#9 MICHIGAN STATE 74        #20 ILLINOIS 66

We knew this was going to be a tough game.  We knew that Illinois had to play their A game in order to beat Michigan State.  Illinois played a B+ game.  It’s easy to be upset with the outcome of this game, but I am just glad that this Illini team has twice hung in there against a very solid Michigan St. team.  The one thing that we were worried about going into this game was rebounding, since we were coming off a rough rebounding performance against Minnesota, and Michigan St is the #2 rebounding team in the country.  I think we did a decent job there (got out rebounded 35-30).  Michigan St. only had seven second chance points, which isn’t bad at all. 

The problems were transition defense and down low defense.  Just like in our first game against the Spartans, MSU had 14 fast break points.  If you don’t get back against this team, you will get burned, and that is exactly what happened a few times. Also in our first meeting with Sparty, MSU had 30 points in the paint, which is pretty decent.  Yesterday, they had 42, which is insane.  They did an excellent job of driving the lane, and they also did a nice job of moving around without the ball.  This led to some wide open looks at the basket in a half court set.  

Some other things that stuck out to me:

- 37 total fouls.  You would have though this was an ACC game.  Both teams were pretty physical, and the refs actually made an attempt at calling fouls, even thought there were still a number of them they missed.

- If Trent Meacham’s foul late in the game was really a flagrant, then I accidentally committed three flagrant yesterday (two on handshakes and one on a high five)).

- I like to see Demetri McCamey drive the lane.  I don’t like to see McCamey drive the lane, jump up in the air, and have no idea what he is going to do after he has jumped.  This led to a few unnecessary turnovers.

- One more thing on fouls.  I don’t like to be on of those guys that complains about the fouls all the time, but I feel the refs took Illinois out of the game with their officiating in the final few minutes.  Michigan St. got away with fouls that we didn’t get away with, and that is the reason why the Spartans ended up winning by eight points.  I don’t know if Illinois would have won if the fouls were called evenly, but they would of at least had a chance to.   

- Jeff Jordan was fouled on his lay up he made and they didn’t call it. He should have had a chance to give the Illini the lead (okay, I’m done with the fouls, seriously).

- Trent Meacham missed two three pointers back to back that would have been massively gigantically humungous.  The second one was wide open on top of the arch.  Who knows what would have happened if he made that?

Once again, let me know what you guys thought about the game.  I still enjoyed reading those comments and thoughts.

I-L-L…