Illinois 57, Minnesota 53 POSTGAME

[Jimmy McNulty]

After watching that on TV I think it really makes you appreciate the Orange Krush and our fanbase. Didn't seem like there student section ever got overly loud and got behind Minny. If Illinois can go about 5-2 the rest of the way out I think they can be a 6/7 seed in the Tourney which I think is about perfect. Would love to be a 6 seed.

[IlliNYC]

Originally Posted by SummerofGeorge

How about TA outrebounding both NE and SM combined! Come on big men - hit the boards! I love Abrams toughness though.

Though NE's tip in & tip out in the 2nd half were both huge.

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by IlliNYC

Though NE's tip in & tip out in the 2nd half were both huge.

+1. Those were huge momentum shifts in the game.

[RealWorld52]

Great win Illini - TA had the worst game and the biggest shot of the game. Brandon stuggled but made clutch plays and played good defense. DJ Richardson has come back from another planet.

[Dan]

Video: John Groce postgame presser Minnesota game

[PointGuardU01]

What an incredible week! Hats off to the staff and players(particularily DJ and Griffey). Lets keep it rolling and win a game we're supposed to win! Beat Purdue!

[zoggle101]

KansasIllini thank you for your sacrifice. It's not easy staying off of here.

I too felt like it hurt us not starting TA. I'm pretty sure Grif, and him started the second half. This isnt a knock on JB, but he's our top option off the bench. We need that spark.

Everyone is talking about TG's three point shooting, but the first points of the game came from him aggressively attacking the glass then drawing the foul. His second half didnt start out hot, but he kept plugging away for a great half in the end. I really liked him taking Mbawke off the bounce even though he didnt finish the play. Egwu was wide open in the corner iirc. Grif finds him next time. Oh yeah, half his shots he missed were halfway down. He's back.

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by scubadunk

I said it after the Indiana game that Sheehey taunting Griffey and getting a T may turn our season around. He has now hot 6 six threes since that moment and been a major focal point of the offense. DJ and TG playing well together couldn't happen to better people. I also think the IU game opened BPs eyes to the rest of the team and he is ready to defer at times to his teammates. Finally TA hitting a 3 to seal the game was icing on the cake. Good road win against a good team. Go ILLINI!!!

Can someone fill me in on what happened here? I had to work during the game, so I missed all but the end.

[SummerofGeorge]

Originally Posted by sapan1030

Actually, I kind of see it differently. I like when there isn't one clearly great team. Anyone can win on any given night. There is just a ton of parity in college basketball this year, and it's going to make for a really exciting tournament. And has already made for a really exciting regular season thus far, I might add

Ditto! It's been a great college basketball season in my opinion. Should be a heck of a tournament.

[Thacher_H_Guild]

Originally Posted by CrazedUIFan

Much better transition D. I liked the lineup of Bertrand, DJ, Griffey, Egwu, and Abrams tonight.

Yes on both counts.

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by zpfled

Can someone fill me in on what happened here? I had to work during the game, so I missed all but the end.

Yeah, I didn't really catch what Sheehey was doing either. Explanation?

[Wokker]

Originally Posted by zpfled

Can someone fill me in on what happened here? I had to work during the game, so I missed all but the end.

Sheehey threw down a dunk and immediately got in TG's face and made some sort of "O" face of his own. He got T'd up and TG went off in the 2nd half against IU.

Sheehey = mega-douche

[wpr]

Originally Posted by Illini70math

7. We need the Orange Krush to practice shouting "No Sam, don't shoot" if he even looks at the rim from behind the three-point line. It was a great thing that he made that first one, but he really needs to not start "believing" in his outside shot! Stay inside where it's warm, Sam, stay inside.

8. With all the joy from this great win, now for the somber part. Without our great three-point shooting, Minny crushes us in this game. Our offense just looked terrible against them in the opening 13 minutes of the game. I will give credit to Minny and their athletes on defense, but we had better hope that our threes keep dropping.

I love your 9 observations.

