Winthrop 84, Illinois 80 OT POSTGAME
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
Hard not to be upset. Maybe a rain delay before OT would have helped.
I'll simply remind you that John Groce is not at the free throw line throwing up bricks in extra time. John Groce is not the one mishandling post feeds. John Groce is not the one failing to lock down loose balls. John Groce is not the one forgetting to play defense against Mr. Undersized Peg Leg.
A loss I've come to expect in the Groce era. Undisciplined basketball offensively and defensively that I could expect from a young team, but not a team with as many seniors as Illinois. Much like our other games this year (and years past), we get on the verge of blowing a team out and then fall back to bad habits and let teams back into the game. The difference in this game is that Winthrop is actually a solid team.
I hate to call out specific players, but our big men are terrible defensively. Can't play their own man and definitely can't play help D.
I hate to call out specific players, but our big men are terrible defensively. Can't play their own man and definitely can't play help D.
Illinithad
- Northeast Missouri
Fire Groce...lose at least a part of next year's recruiting class...probably the biggest part at least. Start over with making recruiting connections. Set the program back a few more years.
No, I'm not happy we lost at home to Winthrop, but I was worried about this game. I guess everyone assumed we were going to win this thing by 20 since they're Winthrop?
I just get frustrated when everyone loses their mind every time we lose a game. We are going to lose more this season. It's going to happen. But we'll win more than we lose.
There just isn't any evidence of that. This season is his probably final chance to prove something. And here we are.
Couldn't agree more. Nothing against the guy.. but Lucas should be out there. Very frustrating to watch Tate be sloppy with the ball secaral times and can't hit anything outside of a layup or a free throw.
Please... put in Lucas... and tell me again why DJ Williams can't get any minutes?? Also groce over subs...
This team should've won by 15-20 pts. Unnaccetable.
*sigh* Looks like another long winter. I love college hoops, but it hasn't been truly enjoyable in sooooo long. 
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
You and your reasonableness and cool demeanor backed up by a solid factual reference- how did you get into this fanatical hate-filled pity party?!?!
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Well has many people have said it is going to be a week full of test for this team. We are going to learn a lot from this team this week. First thing is there is no excuse for losing this game. I dont know what Groce has to do but he needs to nail it in the guys heads that you must bring toughness and energy every single minute of the game. You cant relax and let up. It will cost you a 10 point lead and make the game go into overtime. Second Groce and this team has to work and get better in defense. You have to play defense with your feet and slide them. Dont play defense with hands. To many times we get beat playing with our hands and they blow by us. Also get a better team defense we get beat to many times with pick and roll with our bigs. Have to get defense for it will lead to a better offense. Third we have to get more production from the bigs. Yes the officials made it hard and it seems like bigs cant play like bigs when you have a smaller team but you have to let them play. They dont deserve fouls for being big. This team can still be a good team and go far but you have to make sure that we work on defense, ball control, and free throws.
Deleted member 554798
D
Guest
I used to defend Groce but watching the Illini self destruct at the end of games for the past half decade tells me we have a major culture problem. I'd be interested to see how many loses we have up with five minutes to play. It has to be staggering!
Might want to check Finke's stat line. I think he hit 50% of his shots and went for 18 and 5, something like that. Better than pretty much everyone else on the team. And Coleman-Lands has to be get more than 6 shots.
Wisconsin has good coaching. We don't.
Have you seen anything from Groce in the last 5 years to indicate he could turn this around?
I havn't. Fire Groce. Tonight.
Deleted member 533939
D
Guest
Why does Groce love Tate so much? Over JCL? Seriously?
I don't want to hear the word experienced the rest of the season
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Yeah, one team is a tournament team and it's not the Illini
We've been losing since 2005 dude. Don't know when you became an Illinois fan.
Easy there with that rational and logical thinking! "It's been happening now for 4 years, yada, yada, yada." They went unconscious, made some absolutely ridiculous Harlem Globe Trotter esq. shots down the stretch and because of that, "we got out played."
I have zero confidence in Groce to turn things around at this point. We have seen the same thing over and over again for years.
He was absolutey awful in the final minutes and OT. Just awful. Offense wasnt even moving because he just puts his head down and dribbles in a line and cant run an offensive play. Seriously so bad tonight.
Lets all relax on fire Groce though. It was a terrible loss and im just as mad but lets calm down. Its 1 early loss. 3 wins against WVU, NC State, and VCU and we will be looking just fine.
Yes i know that but if he proves he can turn this program around thats great. I trust him. I mean come on he brought in the #1 recruiting class in the big ten for 2017 and 9th in the nation. That has to say something right there.
I've seen more of his body of work than your 29 posts... so i'll stick with Groce for tonight at least
I don't like this excuse. Maybe it does affect recruiting, but we've also seen how good recruiters can immediately build momentum. It's probably net beneficial to have a new coach who isn't on the hot seat, as long as that coach is a good hire.
Notice though, that I'm not on the "FIRE GROCE THAT BUM" bandwagon (yet)
Lol you wanted TJL in this game. Seriously if he was in for Tate this game doesn't go to even overtime. Illinois is blown out of their gym
Well said.
Still, you had to combine a very disorganized team down the stretch with his out of this world play to drop this one.