Illinois St. vs. Illinois

by **BirdmanBB** » November 23rd, 2011, 8:45 am

8 years in the making. Tipoff is at 8pm tonight and on CBS Sports Network. I assume there will be a pirated stream on http://www.firstrowsports.com.

Illinois will obviously be favored in this one, however, anything goes when it comes to these in-state games. BU beat them in vegas a couple years back and UIC beat them last year in Chicago at a neutral. It's now our turn to take a shot at a team who has avoided playing us even though we are a 40 min. drive apart.

One tidbit is that because of the schools close proximity together, we both split a charter flight out there and will be on the way back. It should make an interesting flight back if we can pull off a shocking win.

I think our guys are flying high after a win over Rutgers, so the confidence will be there, but there will also be a hunger to beat Illinois which I think will keep us close. Most importantly, scoring is there this year and it wasn't last year. I think we are already pretty decent on the defensive end, but we will be going up against some very quick guards.

If we do win, it might be an overtime victory. We absolutely need to draw fouls and get to the line. This will be our only shot.

**Sponsor**

by **Bluejay09Bear06** » November 23rd, 2011, 10:24 am

Great opportunity for Illinois State and the Valley. Go Birds!

by **BirdmanBB** » November 23rd, 2011, 1:18 pm

Illinois opens as a 10pt favorite.

by **DoubleJayAlum** » November 23rd, 2011, 2:08 pm

BirdmanBB wrote:If we do win, it might be an overtime victory.

After watching yesterday's game, I feel that if the game goes to OT, your chances drop.

Yesterday your best players fouled out of the game. If Carmichael and Wilkins get into that sort of foul trouble again, you better win it in regulation as they won't be around for OT.

Among the bigs, I think you guys really match-up well with Illinois and may even have a slight edge. This game will be won or lost by your guards; they simply can't be as careless with the basketball as they were last night.

by **denjayfan1** » November 23rd, 2011, 2:27 pm

Come on Ill. St., take it to the Fighting Illini. Let's make this a dominate year of MVC teams over Big Ten teams.

by **Ali** » November 23rd, 2011, 2:49 pm

I'd love to be on that flight sitting between Bruce Weber and Sam Maniscalco after an Illinois State win.

by **Jet915** » November 23rd, 2011, 9:09 pm

18-13 Illinois. Can anyone find a stream?

by **DoubleJayAlum** » November 23rd, 2011, 9:14 pm

Jet915 wrote:18-13 Illinois. Can anyone find a stream?

If you live in Omaha, it is on Cox 234....

by **DoubleJayAlum** » November 23rd, 2011, 9:33 pm

Sam Maniscalco looks like a guy from Jersey Shore

by **Jet915** » November 23rd, 2011, 9:44 pm

34-27 Illinois at the half.