Thank god they changed the preseason NIT format. Used to be that if you lost your initial game (like we did tonight) you didn't get to go to New York.
Winthrop 84, Illinois 80 OT POSTGAME
illinoisfan11
- Peoria, IL
Save your breath. There's no sense arguing with irrational people.
schnaurt
- Phoenix, AZ
We have many years of data and none of it suggests that we will turn it around. The rest of the non-con schedule will be tough and the first stretch of BIG games is brutal. Hopefully this game is the miracle that turns the light on for the first time in 4 years but History shows that it is unlikely.
I do think it's time to part with Groce. We used to be a top 25 team but how many more years of this mediocrity do we want to take? When Shaka Smart dissed Illinois to stay at VCU, I knew we were done for. Then he went to Texas, it's like everyone wants Illinois to fail.
Tate's man got numerous layups throughout the day and even more after he was shown cramping and incapable of shooting. Defense is about position and JT got small too many times down the stretch giving the 5'7" guy an alley to the lane. It's been noted in previous post-game talks that this team is kinda eh on defense and that's been my biggest concern. To be as old as they are, they just don't understand defensive leverage and spacing.
Also, very few know how to get it done in crunch time. Most of these guys look legit scared on the offensive side starting with Aaron Jordan. Jaylon Tate mad some mistakes tonight by being a little too confident from those previous cupcakes. Overall I've never bee "fire the coach" in November, but if that were to happen, you whatever it takes to have a solution beforehand i.e. A coach that will preserve your recruiting class no matter what.
Also, very few know how to get it done in crunch time. Most of these guys look legit scared on the offensive side starting with Aaron Jordan. Jaylon Tate mad some mistakes tonight by being a little too confident from those previous cupcakes. Overall I've never bee "fire the coach" in November, but if that were to happen, you whatever it takes to have a solution beforehand i.e. A coach that will preserve your recruiting class no matter what.
Winning more than you lose should not be an acceptable standard at Illinois. Everyone's not freaking out because of one loss. They are angry about the MANY losses to teams like Winthrop in the Groce era. Losses like these are what have kept us from the tournament repeatedly. Groce has to be fully accountable for the team at this point, and this is not good enough. He has to go.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
I'm getting far too used to this feeling. It seems like if there's a way to lose a game, we'll find it. I'm a big believer that you generally can't get bash a coach for a one-off game. However, I've never been convinced by Groce as an X and Os coach, and tonight's game doesn't help him.
I'm not going to try to claim that we'd be in a better place under Weber. Personally I think we'd be about as good, but with less talent. But at least under Weber you always knew we'd be stingy on defense. Under Groce it just doesn't seem like we have any identity whatsoever.
Are a good defensive team? Not really.
Tough and scrappy? Nope.
Are we an up-tempo team? Maybe sometimes.
Are we a shooting team? Slashing team? I have no idea.
In my opinion, when a team doesn't have an identity, there's no cohesion. There's nothing to fall back on when games get difficult. When we're in a tight game, it just seems like chaos. Whenever we're in a tight game, it seems like I'm hoping the other team screws up more than I'm hoping we make a play.
I really, really want Groce to figure it out. And the good news is that it's a long season, but this one stings and feels like one that will come back to bite us. That being said, a win against WVU and all is forgiven. I'm not giving up on this season, but I'm certainly not going to defend Groce against the onslaught of criticism that he's already getting.
I'm not going to try to claim that we'd be in a better place under Weber. Personally I think we'd be about as good, but with less talent. But at least under Weber you always knew we'd be stingy on defense. Under Groce it just doesn't seem like we have any identity whatsoever.
Are a good defensive team? Not really.
Tough and scrappy? Nope.
Are we an up-tempo team? Maybe sometimes.
Are we a shooting team? Slashing team? I have no idea.
In my opinion, when a team doesn't have an identity, there's no cohesion. There's nothing to fall back on when games get difficult. When we're in a tight game, it just seems like chaos. Whenever we're in a tight game, it seems like I'm hoping the other team screws up more than I'm hoping we make a play.
I really, really want Groce to figure it out. And the good news is that it's a long season, but this one stings and feels like one that will come back to bite us. That being said, a win against WVU and all is forgiven. I'm not giving up on this season, but I'm certainly not going to defend Groce against the onslaught of criticism that he's already getting.
