Illinois 62, Penn State 56 POSTGAME

#226      
I believe he had 4 assists, including an incredible bounce pass to Ayo! Not non-existent. Disagree with your comment. A defensive specialist is hardly an issue.
I can always figure someone's experience playing and or coaching basketball based on their comments on Williams and Tevian. I absolutely thought Williams was a lock for the starting 5 this year. With him there, we do well.
 
#227      

illini55

The Villages, FL
Giorgi is not having a great season. He was stellar coming in as a freshman center when we really needed him, but he plays the 4 like he's still a center, and just doesn't have a feel for the position. I though for sure he'd have enough presence to pass out of the post when he didn't have good position, but he's really stuck at times deciding to take bad post shots. Don't get me wrong, he brings a lot to the team, but he seems to have a hard time adjusting.

Defensively, he's solid in the post, and we need that. I think the only time we'll see him and Kofi on the floor together, is like you mention, when forced to by match-ups. Giorgi can handle guys banging in the paint and you gotta have a guy who can do that in the BIG.

Great game! I thought we were the better team last night, and I think a lot of that goes to game plan. We seemed to have good scouting on PSU and knew how to frustrate them. Ayo got an open look and nailed it at the end, but the fact that they gave him a lane to shoot was a defensive mistake that comes from good movement and having lots of weapons. Just the kind of mistake you need to capitalize on to get a road win.
Chambers kept preaching during the timeouts that neither Feliz nor Ayo could go left. Over and over. I guess that mistake caught up to PSU on the last basket---the lane was wide open.
 
#228      
From 5:34 until 0:17 we scored 2 points. That’s not going to win many games. But it does tell you how great our defense was. At this point in the season, our offense is what it is. Where we go from here is about playing all out defense every game. That’s tough to do every time out. But it’s what we‘ve excelled at this year and I think it has the potential to take us to a sweet 16.

Defense becomes the key variable when neither team is hitting the 3 point shot.
Good defense prevents open looks and forces contested looks
It seem to me Penn State was used to getting more open looks
One has to admit Penn State did miss a lot of makeable shots
I think our 3 point shooting may need to improve to get to the Sweet 16.
 
#229      
I believe he had 4 assists, including an incredible bounce pass to Ayo! Not non-existent. Disagree with your comment. A defensive specialist is hardly an issue.

I completely agree that a defensive specialist is valuable. Shutting down an elite player like Stevens was great. My point was that there will come a time when the ball might be in his hands at the end of a game and I just want him to have confidence to make a play and score the ball. Hoping he can pick it up on the offensive end and gain some confidence. He hit those couple of 3's early in the game vs. Maryland I believe. Point is that a defensive specialist is important but all 5 guys on the floor need to be capable of carrying some of the offensive load.
 
#230      
Defense becomes the key variable when neither team is hitting the 3 point shot.
Good defense prevents open looks and forces contested looks
It seem to me Penn State was used to getting more open looks
One has to admit Penn State did miss a lot of makeable shots
I think our 3 point shooting may need to improve to get to the Sweet 16.
They missed a lot of makeable shots? Have you watched our centers shoot from 5 feet in???

The amount of "bunnies" we blow is extraordinary. If we converted on just half of those this season.....TU would have been dribbling out the clock a lot more times this year.

I say we leave between 16-18 points on the floor between missed bunnies and free throws.
 
#231      
They missed a lot of makeable shots? Have you watched our centers shoot from 5 feet in???

The amount of "bunnies" we blow is extraordinary. If we converted on just half of those this season.....TU would have been dribbling out the clock a lot more times this year.

I say we leave between 16-18 points on the floor between missed bunnies and free throws.
Giorgis first half shooting was so bad/unlucky that I'd wager an average night yields a double digit first half lead for us
 
#234      
They missed a lot of makeable shots? Have you watched our centers shoot from 5 feet in???

The amount of "bunnies" we blow is extraordinary. If we converted on just half of those this season.....TU would have been dribbling out the clock a lot more times this year.

I say we leave between 16-18 points on the floor between missed bunnies and free throws.

