Quote:
Originally Posted by Queens_NYC
Monday, November 22nd, 2021
6:30 PM
T-Mobile Center
ESPNews
On paper, the Fighting Illini (KP #5) are the best team on our schedule and will present a tremendous challenge on both ends of the court.
The 2021 Big 10 regular season/tournament champions were upset in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament by Loyola-Chicago, but return a number of major pieces from last season's team: 6'1 G Andre Curbelo (B10 Sixth Man of the Year/All-Freshman Team), 6'2 G Trent Frazier (B10 Honorable Mention/All-Defensive Team) and 6'10 C Kofi Cockburn (B10 First Team All Conference/2nd Team All-American) who will be making his season debut against UC.
Despite suffering a 67-66 upset loss at Marquette (KP #77) last week, Illinois still ranks #1 in AdjD on KenPom and have established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the nation through 3 games - even without the presence of Kofi Cockburn.
Their greatest weakness so far appears to be turnovers where they average over 19/game. They committed 23 against Marquette and also committed a season-high 24 fouls in that game.
The Bearcats are 10.5-point underdogs in Kansas City and will face either Kansas State or Arkansas tomorrow evening.
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If they keep turning the ball over at a high rate that will give us a puncher's chance. I would guess that is going to be a major focus for them after last game.
Just hoping to come out of this series 1-1. I would be happy with that. 2-0 ecstatic! 0-2 depends on how we played and how close we were.
It's going to be hard to complain about much unless we get blown out twice. There is just too much good news for UC as a whole right now to be over reacting to individual games of BB. FB is a historic season so far. Two great coaches. Move to P5. etc