Indiana 103, Illinois 69 POSTGAME

[Chambana13]

Sam I Am ‏@B1G_Samb0 11h11 hours ago
Groce is the best coach I've ever had.

Retweeted by Kevin Berardini and some former Illinois players last night. Interesting stuff. I think it speaks to the kind of guy Groce is. I know he is probably out the door but I think his character shows here. Not that character is what wins B10 basketball games.

totally off topic but i remember when Kevin Berardini was sitting at a table at Cly's one night, a buddy wanted to sit next to him and had no clue who he was (due to him being on the bench), Berardini would not allow him to sit down and kept saying because he was on the Illinois Basketball Team that he could do what he wanted, lets just say there was some choice words that came out of my mouth as we left.

 

[illiniwil]

out on the ledge

ive been a long time supporter of John Groce but now im out on the ledge with a bunch of other illini fans and alumni. its easy to say that they dont have a point guard/ leader on the court. (god knows that ESPN talking head form Indiana said it enough last night) but i dont think they have a leader on the bench either. how does a team continue to make the same mistakes possession after possession on both ends of the court? how does nunn and hill take the same hero three pointer with 4 team mates at mid court to get back on Defense? They are unwatchable right now and there is no reason to think its going to get better. i turned over to my wifes home channel rerun rather than suffer through the last 10 minutes.

changes. wholesale changes. oops, i mean as soon as we have an AD. oops, i mean as soon as we have a chancellor. (do we also need a state budget before we do these things?)

 

[Butkuser]

I don't think Gregg Marshall would have any interest in coming here.

Yeah, but a fella can dream, can't he?! I'll save any future commentary on this subject for the other thread, but I agree with you.

 

[EllderIlliniFan]

The problem is not so much with the losses but the appearance and demeanor in the losses. Losing to OSU most were okay because there was defense and some offensive execution. However, in games against MSU and IND we looked so bad there is no hope. It can be fun to watch a team fight even when they lose. But there is nothing in the current team that even begins to make me want to watch. It has to be having an effect on attendance which will be the real tipping point for coaching decisions. No defense and no apparent offensive structure is hard to watch. In my opinion if anyone goes 'hero ball' they sit. The team has to understand that running an offense is the only long term approach that will succeed. Going one on one constantly might work on the rare nights that everyone is shooting lights out but most times it is disaster.

 

[Dayman]

IMO the game was lost when we fought back to 22-21 after a 10-0 run. That lineup was working and for some reason Ford had 3 guys waiting to sub in at the scorers table and a tv timeout looming. Subs occur and we are down 10 again immediately. If I was a
Player I would be pissed if I came out when we were playing well. And don't tell me it is fatigue. Nunn and hill hardly ever come out and are doing most of the work. I yelled at the tv when I saw the players at the table waiting to come in. We do that crap all the time. And it is nothing against the individual players, it was just wrong to take out players that were efffective at that time. It happens all the time. The best way to lose your team is to have useless, stupid substitutions that do not reward good play.

It is almost like Ford wants to sub so he can feel like he is doing something. He seems like the type of guy that has to be noticed and have attention, and that is his way of doing it.

 

[UrbanaIsTheShiz]

Our next coach needs to be a teacher and Xs and Os guy who will be able to make the most out of so-so talent. Preferably he should be a Midwesterner so if he makes any headway there will be a decent chance we keep him.

Bo Ryan, your phone is ringing....

 

[TCTORNADO]

Good news last night,,,is that JCL had two more 3's thus giving him 43 on the season. On the all time Freshman list he now is @ #7 (just passed Frank Williams). Next on the list McCamey @ #6 and he had 50 threes.
BTW, he is shooting 41% from three yet only 36% from two. Not bad for a guy that just started practicing in November.
congrats Jalen.

 

[Chase3]

totally off topic but i remember when Kevin Berardini was sitting at a table at Cly's one night, a buddy wanted to sit next to him and had no clue who he was (due to him being on the bench), Berardini would not allow him to sit down and kept saying because he was on the Illinois Basketball Team that he could do what he wanted, lets just say there was some choice words that came out of my mouth as we left.

Interesting. I met Berardini a few times after games and he seemed like a great guy. After Bubba Chisolm graduated he was one of my favorite players.

 

[illini8507]

Good news last night,,,is that JCL had two more 3's thus giving him 43 on the season. On the all time Freshman list he now is @ #7 (just passed Frank Williams). Next on the list McCamey @ #6 and he had 50 threes.
BTW, he is shooting 41% from three yet only 36% from two. Not bad for a guy that just started practicing in November.
congrats Jalen.

In addition to that, I noticed him being quite upset and yelling at guys a few times last night. Hopefully he can develop into that on court leader that we so desperately need next year when he is no longer a freshman.

