ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Alas, defense is only one of the two ends of the floor.
Both Tevian and Da'Monte should play. The case for Kipper minutes, though, keeps declining.
Illinois 78, Maryland 67 POSTGAME
Alas, defense is only one of the two ends of the floor.
Both Tevian and Da'Monte should play. The case for Kipper minutes, though, keeps declining.
Let’s forget about playing games at the UC and home. Move all games to the Garden.
Deleted member 29907
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SO glad we have a coach who likes to crash the offensive boards as opposed to the shoot and run back on D era of our previous 2 coaches....
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Passing looks so much better. I was scared early in the year, we we're so shaky. Probably goes with being more comfortable in the offense and and each other in general. Dare I say we are starting to forge an identity as a scrappy up tempo team?
Deleted member 29907
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Feliz kinda reminding me of Tracy Abrams this game - scrappy and basically put out the memo that we were not going to lose this game if he had anything to do about.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Solid strategy. Thanks for looking out for the team
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
Love the intensity today.....turn the beast loose !!!!
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Well, one of two ways we get in.....the other would require winning at least 12 more games including a couple in the BTT and then sweating while hoping strength of schedule get us in.
Hard to show what he did today when you get in 4 minutes a game. Not even long enough to get into the flow of the game.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Tev's dunk was the best one this year for anyone on the Illini, imho. Not that we've dunked much
Yes, let’s play the young guys over Williams, who is a (checks notes) sophomore.
Kip’s played himself out of the lineup, but I’m not ready to give up on Monte just yet.
Deleted member 633632
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Gosh we haven't had a players whose personality on the floor you could just gravitate to like Andres since Chester! Dee & Serge of course, but players like the Johnson brothers and Damir Krupalia before them! Just attracts you to the heart & soul of this team and gives hope to the vision and process BU is trying to play out... That aggressive, hungry, fearless style of play is infectious!!!
Hopefully this type of aggressive play becomes our teams montra and motto going forward... The aggressive attacking style-system has been set in place and the players are starting to take full ownership of it, wear it & embrace it!
Kofi has to be so excited to hopefully get a chance to play at MSG when he's here now!! Hopefully we got a game on the schedule in the next year or two...
Hopefully Kipper adopts this aggressive mentality and incorporates it back into his game and he could be a huge asset of the bench!
Tevian should start!! 'Monte needs to come off the bench imo, and BU should insert Tev. in there to start getting huge minutes and play next to Ayo and Trent!! 'Monte is better in flashes as a streaky player when he's hot imo. Plus Tev. & Ayo seem to have a really good chemistry building with eachother! So hopefully BU puts him in there! But Monte is good too and still does all the intangibles100% tho which you always love...
But it's time to Win games and try n' make a February push to set ourselves up for an exciting BTT!! #StartTEV
Hopefully this type of aggressive play becomes our teams montra and motto going forward... The aggressive attacking style-system has been set in place and the players are starting to take full ownership of it, wear it & embrace it!
Kofi has to be so excited to hopefully get a chance to play at MSG when he's here now!! Hopefully we got a game on the schedule in the next year or two...
Hopefully Kipper adopts this aggressive mentality and incorporates it back into his game and he could be a huge asset of the bench!
Tevian should start!! 'Monte needs to come off the bench imo, and BU should insert Tev. in there to start getting huge minutes and play next to Ayo and Trent!! 'Monte is better in flashes as a streaky player when he's hot imo. Plus Tev. & Ayo seem to have a really good chemistry building with eachother! So hopefully BU puts him in there! But Monte is good too and still does all the intangibles100% tho which you always love...
But it's time to Win games and try n' make a February push to set ourselves up for an exciting BTT!! #StartTEV
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One trend I’ve really liked over the past few games is that we’re doing a lot better at taking care of the ball, and a little better on the glass. This team’s whole approach is predicated on getting more shots up than the other team. They’re doing that pretty well now, even in games like the loss against Wisconsin.
Today, they were plus-13 on turnovers plus offensive boards. You can win games like that even if you don’t shoot well (and today, they shot good but not great, save for their success at the line). I like it.
Today, they were plus-13 on turnovers plus offensive boards. You can win games like that even if you don’t shoot well (and today, they shot good but not great, save for their success at the line). I like it.
Do you understand Math? Granted Damonte is a better defender, but at the max he was not going to score more than 4 or 5 points in that game. Subtract Tevian's 18 points and where would that leave us?
Agreed! Plus we are not getting in deep foul trouble, hence we can play the rotations we need to.
