Ignatius L Hoops
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2015
- Messages
- 10,700
- Reaction score
- 3,559
- Points
- 113
Champaign Flukes?
After defeating Nebraska Sunday in Champaign, Illinois stood 3-2 in conference play. Taking advantage of a favorable schedule, the Illini have topped last season’s 2-16 conference record (both wins were against the Badgers and helped push Bobbie Kelsey out the door). Considering all the defections and season ending injuries of the last two seasons, this qualifies as a good start.
The Illini are not a particularly good team at home and even worse on the road. However, a Minnesota club baffled by the Michigan triad of Thome, Flaherty and Gondrezick will face a scaled down Illini version of the same style attack run by Wittinger, Holesinska and Beasley. Wittinger, a sophomore, we remember from last season’s 27 point performance at Williams Arena. Holesinska (noted streaky three point shooter) and Beasley are freshmen.
Wittinger is very active offensively and defensively. She’s one of those players who rarely gets discouraged. Also, as the season progressed, Matt Bollant (who many of us expect to get the ax at the end of the season (he’s 22-51 in the B1G)) developed a backup for Wittinger in Ali Andrews. Defensively, there are remnants of the “Buzz” defense and Illinois tries to disrupt. The Illini are grabbing 7.6 steals per game in B1G play; although it should be noted that 15 of those steals were in the win versus Iowa.
From the Illini Nebraska win:
http://assets.news-gazette.com/spor...i-win-blowout-thanks-hot-second-half-shooting
Early in the fourth quarter, with Illinois leading by 12, freshman Ali Andrews put the visitors away. She scored nine points in a 2:15 stretch, hitting two three-pointers.
“It felt great,” Andrews said. “I give all the credit to Brandi and Petra and all the other guards.”
Andrews had a conventional three-point play, making a twisting shot while being fouled.
“Ali had some clutch moments,” Wittinger said. “I think I lost my mind when she hit that and-one.”
Bollant wants inside players Wittinger and Andrews to be confident shooting from the perimeter.
“It makes it really hard to guard,” Bollant said. “It’s fun for Alex to have another post player playing well and making plays. They cheer for each other.”
B1G record:
B1G Wins: Iowa, 70-65; Rutgers, 78-41; Nebraska, 79-59
B1G Losses: @ Michigan State, 71-47; @ Iowa, 78-58
Last Season:
In Champaign, the Gophers rained down the threes while crushing Illinois 106-75. Banham scored 39 and was 10-15 from three (Minnesota was 19-39 from behind the arc).
In the Williams Arena return match, Minnesota trailed by as many as 18 including being down 45-29 at the half. A 53 point second half Gopher rally produced an 82-77 victory. Banham scored 27 (18 in the fourth quarter). Wagner chipped in 16. The Illini’s Wittinger 27 points came on 12-18 shooting.
Starters with B1G Stats:
Petra Holesinska: 5’9” G Fr (14.0 points/game and 5 rebounds/game) (30.4 minutes/game)
Brandi Beasley: 5’6” G Fr (12.6 p/g and 5.8 r/g) (34.4 minutes)
Alex Wittinger: 6’1” F So. (14.4 p/g and 7 r/g) (30.4 minutes)
Kennedy Cattenhead: 5’10” G Jr. (7.2 r/g) (23.4 minutes)
Jaelyne Kirkpatrick: 5’7” G So. (5.0 p/G) (32.4 minutes)
Others:
Ali Andrews: 6’2” F So. (8.4 p/G) (21.6 minutes)
Courtney Joens: 5’10” G Fr. (3.5 p/g) (15.6) Yes it is pronounced Jones and is spelled Joens.
After defeating Nebraska Sunday in Champaign, Illinois stood 3-2 in conference play. Taking advantage of a favorable schedule, the Illini have topped last season’s 2-16 conference record (both wins were against the Badgers and helped push Bobbie Kelsey out the door). Considering all the defections and season ending injuries of the last two seasons, this qualifies as a good start.
The Illini are not a particularly good team at home and even worse on the road. However, a Minnesota club baffled by the Michigan triad of Thome, Flaherty and Gondrezick will face a scaled down Illini version of the same style attack run by Wittinger, Holesinska and Beasley. Wittinger, a sophomore, we remember from last season’s 27 point performance at Williams Arena. Holesinska (noted streaky three point shooter) and Beasley are freshmen.
Wittinger is very active offensively and defensively. She’s one of those players who rarely gets discouraged. Also, as the season progressed, Matt Bollant (who many of us expect to get the ax at the end of the season (he’s 22-51 in the B1G)) developed a backup for Wittinger in Ali Andrews. Defensively, there are remnants of the “Buzz” defense and Illinois tries to disrupt. The Illini are grabbing 7.6 steals per game in B1G play; although it should be noted that 15 of those steals were in the win versus Iowa.
From the Illini Nebraska win:
http://assets.news-gazette.com/spor...i-win-blowout-thanks-hot-second-half-shooting
Early in the fourth quarter, with Illinois leading by 12, freshman Ali Andrews put the visitors away. She scored nine points in a 2:15 stretch, hitting two three-pointers.
“It felt great,” Andrews said. “I give all the credit to Brandi and Petra and all the other guards.”
Andrews had a conventional three-point play, making a twisting shot while being fouled.
“Ali had some clutch moments,” Wittinger said. “I think I lost my mind when she hit that and-one.”
Bollant wants inside players Wittinger and Andrews to be confident shooting from the perimeter.
“It makes it really hard to guard,” Bollant said. “It’s fun for Alex to have another post player playing well and making plays. They cheer for each other.”
B1G record:
B1G Wins: Iowa, 70-65; Rutgers, 78-41; Nebraska, 79-59
B1G Losses: @ Michigan State, 71-47; @ Iowa, 78-58
Last Season:
In Champaign, the Gophers rained down the threes while crushing Illinois 106-75. Banham scored 39 and was 10-15 from three (Minnesota was 19-39 from behind the arc).
In the Williams Arena return match, Minnesota trailed by as many as 18 including being down 45-29 at the half. A 53 point second half Gopher rally produced an 82-77 victory. Banham scored 27 (18 in the fourth quarter). Wagner chipped in 16. The Illini’s Wittinger 27 points came on 12-18 shooting.
Starters with B1G Stats:
Petra Holesinska: 5’9” G Fr (14.0 points/game and 5 rebounds/game) (30.4 minutes/game)
Brandi Beasley: 5’6” G Fr (12.6 p/g and 5.8 r/g) (34.4 minutes)
Alex Wittinger: 6’1” F So. (14.4 p/g and 7 r/g) (30.4 minutes)
Kennedy Cattenhead: 5’10” G Jr. (7.2 r/g) (23.4 minutes)
Jaelyne Kirkpatrick: 5’7” G So. (5.0 p/G) (32.4 minutes)
Others:
Ali Andrews: 6’2” F So. (8.4 p/G) (21.6 minutes)
Courtney Joens: 5’10” G Fr. (3.5 p/g) (15.6) Yes it is pronounced Jones and is spelled Joens.