Tillman came from the top of the key. He didn't move until the shot was in the air. If AG had not gone down to cut off Winston's shot from the other side of the basket, everyone would have been crying about why there was no weak side help defense on Winston (who was the biggest threat). Using your logic, Kofi probably shouldn't have left Tillman. See it however you want to.
Michigan State 70, Illinois 69 POSTGAME
That was how I saw it as well. Looked like AG almost went through Kofi and limited his movement to the ball. Was definitely AGs job to stay and box out for the rebound.
Having said all that, it is quite normal for those type of things to happen at the end of games. Everyone wants to be the one to win the game
Kofi may well have been nervous. Big situation and all. I know I would be. But in the end he handled it like a champ nervous or not.
I am sure Deron has been back to Champaign in the past but, it sure was nice seeing him back at a game and really engaged in it. Hopefully he is back often.
Absolutely not. Feliz on ball defense of Winston was very good. Griifin, coming over to help was not a factor in stopping Winston.
Unpopular opinion, but I like Dan Dakich.
haasi
- New York
Me too. He’s smart, knowledgeable, entertaining, and speaks unfiltered. Sure, he says some dumb/indefensible things sometimes, and sometimes says he things that are unfairly critical of Illini (as he does for everyone) but he’s entertaining, he watches the game with a critical eye, and he’s not scared to voice his opinions and insights. I get excited when I hear he’s calling a game. Would take him 10 out of 10 times over bardo and most other color guys.
I think about 98% of this board disagrees.
You have GOT to be joshinme!
From watching him chuck bricks from outside 15 feet and turn the ball over everytime he drives. He is a back to the basket player. Not sure how anyone could disagree
So does Dan Dakich
Then Kofi should have stayed on Tillman.
illini80
- Forgottonia
There was a loose ball and Ayo dove for it. He got there first and had possession. MSU player going for it had to jump over Ayo and there was some contact. Ref called a foul on Ayo. A no call would have been correct. A tough call would have been a foul on MSU. A really bad call was to call it a foul on Ayo.
haasi
- New York
MSU loose ball, Ayo dove for it, MSU player tripped over him, foul on Ayo. dubious call. There was a bunch of contact but Ayo didn’t dive into the guy. 99% a no call, 1% a foul going either way. When they blew whistle my first instinct was that it was a foul on the MSU player who tripped over Ayo after he dove.
BillyBob1
- Champaign
I thought Ayo had called a timeout and that was why he blew his whistle. Terrible call. Was at the game and never saw the replay. When Feliz drove late in the game and made the shot, ref called a foul and didn’t count the basket. Should it have counted? Feliz reaction after he made the first free throw and ran down the floor, couldn’t believe basket didn’t count.
The Dave
- CA
I'm a big fan. He occasionally says stupid stuff but he's also very insightful and has no problem calling out a coach/player if they do something stupid. Better than the fawning fan-boys that think every team is the best team, every coach is the best coach, and is obviously just trying to keep their connections.
He's definitely not a cookie-cutter announcer.
Seems like Dizzo gets the calls home or away.
illini80
- Forgottonia
It certainly could have gone either way, but I thought it was probably the correct call on Feliz.
THAT was the call that lost us the game. Ayo DID call the timeout. The only foul (if there was one) was obviously on the MSU player. So, MSU would have been in a position where they would have had to start fouling. And, at the end of the game, we had hit about 12 straight FTs.
THAT lousy call gave the game away. We fought back from 20 down, and THAT call gave it away.
Certainly when it needs to be made right in front of him.
Was it the same ref that made the ridiculous foul call on Feliz at Maryland that gave them 2 free throws with basically no time left on the clock?
That call certainly changed the way the final minute or so of the game played out.....but if we had played anywhere close to an average first half I don't think we would have been in that situation....not taking away the 2nd half comeback which was great...and yea the call on Ayo sucked....but man we gotta be a little more consistent for an entire game if we hope to win a conference championship and do damage in the post season