EIU 80, Illinois 67 (Exhibition) POSTGAME

#151      

mattcoldagelli

The Transfer Portal
This is spot on!!!! Whoever thought this team was capable of finishing in the top 5 of the big ten and make the ncaa tourney are delusional. Yet here I've seen hundreds of such posts. Do I hope that happens? Of course. Do I expect it? Not a chance. Not fair to Underwood or this team

I still think we're making the tourney.

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#152      

Captain Bubbles

Fairfield, IL
I agree with those saying that Underwood scheduled this exhibition to get ammunition to use on the team to motivate them. But the fact that he needed to do that shows that we’re not very far along at this point. Agree that UW knows what we need to fix. But by all accounts- we need to fix a whole lot. Hopefully we make it out unscathed against the cupcakes and make enough progress in the next month that we can compete when real opponents come around. I think it’s gonna be a few months until we’re really competitive- like February.

BU has got a lot of work to do.
 
#153      
I am worried that BU is applying a defensive scheme that does not fit the reality of our roster. This cannot be fixed within 2 years time (because he is not bringing in anyone and no one is left on the market that can significantly improve our defense in '18).

I think what I see from the offense in the first half is way better than what Groce had. However all what the opponent have to do to beat our aggressive defense is to force a switch (we did it all the time) and throw the ball into the big man in the paint (our paint is very empty). It either ended up with a foul or layup.

We could not run away from them when our offense is ok. Then we had foul trouble and were tired so they ran away from us easily. Haas could score 50 pts against this "defense system" any day.
 
#154      

Captain Bubbles

Fairfield, IL
I also wanna say props to EIU, my alma mater for the win on Friday night. I mentioned this in another thread...EIU had four starters return from last season. I thought that was a good test for Illinois against an experienced starting five.

Also, EIU's starting point guard, Terrell Lewis (was Cornell Johnston before his legal name change), he can ball.
 
#155      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
I also wanna say props to EIU, my alma mater for the win on Friday night. I mentioned this in another thread...EIU had four starters return from last season. I thought that was a good test for Illinois against an experienced starting five.

Also, EIU's starting point guard, Terrell Lewis (was Cornell Johnston before his legal name change), he can ball.

Yep....and BU knew this. Experience beats inexperience (youth) when there is no disproportionate physical gap. Almost every time.

Great eye opener for our young guards.
 
#157      

I Bomb

Stylin' and Profilin'
Hope you guys are right. I'm still having (what's the opposite of growing?) pains from them there olden days of Illinois basketball in the 80s 90s and 00s... New coach, new system; they'll get it together.
 
#158      
I am worried that BU is applying a defensive scheme that does not fit the reality of our roster. This cannot be fixed within 2 years time (because he is not bringing in anyone and no one is left on the market that can significantly improve our defense in '18).

I think what I see from the offense in the first half is way better than what Groce had. However all what the opponent have to do to beat our aggressive defense is to force a switch (we did it all the time) and throw the ball into the big man in the paint (our paint is very empty). It either ended up with a foul or layup.

We could not run away from them when our offense is ok. Then we had foul trouble and were tired so they ran away from us easily. Haas could score 50 pts against this "defense system" any day.

I would argue that this team wouldn't be good at any defensive scheme right now. We're playing a bunch of freshmen who are generally slow at adjusting to defending at the college level. Plus, we have no atheticism/size inside except for Spicy G who is obviously not ready yet.

But if it makes you feel better, BU did change his defense to pack line after OSU started 0-6 in the Big 12. He's going to do everything possible to teach his system, but if it doesn't work he is willing to change.

Also, there is still plenty of time to bring in someone for next year. Late bloomers, decommits, 5th years, etc. Let's see how these young guys improve before we start complaining about the defense, because it's almost certainly going to be rough early on. We can talk about it in March.
 
#160      
I am worried that BU is applying a defensive scheme that does not fit the reality of our roster. This cannot be fixed within 2 years time (because he is not bringing in anyone and no one is left on the market that can significantly improve our defense in '18).

I think what I see from the offense in the first half is way better than what Groce had. However all what the opponent have to do to beat our aggressive defense is to force a switch (we did it all the time) and throw the ball into the big man in the paint (our paint is very empty). It either ended up with a foul or layup.

We could not run away from them when our offense is ok. Then we had foul trouble and were tired so they ran away from us easily. Haas could score 50 pts against this "defense system" any day.

Not a bad post. I hear you. I think he has to move forward with his style of play, which is aggressive and fast and lends itself to scorers. It more importantly works for players who work for themselves, you have to be a dog in this system. Work hard, run hard, cut hard. This isn't walk the ball up the court, waive to your girlfriend Groce ball.

I didn't get to see the game but I will lol when I actually see an offense. I look forward to it.

He has to make these lazy kids work and continue to recruit the right player, the one with a motor. Leron Black is 2nd team All B1G this season.
 
#167      

Future Walk-On

Peoria, IL
This is a young team that is still finding a leader.

I think it is pretty telling when 2 Juniors who have been here for 3 years aren't de facto "leaders."

Black and Finke are becoming representative of non-NCAA tourney teams.

I want them both to succeed, but the more we see them out played by the younger kids the better we know the future will be.
 
#170      

EJ33

San Francisco
Sort of a relevant fact from McColley's article on the scrimmage:

Because EIU also hosted a women’s scrimmage, also for charity, there was no opportunity for an Illini shootaround in Charleston. Instead, the pre-game meal and shootaround took place in Champaign. The Illini then hopped on a bus for Charleston.

Not an excuse for the performance, which lacked more than shooting. Still, it helps make sense of the terrible shooting.
 
#171      
I think it is pretty telling when 2 Juniors who have been here for 3 years aren't de facto "leaders."

Black and Finke are becoming representative of non-NCAA tourney teams.

I want them both to succeed, but the more we see them out played by the younger kids the better we know the future will be.

Not uncommon in college basketball. Black and Finke were role players the past 2 years. We had Hill, Rice, Egwu, Paul, Richardson in past years. Now it's time for new leaders. It happens to dozens of teams every year. I don't think it has much, if anything to do with past success.
 
#172      
Kipper seems like the natural leader to me. Needs to be a starter however.
 
#174      

2 things I took from this

1) the lack of a shoot around explained the airballs, and shooting %, anyone that would expect a great shooting performance in that type of situation, would be nuts. Doesn't explain turnovers or defense, but would explain the flow of game , with a lack of shooting success. We can feel better that we won't play in that size of gym anytime soon.

2) Whitman's escorting of Lou before game was over. The AD is total class. Not because he did the right thing escorting a eldery gentleman out of the bleachers, he escorted a man who was a icon of :chief: basketball of old. Showing respect for Lou, is something all who are illini fans should be proud of. He cares about Illinois athletics, past and present.

Ready for real games to begin, and Friday will give a different picture of the team we expect to see.
 
#175      
Do high school teams and AAU teams get shoot arounds before they play? just curious.