Iowa played them tough but ended up being one of several games they couldn't finish in the last 5 minutes. And the game was at Illinois. Iowa certainly has a chance in this game but it is by no means a given.
so it looks like illinois
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Both teams would be tough but playing Houston would have an entire houston fanbase in the building.
We are playing better now than we were mid-season. Alvaro has come alive in the tourney and both Sage and Koch have been playing great!
The game is on a neutral court and Iowa has nothing to lose.
Illinois is a good team and it will be a tough game but I like our chances!
Maybe some of those Houston fans with tickets will show up and root for Iowa 
Far better Illinois than a home game against Houston , The crowd would have been 80% Houston , Now I am betting the casuals will be pulling for the dog in Iowa so should not be a hostile crowd at least . Going to have to really defend , limit turnovers and shoot the rock and make free throws to have a chance.
Illinois slipped by the Hawkeyes 75-69 about two months ago. Time for payback. This is a totally different Iowa team. They believe. And why shouldn't they? They've done it on the court, including beating the defending national champions and No. 1 seeded Florida in Tampa. One win from the Final Four, so why not send the Whinin' Illini home to join Clemson, Florida, and Nebraska on the couch.
Sounds like the same old story as Clemson, #1 Florida, and Nebraska.
If the Hawks could handle Florida's size, we should be ok. Illinois guards are alot better than Floridas though
And if you had to choose between playing Florida in Tampa or somebody else, which would you choose?
I said before the Nebraska game that if they cooled a bit from 3 and we got a little warmer from 3 that could be the difference maker. They fell to 34% and we climbed to 43%. Both teams made 13 threes. That was the equalizer. I am too tired and hung over to figure out right equalizer for Iowa/Illinois......but my guess is Ben knows a ton more about this **** than me and is not hung over and he will have the guys ready with the right game plan.
After the first 3 minutes we beat Nebraska 75-59. At around 3 minutes that is when Ben called a timeout and chewed their asses out. The guys responded. Don't want to fall behind Illinois by 10 early......come out ready for action and be a participant and not a spectator.
After the first 3 minutes we beat Nebraska 75-59. At around 3 minutes that is when Ben called a timeout and chewed their asses out. The guys responded. Don't want to fall behind Illinois by 10 early......come out ready for action and be a participant and not a spectator.
I did take a peak at the game earlier in the year where we lost at home to Illinois by 6. The biggest thing that jumps out to me is the slow start. Illinois was up by 18 points with about 7:30 remaining in the first half. We only had 24 first half points. Obviously that CAN'T happen again. The only other thing from a team standpoint is we shot 41% and Illinois shot 49%. Bennett was 5-17, Cooper was 4-12 and Alvaro (who started this game) was 2-9.