Headed out of town this afternoon and will be on I-95 when this line comes out it looks like. I am assuming Illinois will be favored and I am guessing it will be something like -2 to -4. I think the total will be a 144-148 type number. All I can really do is make a few general observations on what the game might look like as the season is young.
The Terps played well enough to win last night but they were aweful from the FT line......again. This concerns me because ACC games are typically close and we won't have a ton of room for error this season. If the Terps shoot just 65% last night, they probably win. Pitt is solid but the Terps played good team D and hung in even though we really only had a couple of guys playing half way decent. I was pleased that they were able to execute pretty well when forced into a half court game they really don't prefer to play. That being said, the Terps got killed on the boards which I expected. JWill will have to get some help form someone. Dino is an assclown and seems to be digressing from what he was two years ago. Padgett just isn't getting it and that leaves a 6'10 Dutchman that weight 100 pounds. Christ.
I think both teams will be a bit flat at 5:00 today. It's a consolation game, it's late afternoon and it's after playing a tough game for each team last night. I think the game will be more uptempo than the Terps game last night, though it may take a good part of the first half for the teams to get into a rythmn. The Terps will likely get some more run for PeShon and Stoglin as back to back game sin less than 24 hours is tough and the two freshmen are really solid already. I expect them both to play a ton this year, far more than Gary typically plays young guys.
The Terps will have a tough match-up in McCamey. The Illini guard is a stud and strong for a guard. I expect Gary to put Cliff Tucker on him maybe as he did last night when Cliff guarded Wattaburger for Pitt. Wattaburger never got into a flow as Cliff is the Terps best defender. JWill should have a better game as 14 and 8 is solid but the Soph has really developed and that is a medicore night for him now. Expect the Terps to pound it inside more than last night. Again, any help inside at all and the Terps have agreat shot to win.....but that's a HUGE maybe because again, we are very thin/STUPID in the frontcourt after JWill.
Mike Davis will be a tough match-up for the Terps but JWill can likely handle it. I think this boils down to the Terps ability to run alot of bodies at the Illini and HITTING free throws. If they hit them, which I think they will better than last night, they win.
I'm assuming the Terps will get points tonight and win SU. No real opinion on the total as tired legs could lead to sloppy play for long stretches in the game. Yes, I know these are college kids so tired legs are not a huge concern but this is still early in the seaosn and no one is mid season game fit yet.
Take the Terps and the points (assuming they're the underdog??)
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