Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Saturday, January 21st, 1:15pm CT, BTN

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#27      
Ken
GameOfThrows said:
Unless Groce makes adjustments, we're not gonna win this game.

There is a reason the saying goes, "Great ones adjust."

If something isn't working. One must adjust so that it does work. Let's see if Groce is willing and capable of making proper adjustments to get this team playing better basketball on both ends of the court and on the road.

Benching Tracy (bringing him off the bench to rest Tejon only) and not playing Tate and Thorne at all would be a proper adjustment in my eyes. I have nothing against any of those guys. I'm heart broken for Tracy. He has worked so hard to get himself ready to play, but his body just doesn't have it right now. Limiting his minutes and taking pressure off him will really improve his play once his ego accepts the role change.

And then let's see who between Kipper, AJ, DJW and Alex Austin which two or three of those four wants to get after it on defense and on the glass and help his team score on offense. Groce should give all four of those guys minutes in the next few games and let them SHOW IN A GAME who wants it more.
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I feel as though Groce may have already squandered his opportunity at any season changing adjustment . If he had played the young guys during the non conference schedule he wouldve been able to to fall back on the upperclassmen to right the ship but he bet it all from day one on the upperclassmen and they just arent enough...and now what can you turn to ?
 
#29      
gibb52
ILL in IA said:
He pretty much called them a bunch of cake eaters.
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Any player from this IL team trying to insinuate that another team is soft is laughable.

We are so soft the My Pillow guy is moving his operation to SFC.

We've been slapped around a lot the last couple of years and I've yet to see anybody get mad enough to stop it.
 
#30      
illiniknight
zpfled said:
Oh I understand why sports teams use that terminology as a analogy for toughness, but it's pretty dumb IMO to equate toughness with blue collar and being soft with white collar.
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I agree with you 100%. It is dumb analogy, but unfortunately one that is still used.
 
#31      
GameOfThrows
Ken said:
I feel as though Groce may have already squandered his opportunity at any season changing adjustment . If he had played the young guys during the non conference schedule he wouldve been able to to fall back on the upperclassmen to right the ship but he bet it all from day one on the upperclassmen and they just arent enough...and now what can you turn to ?
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You turn to the young guys and hope that the increase in playing time allows them to improve quickly enough to win some games and show hope for the future. Groce doesn't have a choice. His job is on the line, and by tying his career to guys that are definitely not getting the job done would be foolish.

There are upperclassmen getting the job done, Maverick and Malcolm are competing and producing night in and night out, and they've earned playing time.
 
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#32      
Goldtop
GameOfThrows said:
There are upperclassmen getting the job done, Maverick and Malcolm are competing and producing night in and night out, and they've earned playing time.
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I am sure the night Groce new he would have to kick Nunn off the team was not a good night. Going into a must win year for Groce, and Nunn's actions made it much more difficult for this team. We could sure use his defense. And have we had anyone steal the ball and take it down for a dunk this year? We have very few fast break opportunities with him gone.
 
#33      
LurkLongandProsper
Goldtop said:
I am sure the night Groce new he would have to kick Nunn off the team was not a good night. Going into a must win year for Groce, and Nunn's actions made it much more difficult for this team. We could sure use his defense. And have we had anyone steal the ball and take it down for a dunk this year? We have very few fast break opportunities with him gone.
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Nunn stopped playing defense after his freshman year
 
#34      
JFkingbuckets
Well...the Maryland loss at home hurt more than I originally hoped (small hope). Even if we played Purdue well I don't think we're winning that away. So we have to go at least 2-1 in the next 3 games maybe even 3-0 (away in two of those vs. Mich and Penn St.) cause then we face Wis. Minn and @NW. We could easily go 0-3 in that stretch...thoughts?
 
#35      
Cheez
Why does anyone have any confidence in Illinois winning a true road game in conference at this point?

Under Groce, Illinois is 11-28 in conference road games. The last road win: at Rutgers last year, in 3OT. The last regulation road win: 2 years ago at Michigan State (of all places).

Illinois keeps this closer because Michigan is not good defensively. But Illinois it will be mostly the same script that we've seen in the previous road games this season.

Michigan 84
Illinois 72
 
#36      
Old Number 51
gibb52 said:
Any player from this IL team trying to insinuate that another team is soft is laughable.

We are so soft the My Pillow guy is moving his operation to SFC.

We've been slapped around a lot the last couple of years and I've yet to see anybody get mad enough to stop it.
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THIS

Wolverines 89 Stay Puft Marshmallow Illini 72

Sad to see what has become of our once proud program :frustrated:
 
#37      
BWBW
I'd argue that our Marshmallow Illini don't "stay puft," but I guess that is a quibble.
 
#38      
geneseo
Illinois shot 60+% from three and from the field overall against Mich. I think they started 8 of 9 from three. The Illini also controlled the boards having 8? more than Mich. If they do that again, they win. Iirc, the Illini are a little over 30% from three for the season.
 
#40      
IlliniInTexas
zpfled said:
Oh I understand why sports teams use that terminology as a analogy for toughness, but it's pretty dumb IMO to equate toughness with blue collar and being soft with white collar.
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This is especially true give how much athletes are pampered these days. Specially designed meal plans, dedicated trainers and tutors, multi-million dollar training facilities, private jets. I would say their lives are all pretty dang "white-collar" all the way. Pretty dumb of MM to refer to Michigan that way, especially since we the harder game of the 2 (on the road), still to play.
 
#41      
WesterveltVictoryCigar
geneseo said:
Illinois shot 60+% from three and from the field overall against Mich. I think they started 8 of 9 from three. The Illini also controlled the boards having 8? more than Mich. If they do that again, they win. Iirc, the Illini are a little over 30% from three for the season.
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37% for the season. In conference games, only 31.5%.
 
#42      
SescIllini
In Brian Cook's last year, UNC referred to him as soft. He had a big game in a blow out win at Assembly. UNC had 4-5 future NBA players on that squad. Now we have average freshmen having big games against our seniors.
 
#43      
SescIllini
89illinigrad said:
The key is getting Abrams out of his 3-PT shooting slump and/or getting JCL to be a bit more consistent. Its hard to win games with our defense if we're not shooting well. Going 3 for 17 from 3 will not cut it.
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I have found that replacing the squeaky wheel is better than constant oiling.


At this point I'm looking for TJL and Kipper to provide minutes at those two positions.
 
#49      
GameOfThrows
LurkLongandProsper said:
Nunn stopped playing defense after his freshman year
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I agree. How is that?

1) Did Nunn stop caring to play D?

2) Did Groce allow him to get away without playing good D?

3) Is the defensive system, "pack the line" not good?

4) Or did Nunn's injuries sap his quickness and ability to stay in between his man and the basket?

I've noticed a trend that very few of our guys are able to stay in between their man and the basket. Is it coaching? lack of athleticism? lack of desire? horrible system? lack of accountability? lack of knowledge? Poor fundamentals?

Anyone know?
 
#50      
OrangeKrus28
You guys think there will be any lineup changes? I think Groce stays with the status quo but I wouldn't be surprised to see Te'Jon play more mins. than Tracy if Tracy starts off playing poorly. I think he is becoming more comfortable with playing Te'Jon more often than even 2 weeks ago.

I would also hope that he gives Kipper more run for his defense and rebounding. A statement and message needs to be sent that those who show effort on defense and on the glass should be rewarded with more PT. I don't mind seeing freshman make mistakes. I mind seeing our seniors not play a lick of defense.
 
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