Illini toughed it out - congratulations!
Illinois 110, Rutgers 101 (3OT) POSTGAME
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I can't believe Keene would only be #4. I assume Bradford is at the top? I know I could check, but thought I would guess.
Can't say the guys have cashed it in after that game. For all they have been through and all the areas to improve they haven't quit on coach or team. Groce I think is 6-1 in OT,too if I recall correctly
sdfidaho
- Boise, Idaho
If they weren't trying, everyone would jump on Groce for "losing" the team, but since they are trying, we can't give him credit?
I'll send you a link to purchase a good " sarcasm meter".
Glad we gutted it out. Good effort, but our lack of perimeter defense is mind-boggling. It's not like we have slow footed players out front. They're athletic enough to be able to keep guys in front of them.
Defense was bad, rebounding was bad, shot selection was questionable, but glad we won. Wasn't thrilled with how we looked, but with the roster available I'm just glad we won.
UI record book, page 136 for frosh records.
http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/2015/10/14/MBB_1014151602.aspx?path=mbball
The help defense is absolutely atrocious. I've taught man to man defense for a long time and I have zero idea on what goes on these practices because it just isn't getting any better. There's flashes here and there, but other PGs are eating us up out top. Lewis is doing his best but it isn't enough...he's just not a good B1G PG. The conference is going through an interesting cycle where the PG play is pretty good on most teams. Just not ours.
Good one on Bradford. He's #1 w/85, DJRich #2 w/69 and Jamar #3 w/66.
Remember these are All Freshman #'s. Keene is definitely #4 w/57.
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
Hard to detect sarcasm when I know there are people out there that would say exactly what you said, and mean it...
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Really impressed that the guys played so hard with 4 fouls. Number of guys with 4, but no one fouled out and they played hard, very hard, all the way to the end. Midway through the 3rd OT, Rutgers looked gassed and we looked like we could go . . . I don't know. . . at least 30 more seconds. I was very worried without Finke and we pulled it out. What a relief.
Clearly not a true fan. I really enjoyed the game. Was it ugly, yes. I'll enjoy all wins this year with the injury problems we have had.
That's always been a great link, one could spend hours there.
Yup, you can order a print copy.....it makes a great $15 Holiday gift for the true Illini fan.
Agreed both terrible calls IMO. The foul at the end of reg. was one of the worst calls ive seen all year. Sanders got way to many calls, he was out of control most of the time.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I gained a lot of respect for Hill tonight. He looked completely exhausted at the end. No doubt they got great contributions from Morgan and JCL but Hill is a guy you can really hitch your wagon to.
sdfidaho
- Boise, Idaho
Understandable
That feels like justice after their cupcake non-con schedule got some people all excited for the umptenth time about their tournament chances. They simply aren't that good. No one on their roster is in the same galaxy as Malcolm Hill and a healthy Kendrick Nunn.
Give me John Groce over Chris Collins too.
Great to get a win tonight. Malcolm deserves first team all-Big Ten and to be mentioned with guys like Trimble, Uthoff, and Valentine for POY.
Your not a fan if you can't appreciate the effort those guys gave out there tonight.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
Soooo, watched the game on my phone using Rutgers stat line and a diehard alum/friend in GA play-by-play texting, until I heard people scream in the Tiki Hut, Ft Myers Beach, FL, bar I was in when Rutgers got that 3 to go to OT. Hadn't wanted to ask them to put on the BTN feed cuz I just knew it would jinx us. So now that others were actually watching at the other end of the bar, we moved and watched all three OTs. Strangers from Bellevue, Freeport, Springfield, and Rockford, high fiving and I-L-L-ing in a bar in FL through 3, yes 3, OT's against a horrible team...needless to say, I am incredibly proud of our Illini kids' resilience and tenacity (especially after that #?!* 3 to tie). Credit Coach Groce and Kudos to what's left of our team for NOT giving up! P.S. Shots followed...:illinois
I have never seen something like that get called at the end of regulation. I couldn't believe that foul call. Sanders just had to put his head down and dribble into our defense and he'd get a call every time.