ILLINOIS vs IOWA (Saturday Mens NCAA Ball)

[Carpet]

This thread has one focus to take a Hard
look at this game, asking all for any insight
as we look to make some green..

Illinois 21-9 vs Iowa 16-12

The Illini have a week to prepare for
the game at Ames Iowa, a rather rare thing
indeed ( a week) for Coach Weber

Iowa is on the road Wed Night and
is playing Penn State, State College
(Woode12's early insight says this could be
a look ahead game for Iowa) Carpet Agrees...........

The Hawkees take care of Business at home
as most big ten teams do, and I show the only loss
at home was to Wisky 57-40

I look for this game to be the game that
makes or breaks Illinois chances for the dance
and they will come to play.....

Everyday the Carpet will be under the FLOOR
seeking out solid information and sharing with all
at BW....

An Interesting Stat

In Iowa's last 6 games the winner of the
Rebounding also won the game. And in each
case Iowa either won or lost the rebounding battle
by 9 boards each time... Mich St, Wisky, and
Northworstern each outrebounded the Hawkees by
9 or more and won..

Tommorrow Carpet will focus in on
the offensive and defensive strengths of each team
relative to the match up at hand

Early numbers show Illinois a 4-5 point favorite
coming in...

The Carpet is asking any and all who have any thought
at all to provide your thoughts, stats and involvement
as we look to nail this one down..............

Carpet

Semper Fi

[Carpet]

IOWA PLAYS PSU NEXT A LOOK AT PSU

A A A A A


PSU Crushed at Home Again


The key block on Claxton. By Mark Brennan
FightOnState.com
Posted Feb 24, 2007

Struggling Nittany Lion hoop squad continues to have its issues at the Jordan Center, this time falling to Illinois while being heckled by a clever group of Illini students.

Penn State's Geary Claxton put up a shot in the lane against Illinois at the Jordan Center Saturday. It was swatted by Marcus Arnold, prompting a vocal delegation of Illini students at the far end of the floor to break into a chant.
"Not in YOUR house! Not in YOUR house!" the block of blaze orange bellowed.

It was that kind of day for the Nittany Lions (10-17, 1-13), who dropped their 13th straight game, this time by a score of 68-50.

And it's been that kind of season, a campaign that has seen Ed DeChellis' squad undressed on its home floor time and again. If you are keeping score in your home, Penn State has now lost eight games at the BJC -- nine counting an exhibition pratfall to Division II Shippensburg.


Danny Morrissey tries
a tough shot.

The Lions have lost home games to the good (top-ranked Ohio State and Wisconsin), the bad (9-18 Stony Brook) and now the ugly (an Illinois team ranking 10th in the Big Ten in scoring offense).

"I don't know what it is," DeChellis said when asked about the lack of a home-court edge. "… I don't know how to respond."

This much is known: The Lion players have been out-played in the building. The coaching staff has been out-coached. And Saturday — again — the PSU student section had its collective head handed to it by a much smaller contingent of opposing student fans.

Nearly 100 members of the "Orange Crush" used a ruse (more on that later) to secure seats behind the basket near the Lion bench. After making the 12-hour bus ride from Champaign, they repeatedly taunted the PSU players and student section.

God knows they had plenty of material.

Winners of 5 of 6 coming in, the Illini (21-9, 9-6) are fighting for an NCAA tournament bid, and it showed early. They made 5 of their first 6 shots in blasting out to an 11-2 lead, the last bucket in the run an alley-oop dunk by Brian Randle.

Truth be told, that was pretty much it for the Nittany Lions.

The lead reached 16, 25-9, midway though the first half when Warren Carter made a hook shot. PSU kept things from getting out of hand the rest of the period, but every time it threatened to make things interesting the Illini got their act together and pulled away.


Warren Carter.

It was 42-30 early in the second half when the Lions stopped playing defense for a spell. Illinois hammered home four straight dunks — State's only bucket in the stretch was a David Jackson layup — to boost the lead to 50-32.

"We weren't rotating quickly enough and getting back on defense," Claxton said. And it only got more dismal.

With just under eight minutes left and PSU trailing 55-39, guard Mike Walker had a steal near midcourt. The Lions had a three-on-nothing break, with Claxton and center Brandon Hassell trailing Walker toward the basket with the Orange Crush kids behind it.

Walker passed to Hassell for what figured to be an easy dunk. But the big man fumbled the ball and booted it harmlessly out of bounds.

"That's kind of been the theme for us," Walker said.

As the Orange Crush erupted in laughter, Penn State fans began heading for the exits. But the Nittany Lion student section remained, perhaps to pick up a few pointers from their creative counterparts.

The Orange Crush, you see, are a clever bunch, scoring their block of seats by phoning the PSU ticket office and posing as a group from one of Penn State's branch campuses. They entered the Jordan Center wearing blue jackets and sweatshirts before pulling them off in unison shortly before tipoff, revealing the bright orange gear.