Deleted member 31586
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I would have to say that AJ has become one of my favorite Illini of all time, and I have been a fan for almost 60 years. If you really think about the career he could of had on a team with players to play in the correct position on the court it is really sad. He is a 2 or 3 position wise, but because of Groce’ inability to bring in players the kid has to basically be a power forward. Even further, think how good the kid would be as a sixth man on a “real” big ten team. Him coming off the bench and providing offense would really suit his game tremendously. Yet, through all of that the kid bleeds O&B and is an academic all American. Rob you should be very proud of your son he is what makes college athletics so special. In my 57 years as an Illini fan AJ, Quinn Richardson, Chester Frazier and Perry Range are the ones I will always feel gave everything they had. Maybe not the most talented, but sooooo much heart.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
Well said and couldn't agree more. Also, very happy to hear some props for Perry Range...my favorite all-time Illini.
Deleted member 633632
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Kofi has to be so excited to potentially get a chance to play at MSG while he's here after seeing this!! Hopefully we have a game there on the schedule sometime in the next year or two...
But it's time to Win games and try 'n make a strong February push to set ourselves up for an exciting BTT!! #StartTEV
& CB has to be pretty excited after seeing this Win today too!!
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There is a tournament at the end of the year played there that could really build this group up for next year
BU was almost choked up at the win today, and I don't blame him. So much work and hardship to take a primarily freshman team through this schedule and come out the other side.
Fantastic win all around. So many guys contributed like champs today. AJ, Tev, Ayo, Feliz, and so many other contributions that all summed up to make the difference. They looked good today --like a nationally relevant team would look. Lotta movement when we were on offense, and a lot of offense generated off defense.
No idea if we can bring up the consistency anytime soon, but the fact that we're getting there has finally becoming obvious.
Wish we didn't have so many losses behind us, but if we're buying in and beating upper tier teams in the BIG, we've got a lot to look forward to in the longer term
Fantastic win all around. So many guys contributed like champs today. AJ, Tev, Ayo, Feliz, and so many other contributions that all summed up to make the difference. They looked good today --like a nationally relevant team would look. Lotta movement when we were on offense, and a lot of offense generated off defense.
No idea if we can bring up the consistency anytime soon, but the fact that we're getting there has finally becoming obvious.
Wish we didn't have so many losses behind us, but if we're buying in and beating upper tier teams in the BIG, we've got a lot to look forward to in the longer term
Deleted member 31586
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Loved Pwrry Range. My favorite Illini of all time was Quinn Richardson. Kid was a 5th year senior, never played and when Derick Harper left early (very rare back then) for the NBA Quinn led Illinois to the elite 8, and the greatest reffere hose job ever done to a school. That was the year Illinois lost (had stolen from them) an elite 8 game to Kentucky played at Rupp arena.
None the less AJ deserves a great deal of respect from all Illinois fans. Kid has never quit works hard and will have a great career with a degree from a great school. If he was a 6th man he would have scored 500 more points over his career. Just what the sport is suppose to be.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
AJ is just going to be successful at whatever he does. Kid has heart.
I liked Kane’s against UNLV
Deleted member 645583
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Congratulations Illini! Nice to see that spirit in the locker room! Take care of Minn. Wednesday.
Punesguy
- Ft. Collins, CO
How much fun was that? I am so happy for the team, for BU and for Illini Nation. A few takeaways from my perspective:
1. Congrats to Tev ... could you imagine if he didn’t miss 8 games?
2. I feel bad for Kip but he should be relegated to a support role off of the bench.
3. Great team defensive sets and execution.
4. We made shots when we needed to make shots.
5. We made our free throws.
6. We didn’t make many turnovers.
7. ADR played some solid minutes.
8. Giorgi didn’t have a strong game and we still won!
9. Our offense maintained a nice balance of penetration and perimeter scoring.
10. We came back from being down early and finished strong!
If I am the rest of the Big Ten I would not want to play us if we continue on this path! I hope Brown and our other targets were watching!
1. Congrats to Tev ... could you imagine if he didn’t miss 8 games?
2. I feel bad for Kip but he should be relegated to a support role off of the bench.
3. Great team defensive sets and execution.
4. We made shots when we needed to make shots.
5. We made our free throws.
6. We didn’t make many turnovers.
7. ADR played some solid minutes.
8. Giorgi didn’t have a strong game and we still won!
9. Our offense maintained a nice balance of penetration and perimeter scoring.
10. We came back from being down early and finished strong!
If I am the rest of the Big Ten I would not want to play us if we continue on this path! I hope Brown and our other targets were watching!