One of the more underrated rivalries in college basketball marks its 30th anniversary tonight when Illinois and Missouri tipoff in St. Louis. This is a game that, as a fan, gets me excited every single year. Braggin’ Rights means a national broadcast no matter how poor the teams are playing, it means Christmas is right around the corner, and, in years past, it meant that in the lead up to the game, ESPN Classic would be sure to air several of the classic games in the series (note, that is not the case this year).
As St. Louis sits directly on the Illinois-Missouri border, you can always count on a great crowd, split almost directly down the middle - orange to one side, black to the other. And the game very rarely disappoints. Who can forget Illinois freshman Kiwane Garris missing both free throws with no time left on the clock and a chance to win the game for the Illini (a game the Illini ultimately lost 108-107 in 3 overtimes, and still the classic game in the series). Kiwane Garris developed into one of the great point guards in Illinois history (and an all-time favorite of mine), but ask an Illinois fan about Kiwane, and that Missouri game is one of the first memories that spring to mind.
While the games are often close (3 games have been decided in overtime, and since 1992, 11 games have either gone into overtime or been decided 10 points or less - in 1995, Illinois won 96-85 in overtime), both schools have had sustained success in the series. Illinois won 9 of the first 10 games. Missouri then won 7 of the next 9. Illinois followed that by winning 9 in a row before the Missouri win last year. Over the life of the series, Illinois is 20-9.
As far as this year’s game is concerned, Missouri plays fast. They press, take shots early in the shot clock, and in general try to wear teams down. I watched Missouri lose to Georgetown 111-102 in overtime earlier this year and can say that Marcus Denmon is very, very good and will be a tough matchup for DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul (assuming Paul plays). Denmon averages just short of 17 points per game and is a 48% three point shooter. But the Tigers, surprisingly enough given the way they play, are not that deep. In the Georgetown game, each starter played at least 35 minutes and only two players provided meaningful minutes off the bench (in close wins against Vanderbilt and Oregon, Missouri had a more traditional box score with 8 or 9 players giving meaningful minutes).
The Illini are athletic enough, and deep enough, to play the tempo that Missouri will want to play (though the tempo will certainly not favor Mike Tisdale). The issue for Illinois will be their reliance on Demetri McCamey as ball handler. DJ Richardson turns the ball over too much, Brandon Paul is a shoot first guard, and Joseph Bertrand and Crandall Head have never seen the type of pressure defense that Missouri will throw at them. If the Illini can limit turnovers, they will have plenty of opportunities to attack the basket with numbers off the press and will put themselves in a great position to win tonight.
My thoughts: this game will be played in the 80s and will be another close game in this series. The Illini have something to prove after the ugly loss to UIC Saturday and both teams should be ready to play. If you like fast paced, high intensity college basketball, tonight’s game is must see TV.
As St. Louis sits directly on the Illinois-Missouri border, you can always count on a great crowd, split almost directly down the middle - orange to one side, black to the other. And the game very rarely disappoints. Who can forget Illinois freshman Kiwane Garris missing both free throws with no time left on the clock and a chance to win the game for the Illini (a game the Illini ultimately lost 108-107 in 3 overtimes, and still the classic game in the series). Kiwane Garris developed into one of the great point guards in Illinois history (and an all-time favorite of mine), but ask an Illinois fan about Kiwane, and that Missouri game is one of the first memories that spring to mind.
While the games are often close (3 games have been decided in overtime, and since 1992, 11 games have either gone into overtime or been decided 10 points or less - in 1995, Illinois won 96-85 in overtime), both schools have had sustained success in the series. Illinois won 9 of the first 10 games. Missouri then won 7 of the next 9. Illinois followed that by winning 9 in a row before the Missouri win last year. Over the life of the series, Illinois is 20-9.
As far as this year’s game is concerned, Missouri plays fast. They press, take shots early in the shot clock, and in general try to wear teams down. I watched Missouri lose to Georgetown 111-102 in overtime earlier this year and can say that Marcus Denmon is very, very good and will be a tough matchup for DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul (assuming Paul plays). Denmon averages just short of 17 points per game and is a 48% three point shooter. But the Tigers, surprisingly enough given the way they play, are not that deep. In the Georgetown game, each starter played at least 35 minutes and only two players provided meaningful minutes off the bench (in close wins against Vanderbilt and Oregon, Missouri had a more traditional box score with 8 or 9 players giving meaningful minutes).
The Illini are athletic enough, and deep enough, to play the tempo that Missouri will want to play (though the tempo will certainly not favor Mike Tisdale). The issue for Illinois will be their reliance on Demetri McCamey as ball handler. DJ Richardson turns the ball over too much, Brandon Paul is a shoot first guard, and Joseph Bertrand and Crandall Head have never seen the type of pressure defense that Missouri will throw at them. If the Illini can limit turnovers, they will have plenty of opportunities to attack the basket with numbers off the press and will put themselves in a great position to win tonight.
My thoughts: this game will be played in the 80s and will be another close game in this series. The Illini have something to prove after the ugly loss to UIC Saturday and both teams should be ready to play. If you like fast paced, high intensity college basketball, tonight’s game is must see TV.
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