Of course, there could be another reason the Penn State students stayed until the end. With just over two minutes to go, DeChellis replaced Jackson, a senior, with sophomore guard Jordan Norwood, who is on loan from the Nittany Lion football program.


Jordan Norwood (44).

It got the biggest rise of the day from the PSU students, who chanted "JOR-DAN NOR-WOOD! … JOR-DAN NOR-WOOD!"

Yes, it may be a difficult year for Penn State at the Jordan Center. But the student fans can take solace on one front: spring football practice starts in less than a month.

GAME NOTES

• Penn State celebrated Senior Day before the game. Jackson and Ben Luber were both presented with customary letter blankets. Both players started, but PSU called timeout five seconds into the game to remove Luber, who sprained tendons in his left wrist in a loss at Ohio State Wednesday. The injury in effect ended his PSU career, with Saturday's brief action serving as a ceremonial farewell.

• Walker replaced Luber and played one of his best games of the season. He scored a team-high 14 points (he was 4 of 6 from the arc) and had six assists and one turnover.

• Illinois scored 36 points in the paint, and the starting frontcourt of Carter (17 points), Randle (10) and Shaun Pruitt (20 points) went a collective 20 of 29 (69 percent) from the floor.


Shaun Pruitt.

• Claxton was 4 of 12 from the floor and fellow forward Jamelle Cornley was 2 of 6. Cornley left the game with a few minutes to go with a hip pointer.

• Hassell returned to the starting lineup, replacing Milos Bogetic. He finished with five turnovers in 13 minutes. Bogetic had one of his worst games, too, going 1 of 6 from the floor. Both struggled defensively.

• DeChellis said Luber's injury may force the staff to get more out of Norwood, the moonlighting wide receiver. Norwood played two minutes at the point Saturday but did not register any stats.

• Penn State plays host to Iowa Wednesday in a game that tips at 7 p.m. Senior Day was held Saturday because it is easier for the

[Carpet]

A LOOK AT IOWA

The Hawkeyes play a very quick tempo game,
Solid Free Throw Shooting team, and a very bad
rebounding team which aligns itself to the up tempo
style of play...

Iowa is a very one-dimensional attack team
Haluska and Smith score over 50% of Iowa points
Stop these 2 and you stop Iowa....

Poor Bench play, but has gotten better last
couple games...

Iowa's DEFENSIVE INTERIOR is suspect and
allows the Bigs of opposing teams to Live and
feed down low.....

I said earlier Iowa is a very good free throw shooting
team and they are...Haluska of Iowa lives at the line
and is shooting over 85% when he makes it

Smith and Haluska will barrell into the Illini
from the opening Tip, Haluska loves to drive
and intiate contact, I look for 2 Illinois players
to be in foul trouble before the end of the 1st half.

Iowa has no answer for Illinois Bigs, NONE
Notta, Zippo

These 2 teams played each other earlier in
the year at Illinois as Iowa mounted a great comeback
to fall 74-70

This is a HUGE Game for Iowa as they try to
make it in as a # 6 Big Ten team to the dance

Will FOCUS the attention tommorrow
on a LOOK at Illinois as we continue to gather
intelligence on this game

Good Luck all

Carpet

[woodee12]

Good take and info on Iowa. I think if Illinois takes out either Hulaska or Smith, they will win, Obviously. But they do carry a lot of the load and without them getting their points, Iowa struggles on Offense.

Still may take Penn State +3 on Wednesday against Iowa. Classic-look a head and a 'who gives a shit' PSU team, who already celebrated senior night over the weekend. Nothing to lose for PSU and a lot to lose for the Hawks in the Big 10, on the road. Situation setting up nicely!

[Carpet]

A LOOK AT ILLINOIS

Considered by many a lock to the dance....

Is there such thing as a lock
to the dance as the last 11 standing ?

Illinois Staple is the Defense Game...

Ranked # 5 in Defensive Efficiency in the NATION
according to pomeroy....

14th ranked in scoring Defense in the Country

The Illinois have been very good at the HALF COURT
game, get Illinois running and oxegyn tanks come out
for the Bigs....

Every team Illinois plays throws up the Zone
and dares the Illlini to put it up, and they will......

Rich Mcbride can hit from 30 feet, only if
he is facing north to south....

Strong Inside Game, Pruit 6-10 Carter 6-10
are the Bigs of the Bigs and Illinois knows this....

A poor Free throw shooting team at 62%

Not a great Road team (are there any in the Big 10) ?

Last time out Illinois kicked Penn State to the Curb
at Happy Valley 68-50 (the same team Iowa lost to
today by 2)

Illinois matches up very well with Iowa in all
aspects of the game ....exception Free Throws percentage
made....

Next up the GAME and Carpets view from the Floor

Good Luck all...

Carpet

Semper FI

[Carpet]

CARPETS VIEW OF THE GAME

Iowa is at home it is Senior Day
(morning 11:00am tip cst) The Hawkees
coming off a Huge road Loss crushing any hopes
of making the Dance are a dangerous bunch right
now.

