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North Carolina comes calling on Illinois 11-30-2010
This game is starting to take on a special meaning for this Illinois basketball team. The loss to Carolina in the National Championship sending Illinois to a 37-2 record is one that can never be erased from the mind of any Illini fan.
While there are no current players left from that 2005 squad the loss resonates even today with the current players. They all feel that NC took that from them. Yes Illinois avenged that title loss by beating NC at Tar Pit land last year. Let's just call this the X-factor in this game.
NC is coming off 2 bad losses to Minn and Vandy. Tonight taking on COC and on the road to Illinois, that in itself is hard on a team to prepare for any game, but this game is at assembly Hall one of the toughest places to play in the nation.
Lets take a look at The Tar Heels:
They are strong inside, very physical and a solid rebounding team. NC has a 9.6 Rebounding Margin advantage per game. The strong inside play of Josh Henson who is # 8 in the nation in rebounds per game at 11.8 in 21 mins a game is going to cause Illinois problems inside.
On Offense NC really doesn't move the ball around a lot and the guard play is really suspect. Super Frosh Harrison Barnes has just played awful last two games I call that the Frosh roller coaster.
A Look at Illinois
Soft inside again this year, even with having two 7 foot centers a Senior and a potential superstar freshmen.
Illinois is a good shooting team # 22 in the nation at a 49.5% clip. This is due to the play of mccamey PG who leads the nation in assist. The Defense of Illinois is solid especially defending from beyond the arc holding teams to just 27% shooting.
This is without a doubt the most talent Illinois has had as a team in 5 years if not since the 1989 flying Illinois, Illinois moves the ball very well on a motion offense and in transition they are fun to watch.
Foul trouble in the game is going to haunt Mike Tisdale center for Illinois, I even envision him getting called for a foul during pre game warm up . The ticky tack fouls he picks up in a game drives a coach crazy. I know NC is going to go right after tisdale.
When they do off the bench comes another 7 footer young play who at times just looks lost you can see it but you can also see flashes of talent. It is a big drop off when tisdale goes out.
Final Thoughts:
This is going to be a tough week and a fun week for Illini basketball after this game a trip out west to play the Zags, Coach Weber knew he had something special with this team and he scheduled a top flight tough slate of games to see what he has.
Illinois should serve up home court and win this game 82-75
This game is starting to take on a special meaning for this Illinois basketball team. The loss to Carolina in the National Championship sending Illinois to a 37-2 record is one that can never be erased from the mind of any Illini fan.
While there are no current players left from that 2005 squad the loss resonates even today with the current players. They all feel that NC took that from them. Yes Illinois avenged that title loss by beating NC at Tar Pit land last year. Let's just call this the X-factor in this game.
NC is coming off 2 bad losses to Minn and Vandy. Tonight taking on COC and on the road to Illinois, that in itself is hard on a team to prepare for any game, but this game is at assembly Hall one of the toughest places to play in the nation.
Lets take a look at The Tar Heels:
They are strong inside, very physical and a solid rebounding team. NC has a 9.6 Rebounding Margin advantage per game. The strong inside play of Josh Henson who is # 8 in the nation in rebounds per game at 11.8 in 21 mins a game is going to cause Illinois problems inside.
On Offense NC really doesn't move the ball around a lot and the guard play is really suspect. Super Frosh Harrison Barnes has just played awful last two games I call that the Frosh roller coaster.
A Look at Illinois
Soft inside again this year, even with having two 7 foot centers a Senior and a potential superstar freshmen.
Illinois is a good shooting team # 22 in the nation at a 49.5% clip. This is due to the play of mccamey PG who leads the nation in assist. The Defense of Illinois is solid especially defending from beyond the arc holding teams to just 27% shooting.
This is without a doubt the most talent Illinois has had as a team in 5 years if not since the 1989 flying Illinois, Illinois moves the ball very well on a motion offense and in transition they are fun to watch.
Foul trouble in the game is going to haunt Mike Tisdale center for Illinois, I even envision him getting called for a foul during pre game warm up . The ticky tack fouls he picks up in a game drives a coach crazy. I know NC is going to go right after tisdale.
When they do off the bench comes another 7 footer young play who at times just looks lost you can see it but you can also see flashes of talent. It is a big drop off when tisdale goes out.
Final Thoughts:
This is going to be a tough week and a fun week for Illini basketball after this game a trip out west to play the Zags, Coach Weber knew he had something special with this team and he scheduled a top flight tough slate of games to see what he has.
Illinois should serve up home court and win this game 82-75
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