on February 9, 2026, 15:50:08, in reply to "Illini Basketball vs. Bucky Pre-Game and Game Thread (Tuesday 7pm on The Cock)"
On Wisconsin's two guards (Boyd and Blackwell): They're elite downhill, good shooters, attackers, their movement has great pace and rhythm, they will push in transition (boyd especially), blackwell is physical and will drive and has a great stepback.
On who will step in with Andre to take on those two guys: Keaton, Ben...we should have thrown Ben on Fears against MSU. More about team defense than one individual, however.
On difference between Boyd and Blackwell this year and guards last year (tonjay and blackwell): pace is different...tonjay physically beat you up, boyd is faster. Klesmett was a wiley veteran for them last year. They're playing the same way this year but quicker.
On challenges of a two day prep: We've had a bunch of these...it's just what we do. Got back late saturday night, yesterday was a mental day, today a normal day. Busy 30 days, nothing new.
On Wisconsin taking a lot of threes: We need to guard them and not give them the easy ones. Contest and know they're going to make some. Winters is elite shooting and driving, good all around player. They're all going to shoot them, and in that way, they are similar to us.
On little uncharacteristic things that hurt us at MSU and if that makes film watching that game a little easier: Yes, a bit. MSU did some things better than us the whole time (rebounding). We led throughout. They were going to push in transition. We fouled (like them or not) and then we didn't get the calls on the other end. "That's a tribute to Jeremy, I guess...and his ability to keep getting those foul calls...launching his body into people"...Keaton didn't get those calls. At the end of the day, we needed one rebound and we would have won.
On did Brad get a chance to review the Fears' trip: "Doesn't do me any good to comment on it. It wasn't called, whether I like it or not...whether we like it or not...gotten 400 officials opinions on that. It wasn't called. But a trip has always been a foul."
On Keaton's maturity to bounce back...has Brad seen a break in his confidence: No. he didn't shoot it well against maryland and came out fine. Keaton's fine...doesn't get phased.
On offensively attacking matchups with Andre as a release valve: Andre was incredible (despite getting his ankle stepped on early at MSU)...screening action was great...major improvement to be used as a screener and roller, fadeaway in the post is a great tool to have.
On a week where you get two home games: Brad doesn't look at it as an advantage...nice to be home and comforting for the players, but the days all run together...all about the next game. If you get a couple home games together, all that means is that you have a couple road games coming up. Next game, next opportunity, and if you don't do that well in the Big Ten, you lose.
On a home game with several hundred people wearing Jake Davis wigs: "hope it's not an omen for head and shoulders to be sold at the concession stands"...pretty cool...jake is proud of his hair, and it works for him.
Jake was huge at the end of regulation at MSU...big big moment and he stepped up like it was nothing, Jake said he was nervous but stepped up and did what great shooters and great leaders do.
On David in point forward role: Will continue...he was terrific...matchup based, but when you have a great handler and passer in David (and finisher), his ability to shot fake, pivot, great option to have going forward
On Kylan and timeline: very active in conditioning yesterday and his individual workout, practicing today, we'll see as he as an appointment later in the week, we'll see where it goes but he is progressing nicely...he can shoot it already. Don't expect him in uniform vs. Wisconsin. Not sure on the homestand. "I don't know that" with a smile. 
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We all watched Saturday night and it was right there for the taking, so this is a bounce back game that we need to get. No multi-game slides like Purdue and MSU have had.
Wisconsin is unranked and currently 42nd in the NET. However, this is a team that has been as hot as anybody in the Big Ten lately. Their last "big" loss was on January 1st in a 16 point loss vs. Purdue. Since that game, they are 7-2 with wins vs. Michigan, UCLA, Minnesota (twice) and OSU. Their two losses have been from a combined 3 points (vs. USC and @IU). We are their highest ranked NET opponent from here on out, and a win against us tomorrow night would be HUGE for them. They are lead by Boyd and Blackwell at the guard position, as well as Winter on the wing.
We know who we are. 8th in AP, 4th still in the NET. Does Wagler bounce back with a big game? Does Wisconsin try to do the same thing to him that MSU did? Do we have good energy or do we look tired due to 3 weeks of only playing 7 guys? If we want to keep on the track for an outside shot at a Big Ten title and a 2 seed in the NCAA's, hopefully we have good answers/results for all of these questions. It's Jake Davis wig night at the Hall, so hopefully it's rocking.
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