+1. I think most outsider observers are giving Groce a pass because of the ridiculous injury situation. I think they are right.
Ohio State 68, Illinois 63 (OT) POSTGAME
+1. I think most outsider observers are giving Groce a pass because of the ridiculous injury situation. I think they are right.
Best era in my opinion. Kruger and Self had the train moving. Glad I was there for Kruger's teams. Even during the rebuild in 98-99, that team fought and you knew they were going to get better with the recruits on the way. I just don't see that today. I like the freshman class, but don't see the difference makers on the way.
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Hill is similar height to Diop but he has about 20 lbs. of muscle on him. Or at the very least is much stronger than Diop. I by no means didn't say it wasn't a foul. I'm simply pointing out that this is Big Ten basketball and Hill needed to be stronger with the ball there.
I just think KN should be our Batman and MH should be Robin
Four critical factors to the game:
1. Ohio State's length on defense created a big problem for us on offense, especially on Malcolm Hill. Their length made a difference.
2. We missed too many critical FTs at key junctions in the game.
3. Malcolm was simply not himself in this game. But he has led the team this season multiple times, so give the kid a break.
4. Terrible play at the end of regulation. I understand if you do not want to take a TO to catch the opposing team off-balance. But running isolation with Groce unnecessarily talking on the court to Hill, leaving not enough time, was simply terrible. Should have taken a TO and Finke should have been back in the game for the last play.
1. Ohio State's length on defense created a big problem for us on offense, especially on Malcolm Hill. Their length made a difference.
2. We missed too many critical FTs at key junctions in the game.
3. Malcolm was simply not himself in this game. But he has led the team this season multiple times, so give the kid a break.
4. Terrible play at the end of regulation. I understand if you do not want to take a TO to catch the opposing team off-balance. But running isolation with Groce unnecessarily talking on the court to Hill, leaving not enough time, was simply terrible. Should have taken a TO and Finke should have been back in the game for the last play.
I've always thought his face looked so..........punchable
matt1all
- Chicago, IL
Really the spacing on that last play was just awful. Ken and Malcolm basically ran into eachother. Made it very awkward and opened up an opportunity for something bad to happen and it did.
No one really seems to be on the same page offensively. Like they don't know what they're trying to accomplish on that end of the court.
No one really seems to be on the same page offensively. Like they don't know what they're trying to accomplish on that end of the court.
I remember that...good times.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I'm happy with a dynamic duo. Do not need either one to be the man every night. Share the ball and we win
Out of all my sports teams and all my years following them religiously, there was really only one time that I sat back and felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. That has now happened two times. Unless Groce is fired or makes drastic changes to his staff, Illini basketball is hopeless. 11 years ago we were on top of the college basketball world with Kentucky, Duke, UNC, and Kansas. Today, we are absolutely hopeless.
I'll be interested to hear the post game conference. I have to think it was a clear out for Malcolm to drive at the end of regulation.
Still can't figure out what the hell happened at the end of OT. Why in the world was Tate just running along side the guy as he went up for a layup?
Agree with all but #4 as to him being the best player
matt1all
- Chicago, IL
I especially agree with your last point. And wasn't Tate on the floor for the last possession? And weren't we in bonus?
Looked like Tate was trying to foul him and kept bouncing off. The guy was strong with the ball.
1. Well, it was an ugly game for sure, but it had its exciting moments. Neither team seemed particularly interested in winning this one, but eventually one team has to win. It was Ohio State.
2. The game started out so well. We were going like gangbusters and it looked like we might blow them out. Then our offense just stopped. We couldn't hit anything for what seemed like forever. The rest of the game was just a comedy of errors for both teams.
3. Kendrick Nunn was the only Illini who really came to play. He couldn't do it all by himself, but he kept us in the game at least.
4. Mav was not a huge factor, but he continues to make some decent contributions at times.
5. Malcolm Hill just never really got started in this one. He put in the effort, but he just seemed out of sync for the most part. Ohio State's tremendous length and athleticism had something to do with that, granted.
6. JCL made some mistakes, as freshmen will, but he still managed to make some solid contributions.
7. We gave the game away at the free throw line. Our shooting was terrible at times, but maybe you can credit the Ohio State defense for that. The missed free throws were all on us.
