UConn vs Illinois (Final Four) | Page 11 | The Boneyard

UConn vs Illinois (Final Four)

Marat said:
Yes I have started the next game thread discussions recently . We have a chance !
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A few other variables on our side is that we will not be distracted by the occasion or just content to be there. We also will not panic if we go behind. I'm not saying we will win, but certainly feel we are the favorites.
 
We are definately coming into the Final Four with alot of buzz and momentum that hopefully can carry us . No team will feel secure with any lead against us.
 
BFieldHusky said:
I also see a lot of people quoting stats from Illinois in the NCAA Tournament. They have played an average seed of 9 so far. Conversely, UConn has played an average seed 6. So of course Illinois stats in the tournament look better.
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I am not super confident or anything (I almost never am - Furman gave me the cold shakes, especially once their freshman started hot, like he wanted to take it out on us that we didn't recruit him). But Illinois was also 4-5 in their last nine games coming into the tournament, with one of their wins down to the wire against Maryland. They took care of business against Penn, but VCU's point guard got hurt in the first minute which took some of the upset potential in that one, and then they got a nine seed conference rival in the regional final.

However ... winning that game against Houston in Houston turned my head. They did it with defense - I didn't watch enough of the game, or watch it closely enough, to know if it was more that Houston crapped the bed or if Illinois just smothered them with their size. But they seemed like they just took Houston's will away in the second half.

They weren't peaking coming into the tourney, but that Houston win might have altered their trajectory and given them new life. By the time you reach this round, of course, you are probably going to face somebody who can give you some problems.
 
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The keys to the game are simple: 1. Reed needs to stay out of foul trouble and continue playing like the best center in the country; 2. win BOTH the turnover and rebounding battle; 3. shoot 40% of better from 3 at 20+ attempts; 4. play our usual solid team defense. Easy
 
Scrappy3 said:
I just want to play up to our ability the last two games
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This. UConn's A game is second to none. The problem is they have rarely played to this potential. Impressively, they have consistently won. Also, UConn, and to be fair, Michigan, do not rely heavily on freshmen. We have seen this to be a factor when it counts. We shall see if this remains a factor.
 
Wagler went for 34 against Wisconsin and 46 against Purdue. He can go off.

He only cracked 20 points once in the NCAA, so he is human. He is averaging 17.5 in the tourney. Just something to keep an eye on.
 
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RuffRuff said:
I see what you're saying, but Wagler is not Boozer, much more easily defended.
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And while we didn't defend him as well in the first half, overall they did play pretty good defense on Boozer. He just made shots. Sometimes that happens.
 
Palatine said:
Wagler went for 34 against Wisconsin and 46 against Purdue. He can go off.

He only cracked 20 points once in the NCAA, so he is human. He is averaging 17.5 in the tourney. Just something to keep an eye on.
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Only one plus defender on this roster - their 1-3 are really leaky. If Silas is healthy and able to defend Wagler with Ross' help, we win going away.
 
Interesting to look at the box score of the from the November game. Malachi played more than Silas. Stewart played 24 minutes and Ross played 16. Reibe played 22 minutes w/ 8 pts and 7 rebs and 1 foul. Reed played 15 and Mullins 10 both w/ 2 pts. Held Illinois to 32% shooting. Both are different teams in April. Biggest difference for Illinois is Stojakovic coming off the bench as a strong scoring threat rather than starting. I can see UConn responding when Stojakovic comes into the game with a dose of Ross and some Stewart.
 
I generally avoid making any predictions until I dissect Hey Adrian’s scouting report.

Then after reading it, conclude that we’re doomed.
 
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The Illinois Governor has wagered Eli's Cheesecake and 17th Street BBQ
Governor Lamont put up world-famous New Haven Pizza

I think we should get some Adam's Ribs BBQ from Chicago with a gallon of barbecue sauce, and don't forget the coleslaw!!
 
Kolumbo said:
The Illinois Governor has wagered Eli's Cheesecake and 17th Street BBQ
Governor Lamont put up world-famous New Haven Pizza

I think we should get some Adam's Ribs BBQ from Chicago with a gallon of barbecue sauce, and don't forget the coleslaw!!
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Wouldn't the pizza be soggy by the time it gets to Illinois?
 
tarris was crippled during that november game, probably set back his recovery in that game too.
 
Irvine said:
Wouldn't the pizza be soggy by the time it gets to Illinois?
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apologies if this is considered political. It's just 2 governors with a friendly wager

“… And perhaps our world-famous pizza. I don’t know how I’m gonna get it to you sizzling hot, don’t think I’m gonna have to worry about it,” Lamont said confidently in the reel.

www.instagram.com

Governor Ned Lamont on Instagram: "Challenge accepted ✅ @govpritzker"

345 likes, 20 comments - govnedlamont on March 31, 2026: "Challenge accepted ✅ @govpritzker".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
Well, for one thing, we know that some guy we never heard of and shoots 12% for the season is gonna go off and shoot the lights out.
 
noelle said:
tarris was crippled during that november game, probably set back his recovery in that game too.
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After seeing Tarris in the tourney, I'm convinced he was hurt for a large part of the entire year. The guy that we've seen the last 4 games is the guy we were hoping for all year, and then some.
 
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UConn2SF said:
The keys to the game are simple: 1. Reed needs to stay out of foul trouble and continue playing like the best center in the country; 2. win BOTH the turnover and rebounding battle; 3. shoot 40% of better from 3 at 20+ attempts; 4. play our usual solid team defense. Easy
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If we do this, we are playing our A game and win going away probably by 20+ points.

Conversely, we can win with less than our A game. As an example against number 1 seed Duke: 1) Reed played great, 2) lost the rebounding battle/won the turnover battle, 3) shot 22% from 3 on 23 attempts, 4) played crap defense in the first half and fantastic in the second.
 
RuffRuff said:
After seeing Tarris in the tourney, I'm convinced he was hurt for a large part of the entire year. The guy that we've seen the last 4 games is the guy we were hoping for all year, and then some.
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Just spitballin here but maybe that’s why we don’t question someone’s toughness when we don’t know what’s actually happening
 
RuffRuff said:
After seeing Tarris in the tourney, I'm convinced he was hurt for a large part of the entire year. The guy that we've seen the last 4 games is the guy we were hoping for all year, and then some.
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could be the case. he has special mobility and quickness at his size. only really seen that in the tourney
 
98Uconn said:
Well, for one thing, we know that some guy we never heard of and shoots 12% for the season is gonna go off and shoot the lights out.
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He shoots a higher percentage than that (on low volume), but Jake Davis - the guy with the hair - has random outlier three-point heater vibes written all over him.

But since I expect that, it'll probably be someone else.
 
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