I will be tweeting all through tonight’s sport along with updating Gameday Central. You possibly can observe all of that proper right here:
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So … this.
So when a Missouri press launch reads the Braggin Rights’ sport “will probably be performed with out followers in attendance” that truly meant there will probably be a small variety of followers from each groups. #Illini #Mizzou #BragginRights
— Scott Richey (@srrichey) December 13, 2020
There was apparently a small allotment of tickets for followers from each groups. Howard Milton’s presence just about signifies which Illinois followers bought them. Stunning? Not a lot, however a bummer for Illini followers that will have appreciated to be right here and did not get the prospect.
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Illinois is clearly coming off a signature win in opposition to No. 10 Duke — a very good bounce again after developing quick in opposition to No. 2 Baylor. Missouri, unbeaten by 4 video games, beat Liberty 69-60 on Wednesday in Columbia, Mo., with Mark Smith making 4 of 8 three-pointers and scoring a team-high 17 factors.
“It’s an excellent outdated and really mature Missouri group that’s spectacular on paper,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood mentioned. “They’re enjoying sooner than they’ve performed prior to now. They’re very versatile with the ability to play 4 guards and enjoying Xavier Pinson now completely on the level and sort of letting him go when it comes to giving him numerous freedom on the offensive finish and utilizing his pace.
“Then I believe one of the underrated gamers not just for them however within the nation is Dru Smith. An excellent participant who’s quietly having an excellent 12 months. An outdated group. A group that’s very related on the defensive finish. And a group that’s clearly confirmed and worthy of their undefeated document.”
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Former Illinois guard Stephen Bardo went stay on Twitter earlier right this moment to debate the 2 video games tonight that includes Massive Ten groups. In your info, Bardo is fairly excessive on Purdue freshman Zach Edey and mentioned the the Boilermakers’ 7-foot-4 middle might need probably the most potential of any Purdue massive of late.
PREGAME SAUCE – Indiana State @ Purdue / Illinois @ Missouri! https://t.co/nv7nCPTt4T
— Stephen Bardo (@stephenbardo) December 12, 2020
Bardo additionally touched on Braggin’ Rights, in fact.
“That is the kind of sport that’s one of many higher rivalries in faculty basketball,” Bardo mentioned. “Don’t get caught up on the actual fact Illinois is No. 6 within the nation and Mizzou isn’t ranked. I performed in 4 of them and was undefeated. I by no means misplaced to Missouri. I’ve lined 5 on the radio and 7 on tv and solely seen (Illinois) lose one time.”
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Identical to earlier than Tuesday night time’s sport at Duke (and like he is carried out many instances beforehand), former Illinois guard turned ESPN faculty basketball analyst Sean Harrington broke down some keys to the sport for Illinois in opposition to Missouri.
Braggin’ Rights tonight for @IlliniMBB. Try the keys to the sport. pic.twitter.com/wmCwezO0rq
— Sean Harrington (@smharrington24) December 12, 2020
The total breakdown:
Defensively …
- Get again in transition. Missouri is actually good throwing the ball up the sideline. Take away that move, and you’ll decelerate their break.
- Maintain Mizzou out of the lane. How do you that? Know the place their shooters are. Don’t over assistance on (Dru Smith) and (Mark Smith). Make them put it on the ground. Everybody else? Over assist, shut out quick and know they’re going to drive the basketball.
- You’ve bought to field out. Don’t give them any straightforward ones — particularly Jeremiah Tilmon. He’s averaging over three offensive boards per sport.
Offensively …
- The center of the ground is your assault zone. Whenever you catch the ball proper int he center, you will have high-low alternatives. You possibly can down display screen and curl a man into the lane. Or, after you reverse it side-to-side, you catch it (center), assault and break down the protection.
- Whenever you catch it on the wing, Missouri’s protection is just too good, too essentially sound. THey’re going to push over, and all the things’s going to be clogged up and nothing there.
- Ball and physique motion are enchancment. No first-side drive. Get the ball transferring earlier than you drive. Again doorways are open.
Final phrases …
- That is Braggin’ Rights. You got here to Illinois as a result of we don’t lose to Mizzou, and don’t overlook they tackled the Chief in 2001.
- Present no mercy, Illini.
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After an prolonged combat to get related to the web, I am up and working from Mizzou Enviornment. Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk is the primary Illinois participant on the ground simply greater than 90 minutes earlier than tip. He is been on a minutes restriction — even in apply — as he comes again from one other foot harm, so it could be a little bit of a shock if he performs tonight.
Jacob Grandison and Giorgi Bezhanishvili had been proper on Bosmans-Verdonk’s heels to get in some early work. Aspect be aware, Illinois goes with the orange alternates once more tonight in opposition to Missouri after sporting them in Tuesday’s win at Duke.
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Rivalry Saturday didn’t begin effectively for Illinois. Not with “little brother” Northwestern soccer dashing for greater than 400 yards in a it-wasn’t-that-close 28-10 victory in Evanston. Possibly do not present a group that is received each matchup since 2015 bulletin board materials.
Now the eye from the Illinois fan base shifts to basketball (if it wasn’t already there to be being with; and it in all probability was). Rivalry Saturday continues in Columbia, Mo., with a one-off campus version of Braggin’ Rights.
𝗚 𝗔 𝗠 𝗘 𝗗 𝗔 𝗬! pic.twitter.com/G0nc32jLyi
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 12, 2020
That is additionally a sport the place Illinois would not have current success. Missouri has received the final two matchups — maintaining former Illini Mark Smith undefeated within the rivalry — after Brad Underwood and Co. received in his first season as coach.
No bulletin board materials for this one, although. All Ayo Dosunmu mentioned about Braggin’ Rights was Illinois was going to face a hungry Missouri group that was enjoying effectively and that the Illini owed the Tigers one.
Braggin’ Rights will definitely be totally different this season. On paper, it is the most effective matchups within the sequence in a while. Illinois is ranked because the No. 6 group within the nation. Missouri is undefeated and already beat a High 25 group this season with a impartial website win in opposition to Oregon.
That matchup will play out in an empty Mizzou Enviornment, nonetheless, as a substitute of a bought out(?) Enterprise Heart in St. Louis with (perhaps greater than) half the group in orange and blue and the remaining decked out in black and gold. Final 12 months’s sport noticed a slight dip in attendance — down from round 20,000 to simply greater than 15,000 — however in a non-pandemic season with each groups enjoying this effectively St. Louis might need been a university basketball hotbed for the day. (Nicely, greater than it form of is with Saint Louis additionally enjoying effectively).
Not less than followers will probably be just a little extra more likely to discover the sport on TV. The chances weren’t trying nice for that when Braggin’ Rights was dumped on the SEC Community alternate channel. Now, it is on ESPNU and nationally televised. A thanks to the Massive 12 for shifting its soccer schedule to open the 7 p.m. slot.
No followers, in fact, adjustments the gameday expertise. After a somewhat flat exhibiting in opposition to Ohio, the Illinois bench introduced actual power for the Jimmy V Basic sport in opposition to Baylor and once more earlier this week at Duke. Secure to imagine that continues.
Braggin’ Rights will not be the identical with out you right this moment, #Illini Nation. Ship us your favourite Braggin’ Rights photos! We all know you will have some to share. pic.twitter.com/Fdzhl3Pthx
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 12, 2020
My gameday expertise adjustments, too, although. No Braggin’ Rights followers means no drunk Santa Claus sitting (or standing or stumbling … however positively yelling) behind me. I bought a style of the empty area vibe at State Farm Heart throughout the first week of the season. We’ll see what issues are like at Mizzou Enviornment tonight.
