Bethune-Cookman tonight at home. Seriously doubt I will watch. If they don't win by 20+ there is a reason to worry about this team headed into the Big Ten slate of games. They are going to have to pull it together and someone is going to have to start leading this team on the court and in the locker room to get to 20 wins and make the NCAA tournament.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Illini play NW tonight in Evanston and are underdogs by a couple of points. This kicks off 18 straight Big Ten games with the Illini needing at least 11 wins to get to 20 for the season and have half a chance at playing in the NCAA tournament. Still not sure if the leadership and locker room issues are ironed out but tonight will be a good test to find out. The Penn St and Mizzou losses by a lot aren't going to look very good at the end of the season if they are bubble worthy

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Underwood dressed and screaming like Matt Foley, motivational speaker. He just needs the glasses.

Too many fouls, too many turnovers, real ugly game by Illinois.

_________________

what in the hell are the uniforms that NW are wearing???

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He looks like he is going with the Rudy Gulliani hair plan with tons of dye

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Maybe it is time to look at the coach, the same guy who could not get to the second weekend of the tournament 2 years in a row despite having a 7 foot scoring machine for both years and another All American for 1 of those years.

You could be right. I didn't get a chance to watch the game but looks like another disappointing performance by Shannon. Clark has been a bit of a disappointment coming in as well after being highly touted. Looks like they started Harris and I like his energy but he's a guy you bring off the bench and is limited offensively. Oof.... I hate to say it but might be time to put a fork in these guys if they can't win their next two home games against WI and Mich St. That is a tall order. The games on the road against Nebraska and Minnesota you have to at least split.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Well, Harris was on the bench 30 seconds into the game after picking up two fouls lol.

_________________

I figured that is what happened. I like his aggressiveness, he seems like the only guy out there that really wants to D up a lot of the time but he can over do it. I saw he only played like 10 minutes and saw he had 4 fouls so assumed he overdid it.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I quit watching sports except the White Sox, and I am struggling to not watch Big Ten hoops, too. However, I can say that Coach can get the talent, but so far, he seems unable to make adjustments in a game.

_________________

Too many three point shots. And too many guys who can't make them.

And yet no one seems to sit as they miss all those 3 point shots, despite the coach claiming, post-game, that they are not running the offense.

It seems as if there are issues with this team that go beyond talent or coaching.

You're right about adjustments though. Sometimes I still see that Loyola game in my sleep. They just let that fat guy go wild.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

anybody with half a basketball brain can see two out of three possessions with this team are 1 on 1 hero ball. Northwestern looked like they were running an actual offense though. Collins never stops screaming.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Go cats.. I'm surprised to hear that NU was favored in the game. I had hoped for more when Collins was hired (Not sure why) but things have been consistently bad in Evanston for a long time.

Skyy Clark...he gawn (allegedly).

Yup, sure appears that way. Another really bad sign. For a big time recruit I never saw much out of Clark while in Champaign

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I'll never understand that. I can think of about five other games where Underwood did nothing. He's gotta find himself some assistants who know what's going on.

_________________

Someone told me he got into a locker room fist fight with Mayer

_________________

That fat guy outplayed "more talented" centers on the big stage for five years.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Nice home win against the Badgers. @ Nebraska tomorrow night

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

2 of my guys played for Underwood when he was an assistant at Western. One swears by him as a coach while the other one does not. One of the kid's dad that is on this current team claimed that one of the things that he was most impressed with is the strength and conditioning program that they use currently. He believes that they are one of the best conditioned programs in the country.

_________________

Should be interesting to see what team shows up tonight. I’m in for at least the first half.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Pathetic offensive performance by both teams thus far. If either team could shoot they’d be up 10.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Illini turned it up the last part of the 1st half to create a cushion and I turned it off at half. Doesn't appear I missed a whole lot. Some pretty bad shooting from the outside but did like the aggressiveness to get to the hoop. Harris is great on defense but out of control with the ball in his hands. Still don't think he should be starting over Epps. Hopefully the momentum can carry over to the game Friday against Michigan State in Champaign.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I know it was only Minnesota tonight, but this team is starting to come together. It will be fun to watch the remainder of the season play out.

_________________

That was a nice stretch and wasn't sure they would be able to beat WI and Mich St. Indiana and OSU at home the next week. Gotta have at least a split there.

_________________
Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

that's a pretty fair portion of college basketball. It's why I don't watch till tourney time. People can rag on the NBA all they want but they shoot a lot better there.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

The new guys constantly throw accolades Fletch's way. Look at what he did with Dainja. They also put a lot into nutrition.