Yeah, first game I started to cringe a little when the ball when into the post.
 
#235      
Chambers was really whiny. Wanted a travel on Griffin on the transition 3 early in the game, watched it again and wasn't a travel. Said Frazier pulled their guy down on another call when they were both going for a rebound and the guy fell back on Frazier. get your eyes checked dude
He complained that AG kicked his leg out on the 3 and foul he made and there was no way. He also says "Play through it" a lot, I mean all the time!
 
#236      
I loved the All access. You really got an idea of what is said in the huddle, you got to see how much input the assistant coaches have in play calling, and you see how a Big Ten huddles work. I heard Ayo leading late in the game in that huddle. I normally watch the game after its over to avoid commercials. This game took forever to end because I took the time to listen to the All Access. People call Underwood a tough coach and he very well might be. I saw some good teaching moments by both coaches.
 
#237      
Kofi ain't goin no where. So disappointed how Giorgi has regressed and how Kofi seems like a very short 7 footer.
If these two pick it up we really could be something.
wever, as it is, I squirm ever time the ball goes inside.

Ayo is such a gamer. A real joy to watch.
Obviously Penn State and most other teams we have played disagree with you as to Kofi being a short 7 footer. He has been a tremendous difference in our defensive presence and every game he changes numerous shots. Even at the end of the Michigan State game he forced Winston into an air-ball on his last drive. Unfortunately Griffin didn't clean it up. He is definitely not perfect, but it has been a long time since I have felt comfortable with our physical presence underneath against Big Ten opponents. I guess if you can't enjoy him we'll see when the next time we have someone his size with his ability shows up (if ever).
 
#238      
Watched the end of the game again and what impressed me was the quality of Penn State's defense at the end, especially against Ayo late in the shot clock. They did an excellent job on him. It forced him out of his plans and resulted in UI getting several 30 second violations. What was equally impressive is that we managed to defend and still score enough to win the game. Penn State is definitely a good team this year, and that was a great win for us.
 
#239      
Watched the end of the game again and what impressed me was the quality of Penn State's defense at the end, especially against Ayo late in the shot clock. They did an excellent job on him. It forced him out of his plans and resulted in UI getting several 30 second violations. What was equally impressive is that we managed to defend and still score enough to win the game. Penn State is definitely a good team this year, and that was a great win for us.
The first half Illinois were moving, passing, etc second half they seemed to just dribble and dribble and dribble until the clock was about done.
 
#241      
I can always figure someone's experience playing and or coaching basketball based on their comments on Williams and Tevian. I absolutely thought Williams was a lock for the starting 5 this year. With him there, we do well.
I think highly of DW and think he should play. Tev should only in spots. With the injury and lack of other options at the start of the year i agree with you. Now though who starts does not really matter. It should be clear that AG minutes will continue to go up and he is just too good to get less minutes that DW in spite of all the good things DW does,.That has been the case for a while now. Losing BBV and GB's struggle to adjust has caused this because we are llacking other options DW has done great playing between the 3 and 4 spot to keep getting his minutes, If we had someone that could play a stretch 4 and defend like he can then DW may play less.
at this point in the season AG is going to average more time than DW. Your correct that is not the case to start the year but it is starting to be and i love DW but i hope we can find someone to fill that position with a healthy BBV or someone else next season. Playing the undersized 4 is playing out of position for DW was astuggle last year and he has doe amazing but it is not ideal but this year we desperately need DW to fill that role since others have struggled, are not eligible or are hurt. AG is who needs more time at the three now though because we need more shooting and AG is also the best offensive rebounder we have.

The last five games AG has played 26/35/26,20,&18 minutes and DW has played 24,16,19,22 & 11 and that is with a lot of time to get AG and shooting at the 3 spot. DW has been playing as much 4 as 3. I love DW's effort and performance however to get were we need to be we need a true 4 not someone 6'4''. Next year I prefer DW backing up AG at the 3 hopefully next year in terms of minutes whether he starts or not. I really think AG has an awful lot of untapped potential and a Im a big DW fan too. Who starts isnt really the point anymore to me like it once was.
 
