Illinois comes into St Louis to play the 10th ranked Missouri Tigers
Illinois opens a -1.5 chalk
Illinois lost to UIC last week in Chicago a loss that put a Lump of Coal in all the Illini stockings this year. The team responded by holding a team only meeting in the hotel after the game and with a spirited practice on Sunday. The feeling at the Christmas party held at Coach Weber's home was mixed and no one could shake this loss.
Missouri will create a ton of problems for Illinois especially if the Illini decide to coast for a bit and stop pressing. Mizzou is 40 minutes of Hell, Full Court Pressure and a high octane offense.
Illinois should be able to beat the press of Missouri and find easy baskets it is the transition game that Missouri will roll back at you in 2 seconds that will create open shots and foul trouble again for Illinois.
This Illinois team seems to play to the level of the competition, against 3 mid majors this team has struggled, beat NC, Gonzaga, MD, lost to TX in OT cant tell me this team cant play.
Watching Illinois the last 4 games the other teams no matter who they are playing seem a step faster than Illinois in the second half late. I attribute this to Coach Weber pushing practices to 2 hours at full throttle, these kids are gassed coming into a game already. This may help against a team like Missouri.
Back up PG Brandon Paul may not be able to play for Illinois and I say he wont play, Crandall Head Luther Heads little brother will take his place in the line up.
The Illini plan to bring everything they got to St Louis and win this game, THE INTENSITY is there for sure.
I am more worried about the Iowa game to open the Big 10 play than I am about this one. Illinois will get up for this game and beat a # 10 team a spot they wanted to
have by Christmas themselves but now a LUMP OF COAL
ILLINOIS 76 Missouri 72
Illinois opens a -1.5 chalk
Illinois lost to UIC last week in Chicago a loss that put a Lump of Coal in all the Illini stockings this year. The team responded by holding a team only meeting in the hotel after the game and with a spirited practice on Sunday. The feeling at the Christmas party held at Coach Weber's home was mixed and no one could shake this loss.
Missouri will create a ton of problems for Illinois especially if the Illini decide to coast for a bit and stop pressing. Mizzou is 40 minutes of Hell, Full Court Pressure and a high octane offense.
Illinois should be able to beat the press of Missouri and find easy baskets it is the transition game that Missouri will roll back at you in 2 seconds that will create open shots and foul trouble again for Illinois.
This Illinois team seems to play to the level of the competition, against 3 mid majors this team has struggled, beat NC, Gonzaga, MD, lost to TX in OT cant tell me this team cant play.
Watching Illinois the last 4 games the other teams no matter who they are playing seem a step faster than Illinois in the second half late. I attribute this to Coach Weber pushing practices to 2 hours at full throttle, these kids are gassed coming into a game already. This may help against a team like Missouri.
Back up PG Brandon Paul may not be able to play for Illinois and I say he wont play, Crandall Head Luther Heads little brother will take his place in the line up.
The Illini plan to bring everything they got to St Louis and win this game, THE INTENSITY is there for sure.
I am more worried about the Iowa game to open the Big 10 play than I am about this one. Illinois will get up for this game and beat a # 10 team a spot they wanted to
have by Christmas themselves but now a LUMP OF COAL
ILLINOIS 76 Missouri 72
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