Agreee. If not for Tate's 3 we wouldn't of even made it into OT. Our bigs are truly disappointing. And Hill was just terrible the second half.
Well nothing to do now but for our players and coaching staff to get our selves back together for the next game.
Fans,
Illinois overall played a good game but they lost control of it late, both coaches and players made bad moves. It is unfortunate because I saw some very bright spots from Abrams and Leron. Most of us played BB and there are games where you just don't have the touch, this was that game for Finke. He missed 3 bunnies that he usually is golden on.
Like I mentioned before for this team to be good we need to have JCL as our SG and Abrams as our PG. No slight on Tate he has improved this year and is a reliable free throw shooter but he is limited offensively and defensively.
Also like I mentioned we have some poor free throw shooters. Late in the game with the lead you really need Finke and Mav in and Black and Thorne out. This didn't happen and you saw them both miss 4 critical FTs.
This loss sux, I'm a alumnus of Illinois and I hate for them to lose to a school that they were better than at every position except 1. But I do see a versatile team with many good pieces. I'm hoping this is like the Providence loss during Weber's tenure when it turned the tide. The team got away from what it did for 95% of the game and it cost them. So be pissed but please put the pitchforks away, we have a talented team. They just need to grow a bit.
Illinois overall played a good game but they lost control of it late, both coaches and players made bad moves. It is unfortunate because I saw some very bright spots from Abrams and Leron. Most of us played BB and there are games where you just don't have the touch, this was that game for Finke. He missed 3 bunnies that he usually is golden on.
Like I mentioned before for this team to be good we need to have JCL as our SG and Abrams as our PG. No slight on Tate he has improved this year and is a reliable free throw shooter but he is limited offensively and defensively.
Also like I mentioned we have some poor free throw shooters. Late in the game with the lead you really need Finke and Mav in and Black and Thorne out. This didn't happen and you saw them both miss 4 critical FTs.
This loss sux, I'm a alumnus of Illinois and I hate for them to lose to a school that they were better than at every position except 1. But I do see a versatile team with many good pieces. I'm hoping this is like the Providence loss during Weber's tenure when it turned the tide. The team got away from what it did for 95% of the game and it cost them. So be pissed but please put the pitchforks away, we have a talented team. They just need to grow a bit.
We had 22 turnovers and gave up 38 to one guy but somehow if TJL would've played it would've been worse ?
Glad to see you didn't watch the game just come on here and talk about something you obviously know nothing about
We should have won. But you are right, Winthrop is a a good team.
Not a veteran team... How long had THIS veteran team actually played together...as a TEAM?
Which would also have us missing the tournament for a 4th year in a row
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
I'm not sure Superman could have stopped some of those shots he was throwing up. Guy shot 70% while making 5-6 circus shots
Someone who gives this team an identity. We have been mediocre or bad in every facet of the game for 5 years. finally got my hope up this year and it is still the same ole - no real offense, no passion for d, not very smart.
no we haven't. we were undefeated in the sfc in november under groce until this game.
Deleted member 10005
D
Guest
what do you learn from that game? Only that we couldn't stop one guard who couldn't miss and that we had massive offensive droughts against a team who didn't seem to play much in the way of defense... so very ugly
I agree ... JG is not that person... BUT he is the head coach who is supposed to be 'teaching and coaching' the players good enough that they DON'T throw up bricks, mishandle feeds, and all the other stuff you typed.... If he can't coach them well enough to NOT do those things, then they will continue to do them.... If he can't coach them, and teach them to do the right things, how good of a coach can he be ?
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Illinois led some 37 minutes, while Winthrop led four some minutes and won.
This loss hurts, not the end of the world. Still plenty more time to get key wins.
This loss hurts, not the end of the world. Still plenty more time to get key wins.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Yes. We clearly looked like the better team throughout the game. This isn't a failure of having the superior talent on the cort.
In November. Which means 100% cupcakes and doesn't include last year. Meaningless stat.
Exactly my point.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Malcolm should've had a better game. 0-10 outside of three point FG's is not good, along with 7 turnovers.