 

[ssanti13]

I have been a Tate supporter from day 1. I think he does some good things for this team that go under appreciated. But I have come to terms with the fact his limitations offensively will prevent this teams ceiling from going anywhere as long as he is our point guard.

Yes, he would look better with a competent post player. But by the time Thorne gets back in form, the season will be dead in the water, if it isn't already. And I have no faith whatsoever next year will be any different.

Tate has the handles and quickness to get into the paint off the dribble. The thing that makes me want to rip my hair out is he doesn't even look to create his own shot/attack the basket -.- What frustrates me the most is he did this well last year. He managed to get to the free throw line and knock em down at a high percentage. I was proud of that.

This year, he doesn't even bother to try and create in the lane. That is unacceptable. I don't care if you get swatted, bullied, hacked, or you straight up miss. Dishing it out to the perimeter after collapsing the defense and restarting your offensive sequence to someone who doesn't have the handles or quickness you do begs for poor shot selection.

I think Tate will be a great upperclassman for TJL to learn under. But I'm starting to believe if TJL had just a few months of practice to learn the system, TJL might be a better option as a freshman than Tate will be as a senior. Of course, he won't play as much because of seniority. Just get this kid on campus immediately.

 

[Jabber Jabber]

Sam I Am ‏@B1G_Samb0 11h11 hours ago
Groce is the best coach I've ever had.

Retweeted by Kevin Berardini and some former Illinois players last night. Interesting stuff. I think it speaks to the kind of guy Groce is. I know he is probably out the door but I think his character shows here. Not that character is what wins B10 basketball games.

Hardee's makes the best cheeseburger I've ever had. (Had only ever eaten at McDonald's)

It's not like these guys are comparing Groce to great coaches. He's the "best coach I've ever had" by default.

 

[DudeAbides]

Hardee's makes the best cheeseburger I've ever had. (Had only ever eaten at McDonald's)

It's not like these guys are comparing Groce to great coaches. He's the "best coach I've ever had" by default.

It's McLaurin. He's comparing Groce to Cliff Ellis and some HS/AAU coaches. Ellis is actually an established coach who recently won his 700th D1 game earlier this year and has 3 career Sweet Sixteen appearances. Ironically, Ellis had a higher winning % after long stints and Clemson, Auburn and South Alabama and even Coastal Carolina than Groce has had at Illinois. He also took CC to the NCAA tournament the past 2 years while Groce took us to the NIT.

 

[IrishIllini]

totally off topic but i remember when Kevin Berardini was sitting at a table at Cly's one night, a buddy wanted to sit next to him and had no clue who he was (due to him being on the bench), Berardini would not allow him to sit down and kept saying because he was on the Illinois Basketball Team that he could do what he wanted, lets just say there was some choice words that came out of my mouth as we left.

Wasn't he a transfer/bench warmer? Don't remember him ever playing much. Glad to see Groce and his players part ways on good terms, but it's not like this kid ever developed into a reputable producer for Illini basketball...he just managed to find his way into a mediocre program. I think Groce is probably a great guy and genuinely cares about his players and wants to win. Unfortunately, I think he is just a bit over his head. Maybe more time as an assistant at a big time program or becoming proven coach in a lower tiered conference was what Groce needed before his time at Illinois. Hopefully next year he can pull it together. If not, I see no place for him here.

 

[themudflap]

At the end of the day you want to feel like the kids competed and are getting better. Just do not see it. It is way to easy to score on us.

 

[Illinifanatic4ever]

Best part of the game was watching the clock hit 0:00. Because watching the game was brutal!!!

 

[Deleted member 9739]

In addition to that, I noticed him being quite upset and yelling at guys a few times last night. Hopefully he can develop into that on court leader that we so desperately need next year when he is no longer a freshman.

I was at the game on Saturday and, as an ex-coach, I spent a lot of time zeroing in on each player on the floor for a few minutes at a time to see what I thought of them. You never get to do that on TV because the camera focuses on the ball and, depending on the shot, you don't get to see what players off the ball are doing.

There was only one player who I thought showed a lot of heart and determination throughout the game and that was Jalen Coleman-Lands. Unfortunately, he also made a lot of mistakes. If we could get him some good coaching/teaching, I think we would have a great player there for the next several years because the drive and the talent are there.

 

[ssanti13]

Agree completely on Malcolm, but unfortunately he is not a leader. A great player, but quiet in some many ways. With so many freshmen and new faces - we don't have the consistency that is needed to build a program. Bill Belichick (who I can't stand but I admire) had some interesting quotes recently about building a program and how you need those guys who lead and set examples. Guys who demand excellence and show the new faces that in order to win you need to go all out. He spoke about how this has allowed him to build success over such a long period. It is why he brings veterans back over and over again.

