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

Status
Not open for further replies.
#51      
FeelYourPaign
OrangeKrus28 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I would hope that his primary players are Te'Jon, JCL, Malcolm, Leron and Mav. Backups should be Tracy(both 1&2), Finke(4, some 5), Kipper(3&4) and a little bit of Big Mike.
If there is a chance to slip AJ or DJW onto the floor, I would take it, but I don't expect it.
I hope not to see Tate or Alex Austin. Sorry guys, its not personal. I just want to win.
 
#52      
kuhl84
Illinois at Michigan, Saturday, January 21st, 1:15pm CT, BTN

GameOfThrows said:
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?
Click to expand...



Curious minds want to know.

I have pondered the same questions for the last several years. I keep rationalizing it is injuries.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#53      
kuhl84
FeelYourPaign said:
Backups should be Tracy(both 1&2).
Click to expand...


I have been saying this all year, in different ways, but I don't want Tracy playing the 2. I would prefer AJ as the backup or MH slide to the 2 and kipper or DJW play the 3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#54      
LurkLongandProsper
GameOfThrows said:
I agree. How is that?

1) Did Nunn stop caring to play D?
Click to expand...

There was a visible drop in effort/commitment to excellence on that end as compared to his first year when he was using it to earn minutes.

kuhl84 said:
I have been saying this all year, in different ways, but I don't want Tracy playing the 2. I would prefer AJ as the backup or MH slide to the 2 and kipper or DJW play the 3.
Click to expand...

I definitely want to see AJ play more minutes (same for DJW) as these guys will matter significantly next season, and more importantly, they play hard defensively when they receive minutes.
 
#55      
zpfled
So, Michigan defense is remarkably bad, even at home (in conference play). But their effective FG% is really good.

Illinois' defense on the road has been horrendous this year (opponents have an eFG% of 54.2%), but we've held teams to a lower eFG% on the road than Michigan has been able to score at home in conference (56.1%). And their defense, at home, in conference, is worse than ours (UM opp. eFG% of 58.1% in conference play). Our offensive reb. % on the road is also way higher than Michigan's OReb% at home in conference (45.1% to 25.8%, respectively).

I'll be the first to admit I don't really know much about interpreting data, so I'm just speculating based on a few stats. But as much as we have sucked, Michigan is also pretty rough. A bunch of white collar, cake-eating, bad-defending, high-scoring schlubs. I feel like this is going to be a good game, and if Groce will mix up the lineups a bit to play guys who aren't gimpy, it seems like we actually have a good chance to come away with a road win here.
 
#56      
Ramrod2010
No reason we can't win this game and yet every reason we won't win this game...

I'm guessing Michigan gets hot from 3 but we keep it close because their defense is terribad.

Michigan - 79
Illinois - 71
 
#57      
IntenselyOrange
LurkLongandProsper said:
There was a visible drop in effort/commitment to excellence on that end as compared to his first year when he was using it to earn minutes.



I definitely want to see AJ play more minutes (same for DJW) as these guys will matter significantly next season, and more importantly, they play hard defensively when they receive minutes.
Click to expand...



I'm at the point where I think that first year was just the honeymoon of players having a new voice combined with strong fundamentals that were taught by the previous staff. It happens often that a guy gets early success followed by a dramatic drop because he can't teach. Think mike David at Indiana or Matt Doherty at UNC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#58      
IntenselyOrange
Forgot to add to my post, I think we will find a way to win this one. Mich won't play the type of D to make us uncomfortable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#59      
ECETownie
IntenselyOrange said:
I'm at the point where I think that first year was just the honeymoon of players having a new voice combined with strong fundamentals that were taught by the previous staff. It happens often that a guy gets early success followed by a dramatic drop because he can't teach. Think mike David at Indiana or Matt Doherty at UNC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Well Groce's first year wasn't Kendrick's first year, so he probably didn't have any fundamentals from Weber's staff. If you're referring to 2012/2013, I would agree, but that has nothing to do with the previous post.

