12/31 News & Notes

Dan · Dec 31, 2012, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Groce no stranger to Big Ten play

"Fortuntely, I'm lucky because I went through it for four years (at Ohio State), although there's no question it's different as a head coach," Groce said.

"It's a grind. You talk about going through a deal where you can't get too high or too low.

"You play Tuesday or Wednesday, then you play Saturday or Sunday. And it's coming at you again and again, home and road, all of them fist fights.

"It's a great league. Toughness is really important. Execution is really important. And players making plays is important."

Tupper

frasergs · Dec 31, 2012, 04:04 AM

Man, you're up early to favor us with this nugget of info.

Bubba Eder · Dec 31, 2012, 04:23 AM

I'm thankful for your dedication, Dan

frasergs · Dec 31, 2012, 05:08 AM

Ohio State at Illinois is Fox Sports #1 Game of the Week! How's that for exposure.

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/pa...1&gf=aggregate

illinicb · Dec 31, 2012, 07:04 AM

I didn't give it a lot of weight at the time he was hired, but Groce's background as an assistant in the league has value (of course our prior coach did also) if for no other reason than knowing what it is like around the league. This also shows why you need good assistants to put together great scouting reports and help game plan.

Here's hoping they get off to a good start against Purdue.

BenjIllini · Dec 31, 2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frasergs

Ohio State at Illinois is Fox Sports #1 Game of the Week! How's that for exposure.

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/pa...1&gf=aggregate

I clicked on the link and it had the Baylor/Texas game...who is that for Texas? He looks like he's 60:laugh:

illinicb · Dec 31, 2012, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenjIllini

I clicked on the link and it had the Baylor/Texas game...who is that for Texas? He looks like he's 60:laugh:

LOL. Looks like a photo from an alumni scrimmage.

AzIlliniFan · Dec 31, 2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frasergs

Ohio State at Illinois is Fox Sports #1 Game of the Week! How's that for exposure.

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/pa...1&gf=aggregate

And B1G matchups take three of the top 5 games. Exciting week with all the conference slates getting underway!

Groundhogday · Dec 31, 2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

You talk about going through a deal where you can't get too high or too low.

This is my concern. Maybe we have been playing to the level of our competition, but perhaps we just don't know how to play well (or hard) consistently.

PeoriaSteve · Dec 31, 2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

This is my concern. Maybe we have been playing to the level of our competition, but perhaps we just don't know how to play well (or hard) consistently.

So you think we should get too high or too low?

mattcoldagelli · Dec 31, 2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Maybe we have been playing to the level of our competition, but perhaps we just don't know how to play well (or hard) consistently.

I'd be more concerned if there were multiple games where we didn't play well OR hard. So far it's been the case that, even if we're not executing, we play pretty hard.

Groundhogday · Dec 31, 2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

So you think we should get too high or too low?

Just the opposite. Did you read my post?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I'd be more concerned if there were multiple games where we didn't play well OR hard. So far it's been the case that, even if we're not executing, we play pretty hard.

As a team we don't execute very well. This team depends to a great extend on great individual play. That is why when the energy isn't there (just about every game against a 150+ opponent since opening week), we struggle. So yes, there have been multiple games in which we lacked energy and execution.

We have to execute better down the stretch.

Botb9 · Dec 31, 2012, 11:40 AM

Playing hard all the time was a trademark of Chester Frazier-led teams. That's not a bad prognosis.

alexander58 · Dec 31, 2012, 01:02 PM

It will be interesting to see how teams game plan against Illinois. I m sure their focus will be Paul. I thought thats what allowed Abrams to get to the basket against Auburn. Other players are going to have to produce in conference games for Illinois to have a good year. I dont want to see Mc Camey revisited.

Dan · Dec 31, 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Conference Reset: Big Ten loaded and nation's best league

It is what we thought it was. The Big Ten is the best league in America with a half-dozen teams in our latest Top 25 (and one) and four among the first 10 teams in the rankings. Michigan and Indiana are clear national title contenders, and Illinois has shocked the nation as much as anyone as we are set to open league play. The sad part of the league is two of the teams hoping to make progress, Northwestern and Penn State, both lost their top players for the season due to injury. That'll likely create even more separation between the contenders and pretenders in the Big Ten -- and could result in six or even seven teams heading to the NCAA tourney come March.

Jeff Goodman

mattcoldagelli · Dec 31, 2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

That is why when the energy isn't there (just about every game against a 150+ opponent since opening week), we struggle. So yes, there have been multiple games in which we lacked energy and execution.

Those cupcake games at the Hall kind of all blend together (with the exception of Gardner-Webb), so maybe you're right. I'm thinking more along the lines of the Mizzou, Hawaii and Auburn games.

PeoriaSteve · Jan 2, 2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Just the opposite. Did you read my post?

As a team we don't execute very well. This team depends to a great extend on great individual play. That is why when the energy isn't there (just about every game against a 150+ opponent since opening week), we struggle. So yes, there have been multiple games in which we lacked energy and execution.

We have to execute better down the stretch.

We're running a new system, so execution isn't going to be at a high level. Groce said we had great energy v. Auburn, just poor execution. Execution will get better as the team continues to get comfortable with what the coaches want, so the team should get better as the season goes on.

Dec 31, 2012, 07:04 AM	#5
illinicb Location: Northbrook Posts: 5,755	I didn't give it a lot of weight at the time he was hired, but Groce's background as an assistant in the league has value (of course our prior coach did also) if for no other reason than knowing what it is like around the league. This also shows why you need good assistants to put together great scouting reports and help game plan. Here's hoping they get off to a good start against Purdue. __________________ "I could care less" does not mean the same as "I couldn't care less"

Dec 31, 2012, 11:40 AM	#13
Botb9 Realist Posts: 3,159	Playing hard all the time was a trademark of Chester Frazier-led teams. That's not a bad prognosis. __________________ Hype is a self-serving beast that feeds on the hopes and dreams of fans.

Dec 31, 2012, 04:04 AM	#2
frasergs Posts: 147	Man, you're up early to favor us with this nugget of info.

Dec 31, 2012, 04:23 AM	#3
Bubba Eder Location: Northeast Missouri Posts: 741	I'm thankful for your dedication, Dan

Dec 31, 2012, 05:08 AM	#4
frasergs Posts: 147	Ohio State at Illinois is Fox Sports #1 Game of the Week! How's that for exposure. http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/pa...1&gf=aggregate

Dec 31, 2012, 01:02 PM	#14
alexander58 Posts: 616	It will be interesting to see how teams game plan against Illinois. I m sure their focus will be Paul. I thought thats what allowed Abrams to get to the basket against Auburn. Other players are going to have to produce in conference games for Illinois to have a good year. I dont want to see Mc Camey revisited.