Didn't Nunn have a team violation last game? That is the leadership we have (or not). I love the guy, but cmon. And hard for Abrams to lead when no one has been in the bunker with him during the fight. The freshmen may have some of that, but there are almost too many of them.

Very true. On one hand, you can knock em' for not being "leaders" as upperclassman/lacking the vocal team-oriented leadership this team desperately needs. On the other hand, it goes back to a frustrating point I've brought up before: in a lot of ways, our guys ARE stepping up and showing leadership characteristics. Hill is blossoming into a bonafide star right before our eyes. By in large, Nunn has shown the consistency we've been looking for. Anyone with realistic expectations of JCL's impact as a freshman should be pleased with his production. Finke has exceeded expectations. AJ and DJ have shown flashes. Mav has improved. Lewis is about as good a last-minute transfer pickup we could hope for, all things considered. You take this and pair it with even a smidgeon of Groce's T&T and boom! You have a rocksteady team.

I think Groce is starting to figure out these intangibles are paramount to being successful in the BIG10. He was asked in the presser if he and the staff could identify those types of things in recruiting. He gave a "sort of kind of" answer. To me, that means no. Groce is still a young coach. As upset our manic-depressive fanbase is with him, I don't think people give him enough credit. The guy is learning and he's trying his best. If Groce had caught a whiff of goodluck to counteract some of the atrocious bad luck he's had, for example having a player like quentin snyder come to C-U, we'd have a very strong team. Down the line, Groce will figure this all out. And when he does, he will put together a team to be reckoned with. I want that team to be wearing orange & blue, but it might be too late. I guess we'll see.

 

[Chase3]

Wasn't he a transfer/bench warmer? Don't remember him ever playing much. Glad to see Groce and his players part ways on good terms, but it's not like this kid ever developed into a reputable producer for Illini basketball...he just managed to find his way into a mediocre program. I think Groce is probably a great guy and genuinely cares about his players and wants to win. Unfortunately, I think he is just a bit over his head. Maybe more time as an assistant at a big time program or becoming proven coach in a lower tiered conference was what Groce needed before his time at Illinois. Hopefully next year he can pull it together. If not, I see no place for him here.

Berardini was always a benchwarmer but I've always liked those guys I don't know why. I was a huge Bubba Chisolm fan, and a huge Berardini fan. My favorite moment was when Illinois played Chaminade in the Maui Invitational and Berardini absolutely wrecked the Asian player's ankles with a huge looping crossover. That might be the best Illinois moment in a while. :thumb:

 

[breadman]

Now, if I remember correctly, the last two years, maybe even 3 years, we got into mid-season doldrums, and then came back to end each season strong. I would like to see if that happens gain this season.

 

[Chase3]

Best Berardini moment of all time.

 

[GameOfThrows]

What floors me is that so many Illini fans were calling for Beckman's job even though his teams were showing improvement, and we're not even a football score. Meanwhile, Groce has been able to keep his job while his teams have not improved and we're a basketball school.

Because of injuries, I believe that Groce should be given the rest of the season to get the team playing better basketball, and if he makes the NIT then he keeps the job until next season with the ultimatum that he must ADVANCE TO THE ROUND OF 32 at the very least in 2017 March Madness to keep his job otherwise, it is time to move on.

 

[Moneybreaks]

Now, if I remember correctly, the last two years, maybe even 3 years, we got into mid-season doldrums, and then came back to end each season strong. I would like to see if that happens gain this season.

I can definitively state that last season did not end strong. I was there live to see a pathetic blowout loss to Michigan, whom we'd competed quite well with earlier in the season. I've been furious with the program ever since.

 

[Soxfreak64]

I can definitively state that last season did not end strong. I was there live to see a pathetic blowout loss to Michigan, whom we'd competed quite well with earlier in the season. I've been furious with the program ever since.

Same, but I thought it was a player chemistry problem.

Now I'm starting to think it's something else. Sucks.

 

[zpfled]

What floors me is that so many Illini fans were calling for Beckman's job even though his teams were showing improvement, and we're not even a football score. Meanwhile, Groce has been able to keep his job while his teams have not improved and we're a basketball school.

Because of injuries, I believe that Groce should be given the rest of the season to get the team playing better basketball, and if he makes the NIT then he keeps the job until next season with the ultimatum that he must ADVANCE TO THE ROUND OF 32 at the very least in 2017 March Madness to keep his job otherwise, it is time to move on.

I agree with this, with the caveat that if we squeak into the NIT because we win a couple big games but also have a few more of these barely-even-show-up games, then screw it.

I can't abide teams that don't compete. I don't mind losses, but I hate passionless blowouts

 

[Chase3]

Somebody should've told the boys we were playing on ESPN not ESPN3. Maybe if they'd known, they would've shown a bit of respect for their school and not have given up before half time.