Illinois 78, Maryland 67 POSTGAME

#177      
I was working today sadly, flying a round trip to Kalispell, MT. However, a strange occurrence now raises my eyebrows after coming home to see this wonderful news.....one of my (super cute) flight attendants overheard me talking with the gate agent in Kalispell who is a Northwestern engineering alum.
I mentioned being an Illini alum and my flight attendant then chimes in and says "hey me too!"....and this all was happening just as the Illini finished off the victory....and we bonded forever!!

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I'm trying to wrap my head around a Northwestern engineer alum who is a gate agent? Cool that you bonded with an Illini flight attendant in Montana of all places. While you were doing all that, I was enjoying watching Mizzou blow a 14 point lead in the last 2 minutes and lose to LSU at home.
 
#178      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
I was working today sadly, flying a round trip to Kalispell, MT. However, a strange occurrence now raises my eyebrows after coming home to see this wonderful news.....one of my (super cute) flight attendants overheard me talking with the gate agent in Kalispell who is a Northwestern engineering alum.
I mentioned being an Illini alum and my flight attendant then chimes in and says "hey me too!"....and this all was happening just as the Illini finished off the victory....and we bonded forever!!

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That's such a sweet story...only in America can 2 UI alums make a connection....


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Anything else happen ?
 
#180      

UofIChE06

Pittsburgh
What??!! I'm not sure what you're watching, or referring to, but Giorgi has some of the best footwork we've ever seen for a freshman big at Illinois.

Difference between footwork and mobility. I agree his footwork is good... very good. He does not have the quickness to stay in front of dribble drivers right now. Definitely a problem against teams that run a 6'6 to 6'8 a la Michigan.
 
#183      
How many of you out there were hunting BU's head here, 6-4 mos. ago no recruits, Kofi, January, 1 month ago lost the team, didn't look like it in the locker room, it looked like a team growing together, just my opinion.
 
#184      

Deleted member 16068

D
Guest
How many of you out there were hunting BU's head here, 6-4 mos. ago no recruits, Kofi, January, 1 month ago lost the team, didn't look like it in the locker room, it looked like a team growing together, just my opinion.
I'm happy about the the win and about Kofi. However let's be real here......we are 6-14. Let that resonate ......6-14.
We are Illinois basketball.......6-14 is not, should not, be us.

With the above being said we need to use the rest of the year to become relevant again in Illinois, Chicago, the NCAA world, and be a NCAA tournament team next year.
 
#185      
I'm happy about the the win and about Kofi. However let's be real here......we are 6-14. Let that resonate ......6-14.
We are Illinois basketball.......6-14 is not, should not, be us.
I think there's a chance. Lol, that's what I'm here for, right?
 
#188      
Does Andres Feliz need more minutes? Asking for a friend.
I think he got 15-20 minutes, seemed perfect, he made a great impact for his blow. Played perfectly with the rotations, so important as was everyone, AJ great, RBS! with larger players fighting him, etc. He, as the team is more comfortable with BU's plan. Let it roll.
 
#189      

sacraig

The desert
Retired professor. Super sweet lady. Flight benefits.

I don't think there is any amount of flight benefits that would make me want to be the person who runs point for the airlines when stuff hits the fans and someone has to deal with angry customers.
 
#190      
For those clambering for more minutes or less minutes for certain players, you have to Remember a coach sees so much more of the puzzle than we do as casual fans. Trust the process! Coach has to let players lose minutes and he has to make younger players learn what it takes to earn minutes. This team has the look of a team that has also bought in and I haven’t seen that look in YEARS!
 
#191      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Loved Jones's "readiness" on those threes: ready to catch, feet set, in the flow,,, when I see that from young players it makes me think they've been well coached.

His awareness and footwork on defense tells a different story, but it's okay, nobody is a complete player at 19 years old. The stroke is sweet though, and with a quick and high release and his length that can be a big time weapon. He's what we all saw on those highlight videos, talented kid.
 
#192      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Does Andres Feliz need more minutes? Asking for a friend.

He seems like a guy where you figure out what his role is gonna be once he's touched the ball a few times and you see the way the game is going.

He's all aggression balls out to the rim all the time, and some games need that more than others.

His drive into the face of Fernando was the turning point, I thought.
 
#193      
Giorgi may have to adapt to a new role with Kofi,...but I agree with you that his mobility is not an issue. If he can hit 3s he will be immensely valuable with Kofi on the same floor. His personality alone probably makes him the MVP on the team for 4 years
We will probably never realize the "coaching" and mentoring AJ did with new guys last summer that impacted the Freshman's development. Whatever successes we have as a team in the next 3 years ( my hopes are high), AJ can be remembered as a great contributor.

