B1G Game 16: Gophers visit Illinois (2-25-18)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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With last night’s 64-51 loss in West Lafayette, Illinois has lost 26 consecutive B1G regular season conference games. (Thanks to the B1G tournament it has not been a complete shutout. Last season the Illini defeated Nebraska in the B1G tourney before losing to Purdue). By any measure, it’s been a tough start for first year Illinois head coach Nancy Fahey.

Illinois has been blown out; but, like yesterday’s Purdue loss they tend to hang around before collecting another L. Purdue primarily scored off drives and foul shots (21-28). It’s been an efficient and popular way to attack the Illini.

Alex Wittinger is easily the Illini’s best and most interesting player. Without her, virtually all Illinois games would be walkovers. Her face up jumper would benefit any B1G team. Against the Boilermakers, the Junior notched her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

It will be Senior Day in Champaign with the Illini honoring Ali Andrews and Kennedy Cattenhead. It will be a good win for the Gophers because there is really no alternative.


B1G Losses: @ Maryland 65-100, Northwestern 59-74, @ Rutgers 37-76, Iowa 71-84, Nebraska 72-80, Michigan State 55-67, @ Michigan 42-86, @ Penn State 59-68, Wisconsin 61-70, @ Nebraska 47-62, Purdue 54-73, @ Indiana 54-70, Ohio State 69-88, @ Northwestern 61-88 and @ Purdue 51-64


Last Season: Minnesota, behind Carlie Wagner’s 25 points, won at Williams Arena 78-50. Minnesota led 20-10 at the end of the first quarter and 38-22 at the half. The Illini cut the lead to 38-29 before the Gophers pulled away. Bell finished with 19 points, Hubbard 15 and Edwards with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Taiye Bello’s stat line read 3 minutes played and one foul committed. Alex Wittinger posted 25 points and 8 rebounds. We will see similar rosters on Sunday.

Before Last Season: Minnesota has won three straight in the series; but Champaign had been a hard place to win. Minnesota dropped 4 in a row at Illinois until the Banham led 2015-16 team wiped the floor with the Illini 106-75. Rachel’s stat line read 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Wagner scored 16. The Illini were led by Florida State defector Chantrice White with 24 points. Fun Note: Annalese Lamke scored the games first two points following the opening tip.


Potential Starters:

6’1” F Jr. Alex Wittinger 35.3, minutes, 16.1 points and 9.9 rebounds/game
5’6” G So. Brandi Beasley 32.9 minutes and 11.7 points/game
5’9” G So. Cierra Rice 26.5 minutes and 7 points/game
5’10” G Sr. Kennedy Cattenhead
5’10” G So. Courtney Joens


Off the Bench.

5’9” G So. Petra Holesinka 22.5 minutes/game
6’2” F So. Ali Andrews 23 minutes/game
6’1” F Fr. Jnaye Walker
5’7” G Jr. Jaelyne Kirkpatrick
 

Anybody have any team health updates to share?
 


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Fernstrom not looking sharp defensively.
 


23-14 end of first

Doesn't seem like they're playing great but still put up 23.

Shooting 22%

Only one team assist and it's from Wagner.
 

That was a clean block from Carlie!
 

37-30 MIN at the half

Wagner 15 pts, 7 reb 1 ast
Bell 11 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 4 to, 1 stl
 

Another bad shooting performance hopefully find their groove second half and for the tourney. Are they playing tight? Hubbard and Pitts need some shots to go in.
 



Hubbard 0 points at the half on 0-7 shooting. Gophers 5 of 19 from 3. Wagner with 15 points, but 14 shots to get them. Wagner and Bello 7 boards apiece; Hubbard 6. Illinois has already played 11 players; Gophers 9. Wittinger from Illinois is a nice player.
 


Fernstrom throws the ball out of bounds. Gets the hook.
 

This reminds me of the NCAA tournamemt when Stollings waited for a DePaul 15 pt run to call a timeout. Stem the tide a little sooner.
 



Why isn’t Bell driving to the basket more? Need to make some offense as their shots not falling
 

Down by 4 early in the third. Bye bye NCAA bid if we lose to Illinois. Bello could have 20 rebounds today if she could stay on the court. In foul trouble all day.
 


A 9-20 team should never score 18 points within the first 4 minutes of a quarter...
 

Wittinger just picked up her third foul with 4:44 left in third. Let's make her pick up another one quick so she'll have to sit.
 

Whatever good vibes they had last Sunday have all but disappeared, lot of head hanging the last 2 games. The Indy game seem to shatter their confidence
 

Another poor shooting game from three. 5-24

Relying too much on the three when it's not falling.
 

Shades said:
Fernstrom throws the ball out of bounds. Gets the hook.
Click to expand...

You must be related to Edwards? Or maybe Wagner? Fernstrom 1/1fgs 3 blocks, 1 to got beat once by Wittinger for sure. But you sure don't have much to say when Carlie gives it up on the defensive end. ohh wait her job is to score, not play defense. Total lack of Balance today, just like against Indiana. Bell to machine again. Live by 3 die by it. Bello would be much more effective for us at 4, forcing her at 5 she just gets to many fouls. Come on Gophs you gotta win!!!
 

How was that a charge? That player didn't even let Bell land.
 


gophsfan said:
You must be related to Edwards? Or maybe Wagner? Fernstrom 1/1fgs 3 blocks, 1 to got beat once by Wittinger for sure. But you sure don't have much to say when Carlie gives it up on the defensive end. ohh wait her job is to score, not play defense. Total lack of Balance today, just like against Indiana. Bell to machine again. Live by 3 die by it. Bello would be much more effective for us at 4, forcing her at 5 she just gets to many fouls. Come on Gophs you gotta win!!!
Click to expand...

What's your problem? I'm just reporting what happened.
 

Definitely not a charge. She has to allow Bell to take a step. 4 fouls on Wittinger. Where does the Illinois scoring come from now? Time for a run.
 

55-53 IL end of third

Looks like they've finally decided to play with more urgency.
 

Wagner has really gone cold, but she needs to keep shooting. Gophers need to pick up the pace.
 

Wittinger playing with 4 fouls? Go after her!
 

14 boards for Bello already. She needs to be on the floor until she picks up her fourth.
 

Minnesota not playing great, but Illinois giving their best shot to not go winless in conference.
 

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