They ALL feel like traps. I think they probably are. On the bright side, against Maryland we stop one 6'1" dude from making just a couple of his 10 easy layups and we win. On the other hand we could not stop one dude from making 10 gimme layups. That AND we found a way to miss something like 15 of our own. If you're not an Illinois fan, that's kind of hilarious. Our big weaknesses are layups and free throws. We're an NCAA top 10 team and our weaknesses are layups and free throws. Say that out loud a couple times. Maybe in the next couple years we can figure out how to defend a high post screen. Good lord. These types of things are why we stumble in the tourney. Simple adjustments just were not made. On to Michigan and hopefully it's a fun game to watch. We've always been a little Jekyll and Hyde but it seems worse without Shannon.
Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Thursday, January 18th, 7:30pm CT, FS1
- Status
My nominee for most punchable face not only in big ten, but since Coach K retired, all of sports.
Can I nominate Fran McCaffery?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
If we get “trapped” after what happened vs. Maryland, we might be looking at a similar season to last year…
I’m cautiously optimistic that this team is infinitely tougher and more mature than that. Every team has an off day … but if we even have a 4- or 5-seed in our goals anymore, you’ll see an angry team that comes out and jumps on Michigan early.
A trap game? After what we saw on Sunday? They should have their eyes 100% open and clear for this one. If not.....I don't even want to think about it.
Maryland loss obviously hurts but I think this team can still get a 2 or 3 seed. Schedule seems favorable rest of January. And then hopefully TSJ comes back.
January 19th 2023 lose to Indiana at home 80-65
January 21st 2022 lose at Maryland 81-65
January 16th 2021 lose to Ohio State 87-81 at home
don’t know what it is with these just before second semester conference losses but it’s been the theme for a while, as is losing to the Twerps.
Think we get on track this week & go on a nice little win streak to calm the nerves… like some other have said, win our next 4 & we’re right on track, win out the rest of the month and we’re gravy. Don’t think it’s out of the question, especially for a team that has hopes to win the conference and/or get a top 4 seed come March.
January 21st 2022 lose at Maryland 81-65
January 16th 2021 lose to Ohio State 87-81 at home
don’t know what it is with these just before second semester conference losses but it’s been the theme for a while, as is losing to the Twerps. Think we get on track this week & go on a nice little win streak to calm the nerves… like some other have said, win our next 4 & we’re right on track, win out the rest of the month and we’re gravy. Don’t think it’s out of the question, especially for a team that has hopes to win the conference and/or get a top 4 seed come March.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Oh, don't get me wrong - I 100% agree! However, this optimism is based on my core belief that the loss to Maryland was a pretty big fluke. If that loss doesn't lead to a win at Michigan, I would be forced to conclude that this team's mental toughness and maturity isn't quite where I thought it was and hoped it would be.Maryland loss obviously hurts but I think this team can still get a 2 or 3 seed. Schedule seems favorable rest of January. And then hopefully TSJ comes back.
Let's remember that our 2021 team lost to a bad Maryland team at home on January 10th, and a subsequent loss to OSU at home would drop us to 9-5 (5-3) and lowered our ranking to #22. We all of course remember that we would then win 11 of our last 12 regular season games (including 5 wins vs. ranked teams and two road wins vs. top 10 teams!), and then a dominant run to win a BTT Championship. This Maryland loss doesn't HAVE to define anything! We could, as evidenced by 2021, still get a #1 seed!!!! But we HAVE to prove that the Maryland loss was a total fluke. And that starts with beating Michigan.
If Dain played defense at all he would be getting a lot more playing time. If you score 10 and give up 15 and place your teammates in a position where they pick up fouls trying to cover your mistakes you're a net liability. I love Dain but until he plays defense you just can't have him out there.
Even going back to last season, remember Sencire about getting his brains knocked out several times, not just once, because Dain didnt call out the pick. He's gotta up his game when he doesnt have the ball in his hands.
FT% has something to do with it as well.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yep, Dain happened to hit three straight FTs right after this, but Hummel pretty much said it’s wise to hack Dain if you have the fouls to give … and he’s not wrong.
I'll second that...and may I add Bruce Peal to that list?
I get that we missed multiple easy shots in the loss to Maryland....that will happen from time to time...but my goodness, had we played just decent defensively those missed layups on our part would not have been an issue....we've got to get better defensively or B10 title hopes and tourney success will fade quickly
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Just win. No excuses.
I kept commenting throughout Maryland that we were not getting back on defense whatsoever. So many times Maryland was streaking with 3-4 guys down the court and we had 1, maybe 2 back in the paint.
I don't understand how we're rated so high on 2 pt% this season when every game I bemoan how many easy layups we give up.
Dan
Admin
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No. 14 Illinois Visits Michigan Thursday Night - University of Illinois Athletics
Illinois has won six in a row over Michigan, including three straight in Ann Arbor.
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I believe he is still academically eligible by NCAA standards. If not he would be suspended for all games.
I think he is not meeting some Michigan-specific requirement.
I thought the FTs as a weakness has been addressed. Aren’t we shooting darn well from the line now? It helps that Dain hasn’t been the one taking them.
illinoisgrad1990
- Bloomington, IL
LaTulip said on the Illini Inquirer podcast that this was the "most Michigan way" to handle whatever the deal is with McDaniel.
He is amazing on that podcast, BTW... as is J. Leman on Illini football. I come away from listening to them feeling smarter about the game every time.
For some folks -- dunno what to call them, so let's just settle on 'people whose kids try to avoid talking with them on Thanksgiving' -- free throws will always be the problem. But you're not wrong. Since the FAU game, they're hitting at about 81%. And more importantly, they've gotten to the line at least 20 times in each of those games. (Only FAU and Purdue shot at least 20 against us.)
I think Mike L is going to make some large nationalLaTulip said on the Illini Inquirer podcast that this was the "most Michigan way" to handle whatever the deal is with McDaniel.
He is amazing on that podcast, BTW... as is J. Leman on Illini football. I come away from listening to them feeling smarter about the game every time.
before his broadcasting career is over- Status