#244      

SycIllini

Sycamore, Illinois
I didn’t like the all access at first. Didn’t like the split screen showing coaches all the time and the background noise was distracting. But, got used to it as it went and enjoyed some of the insights gained from it.

Underwood was more reserved than I expected. Not sure if it was because he was mic’d or I just had the wrong impression of him. As others have commented, I thought he was matter of factly instructional almost all the time.

Was also impressed with the amount of interaction in the time out huddles. Assistant coaches talking to players, giving info to BU, bench players involved. A lot going on but, always seemed pretty orderly. Fascinating.

Regarding all the coach comments to passing officials... in my limited officiating experience I think that is the norm all over. Get to hear it from 7th grade coaches in the B game. :)
 
#245      

Deleted member 4960

D
Guest
The first half Illinois were moving, passing, etc second half they seemed to just dribble and dribble and dribble until the clock was about done.
And we score 32 pts in the 2nd half compared to 30 in the 1st. Maybe your just thinking about the last 3 minutes? Our O wasn’t bad at all in the 2nd.
 
#246      
I had the opposite reaction. I really liked it. It was way more interesting/less annoying than listening to the usual commentators. The last sequence was especially interesting. Pat Chambers seem to tell his guys to foul to extend the game, but by the end of the time out, said not to foul. On the other end, Underwood was telling his guys that they were going to get fouled and who to get the ball to. Just watching how the coaches were handling the players was interesting. Underwood was joking with his players, loosening the players up and instilling confidence. Underwood said in the huddle, we are going to win this game. Chambers seemed to be doing the opposite, trying to give them a sense of urgency. Seemed like the players were a bit frazzled. Maybe it's not an every game thing, but I really liked it.
100% agree, the T on Stevens was cool to with BU questioning who gets ball first in 2nd half
 
#248      
Some random thoughts:

1) Myreon Jones last played on Feb 4.
2) Near the end of the first half, a jump ball was called (we had the possession arrow) and the refs went to the monitor. We then spent a long time going back and forth between the huddles until the ref came over and told BU that a Flagrant-1 had been called on Watkins. BU immediately asked if that meant Illinois regained the possession arrow to start the second half. That just struck me as an incredibly smart thing to ask, and to ask immediately. He was like a chess player looking three moves ahead. It went over the ref's head. BU had to ask the Q more than one way, and the ref ultimately said he'd have to check. It also went over PSU's head; in their locker room one of Chamber's assistants told Chambers PSU got the ball to start the half. BU just struck me as being smarter than everyone out there.
3) I suspect the sound problem is not an easy one to fix. Proximity mikes like those on cell phones that pick up the holder and not sounds from further away might just have problems when the ambient noise level gets that high. Either that or they would cut out a lot. If there was an easy fix it would have been implemented during the game as you just know the tech crew knew how it sounded.
4) The sound level meter was a waste of screen real estate, even more so than giving the two coaches the right side of the screen.

re 4) I'm not sure it was even an actual sound level meter. Looked to me more like a graphic space-filler.
 
#249      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
4th game in a row.
Yeah, a PSU reporter made sure to ask BU a question about it as if to say "You know one of our better players was out right - so don't get too cocky about the win".

Our reporters do it too - not for that affect. But I don't get asking an opposing coach to weigh in about the other teams players to any extent. This question was almost "But don't you think PSU would have won if we'd have had our full 5 out there?"
 
#250      
Yeah, a PSU reporter made sure to ask BU a question about it as if to say "You know one of our better players was out right - so don't get too cocky about the win".

Our reporters do it too - not for that affect. But I don't get asking an opposing coach to weigh in about the other teams players to any extent. This question was almost "But don't you think PSU would have won if we'd have had our full 5 out there?"
Wouldn't look too much into it. The guy is looking for a story. We locked them up and Jones missing for four games is a mystery. Most teams have had their adversity. We had AG out for 2.5 games, we had Ayo out for a game, Michigan had Livers out for a bunch of time, Baker for Rutgers was out for a duration, as was Winston from MSU....all teams can sing that song.