For the ninth consecutive year, Illinois has beaten Missouri. The border war game is always played the week of Christmas, so this makes nine consecutive Merry Christmases for Illini fans.
Illinois won Tuesday night's game 75-59. It really wasn't that close. The Illini jumped out to a 20-9 lead and led 40-22 at halftime. Missouri never got within single digits the entire second half.
Without scoring a point, I thought Chester Frazier (left) had one of his best games as an Illini. In 35 minutes, he had eight assists, six rebounds, three steals and only two turnovers despite being grabbed and slapped at by overzealous Missouri defenders all game long.
Frankly, I'm not sure how Missouri is ranked No. 25 in the country. Defensively, the Tigers strategy seemed to be, "Send two or three guys at the kid with the ball and mug him." Missouri is very poor fundamentally on defense. The Tigers gamble constantly, overplaying everything to their own detriment.
Such a strategy works against bad teams. Against teams with good experienced guards -- guards who don't dribble into trouble, guards who move the ball quickly and smartly -- Missouri loses. Illinois shot a high percentage Tuesday night because it got plenty of easy layups, making Mizzou defenders pay for being out of position.
When the Illini didn't get layups, they got open perimeter looks. Both Trent Meacham (23 points) and Demetri McCamey (20 points) had good shooting nights.
That's the recipe for a blowout. Easy win for the Illini, who are now 11-1. Let's see if they can continue to play well as Big Ten conference play begins next week.
Who knew !
Maybe Bruce Weber is a better coach than his detractors thought
Ron,
I always thought the people who questioned Weber's coaching ability were foolish. The man can coach: He proved it during the run to the Final Four in 2005.
Unfortunately, he recruited poorly his first three years at Illinois, and that is why we have seen the program go through a down period here recently. It was more a lack of talent than a coaching issue.
However, recruiting has improved greatly the last two years. The sophomore class is the strongest class in the program right now. There are some good players at Illinois, and more are on the way in the next two recruiting classes. It's reasonable to think the on-the-court results will be improving soon.
Heck, it's not entirely inconceivable that Illinois will be back in the NCAA tournament this March. If not, I see the program returning to prominence next year.
The criticism that Weber gets is fair. What exactly has he done since Bill Self's players have left the building? When I think of Weber, I think of a coach who got outcoached in the National Championship game. Illinois had everything going against UNC, but Illinois looked overmatched and underprepared in that game much to my delight.
Since the Championship Game, Illinois has not beaten good teams and they have not done well against conference play. This should be on Weber whether it's fair or not.
You are going to cite 2005, Jason? I will throw cold water on that easily. Could it be that these players were so ticked off at Self for bailing out on them that they were willing to prove that they can win without Self and that they were the reason why Self was good? Could it be? I liken Weber's success to that year with Nets coach Lawrence Frank when he took over for Byron Scott, who was fired in January 2004. Nets players despise Scott, and they were doing everything they could to get him fired. They got their wish, and Lawrence Frank had that 17-0 start as an interim coach, which is why he is still coaching. Since then, Frank sucked as a coach after a great start. That's how I liken to Weber.
You want a sign of a good coach? A good example is Tubby Smith. Smith inherited a garbage roster by Dan Monson, and somehow, the Gophers had a winning season not to mention they won two games in the Big 10 Tournament. They should have beaten Illinois, but the refs made sure Illinois got all the calls (it's always like that when Minnesota play Chicago in any sport) in that game. FOrtunately, Illinois never made the tournament with Minnesota. Now, Tubby has his team primed for the tournament this year. This Gophers team is really good. That's a sign of a good coach. A coach that knows how to make the most of his roster despite its limitations and improving. I haven't seen that from Weber.
And no, this has nothing to do with me hating Weber or hating Illinois.
Oh and Weber might as well need a new voice BTW. Listening to him is like hearing Mary Swistra talk or hearing nails on the chalkboard.
Bruce Weber's record at Illinois: 140-48 (.745)
Bruce Weber's record vs. Minnesota: 10-0 (1.000)
Any other questions, son?
Great.
FDU Knights coach Tom Green could have beaten the Gophers if Dan Monson was coaching that team. It means nothing now. Every Big 10 coach was beating up on Dan Monson's team. You want to talk about last year? The Gophers should have beaten Illinois in the Big 10 Tournament, but the refs made sure the Gophers got screwed so that Minnesota would not be in the playoff picture. A win and the Gophers got in. This year is going to be different though. If you think the Gophers are nothing more than frauds, then you really know notihng about the Gophers, which I suspect you don't. I noticed you said nothing last week when the Gophers beat the Louisville Cardinals in the Arizona Shootout, and I am pretty sure you had nothing to say when the Vikings won the division yesterday.
BTW, how's Da Bears tee time going? LMAO!
Fine, let's talk about last year.
The worst team in Illinois basketball history played Minnesota three times. AND WON THREE TIMES.
Including an 84-60 ass-kicking at Minnesota.
Why would I care about a game between Minnesota and Louisville?
Again, the refs played a role in the Big 10 Tournament which Illinois got ridiculous amount of calls. It's no secret everytime a Minnesota sports team play a Chicago sports team, Chicago sports teams gets calls all the time even at Minnesota. In Game 163, Jon Danks got a big strike zone that would put Eric Gregg's call of giving Livan Hernandez a big strike zone in teh 1997 NLCS game to shame. It's just the facts. The refs have it in for Minnesota sports teams, and I can cite a lot more.
In the Big 10 Tournament game, Illinois shot 22 free throws. Minnesota shot 21. Total fouls: Minnesota 19, Illinois 18.
Very fair, very even.
http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/031508aab.html
Quit while you're behind.
Funny since I watched the game.
I don't recall seeing the Gophers being in the Free Throw line as this site allegedly has. Illinois had to have more than 22 Free Throws. I don't believe that for one second just like I don't believe MLB did the coin flip for the Twins.
Fine, here's the box score from that game off GopherSports.com:
http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38663&SPID=3302&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=1412898
It has the same stats as the other one from the Illinois site.
If you still want to argue, call the sports information office at Minnesota.
Again, I don't believe in the stats stuff. Statistics mean nothing. I go by what I see, and I know that Illinois had more shots at the Free Throw line than Minnesota and Illinois was able to get away with the physical play.
In other words, you have nothing to base your argument on other than your own biased opinion.
The proof is in the pudding: Illinois beat Minnesota three times last year.