After the first game of predictions, everyone is 1-0.  That was expected since we played Western Michigan.  Let’s take a look at the standings after the first game.  Illinois beat the Broncos 88-53, so the real score difference was Illinois +35.

Name                                                  W                    L                      RSDT*

dave1956 (ILL 84-68)                         1                      0                        17

Tom Young (ILL 75-60)                     1                      0                        18

Reillini (ILL 78-66)                              1                      0                        21

jweeks (ILL 80-70)                              1                      0                        23

Jshaw (ILL 78-68)                               1                      0                        23

Illinois’ next game is on a “neutral” court against the Georgia Bulldogs.  The game is taking place in Duluth, GA at The Arena at Gwinnett Center so pretty much this will act like a home game for the Bulldogs.  Georgia is off to a rough start with four losses on the young season.  One common opponent between the two teams is Wofford.  Illinois handled Wofford 78-64, while Georgia lost to them at home 60-57. 

While it may be a down year for the Bulldogs, they might have a slight advantage because of the location of the game.  Illinois is 0-2 on neutral courts (anybody want to go back to Vegas?) with losses to Utah and Bradley.  Maybe Utah should be our 12th Big Ten team.  They’ve handled the Big 10 rather well this season with wins over Illinois and Michigan.  Let’s change the rules and get the Utes!  Okay, never mind.

The Bulldogs leading scorer is Trey Thompkins, who is averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.  As a team thought, they really don’t have anything that sticks out at you offensively.  They average just over 63 ppg while shooting only 42.9%.  They average only 70% at the free throw line, and don’t even make a third of their three point attempts.  They do allow close to 64 points per game, so their defense does alright...I guess.

Overall, this is a pretty under whelming team.  This becomes a perfect setup for the Illini.  This will give them a great change to once again get use to play away from the Assembly Hall while taking on a lesser team.  A game like this comes just in time because right after this is Missouri and we can’t let them beat us this year (especially after the way football went).  So what happens on Saturday in Duluth?

ILLINOIS 72       GEORGIA 63

If this game were to be played at the Assembly Hall maybe Illinois does a better job of putting them away.  Instead it’s on a neutral court located roughly 50 miles from Athens.  The Georgia fans will do their best to keep this game close, and since Roy Williams won’t be in attendance, none of them will be escorted out of the building by security.  In the end, talent trumps location, and Illinois is one win away from a double-digit win non-conference season.

It’s now time for you to chime in.  Will Illinois keep their hot shooting act on the road or will UGA make Illinois look U-G-L-Y?  Post your predictions below and talk to you guys again soon.

I-L-L…