Game Thread: Illinois vs Rutgers
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Illini optimist
- Charleston
Winged Warrior
We've seen a "best first half" this year. Now it's time for our best second half of the season.
Likes:
Illiniguy13 and WizardBill
We're fine, they've made a ton of tough shots, no need to panic.
Coach, putting your kid in the game is panicking.
Coach, putting your kid in the game is panicking.
Likes:
Illini John
- Aurora, IL
Rutgers won’t be able to keep up in the second half. They’re not used to this kind of pace. Illini win by 8.
Boy are they playing soft. Nobody put a body on their man if they even find their man on boards
As we have in so many games this year, we are shooting poorly and getting outrebounded. The turnovers that we turned into points is what's keeping us in this game.
A team that’s shoots 30% in the first half shot 45%
When the pressure D doesn’t work it gives opponents so many wide open looks and shots right at the basket.
Better make some adjustments defensively. Got to force these guys into tougher shots.
When the pressure D doesn’t work it gives opponents so many wide open looks and shots right at the basket.
Better make some adjustments defensively. Got to force these guys into tougher shots.
I think it was a message to the entire team that the defense was not acceptable.
RU played well, shot very well. Thought we played well until the last four minutes where our defense broke down as did defensive rebounding. (Guessing that’s why we saw Tyler - an attempt to get the defense reset in the right places).
We’ve shown a lot of heart lately, just need to show it coming out of the locker room and I think we’re fine.
I hope.
We’ve shown a lot of heart lately, just need to show it coming out of the locker room and I think we’re fine.
I hope.
Maybe, but we can't be complacent either. Rutgers is a tough, physical team and they're not gonna back down.
This second half is a big test of character for our guys.
Likes:
Illiniguy13
Only issue with BU in the last month is a #32 sighting in a back and forth game. #0 gave us a nice 3 minute stretch, should have been rewarded instead of TU last couple of minutes.
Likes:
djkirkpatrick22
When I read this at first I thought “Why LOL”... we are not in a different category from RU this year. They really turned it on right after this post.
What I’m saying is... the “lol” in your post is clearly 100% to blame for our halftime deficit.
Likes:
JamesB
If we don't see more turnovers, I'd like to see 3-2 zone mixed with the 131 press. Have to protect the paint better.
man we really ripping on TU again. it's not like he's any worse at boxing out then the entire team right now. They're also shooting 55% and we're angry at coach for wanting to try another look for 2 minutes,
Likes:
alaskaillini and WizardBill
- Springfield
First half is pretty predictable given all inputs to this point. Too much reverting to early season form after a hot start. Expect another level of intensity in second half and the crowd will have much to do with it.
On another note, can anyone tell us when was the last time the Illini had two frosh starters avg. 28 a game in tandem in B1G play? 25.4 for the season? Whiz kids? Likely never.
On another note, can anyone tell us when was the last time the Illini had two frosh starters avg. 28 a game in tandem in B1G play? 25.4 for the season? Whiz kids? Likely never.
Winged Warrior
- Chicago,IL
Damonte's inability to score the basketball really needs to limit his minutes.
- Normal, Illinois
I'm pretty sure Rutgers could randomly throw the ball at the backboard and 95% of the shots would bounce in at this rate.
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