Maryland 62, Illinois 56 POSTGAME

[Serious Late]

TJL can shoot he ball but hes on a team full of chuckers trying to keep everyone happy right now . Id like to see Groce encourage him to push the ball more and try and get create some easier baskets because this team right now doesnt even really know how to play with a PG.

Then why did he pass off the open shot so frequently in this game?

 

[PEORIAFLA]

Didn't watch some of the second half because I saw this coming.
If you can't get up for a team that just blowed you out by dam near thirty then I have to question the mind set of these players. We never seem to make halftime adjustments and I didn't feel like hearing JG use the word "resiliency" a thousand times in his press conference.

Everything in life changes except for Illini basketball under this regime.

 

[JudsonFTS]

if its all catch and shoot then why are there very few assists ?


I didnt say we were an iso offense I said they were jump shooters who think they are iso scorers.


The only two players on the team so far that have seemed to come close to taking advantage of the shots the offense actually creates are MM and LB.

And JCL to a large extent. But this is JFG's offense. He has been lacking a PG who can break things down and get easy shots for people. TeJon is moving us that direction, but he ran into a pretty good defensive team last night.

So then Malcolm becomes our bail out ISO scorer.

 

[Kathy]

And JCL to a large extent. But this is JFG's offense. He has been lacking a PG who can break things down and get easy shots for people. TeJon is moving us that direction, but he ran into a pretty good defensive team last night.

So then Malcolm becomes our bail out ISO scorer.

ISO ?

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

ISO ?

Probably "isolation".

https://www.acronymfinder.com/ISO.html

 

[KRSAS]

I do believe MH was fouled both times he got the defender in the air where there were non calls. That is something that is taught at all levels. Every defender is taught from day 1 not to leave their feet in that situation.

HOWEVER, after the first one was not called, Malcolm has to adjust and realize they didn't call it the first time and weren't going to call it down the stretch.

I really feel that the first non call was the turning point in the game. I think if we would've got that call, we probably would've won. I do think the officiating was a little suspect in the 2nd half.

 

[KRSAS]

This game pains me deeply as a fan.

At Home up by 5 at half-everything working we had this game. Then the wheels came off with no explanation as to why.

I see unbridled talent on this team which is why this loss stings.

We do this a lot though. I'm not exactly sure what goes on in the halftime speech but we clearly do not make any adjustments when we are losing. When are winning, I wonder if they are just content instead of keeping their foot on the gas. Last season, we did this A LOT; Where we would play great for the first half but then lose miserably in the 2nd half.

 

[brokensaphire]

When we went to a zone I turned to my girl and said, "Maryland is going to hit a three." They did exactly that. Then I said, " Groce is going to stay in this zone and we're going to lose." The second I saw that zone Maryland saw opportunity because it is slow, weak and porous. That is on Groce.

 

[Deleted member 3875]

Zero killer instinct in these guys.

 

[RickBB]

I forgot to DVR the game as I was driving back from Cincy yesterday afternoon and didn't find the game on the radio until the second half when I just got west in Indy. The first thing I heard was the score, which was an Illini 5 point lead. The illini didn't score again until they were down 10.

So, my bad.

 

[Illini1221]

I really feel that the first non call was the turning point in the game. I think if we would've got that call, we probably would've won. I do think the officiating was a little suspect in the 2nd half.

The no call on Mav when he actually went up strong to the basket was a huge miss too. I believe that was right before they made their run.

 

[IlliniOllie]

But 9-9 doesn't do anything for us. Is it possible for us to go 9-9 and somehow get a tourney bid or some form of clarity around Groce? Not from my vantage point. 9-9 has inconsistency and uncertainty written all over it, along with another missed NCAA Tourney bid. I am pulling for 11-7 solely because that is the only positive scenario that clearly exhibits Groce can take a team with talent and get above average results in conference play.

At the end of the day, I seriously wonder how 9-9 benefits the Illinois basketball program more than 7-11 would. I don't want EITHER result, but doesn't 7-11 provide more long term hope or just clarity than 9-9? 9-9 is a H-E-L-L I would personally like to see us avoid.

I agree, 9-9 does nothing. It's absolutely basketball hell - if you want to define it, it's squeaking in to the Tourney at 9-9 or 10-8, Groce being retained, and sliding further into the abyss of irrelevance. At least 7-11 would (hopefully) make the decision obvious.

I think the talk of making it to 9-9 is a result of the ongoing bar-lowering - conscious or unconscious - of 11 years of mediocre to bad basketball. Illini fans used to talk about winning 13-15 games and competing for a Big Ten title. Now we talk about maybe eking out 9, because that's the best that anyone expects anymore. 11-7 or better would be an outright miracle.

 

[Ken]

Then why did he pass off the open shot so frequently in this game?

because hes a freshman on a team full of guys with a ton of bad habits and hes deferring.

I have been saying since early December instead of Groce turning the team over to the freshman to run from day one and using the non-conference schedule to at least try and break a few of those bad habits and set the tone for the conference season and next year, the coach doubles down on the upperclassmen the same upperclassmen that we have seen the last few years lose games in the same way we lost yesterday.

Groce taking out the best ball handler and fastest player on the team with the ball TJL with 8 seconds left in the first half pretty much confirms just how set in its ways the team and coach is despite years of this stuff not working in these situations .

There was one play yesterday where TJL broke down the defense and drove all the way under the basket and jumped in the air trying to make a pass to JCL in the corner and the pass was stolen . However when I played it play back what stood out to me wasnt the turnover by TJL it was the lack of simple situational recognition by JCL. His man had completely turned his head and sagged to help on TJL and if JCL cuts to the basket he gets a layup instead the only pass he leaves TJL to make was to the corner where the defender had the angle covered .