After seeing Kofi's game last Sunday, he needs a ton of work in conditioning and getting off the floor quickly to block shots in order to take many minutes from Giorgi. He can't play more than 3-5 min. at a time without becoming a liability getting down the floor against athletic centers. In view of that, I expect the three new bigs, along with Higgs if he is healthy, to get far less minutes behind Giorgi. Giorgi is a special talent and could wind up with the kind of career path as Kaminsky....notice the word could. I do like what I see from Kane though and he seems a great student and wanting desperately to learn and contribute. He can run with the team too as well as defend. January? Well, there seems to be a mystery if he still exists so anything plus from him will be gravy. I don't think there is a person on earth who has seen him play against B1G type talent so who knows? Regardless, things should be mighty interesting next season.
 
#195      
After seeing Kofi's game last Sunday, he needs a ton of work in conditioning and getting off the floor quickly to block shots in order to take many minutes from Giorgi. He can't play more than 3-5 min. at a time without becoming a liability getting down the floor against athletic centers. In view of that, I expect the three new bigs, along with Higgs if he is healthy, to get far less minutes behind Giorgi. Giorgi is a special talent and could wind up with the kind of career path as Kaminsky....notice the word could. I do like what I see from Kane though and he seems a great student and wanting desperately to learn and contribute. He can run with the team too as well as defend. January? Well, where seems to be a mystery if he still exists so anything plus from him will be gravy. I don't think there is a person on earth who has seen him play against B1G type talent so who knows? Regardless, things should be mighty interesting next season.
I think I can see a place where GB and Kofi can play together well, surely Kofi will lean on Fletch and OA to be as ready as possible. January will be a plus, Higgs and Samba, could both be huge.
 
#196      

Steelyunk

Tobacco Road
For those clambering for more minutes or less minutes for certain players, you have to Remember a coach sees so much more of the puzzle than we do as casual fans. Trust the process! Coach has to let players lose minutes and he has to make younger players learn what it takes to earn minutes. This team has the look of a team that has also bought in and I haven’t seen that look in YEARS!
Not sure if that’s directed at me for the feliz post but if so I’m hardly clambering. I’m simply repeatedly pleasantly surprised at his aggression going to the rim and finishing or getting fouled. It’s way more than I anticipated from him and I don’t think he gets 20 minutes per game. Maybe more time for him - and definitely for Jones - would make our offense harder to handle.
 
#197      
Yes we had a Tevian coming out party, plus Andres, Ayo & Trent well played together. My cap tip goes to the senior Aaron with huge offensive rebound, put backs, and FT's in the second half. Not as flashy, but he was down there against 2 monsters.
It’s great to win games with contributions from so many. That’s what a real team looks like.
 
#198      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
Not sure if that’s directed at me for the feliz post but if so I’m hardly clambering. I’m simply repeatedly pleasantly surprised at his aggression going to the rim and finishing or getting fouled. It’s way more than I anticipated from him and I don’t think he gets 20 minutes per game. Maybe more time for him - and definitely for Jones - would make our offense harder to handle.
We ran a pretty good amount of 3 point guard play yesterday with AD, TF and AF all in towards the end. Worked well.

What I don't get is that I thought it was an NCAA Rule that opposing teams must hit 3PT shots at the end to ruin our day - that's probably what Turgeon got T'd up for...
 
#199      
Tevian looked terrific today. I loved his dunk off the feed from Aaron Jordan in the second half.

For those of us who can still remember the seventies…

Basketball Jones, I got a Basketball Jones
Got a Basketball Jones, oh baby, oo-oo-ooo

:D


I used to bounce my kids off the couch/mattress to this. Now it is the grandkids. My daughter in law thought it was something I made up. Had to have the youngsters you tube it.

Go Illini!
 
#200      
Steelyunk,

Hopefully we are good enough next year in both hoops and football that your avatar is no longer relevant. Thankfully now our best game of the year is no longer the 1st one and a loss.

I have been basketball Jones-ing for so long, I failed to see the relevance at first. From now on Tevian will get a chorus!

Did not make the drive to NYC, 4 hours each way. After to going to Rutgers for Groce's last game nontourney game, lost some ambition for the long haul. PSU in March? 6.5 hours each way. Will need to see something more to go for that. Son-in-law a PSU grad, he wants to take me to a football game. Perhaps some day that would be interesting for me. We are NOT!


https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...s-first-losing-streak/?utm_term=.6b41098eb83d

Ayo Dosunmu led the Illini with a game-high 20 points, followed by fellow freshman Jones, who scored 18 off the bench. Jones’s season total before Saturday was 28 points. ......Maryland had four stretches of at least four minutes without a field goal, two in each half. In the second half, the Terps had just three field goals in the last 12 minutes, and one came when Illinois had a double-digit lead in the final minute.

Sound familiar?????

GO ILLINI!

Note: all caps energy is back!