Illinois 79, Purdue 62 POSTGAME

[mhuml32]

Now 22nd in KenPom (TTU loss)

 

[STLIlliniMike]

Two impressive road wins..just think if the Maryland game didn't get away! Two wins against Purdue...how long has that been?

I was 11......

 

[AEX]

Couldn't watch the game, so was really eager to see the highlights. Ayo is certainly playing better now that Trent is the primary ball handler. But the other notable difference from the highlights was that Ayo did a great job of feeding Kofi this game. Not sure if this is part of a multi-game trend or not, but very noticeable tonight.

 

[TxChief]

Posted this in pre-game thread - posting again:

My opinion is that Rutgers is way overachieving, and we might be also, but everyone knew we had this potential. With that, when they beat some decent teams and have a good record, everyone reacts a little different to it. If we played the same schedule as each other and had all the same wins and losses, they would look more impressive, because it is more unexpected.

It is like when we played them and the announcers wouldn't stop talking about their defense and how they are playing for 2nd place! Our D is better and more impressive and we were also playing for 2nd place!

Maybe I'm wrong, but this is how I see it.

I disagree, as I have said elsewhere before, Rutgers is an Illini Siamese Twin. They are very good, play very good defense. They do not have quite our front line players. But they can play with anybody. Defense travels. We'll see tomorrow how they play at Iowa. We have to travel to Iowa early Feb., still have Rutgers there. I think those are our two toughest games left based upon the match ups, even if we play like today. And that's not to say we won't get beat additionally, cause we will. But, I think those are the most likely losses. Everything else is up for grabs.

 

[WizardBill]

...how in the wild world of sports did this team lose to Missouri exactly one month ago?

BU’s teams are typically slow starters. Add that to the fact that coach has implemented a new defensive scheme and you have a recipe for a slow start.

now that the players see/know/understand/believe things are on track.

Now, who said BU can’t coach?...

 

[LoveLovie]

Ayo starting with the team first in his interview(as opposed to himself).....He always seems to have a good attitude on the court when things aren't going his way. Obviously things went well tonight, but it's something I've noticed.

 

[TRidge72]

Perhaps because it was too unsettling to watch Coach Weber’s near the Big Ten top Illini repeatedly fail to finish at Coach Painter’s home court, and witnessing the mid-pack Boilermakers pass us up, I could not bring myself to even record tonight’s game after I got home from work, let alone turn the game on, given that my wife had dinner at the ready when I got home. Does anyone know if the game will be rebroadcast?

 

[Bverdec]

BU’s teams are typically slow starters. Add that to the fact that coach has implemented a new defensive scheme and you have a recipe for a slow start.

now that the players see/know/understand/believe things are on track.

Now, who said BU can’t coach?...

Mizzou wanted it more. Plus we had one of our patented 5-minute scoring droughts. Can't beat anyone in that situation.

 

[PNWIllini]

kenpom ... from 36 to 35; PU from 17 to 18 !? or was I slow and we were lower than 36 pre-game

We're really 23 right now, up from 29th or 30th.

 

[DRS]

The Great, The Good and The Ugly.

What a tremendous team win. That second half was an absolute clinic of basketball, both ends of the court. Underwood is firing on all cylinders. "Toughness!" Let's go with that! All aboard. The train is rolling!

Ayo again was damn near flawless. 18 pts and 11 assists! So many proper decisions, That bullet pass to Kofi down low, just brilliant. and don't forget at about the 4 minute mark, they cut it to 9 and guess who? Ayo with two massive midrange elbow extended jumpers. pretty much sealed the W.

Trent, my man, love this kid. The world is yours and keep filling it up. When he rains, we pour it on. Right from the start he was hitting. Again, despite make a turnover or two, he was a legit ball handling point guard. So happy he is finding his shots and leading this team. Perfect from the line doesn't hurt either.

Throw it Down! Big Man! Throw it Down! Kofi is truly an unstoppable force down there. Blocks, Rebounds, Scoring. Everything you can ask for. Plain and simple he has changed the team. Offenses must be aware a legitimate shot blocker is waiting for you. Shot looked great today. I hope Dakich is wrong, I want one more year of this dude.