I recall Roger Powell and Luther Head feasting on layups off those very same situations because they simply moved with the ballhandler recognizing and taking advantage of creases in the defense.

For us to have such an experienced team we really dont play like it

 

[idoc13]

"I recall Roger Powell and Luther Head feasting on layups off those very same situations because they simply moved with the ballhandler recognizing and taking advantage of creases in the defense."

I can't remember a time over the past several years when we have snacked on lay ups let alone feasted on them. Ball movement under Groce has been abysmal and that leads to a lot of hero ball and contested jumpers.

 

[peace davids]

Similar timeline for me. Getting clowned by Alabama in the NIT did more than any loss since the NC Game, it got me started down the path of just not caring anymore.

Yep. I was tha fan that would go to every game that I could. Living in Atlanta, I toiled over the possibility of driving to that game in Tuscaloosa. Leading up to the game, I was mad that I didn't go.

Wow how my dedication has changed since that game. Not only was I glad I didn't waste the time that day, I haven't considered wasting any time since.

Also, I was in CU so I went to the Winthrop game this year. I just can't invest in this product right now.

 

[WARDFORTHREE]

Our offense is so stagnant off the ball. And when lucas doesn't have the ball up top it sticks like crazy. Just a horrible offense. I've never seen a team take 5-10 seconds to figure out what play they are running once it's been called from the sideline. Insane. Like they don't know the plays well enough.

 

[FiveStar]

How about he play TJL,Nichols,DJW,Black,and Morgan and send a message either gets your heads together or be ready to come and sit next to me ,Tate ,and Mike

Remember when we had to sit Malcolm an extended period of time in Bloomington?

 

[ChrisNMattoon]

Yes, it was shooting. But when I watch other B1G teams, they seem to run much better sets to get their shooters shots. With Illinois, it looks more like 5 guys playing YMCA and throwing a few high ball screens in there. I just honestly think Groce has a "system" that is easy to scout and easy to stop. It depends on those 5 *'s he can't get. Yes, he has one coming, but he has a guard oriented system and without a dominant guard to bail him out, it's easy to guard. Add that to the fact that they couldn't keep a 1A HS team out of the lane, and well....I feel coaching is a major part of this.

 

[ChrisNMattoon]

And JCL to a large extent. But this is JFG's offense. He has been lacking a PG who can break things down and get easy shots for people. TeJon is moving us that direction, but he ran into a pretty good defensive team last night.

So then Malcolm becomes our bail out ISO scorer.

I agree. I get so frustrated and sometimes just flat out angry with Hill and his one on one, pump fake, jump into the guy shots. If Hill doesn't bail out Groce with circus shots, this awful offense becomes more apparent.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Our offense is so stagnant off the ball. And when lucas doesn't have the ball up top it sticks like crazy. Just a horrible offense. I've never seen a team take 5-10 seconds to figure out what play they are running once it's been called from the sideline. Insane. Like they don't know the plays well enough.

Couldn't agree more about the play-calling communication. Opposing teams point guards will signal a play, everyone automatically and immediately gets to their spots and you'll see ball movement. I'm not sure what the communication error is but it takes us too long to get anything running. Lots of scrambled body language with our guys having to tell others where to be on the floor. Before you know it it's deep in the shot clock & the defense is set.

 

[Tevo]

I thought they were sagging off TJL and daring him to shoot.He's going to have to start taking them.

Absolutely. Teams have to know you'll shoot if left open. That reduces their ability to double your guys or get in passing lanes, which makes your passing easier and more effective. Think pass first, but shoot when you're open.

 

[MrOizo]

While I agree that they would classify as providing good guard play in their tenure, neither of them were PGs, and I'm not entirely sure I agree with describing them as 'fantastic'.

I love both of those guys, but they both never received higher honors than All Big Ten third team in a given season. That's not to say they wouldn't make this team significantly better, but I'm not entirely sure I agree with 'fantastic' as opposed to just being a formidable Big Ten backcourt (which ours currently is not). Arguably, McCamey would classify as fantastic moreso than those two would, given he was a All-Big 10 first teamer his junior year. But I agree, we have certainly had a few good guards since Self, although they were all developed by Weber.

Very well said. DJ and Paul are strong guards, who if paired with a strong point guard would form a really strong back court. Not since McCamey have we had that missing piece at PG. Without that PG, you're not a fantastic back court.

 

[Ken]

Remember when we had to sit Malcolm an extended period of time in Bloomington?

Remember during the non conference schedule when malcolm shot

14% against Mckendree
23% against Winthrop
25% against West Virgina
26% against Western Michicagn
25% against BYU


We are supposed to be a deep team with tons of experience but can you seriously say with a straight face that we have a "next man up" philosophy on this team to take advantage or our depth where everyone is held accountable ?

 

[MrOizo]

Similar timeline for me. Getting clowned by Alabama in the NIT did more than any loss since the NC Game, it got me started down the path of just not caring anymore.

I agree, that was a largely ignored complete implosion of a team that really scarred me with Groce. I haven't seen him the same way since.

Does anyone remember what was said about that implosion?

 

[RichBradIllini]

I do believe MH was fouled both times he got the defender in the air where there were non calls. That is something that is taught at all levels. Every defender is taught from day 1 not to leave their feet in that situation.

HOWEVER, after the first one was not called, Malcolm has to adjust and realize they didn't call it the first time and weren't going to call it down the stretch.

Not sure but this seems to be an offensive technique fairly unique to Malcolm. My guess after watching the game last night, B1G officials have looked at this and decided to make this a non-call. Malcolm seems to be the initiator in making contact in most of these situations.