Writing Illini » Bruce Weber http://writingillini.com An Illinois Fighting Illini Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more. Sat, 25 May 2013 01:44:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins – a poor man’s basketball preview. http://writingillini.com/2011/11/29/illinois-fighting-illini-vs-maryland-terrapins-a-poor-mans-basketball-preview/ http://writingillini.com/2011/11/29/illinois-fighting-illini-vs-maryland-terrapins-a-poor-mans-basketball-preview/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:42:21 +0000 Chicago Joe http://writingillini.com/?p=4936 It’s always a great sign when the B1G-ACC Challenge rolls around. Basketball season is rounding into shape and football (long the bete noir of any Illini fan) is more or less in the rearview mirror. The B1G has won the last two challenges, with Illinois providing a win in each of the last two years. [...]

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins – a poor man’s basketball preview. - Writing Illini - Writing Illini - An Illinois Fighting Illini Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

]]> It’s always a great sign when the B1G-ACC Challenge rolls around. Basketball season is rounding into shape and football (long the bete noir of any Illini fan) is more or less in the rearview mirror. The B1G has won the last two challenges, with Illinois providing a win in each of the last two years. Maryland has a rich ACC history, providing many Duke upsets and memorable players. However, the Terps are in a rebuilding mode. Just seven players who had a scholarship to start the season suit up for UM. This is a rematch of last year’s squeaker in MSG, where the Illini prevailed 80-76 in a game which was not all that close until the end. The two teams have a decidedly different look this year, as most of each team moved on either via graduation or other means. (cough Jereme Richmond cough)
Expected Starters:
Maryland:
G Terrell Stoglin (20.2 ppg, a lousy 26% from 3pt.)
G Sean Mosley (11 ppg, a sparkling 47% 3pt.)
G Nick Faust (6.2 ppg, A/TO < 1, 19% 3pt.)
F James Padgett (8 ppg, shoots better from the field than at the FT line)
C Berend Weijs (2.4 rpg for a 6-10 guy; 25% from the line)

As we can see, this is a frustrating lineup for new coach Mark Turgeon. Terrible FT shooting, and volume scorer in Terrell Stoglin who never saw a shot he doesn’t like. The leading rebounder for the Terps comes off the bench: Ashton Pankey with 7.6.

Illinois:
G DJ Richardson (13.5 ppg, ’nuff said)
G Brandon Paul (7.8 ppg, due to break out. Scored 0 against NC in last years challenge after scoring 20 against Clemson the year prior.)
G Sam Maniscalco (11.5 ppg, has never played against an ACC team)
F Tyler Griffey (7.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, had season-high 9pts against Maryland last year)
C Meyers Leonard (12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.2 bpg (!))

Predicted outcome: Illinois 77, Maryland 62. The freshmen shake out the jitters as a poor defensive Maryland team struggles to contain DJ and Brandon. Leonard dominates the inside in a game not as close as the score indicates. Minutes played by Crandall Head: 11.

]]> http://writingillini.com/2011/11/29/illinois-fighting-illini-vs-maryland-terrapins-a-poor-mans-basketball-preview/feed/ 0 Illinois 79, Lipscomb 64 Final: 3 Quick Thoughts on the Fighting Illini Basketball Victory http://writingillini.com/2011/11/17/illinois-79-lipscomb-64-final-3-quick-thoughts-on-the-fighting-illini-basketball-victory/ http://writingillini.com/2011/11/17/illinois-79-lipscomb-64-final-3-quick-thoughts-on-the-fighting-illini-basketball-victory/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:52:26 +0000 Chicago Joe http://writingillini.com/?p=4909 All right, that’s a final! The Illini eased up a bit on the gas towards the end, but maintained a solid 20 point lead for 10 minutes or so as they were cruising to victory. Weber continues to try out different combinations: Some posters on the Illinois Loyalty chat were curious as to why Griffey [...]

Illinois 79, Lipscomb 64 Final: 3 Quick Thoughts on the Fighting Illini Basketball Victory - Writing Illini - Writing Illini - An Illinois Fighting Illini Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

]]> All right, that’s a final! The Illini eased up a bit on the gas towards the end, but maintained a solid 20 point lead for 10 minutes or so as they were cruising to victory.

Weber continues to try out different combinations: Some posters on the Illinois Loyalty (more…)

]]> http://writingillini.com/2011/11/17/illinois-79-lipscomb-64-final-3-quick-thoughts-on-the-fighting-illini-basketball-victory/feed/ 0 Illinois Fighting Illini vs Lipscomb Bison(s) – a Live Chat http://writingillini.com/2011/11/17/illinois-fighting-illini-vs-lipscomb-bisons-a-live-chat/ http://writingillini.com/2011/11/17/illinois-fighting-illini-vs-lipscomb-bisons-a-live-chat/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:52:23 +0000 Chicago Joe http://writingillini.com/?p=4886 Discuss the Illini’s game against Lipscomb after the jump. Click Here

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Lipscomb Bison(s) – a Live Chat - Writing Illini - Writing Illini - An Illinois Fighting Illini Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

]]> Discuss the Illini’s game against Lipscomb after the jump. (more…)

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