The Deuce: My concern is that in theory they should be able to take advantage of our defense better than anyone

When do we start complaining about playing Houston in Houston?*

- RSMBob March 21, 2026, 21:21:12

Laugh it now grilbutts, I’m putting my cup firmly in place* - Jackie Today, 10:04:41
- Me as well. I had to stop watching YouTube pre-game content. - JFG Today, 10:42:08
  - I'm finally chill. All of my tourney anxiety is about underachieving - Blazer Today, 15:07:01
I don’t look at numbers like you nerds. Just vibes. Hoping to play Iowa Saturday. - MC Today, 8:48:18
Prediction? Pain. - uofi1998 Today, 7:46:02
- This will not be a repeat of Loyola - TarheelIllini Today, 10:05:13
- I don't know anything about Houston really, but I feel like we should win - gvibes Today, 9:32:31
  - Narrator: * - IlliniOllie Today, 10:32:11
- I usually end up with a lean by game day, but I’m truly torn on this one - snipes824 Today, 9:16:37
  - either we make our 3s and we win or we don't and we lose. #deepinsight* - VIV Today, 10:00:12
    - I think there's other ways we can win besides hitting our 3s. There's other ways we can lose too* - Phytynlini Today, 10:02:28
      - i was being glib. i have no idea. * - VIV Today, 10:34:49
  - It doesnt matter that it was years ago - all my brain can remember is the last time we played them* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes Today, 9:29:33
- my prediction: i'll be in bed and asleep by 9:30* - lcubed Today, 8:41:02
  - Booo! ;) * - Philo Today, 9:21:11
    - keep your music down if you drive by* - lcubed Today, 9:29:15
- I'm probably overconfident but whatever. I think we win by 10* - illini21 Today, 8:19:16
It’s Mini’s Birthday… #pleasedontshitthebed - aimlessillini Today, 7:35:43
- How old is mini? You worried about them or you shitting the bed?* - Phytynlini Today, 9:31:01
  - 14 today - after the Loyola debacle, he didn't leave his room for hours * - aimlessillini Today, 9:55:54
    - Well hopefully he doesn't shit the bed at 14* - Phytynlini Today, 10:01:14
- It's also the 21st anniversary of the E8 comeback vs. Arizona - Tortillini Today, 8:33:03
  - Clearly, we can't lose on this day. LFG!! - osklister Today, 9:00:25
Gameday. LFG!* - AintHatin Today, 5:08:42
- LFG! No line for TSA in Peoria!* - Dilbert Today, 5:31:16
2 ILLs at Lambert so far* - Phytynlini Today, 4:55:28
How we can beat Houston, maybe - meanjeans Yesterday, 23:41:07
- ooo - IlliniSax05 Today, 6:45:20
- Good post but one nit: KenPom’s stats are all normalized for tempo, so everytime you say “despite - GMAW Today, 5:04:51
  - Oh I was actually pulling raw numbers / ranks for those, not kenpom, I think. I used - meanjeans Today, 6:16:25
  - Nm* - meanjeans Today, 6:16:25
- thanks, good information. Beat Houston. * - Poldark Today, 4:39:11
Interesting tweet that really likes our offensive matchup - gvibes March 24, 2026, 16:04:59
- This bit fell off for me though... - ATL March 24, 2026, 16:16:45
  - there should be no bits falling off* - Sammich March 24, 2026, 17:09:15
    - Leprosy is pretty uncommon these days* - DocWalk20 March 24, 2026, 17:39:22
      - There's a face off in the corner.... - osklister March 24, 2026, 18:00:55
  - Heh, before reading your post, paused at the exact same spot. - Carl Spackler March 24, 2026, 16:27:09
    - Also odd that he picked on Houston in close games - Blazer March 24, 2026, 16:36:11
      - Yep (and to his point - we rely heavily on two freshmen)* - ATL March 24, 2026, 16:40:53
Records vs common opponents - meanjeans March 24, 2026, 15:48:49
- i don't think you can play the common opponent game - VIV March 24, 2026, 15:53:38
  - I’m not reading it as “we’re going to win”, more just “okay that’s encouraging” * - meanjeans March 24, 2026, 15:57:21
Doesn't bother me at all* - illini21 March 24, 2026, 10:05:08
I’ve talked myself into us winning this game* - GMAW March 24, 2026, 9:45:34
- I keep trying with no success. I think their bigs are going to push ours around on the boards. - voiceofreason March 24, 2026, 18:42:12
- The encouraging thing for me is that we have generally had no trouble with - Blazer March 24, 2026, 16:04:24
  - He’ll get his, I’m more worried about Sharpe and Uzan. Hopefully a bad shooting night for them* - OB25 March 24, 2026, 19:50:26
  - I'd also point out that the only elite offense Houston has played all year - Blazer March 24, 2026, 16:26:39
    - Their defense ranked #45 vs top 25 teams (TRank) - jdl March 24, 2026, 17:19:02
- Same. Hearing they’re largely a jump shooting team really perked my ears up - snipes824 March 24, 2026, 10:09:08
  - My concern is that in theory they should be able to take advantage of our defense better than anyone - meanjeans March 24, 2026, 12:40:55
  - They somehow shoot 52 percent on 2s despite ranking 364th in NCAAM in average 2 point distance - GMAW March 24, 2026, 10:44:15
    - Yes but 52% from 2 is ranked 204th, so it’s not particularly great * - meanjeans March 24, 2026, 17:01:17
    - wild. what did we rank for comparison?* - John Coctostan March 24, 2026, 12:47:16
      - We’re 35th and shot 58 percent from 2* - GMAW March 24, 2026, 14:33:25
    - That’s pretty crazy* - snipes824 March 24, 2026, 11:39:05
  - same. but man i'm gonna be pissed when they go 20/28 on long 2s* - John Coctostan March 24, 2026, 10:13:50
    - I'm more worried about muggings not getting called. Brad should be going full Lute Olsen on this. - ATL March 24, 2026, 10:22:45
      - Somebody mentioned this the other day, and I agree. What the refs allow will dictate the game. - JFG March 24, 2026, 10:26:11
        