8. We desperately need a point guard. Hopefully Lucas can come in and play well early. Obviously having Tracy back would help (if he is completely healthy).
9. Next we get Wisky. In this bizarre season where so many teams are wildly up and down, who knows.
2. The game started out so well. We were going like gangbusters and it looked like we might blow them out. Then our offense just stopped. We couldn't hit anything for what seemed like forever. The rest of the game was just a comedy of errors for both teams.
3. Kendrick Nunn was the only Illini who really came to play. He couldn't do it all by himself, but he kept us in the game at least.
4. Mav was not a huge factor, but he continues to make some decent contributions at times.
5. Malcolm Hill just never really got started in this one. He put in the effort, but he just seemed out of sync for the most part. Ohio State's tremendous length and athleticism had something to do with that, granted.
6. JCL made some mistakes, as freshmen will, but he still managed to make some solid contributions.
7. We gave the game away at the free throw line. Our shooting was terrible at times, but maybe you can credit the Ohio State defense for that. The missed free throws were all on us.
8. We desperately need a point guard. Hopefully Lucas can come in and play well early. Obviously having Tracy back would help (if he is completely healthy).
9. Next we get Wisky. In this bizarre season where so many teams are wildly up and down, who knows.
JG in pregame press conf wants effort concentration and attitude....
I think MH lost concentration late in game. If he drives in regulation he gets fouled and gets 2 shots to make 1 game winning FT. when you are tied with 10+ seconds you shouldnt launch a contested 3P shot. Really surprised because there is no better player on our team at creating a foul situation...I was good with ball in his hands, but his scoring tactic was wrong, IMO.
Deleted member 4960
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Well this game proves it to me. 4 to 5 big ten win team. Problem is I don't see how next year gets better. I don't trust Abrams to be healthy (wasn't a great pg anyway.) and we add two freshman 3 stars to the team. Freshman are usually not huge difference makers (jcl for instance and he is a high 4 star)
I think black will help on rebounding but not much else. It makes me sick to my stomach how we are playing now and also thinking about our future.
I think black will help on rebounding but not much else. It makes me sick to my stomach how we are playing now and also thinking about our future.
In fairness, Hill flopped a few times and complained about calls all night. Probably a big reason he didn't get the call there.
To #4, pretty much dead on. It wasn't not calling the TO though IMO. If you don't call the TO it's because you want the defense to be on its heels, not set, in scramble mode. I'll try and watch it again but it looked to me like Groce essentially stopped play to get Hill the ball, directed him to the top of the key, wasting valuable seconds in which we should have been moving the ball to get an open shot (we didn't need a three). We don't know whether Groce told Hill to go one on one, but it sure looked like it. If not it's on Hill for not moving the ball. At the end of OT, it looked like more hero ball by Hill by not handing off to Nunn. I watched this game without my Bushmills. Mistake.
Not if said school doesn't have an AD
While Hill didn't play well offensively, he stepped it up defensively and had some big rebounds in the last 5 mins/OT. Also had a couple drive and kicks during our run at the end that got Nunn and Jalen shots. The whole team played solid defense the last 5 mins into OT. Needed to win in regulation, because you could see all of our guys' legs were gone. Everyone's shots were coming up short in OT.
Funny how quick people turn on our players though. Last game, Nunn was a bum and overrated. Now he is great and the best player on the team. Last game, Hill was going to the NBA. This game, Hill is a bum, selfish and overrated. I wonder why Hill gets scrutinized so much on this forum and especially the other illini board. Leads the team in every statistic, but the moment he makes a bad play or has a bad game, look out.
It's pretty obvious though. The only way we win is if Nunn and Hill play well. If either one has a bad game, we don't have much of a chance (unless someone like Finke plays out of their minds).
Funny how quick people turn on our players though. Last game, Nunn was a bum and overrated. Now he is great and the best player on the team. Last game, Hill was going to the NBA. This game, Hill is a bum, selfish and overrated. I wonder why Hill gets scrutinized so much on this forum and especially the other illini board. Leads the team in every statistic, but the moment he makes a bad play or has a bad game, look out.
It's pretty obvious though. The only way we win is if Nunn and Hill play well. If either one has a bad game, we don't have much of a chance (unless someone like Finke plays out of their minds).