Those cement sneakers will do that to you.
Michigan 79, Illinois 69 POSTGAME
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Those cement sneakers will do that to you.
I don't think Smith should see the pine. He made a couple open 3's to start the game, which the illini need from him. He does lower that shoulder and push off when he doesn't get by his man on the drive sometimes. That come from frustration and he can't play like that.
Hate to say this but he does not look quick enough to play BU's defense. Offensively he just needs time but right now he is the third best freshman.
Smith is not a basketball player yet. He's a physically gifted athlete learning how to play basketball. He fouls so much because he uses his hands too much instead of his feet, and he falls a step or two behind because he's out of position.
Wasn't he the one assigned to Livers when he went off?
Not to keep harping on Finke, but he plays like a poor man’s Mike Tisdale. I think he’s a good kid and a great representative of UofI athletics, but growing that extra 3” might have been the worst thing to happen for his basketball career.
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Eboigbodin's increased minutes have revealed a small thing he does that I really like.
When he gets the ball next to the basket, he doesn't pump fake endlessly in an effort to draw a foul. He just goes straight up. We've missed somebody like that.
When he gets the ball next to the basket, he doesn't pump fake endlessly in an effort to draw a foul. He just goes straight up. We've missed somebody like that.
We've been listening to excuses for over a decade. Haven't gotten an NCAA tournament bid since 2013 and that streak will stay intact this year. We've had our hearts broken so many times we've come to expect it. This year is no exception. Illinois is supposed to be a basketball school and we're just a mid-major-like stepping stone program in a premier conference. Illinois has been disrespected by coaches, former players, prospective recruits, you name it. Even if Underwood gets this program back to some semblance of national prominence a blue blood basketball school will very likely lure him away, and if he doesn't he'll be fired. Either way we start all over.
Sorry so cynical but it's the truth. I'll always be a fan but extended mediocrity has induced calm complacency.
Sorry so cynical but it's the truth. I'll always be a fan but extended mediocrity has induced calm complacency.
Yes, and that was a turning point in the game. Kipper doesn't even need to be a good defender to be an asset, but he needs to do better than what we saw today.
I think that folks generally understate the difficulty of making the jump from HS to the B1G, and that includes the leadership/work habits/confidence thing. It hurts that we don't have much of a credible upperclass presence, and I remain astounded by how apparently soft most of the guys from the Groce era are.
I wasn't particularly interested in seeing Frazier start because of the team's first half performances. He needs to start in order to facilitate his role as future leader. Starting gives him credibility in leadership issues, and likely confidence.
Easy, there. It happened one time with Self. Blue bloods don't exactly experience tons of coaching turnover. We have paid Underwood like a top tier coach, which he is, and he will earn it. Self's situation was unique and is not the norm. It's not like Izzo or Beilein or Bo Ryan or Tony Bennett or any of these other wildly successful coaches at schools just below blue blood level were ever hired away. Doesn't happen much, we just got screwed once in a unique situation. Odds of it happening again are slim, and if it does it means we experienced tremendous success and will then have the opportunity to choose a better predecessor than last time.
That's fair, the 1 assist and 11 TO's from the guard spot didnt do it for me either.
Need more bodies, and lets go from there, all we can do. Until then, get better, or hell at least more consistent, each game.
Dont disagree with much RICHARDH said except that illini have been rebounding well overall. Way too many turnovers and even though Illini can turn over other teams they have shot pretty well against them(power 5 teams). For example, got 15 to's today but they shoot 50% and 40%. Maryland, 25 to's, but shoot 58%. As Underwood said they are not consistent, yet. How much will all this change next year (referring to RICHARD post). Hopefully, a lot.
Not too much to show in this game, but the only positive in the stats was outrebounding MI by 4 along with credit to Ebo and Kipper for their good games, otherwise this would be worse than a 10-point loss. As it's been said before, play consistently and be on top of your game for both halves, and the wins will start to come.
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2018/1/6/G17_ILL_MICH_Box.pdf
BTW, 2017 Mr. Basketball MS will be just fine, give him some time and he will live up to that name in college in due course.
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2018/1/6/G17_ILL_MICH_Box.pdf
BTW, 2017 Mr. Basketball MS will be just fine, give him some time and he will live up to that name in college in due course.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
The turn overs, lack of 3 point shooting, and mental errors kill this team. Most of that is due to the fact that besides Black, we’ve been forced to rely more and more on our Freshmen to do everything. Mark Smith shows great potential one play and has a bone headed turn over the next, same with Frazier. A team this young with no true senior presence is always going to be inconsistent. I like the way we play and am just glad that our freshmen are getting a ton of time this season.
Long time reader and first time poster here. I wanted to share this table of points per 100 possessions during the B1G Conference season thus far. The big things that jump out at me are MS, Te'Jon, and Finke's offensive limitations; all three produce less than 100 points per 100 possessions.
Also, Kipper and Monte are the only two that are allowing less than 100 points per 100 possessions defensively.
I Figured I would share; analyze and interpret as you please...
Also, Kipper and Monte are the only two that are allowing less than 100 points per 100 possessions defensively.
I Figured I would share; analyze and interpret as you please...
Attachments
Kenpom has us at 47th in the country defensively at the moment. We'll see where that number is at the end of the season, but right now all your defensive negatives can be thrown out the window because our defense has played well so far.
Don't rebound well? We are a pretty good rebounding team despite the size.
The big question is can we become more consistent offensively. I believe we will because this team isn't used to playing fast yet. Once we are comfortable playing fast, the turnover margin will grow, we will get easier shots, and the defense will get even better because we won't give up as many points of turnovers.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
We’ve had a shot in each of our losses to win the game. Today got away from us but I feel confident Bc when we lose it’s because of stupid play more often than anything else. That’s the sort of thing that improves as time goes on. 3 point shooting should improve as well as the game slows down for the freshmen.
I’m not too worried about MS. He needs more time to adjust to the game. He got away in hs off of pure strength and athleticism, and now needs to hone his fundamentals.
I’m disappointed with TJL because i thought he would make a bigger leap this year. His lack of 3 point shooting really hurts his all around offensive game because he’s more prone to being baited into offensive fouls.
Fink just isn’t overall skilled enough to be a B1G starter. I like him, but he’s more a mid major caliber talent.
BU can only do so much with what he has, and i’m sure he knows that. We just have too many weaknesses that exposes us right now, but the best players will continue to get minutes. The freshmen will improve. I still have an overall positive outlook long term with our guys.
Great first post!!!!! But you should know by now, facts are not very well received around here.
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