We've seen that Groce tends to make decisions based on seniority instead of talent. Maybe players under Groce realize this and lose their motivation once they make the starting lineup as upperclassmen? I know he talks a lot about defense and practice intensity when justifying his rotations, but I doubt our seniors are at the top of the team in these areas.
 
#62      
Dan
Game Notes

BTN: Kevin Kugler and Bob Wenzel

http://www.fightingillini.com/news/2017/1/20/mens-basketball-illinois-game-notes-at-michigan.aspx
Click to expand...

Groce previews Michigan

Groce: Had a good workout today. Focus the last two days has been defending better more consistently.

Groce: Defensive mistakes against Purdue started with giving up threes early in transition. Lack of communication & had time.

Groce: In terms of Michigan, quick turnaround. Both teams are very familiar with personnel. Some tweaks on both sides.

Groce: Going to come down to execution. Players make plays.

Groce: Have to string defense together for 40 mins. Especially on the road. Has haunted us the last three times.

Groce on struggling individuals: Sometimes guys digest that too much. Get lost in the team. Don't listen to outside voices.

Groce: The physical tools are there. A lot of it is mental. Have to trust yourself and believe in your teammates.

Groce: We need to play well. That's the biggest thing for me. Sometimes, can't control outcomes. Need to play better.

Groce: It's about quality possessions and getting us to play better. Didn't feel good about it at either end the other night.

Groce: Malcolm's voice means a lot in our locker room. Glad he said what he said about pride on defense.

Groce: Pride and effort get you in the ballpark. It's 50 percent of the equation. Don't have that, you're in trouble. Execution too.

Groce: Not worried about feelings right now. Gotta go out and get the job done.

https://twitter.com/DPiperScout
Click to expand...

[youtube]JEc3Y2gWz64[/youtube]
 
Last edited:
#63      
JudsonFTS
OrangeKrus28 said:
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.
Click to expand...
i think he'll go with the hot hand at PG with first chance to Tracy as preferred senior.
 
#64      
Foggy Notion
Ransom Stoddard said:
Nothing, so long as it has bacon.
Click to expand...

Cake-Prolonging_The_Magic-Frontal.jpg
 
#65      
BlindLoyalty
The Illini are 2-1 on their home floor in league play, beating Ohio State and Michigan and dropping a close game to Maryland. They are 0-3 on the road, losing three games by a combined 64 points. Big Ten opponents have scored 1.28 points per possession in Illini road games, all of which have been blowouts..

Bottom Line

It’s too early for must-wins, but I’m not sure where Michigan goes from here if it can’t beat Illinois at home on Saturday. Defending homecourt — four of the next five are at home — is paramount to a successful season and this is a chance for the Wolverines to jumpstart their season or fall further behind. KenPom projects a 72-65 Wolverine win, giving Illinois a 28% shot at a road upset.

UM Hoops Perspective
Click to expand...
 
#66      
OrangeKrus28
You can tell by the teleconference call that John knows and is very aware of what the outside is saying about him and his status as coach. He made mention of not listening to outside voices(probably pertains to the media and fans). He understands he is in a tenuous position. Hopefully, the team takes the approach of rallying together but we will see over the coming weeks if Groce's voice is lost or if he still has their attention.
 
#67      
CAHALL15
GameOfThrows said:
Wisconsin, Iowa and Penn St. are "must wins"
Click to expand...

That's a problem as Groce has never beaten Wisconsin while at Illinois. We also have not won a single road game this year that was not played at a neutral site. Penn State beat Minnesota and Michigan State, lost to Duke by 10, and Indiana by 3. Iowa beat Purdue.
 
#68      
Jkat00
Take Michigan -7 and the free money.
 
#71      
Ramrod2010
For consistency with my above post I'd say take Michigan -7, but as always with two bad teams it's probably best to just stay away from this one.
 
#74      
Orange
***REVENANT SPOILER ALERT**** this game will be like the part in the revenant where he sleeps inside a dead horse only to wake up with it frozen shut and has to bust out - the question is who is the horse and who is waking up
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back