GUT FEEL....Iowa overlooked PSU and this is the
game they have been looking at...ILLINOIS

Iowa is 51-17 vs Illinois at Iowa City

I expect Iowa to come out with all the power
a John Deere tractor can deliver....

ILLINOIS is a better talented team than Iowa
ranked 7th in the Nation in scoring DEFENSE ,
the last games Illinois held opponents to 45 points a game
with no team scoring above 50 (THAT IS DEFENSE)....

The Illini have had a week to prepare for this game
and it is all going to come down to INTENSITY...
who has it and who dont.....

INTANGIBLES

The Carpet is concerned about the officials...
Home team getting all the calls as Haluska barrels into
THE BOX... Usually there are 3 Big Ten officials for every game
this game there will be 2, with a third from outside the Ten..

CARPETS FLOOR VIEW

My early numbers show that the line should open
Illinois -4.0

This is going to be a good old fashioned Hard Nosed
Big 10 SlobberKnocker....

Tommorrow the Carpet is glued to the floor
with his pick.....

Any and all thoughts and insight on this game
is welcome......

Good Luck all

Carpet

Semper Fi

[Carpet]

THE LINE OPENS ILLINOIS + 1.5

CARPETS GLUE CALL TO THE FLOOR

This game has got drama written all over it.

Iowa at home Senior Day ( Morning, 11am tip)
The juice will be flowing, Iowa has been looking at this
game for a while and it was evident as they over looked
PSU Wed night and lost.....

While Illinois a Bad Road team travels West by Bus
in BAD weather to play at 11:00am....

Illinois has superior talent on the surface and
can play some defense, but unless the Illini
has found a way not to foul I see this as a TALL TASK
to win out right....

Carpet thinks that the Illinois players already know they are in
no matter what and a loss at Iowa is just that.... Iowa
on the other hand has everything to prove and gain....

This game will come down to good old fashioned
Intensity, and I know of only one team right now
that is desperate......(Iowa)

Combine Intensity and Desperation as a Unit
and you will find a winner...

NUMBERS

My early numbers 4 days ago said Illinois
should open a 4 pt chalk, NOW they get a favorable
line of plus 1.5......

Sure makes one think....ran numbers again and
it came in Iowa by 2.

After spending a week looking at this game inside and
out, risking the embarrasment if I am wrong the
Carpet is taking ................

Iowa - 1.5

Good Luck to all

Carpet

Semper Fi

"The Carpet always covers"

[Taxman]

Agree..

The Iowa Hawkeyes play very tough in Iowa City (not Ames, which is IA St.)

Iowa is very tough at home as are the good Big 10 teams. Iowa whooped up on Purdue (by 20) the home game, and are 6-1 SU, 4-2-1 ATS at home vs. Big Ten. Last year they were 8-0 SU, 7-1 ATS.

With it being senior day and a change to get a bye in the Big Ten tournament, and to wipe out that bad taste from the Penn St. game, I anticipate Iowa coming out strong the first 10 minutes and should win this game by at least 5 in my opinion.

Best of luck!

[woodee12]

Decided to pass on this one myself. Too much home town pull from both teams. Game could go either way and think line is right on the money. As I write, it is tied.

Good Luck with your Iowa pick and good anaysis.

[Carpet]

Iowa comes out and wins at home as predicted
and covers the 1.5 point spread winning by 5

Good Luck to all who jumped onto the Carpet

Carpet

Semper Fi

"The Carpet always covers"

[woodee12]

Solid Call! Wish I would have jumped on board...Hopefully both teams will get into the tourney!

[Carpet]

Illinois is seriously lacking guard play

Today vs Iowa the Illinois Guards
(McBride,Fraizer,Brock and Meechum)
in a combined 93 minutes of play scored
just 12 points, Yes just 12 points

I believe Illinois will get into the Dance
with a 21-10 record, I see Illinois winning
1st game of Big Ten tourney also

Carpet

[Carpet]

Today vs Iowa the Illinois Guards
(McBride,Fraizer,Brock and Meechum)
in a combined 93 minutes of play scored
just 12 points, Yes just 12 points


The above should be corrected to read
in the last 93 minutes of combined play of these
guards together not just in the Iowa game

Carpet

[toopieaire]

You really devote yourself to deep analyzation of your picks, i have been following you since you came back..Big day yesterday with Ohio State and Iowa. Thanks to your devotion I had a wonderful day. You are definetly the MAN.

[Carpet]

Toopieaire, Woodie thanks for the kind words

Toop you are right I do drill down on games deeply
below Ground Level for the Carpet...

Next up .....

The Big Ten Tourney, Illinois opens up Thursday
vs Penn State....

The BIG 10 Tourney is played at the United Center
Chicago, home away from home for Illinois

Carpet will be back with the in depth
analysis and thoughts on this game (that is of course if you all want me to)

Good Luck all

Carpet

Semper Fi