7. excellent.

8. At the beginning of the year I said I didn't want them to fall in love with the 3. I hoped to see more of an inside presence. Of course that is who they are. A 3 pt team. When they make their shots they can compete with most teams. When they struggle, they don't look very pretty.

[zpfled]

THanks, Wokker. Sheehey looks like a douche. Has a lot to do with the douchey uniform he wears, though. Also his face.

[Thacher_H_Guild]

Originally Posted by RealWorld52

Great win Illini - TA had the worst game and the biggest shot of the game. Brandon stuggled but made clutch plays and played good defense. DJ Richardson has come back from another planet.

Abrams had 6 assists and no turnovers. He didn't shoot well, but he still had a good game overall. His worst games have been ones when he's helping the other team by giving it up too much.

[illinifan31]

Originally Posted by BillyBob1

Was the Krush at this game? Big group of orange behind the Minny basket in 2nd half. See DJ pointing to them.

Nope. That is where family etc sits at Minnie.

[BillyBob1]

Picked-up Popa Dels at half and finished the evening with a W!!!!

[Symmooth]

Originally Posted by VA Illini Chief

Tremendous game - hung in there! That was a nail biter and a seriously gutsy win. Way to go fellas!

Only SEVEN TOs. When was the last time that happened?

[Symmooth]

Originally Posted by Thacher_H_Guild

Abrams had 6 assists and no turnovers. He didn't shoot well, but he still had a good game overall. His worst games have been ones when he's helping the other team by giving it up too much.

6 rebounds, too.
that ferocious last rebound by TA was a joy to behold and fired the team up even more.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by chief9

It would be impossible to go 5-3 when there are only 7 games left...

Purdue
@NW
PSU
@UM
Nebraska
@Iowa
@OSU

I look at it as just get back to .500 in conference.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Symmooth

Only SEVEN TOs. When was the last time that happened?

Strange but true - when Minnesota won at the Assembly Hall in January.

[blmillini]

I don't know if anyone has brought it up but I think Groce deserve an incredible amount of credit for how he has handled Griffey. While people here were calling for him to be benched, I think it is pretty clear that we need his skills. For Groce to continue playing him (even if it was reduced minutes) and continue encouraging him to keep shooting, all the while, getting him to play better defense, rebound better and play with more intensity. I believe that job alone could save our season. I'm really happy for the kid and happy we have John Groce as our coach.

[Dan]

Illinois-Minnesota highlights

[zoggle101]

Originally Posted by Symmooth

6 rebounds, too.
that ferocious last rebound by TA was a joy to behold and fired the team up even more.

The one where he had his shot blocked, and absolutely just snatched the ball on the other side of the rim was nice too. He fouled Eliason on one rebound try, and he had such power in his jump he knocked the 250 lbs Eliason to the floor even though they called a foul it wasn't. You just never see a guard jump with that authority. He gets more put back lay ups than some of our bigs. Kid would be a heck of a defensive back. I hope he doesn't pull a demitri Goodsen on us.

[PeoriaIllini1]

Originally Posted by blmillini

I don't know if anyone has brought it up but I think Groce deserve an incredible amount of credit for how he has handled Griffey. While people here were calling for him to be benched, I think it is pretty clear that we need his skills. For Groce to continue playing him (even if it was reduced minutes) and continue encouraging him to keep shooting, all the while, getting him to play better defense, rebound better and play with more intensity. I believe that job alone could save our season. I'm really happy for the kid and happy we have John Groce as our coach.

It is nice to see a Coach trust his players, coach, and encourage them positively instead of throwing them under the bus in a press conference! I have always thought that when it came to Griffey's shooting the main issue was a game situation confidence issue. He lacks it in the game. In practice i have always heard he shoots an amazing percentage. If his first shot or two goes in he plays well if not no so much. He has lacked confidence. I think Groce has always told him get your feet set and keep shooting. If a kick in the pants occurs it will likely occur behind close doors and by using the bench to motivate along with a positive you can do it attitude.