Minnesota 86, Illinois 75 POSTGAME

#51      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
We are not a good shooting team. When we are off, which is most of the time, we lose. That’s not going to change. We are not physical enough for a shoving match like we had tonight. I thought it was a poorly called game. Inside we had no chance. Two hands on Giorgi every time he touched the ball. Same for AD. When he’s getting pushed off the block by smaller guys, that says something. It was a shoving match under there. Not saying we got hosed by the refs, but we just can’t play that kind of game with a mostly freshman team. Nice game by Trent offensively. Defensively this one of our poorer games recently. Could not stop the dribble penetration and couldn’t recover in time on the help defense.

I counted at least 5 charges that were called blocks against us and those calls affected the game....we practice that a lot and if they are called properly then that improves our chances especially when we have a 47-42 lead...It gave minny momentum and of course they got hot from 3 point land that opened up the inside game....the dreaded scoring drought curse showed up for the first time in a while and put us on our heels....

my starting 5 for the rest of the year would be :

Trent
Ayo
Tevian
Feliz
Giorgi

1st off bench:

Alan G.

then play the rest as needed....more Samba also
 
#52      
A better performance than we have been getting after good games. So on that note, I'm pretty ok. Minnesota played the full 2nd half, we didn't. That will lose you games. Overall, I would say this game was extremely representative of the season.

I'm on the "More Kane" train. He needs to be out there seeing the game so it will be slow enough for him next year. Look at Griffin and how the game is clearly way too fast for him still.
 
#54      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
I counted at least 5 charges that were called blocks against us and those calls affected the game....we practice that a lot and if they are called properly then that improves our chances especially when we have a 47-42 lead...It gave minny momentum and of course they got hot from 3 point land that opened up the inside game....the dreaded scoring drought curse showed up for the first time in a while and put us on our heels....

The scoring drought killed us. Poor reffing too. In addition to the missed charges, Giorgi was mugged early and often. His frustration was very understandable. Still, there's no way we can beat a good B10 team with poor shooting. Really liked our compete level again.
 
#56      
Struck by how much Tevian Jones affects the game even when not scoring. Getting some boards nobody else can get, disrupting passing lanes, etc.

I was thinking the same thing while watching the game. His effort, athleticism, length, and offensive game (which still needs lots of developing) is a breath of fresh air. I think he has a higher NBA ceiling than Ayo. He fits the mold of an NBA wing. Him and Ayo seem to be great locker room guys (from what we see, which is limited). I really hope we see both of them grow with this team because they can be stars.

Anyone who thinks Ayo is NBA ready right now must not watch any NBA games. He currently doesn't have a lot of the skills needed to succeed. His assist to turnover ratio is rough, shooting needs more work, defensively looks lost at times, but he has TONS of potential. He has gotten a lot better in a matter of 2 months.
 
#58      
Ayo may not be NBA ready, but he will be a first round pick in June.

LOL no. Go back and look at Point Guards drafted in the first round over the past few years. Jevon Carter and Jalen Brunson went in the second last year (both are getting minutes as rookies and they were much much more polished than Ayo (I get that they slipped because of age), but also look at how many first round young point guards that have not been good (Wade Baldwin and Cameron Payne, and Frank Ntilikina). ALSO the NBA has a surplus of available guards with experience. He is better off developing for 2-3 more years in College.
 
#60      

FinalFour88

Charlotte, NC
Did any of us really expect this game to be a win? To go on the road in the Big Ten and beat a team who you recently beat at your place takes a good, quality, consistent team. Illinois is not that team right now and hasn't been that team for several years.
 
#63      
Underwood's post-game was spot on.

We didn't have an the edge we needed in the second half --lotta little things. Minney was better as well.
I'm ok with this game, honestly. I enjoyed watching us run the offense well for most of the first half and at times in the second. We're getting there, but it's not an overnight transformation. This is sooo much better than earlier in the season. I can see an identity emerging, and the framework that's needed to take it to the next level.

Also: Shout out to AJ who's playing really well.
 
#65      
Guards to made a huge draft jump because of performance in the NCAA Tournament. See Matt Coldagellis post.
He asked how you could be so definitive when the fact remains that ayo will NOT get to show such performance in the NCAA Tournament barring a BTT tournament win by the Illini. Therefore none of those players are comparable examples. Name a guard/guards who got drafted first round with no tournament appearance.
 
#66      
He asked how you could be so definitive when the fact remains that ayo will NOT get to show such performance in the NCAA Tournament barring a BTT tournament win by the Illini. Therefore none of those players are comparable examples. Name a guard/guards who got drafted first round with no tournament appearance.

Ben Simmons?
 
#67      
He asked how you could be so definitive when the fact remains that ayo will NOT get to show such performance in the NCAA Tournament barring a BTT tournament win by the Illini. Therefore none of those players are comparable examples. Name a guard/guards who got drafted first round with no tournament appearance.

Ben Simmons (not a true Point Guard), Markelle Fultz, Derrick White, Wade Baldwin (lost in first round), and Dejounte Murray. Over the past 2 years.

I was agreeing with the fact that it is really important to perform at a high level in the NCAA tourney.
 
#68      
21 turnovers vs Maryland, 9 vs Minnesota.
This team has to either force turnovers or shot above 30 percent from 3
Not much margin for error to beat a good team at it home in the B10.
Two solid games for Jones is a good omen
Whoosiers in a tailspin always warms the soul :)
 
#71      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
I could be mistaken, but it looked like he was being jawed at a bit. Classic way to throw off a freshman who's not used to it and maybe he lost a little focus. Not saying he wouldn't stand up to it, just that he may have been pressing instead of playing his game. Speculation only, and I think he will be as fun to watch as Lucas Johnson going forward.
Pretty normal for Freshman to have up and down games. The 'up' games gives them the impression they can do it all the time, and then when they run into an off night or two it quickly leads to frustration. Tev came out thinking MSG last night and while he did get double digits - he left about 6 more points on the floor. Teams are looking to take away our top player (Ayo last night) and that's when others like Trent have to show up - unfortunately we didn't get enough from elsewhere.
 
#73      
Pretty normal for Freshman to have up and down games. The 'up' games gives them the impression they can do it all the time, and then when they run into an off night or two it quickly leads to frustration. Tev came out thinking MSG last night and while he did get double digits - he left about 6 more points on the floor. Teams are looking to take away our top player (Ayo last night) and that's when others like Trent have to show up - unfortunately we didn't get enough from elsewhere.
We allowed 12 more pts in the second half than the first. Any theories on why? Half time changes? Fatigue? We didn't have great shooting but the defense was the difference and why I am not convinced on X's and O's.
 
#74      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
We allowed 12 more pts in the second half than the first. Any theories on why? Half time changes? Fatigue? We didn't have great shooting but the defense was the difference and why I am not convinced on X's and O's.
I only watched the game once - but my first impression is that outside shooting and offensive rebounding by Minnie was the difference. We seemed to be much more disruptive on D at SFC - doubling ball handlers, etc. Yesterday we seemed to be much more 1on1.
 
#75      

haasi

New York
Samba should of been redshirted. Agree/Disagree.
i'll disagree. he should be given more PT. we'll need him next year, and the more experience the better. plus, any benefit is speculative because who knows whether he would stay here all five years anyway. finally, i doubt he wants to. he reclassified - presumably not with the idea that he would spend his first year of college sitting.