnesota coming up that concerns me as well.

By: Schultz

Schultz — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:49:16 +0000

If Illinois is a 10 on defense, they are a -46 on offense. Meachem is a starter and he would be the 4th or 5th guy off the bench for IU. They can play suffocating defense all they want, but they aren’t going to be able to beat any Tournament-caliber teams if they can’t score. If this team even had a C-minus offense, they would be a 4-6 seed and near the top of the conference.

By: Ollie Skrivanie

Ollie Skrivanie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:45:35 +0000

Brad and Jimmy: Illinois plays tough defense every game. Illinois is very limited offensively. Sampson did not make player adjustments in this game and IU’s defense is about a 4 on Illinois’ 10 defense!! Sampson should have gone to a 2-3 zone as Matta did and completely shut down Pruit and Randle. Illinois perimeter shooting is sporadic. It is not going to beat you. By golly I think it is time for a gin and tonic!!! When Weber’s future recruits come in-Richmond, Richards, Head, et al you may change your mind. Weber’s lack of class and sportmanship(not shaking hands with IU players and the “wet fish” with Sampson) is a reflection on the University of Illinois. Ollie

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:27:30 +0000

You know what…WE WON THE GAME. Let’s not forget that. IU teams in years past would have found a way to blow this one, or not even regain enough composure to take the lead back. As fans, I think too many of us were geared up for this game and wanted it to be a blow out. But the fact is that the Big Ten is very competitive. Sampson is right…there are no great teams. On any given night, any team can come away the winner.

By: Togs

Togs — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:23:18 +0000

14 – 1

By: PMK

PMK — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:26:33 +0000

Kelin I was referring to the fact that Ellis was not taken out before he went down on the other end and committed a dumb foul giving Illinois two foul shots as they were in the bonus.

By: T

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:53:27 +0000

Illinois reminds me of the 90’s Knicks. They play brutal, boarderline dirty defense that takes most teams out of their games. Sadly for the Illini, they’re not as talented as those Knick teams and struggle to actually win most games.

They made IU play their style of game, but the Hoosiers were able to pull out the victory, in large part because White and Gordon were the two best players on the court, which will be the case the majority of the year.

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:47:13 +0000

Honestly, what is wrong with you people? “I fear that the IU Basketball Team is not as great as many IU fans think. If we can barley beat not very good teams what will happen when we play MSU or Wisconsin?” MSU just lost to Iowa, who was 7-9 before the win. What makes you think we couldn’t beat a team that only managed 36 points? I understand we didn’t play well, but we won and are now 13-1. All teams have bad games…it’s the good teams that are able to scratch those wins.

By: tberry

tberry — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:31:07 +0000

According to Sampson, “the Big Ten has no outstanding teams.” The two we have barley beaten were two of the worst in the Big Ten, so what does that say about IU?

I fear that the IU Basketball Team is not as great as many IU fans think. If we can barley beat not very good teams what will happen when we play MSU or Wisconsin?

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:24:02 +0000

Hey Ollie……….WHAT???? Iowa just beat Michigan State. Does that mean Lickliter is clearly a better coach than Tom Izzo? No, it doesn’t. Its the Big Ten. Games are tough. We won.