        I think the bigger concern is getting a crew that feels their job is to even out the fouls - GMAW March 24, 2026, 10:40:33
    - I am prepared for every shot they take to go in* - snipes824 March 24, 2026, 10:14:48
- Same. No fear.* - Warrin'_Illini March 24, 2026, 9:46:03
Anyone with a good suggestion on a DC game watch? I’m staying at the Salamander* - GMAW March 23, 2026, 21:53:52
- Come up to Baltimore and watch with me. Also, anybody with a good suggestion for a Baltimore watch? - ATL March 24, 2026, 7:26:57
  - The Pit. Up near Preston and Druid Hill* - VIV March 24, 2026, 9:51:47
    - Drood Hill* - memyselfandillini March 24, 2026, 18:21:55
    - delete* - memyselfandillini March 24, 2026, 18:21:52
- Looks like the club still does game watches. . - Savoy March 24, 2026, 6:36:11
  - Is the Front Page in Georgetown gone?* - Sounder March 24, 2026, 16:18:00
  - I can walk to Astro!* - timmer March 24, 2026, 10:06:28
  - Plan B - Tortillini March 24, 2026, 7:00:22
    - I wish the game were at 7-8ish instead of after 10pm* - Potomac March 24, 2026, 7:45:52
      - Have ya considered moving to Georgia?? (Wait, that's the wrong way. Never mind.) - osklister March 24, 2026, 11:39:22
    - i was hoping this was going to be a tort/gmaw fun and sexy time. btw - Nobster March 24, 2026, 7:02:15
      - *FG** - Tortillini March 24, 2026, 9:38:46
  - suggested alumni club naming convention: ILL-IN-*location" - Nobster March 24, 2026, 6:59:38
  - *black coffee* - Nobster March 24, 2026, 6:59:38
By my count we’re 4-5 against S16 teams and Houston is 1-4? Feel free to check my math - meanjeans March 23, 2026, 21:43:31
I would like to see Undy figuratively kick Sampson in the balls repeatedly on Thursday.* - Tortillini March 22, 2026, 10:49:17
- It would also be pretty fun for that to literally happen* - Herman Blume March 22, 2026, 10:54:29
Just win, baby. - osklister March 22, 2026, 9:51:04
With us and Nebraska there I don’t think it’ll be that much of an advantage for HOU - bjl63 March 22, 2026, 9:42:32
- Yeah Florida is the one with the gripe. 2 seed at home playing 1 seed hasn’t really been talked - meanjeans March 22, 2026, 9:48:10
  - NCAA rewarding Houston for a pretty underhanded move in dropping out of the host role - ATL March 22, 2026, 11:33:56
    - I dunno I thought they handled this ok - apusikam March 22, 2026, 11:43:55
      - and I know nothing about dropping out of the host role. - apusikam March 22, 2026, 11:45:32
        
        Deferred to Rice for the “hosting” of the tourney. Read into it what you will. * - harb March 22, 2026, 15:10:21
  - the price for being the last 1 seed marginally ahead of the top 2* - apusikam March 22, 2026, 11:16:13
  - Will def be a shitty deal for them* - cpsteine March 22, 2026, 11:06:11
DICKIE BEAL TRAVELED * - Poldark March 21, 2026, 21:48:15
- Yes he did* - apusikam March 22, 2026, 11:16:47
- For that alone our dad is owed a title before it’s too late* - LeatherneckIllini March 21, 2026, 21:50:25
Meh….just play well. We can win. * - harb March 21, 2026, 21:47:08
All our best performances have been in road games so all for it* - John Coctostan March 21, 2026, 21:30:36
- Yep. The more hostile the better.* - voiceofreason March 22, 2026, 11:03:27

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