Special shout out goes to Georgi, who is getting way too many borderline calls against, zebras got clean that up a bit. 2/3 from 3 is making the other team pay. I think he had a very solid 20 minutes tonight.

So this has to be said, Griffin cannot act like that, something I'm sure he knows. I don't mind his chippy behavior on the court, the trash talk, the extra little mustard here or there. That's all within the scope of the game and i chalk that up to I am giving it all out here and you will feel my presence. That is what he brings. But intentional stepping on a dude is a different animal entirely. That is Rodman esque. I've had more than my share of rush of blood moments in the heat of competition so I get it, but own it, apologize to your team(they are the ones that got off to a dream start only to have it come crashing down because of your actions), and don't let it define you. We will see what he is made of in the next couple of games. Eyes will be on him, and other teams will now get physical and try an bait him.

Love where this team is right now. So much fun.

 

[Truffaut]

I hate to admit it, but I've liked a lot of AG's punk moves before tonight They reminded me of K Nunn.

But after tonight I am just hoping his suspension is not too long.

 

[PNWIllini]

I'd like to thank the morons on Kansas-KSU for distracting the national media from AG and his crap tonight as well. He needs to sit a game or two for that. Inexcusable.

Awfully nice of our ex coaches' teams don't you think?

 

[jrichisamazing]

Purdue has averaged 23 3pt attempts per game in conference. We held them to 8.

That's insane.

 

[LJ22]

There are few things in life better than a season of beating the Badgers and the Boilermakers in front of their own fans.

 

[LJ22]

Stupid play but it makes me think of Lucas Johnson....

Lucas Johnson was not a dirty player.

 

[azillini1]

Home page says that Griffin apologized to the Purdue player. If true, and he had the proper attitude, that would be a good first step for him.

 

[TxChief]

BU’s teams are typically slow starters. Add that to the fact that coach has implemented a new defensive scheme and you have a recipe for a slow start.

now that the players see/know/understand/believe things are on track.

Now, who said BU can’t coach?...

Slow down, I think your track record in based upon Okie State. But, I don't disagree that Underwood is a good coach. He has been working to adapt. he made mistakes. But I'm in his corner. Seems more like his new emphasis of Trent as the primary ball handler has created more offense.

 

[bombayIllini]

Great D. We can hang our hat on that here on out.
Great O, especially @ 75% in the 2nd half, when I believe at one point we were at 92%.
Rebounds U.

Outside Iowa, I do not fear any B10 team, anywhere.

 

[PNWIllini]

There are few things in life better than a season of beating the Badgers and the Boilermakers in front of their own fans.

Can we get a trifecta or superfecta in the state of Michigan.

 

[KSmooth]

I remember a couple weeks ago thinking that if Georgi could work on his 3-pointer a little that could really be a weapon. It seems to me that he and Cockburn are working better when they are on the floor together.

 

[Deleted member 4960]

Do have to say the refs didn’t homer us too bad tonight.

 

[LJ22]

Do have to say the refs didn’t homer us too bad tonight.

Except the ridiculous 3 second call.

 

[BackThatPassUp]

Not to say AG reacted properly, but it appears as if he thought the Purdue player tried to roll over his ankle while on the ground and that is what frustrated him. It was a very unsportsmanlike move to step on him but it's not like he tried to hit him with a chair...I'm of the mindset that the ejection was proper and he's paid his debt.

 

[ILLHangOut]

I didn’t think the AG thing was that bad. Definitely dirty, but I didn’t find it violent, and in my eyes that makes a difference. I think he deserved the flagrant 2, and to be ejected, but I don’t think it deserves a suspension.

edit: backthatpassup beat me to it

 

[IlliniKat91]

Not to say AG reacted properly, but it appears as if he thought the Purdue player tried to roll over his ankle while on the ground and that is what frustrated him. It was a very unsportsmanlike move to step on him but it's not like he tried to hit him with a chair...I'm of the mindset that the ejection was proper and he's paid his debt.

In all honesty, if we watched a player in a Duke or UNC uniform do the exact same thing, we'd call him dirty and a poor sport. I think AG apologizing to Purdue's player is a good start, but let's not pretend it's "not that bad." It was egregious and we'd all be saying as much if he were in another uniform.

That being said, I hope he learns something from this and never does it again.