Illinois 110, Rutgers 101 (3OT) POSTGAME

#101      
BTW, I think the team ought to be commended not only for the effort, under the circumstances, but for only 11 turnovers in 55 minutes. Lewis only had 1 with 8 assists. I know Hill had 4 in 49 minutes, including a few late that lead to layups, but I am willing to give our best player a break.

Also, I am sure Khalid would like the last play in the 1st OT over -- for some reason, he headed down the floor after the missed shot rather than boxing out or defending. All's well that ends well but that was "not good."

Go Illini! I will take a road win over a terrible team compared to any loss.

Have to assume that Lewis has firmly established himself as the PG after this game. He at least gives us a threat off the drive and he showed a tremendous amount of poise during the end of regulation and overtimes. His outside shot isn't the strongest, but it's still better than Tate's.
 
#102      
So this is something I never thought I'd say, but I want to see more of the offense run through Mav. I'm more impressed with him the more I watch him this year - baby hooks, some drop steps, and that midrange jumper is money. But at least get the post involved in the game so that the defense cheats and it gets open looks for our shooters/cutters.

Props to Mav on being dedicated in the weight room and with his diet. He's really evolved from this guy...

MAVERICK-MORGAN_6_28_150.JPG

Put Mav's offensive ability with Egwu's defense and we have a Frank Kaminsky on our team. Just wishful thinking.
 
#104      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
With all the adversity this season, it is a testimony to both the players and the coach that they have not quit, and keep fighting.

Of course, I recorded the game, and with the 20-minute extension Direct TV provides, the recording stopped after the second overtime. Another way Direct TV gives one the "hot poker." :):):)

This +1000000. I'll take this kind of team (even if we're not very good) over a much better team that quits when faced with some challenges.
 
#105      

Psycho 86

King Monkey Nut
Mooresville,Indiana
3 OTs of anxiety !! Loved it !! Had fun watching this game and our team gutting it out !! This team has heart !! GO ILLINI !!
 
#106      
Was just looking at the box score on Ken Pom and we had 5 guys play 43 minutes or more last night. MH - 49, KL - 46, JCL - 45, KN - 45, and MM - 43.

But Rutgers basically answered that, with Sanders at 51 :eek:Laurent at 50 (thought those cramps had him out longer), Lewis 45, Williams 40 and Grier 38.

Lots of tired people.
 
#107      
With all the adversity this season, it is a testimony to both the players and the coach that they have not quit, and keep fighting.

Of course, I recorded the game, and with the 20-minute extension Direct TV provides, the recording stopped after the second overtime. Another way Direct TV gives one the "hot poker." :):):)

I have Directv and it allows for a 30, 60 or 90 minutes extension on live events. I always add 90 minutes just in case.
 
#108      

sacraig

The desert
Put Mav's offensive ability with Egwu's defense and we have a Frank Kaminsky on our team. Just wishful thinking.

That may be just a little hyperbolic, but his offense sure has come a long way. He is still really weak on rebounding, though. I don't know how many times I've seen him go up for the ball and either due to poor positioning or just lack of aggression, get the ball ripped away from him.

His D has been improving, too.
 
#109      
IF there was one thing emphasized last night it was that we need a healthy Sanders like player. Badly. A very good, healthy, #5 to go along would do too.
 
#110      
IF there was one thing emphasized last night it was that we need a healthy Sanders like player. Badly. A very good, healthy, #5 to go along would do too.

Speaking of Sanders, how did Eddie Jordan and Rutgers get a top 75 player out of Lakeland, FLA to come to NewJersey?? Hmm
 
#111      
Prior to European trip the available big men:

Paul
Thorne
Finke
Black
Morgan

Available big men for last night's Rutger's game:

Morgan
 
#114      

PartyChicken

Charlotte, NC
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

*slow clap* Awesome, man.

I'm now living in Charlotte. My wife and I were out to dinner with another couple (the husband is from Illinois as well) and we had to check the score on my phone under the table every so often.

My Dad (a Rutgers alum) was texting me during the game too. He thought it was over in the 1st OT when Illinois was up 7, and was pissed he missed the Sanders 3.

The other guy from dinner and I were considering going to the bar to see if they had the game, but we wanted to avoid the jinx as well. Maybe we should have done it, we could have made some new Illini friends.

As exciting as it was to watch the play-by-play, from the highlights it looks like it was better on TV. Really happy Mav didn't foul out. Really happy that Nunn was effective while hurt. Really happy with every "Malcom Hill made Free Throw." Really happy to have braggin rights over pops.
 
#119      
Have to assume that Lewis has firmly established himself as the PG after this game. He at least gives us a threat off the drive and he showed a tremendous amount of poise during the end of regulation and overtimes. His outside shot isn't the strongest, but it's still better than Tate's.

In addition to some mediocre defense, and super clangs from the FT line and from 4 feet that would have looked a whole lot worse had we lost. I am probably missing something but honestly I thought his best plays down the stretch were passing up that wide open 3, and hitting one for two from the stripe. A whole lot of Meh otherwise.
 
#120      
Speaking of Sanders, how did Eddie Jordan and Rutgers get a top 75 player out of Lakeland, FLA to come to NewJersey?? Hmm

I'm glad Kwe Parker decommitted, and we don't have to deal with those two as a backcourt for the next three seasons after this one.
 
#123      
Despite my negativity above, I really was impressed with how they came out in the overtimes. They could have folded up at any of those points, on the road, and it was clear they really really wanted to win this one. Great fight by the team.
 
#124      

IlliniRunIn07

Tampa, FL
I guess I do wish we won more convincingly, but in an otherwise dull season, it was nice to be entertained for almost 3 hours last night with some competitive basketball. Some of the positives were:

We won (duh)
Young guys got a ton of playing time (JCL mainly, would've liked to have seen Jordan/Williams more)
No one got hurt! :cool:


It's also nice that this rag-tag group of misfits can get 55 minutes of playing time together. This year is obviously a wash, but the experience these guys got together last night (and all throughout the year) will hopefully be invaluable heading into next season.

Was the buzzer beating three from Sanders on the SC Top 10?