Notre Dame 76, Illinois 74 POSTGAME

[BackThatPassUp]

We didn't react fast enough during that stretch where they made shots and got a lot of calls in their favor that i swear led to like 9 points worth of "and 1s." Should've changed the pace about 2 minutes sooner. Need just a little more acrobatics from our slashers to counter to lulls in shooting.

 

[IlliniCC]

Can we just admit that we are the sacrificial lamb of the P5. Not in the way where we keel over, but in the way we serve as HUGE moral boosters for opposing teams. Georgetown, Xavier, ND... If you need a hard fought game that you’re assured a victory just play us!

 

[I Bomb]

Defense scheme's the parameter all night not allowing 3s. AJ is out, so they give their fastest guy the ball who has the most clutch shots on the team. I completely comprende.

Not clutch that time, almost is good though.

 

[PlayAZ]

We just are simply short of aggressive talented players, take Jordan/Giorgi/Williams out of this game, a blowout. Take Frazier/Ayo/Williams out of most other games, we are screwed....just not enough players who can make a difference night in and night out.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

That was a bad Notre Dame team

Georgetown will also be a bad team. Just like WF last year. Illinois does not have the talent to keep up. I’m sorry to say, but expecting to win games when you have such a limited roster is not realistic. Need to see growth this year, but also need to win some recruiting battles and get more talent on the floor.

 

[ILLjuice]

It's going to suck when Jordan leaves, he has such a smooth shot and has been pretty clutch for us.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Somebody brought this up in the game thread, but should they not be playing with some, you know, fire or something? Kipper in particular is brutal out there, and he's supposed to be a dependable upperclassman. He just doesn't seem to care.

What is the disconnect? I don't get it.

Kipper’s regression thus far is one of the more jarring things I’ve seen in all my years of watching CBB. The most notable thing he did in his minutes was draw a T. How?

 

[ChiefGritty]

I can’t beliebe we’re complaining about our best player taking the last shot. Who cares if he’s been missing. It was a good look and every shot should be judged based on only that shot. He’s the best player. He should be the one shooting.

I have no issue with Trent taking the shot, and a pull-up 3 is understandable if suboptimal, but that was not a good look. You'd like something better than a 28-foot leaner.

It went in for Nebraska last year...

 

[Deleted member 9739]

2-5 is 2-5...4 losses to teams that were definitely beatable...better figure something out before we become the football team

Football team finished next to last in the Big Ten. And where is the basketball team projected to finish?

Don't look now, but it is already happening. The next thing we'll see is Underwood suddenly grows a beard.

 

[Samsafar]

I can’t beliebe we’re complaining about our best player taking the last shot. Who cares if he’s been missing. It was a good look and every shot should be judged based on only that shot. He’s the best player. He should be the one shooting.

Absolutely it had to be Trent. Only player capable of bringing it down with 5 seconds left and create his own. It looked beautiful... until it rimmed out.

 

[LouAlcinder]

Unfortunately, other than Gonzaga, we're the toughest opponent we've faced.

Agreed, lots of young guys trying to figure things out, doesn't help that Trent had a terrible night either. Bright side was the fight to get closer at the end, need that for 40 minutes.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

We will win. Next year. But we will win. Giorgi is gonna be a great Illini for his career.

(I’ve come to the realization that if I stop worrying about W-L record until next year, I will get a lot more enjoyment from this year just watching positive glimpses of the future).

This is a good strategy. The rest of you should try it.

 

[foby]

Thought for sure TRENT had won it for us.
Laughing out loud at all those calling ND a bad team. Like us they are a very young and well coached team that will be much better at the end of the year. And as for the whipping DePaul took.....well......

 

[Illinifan533]

Aaron has to get open

Aaron Jordan had fouled out a few seconds earlier. Giorgi had as well. If one of them is still in the game they probably take the shot.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

I have no issue with Trent taking the shot, and a pull-up 3 is understandable if suboptimal, but that was not a good look. You'd like something better than a 28-foot leaner.

It went in for Nebraska last year...

You had 5.8 seconds. All you basically have time for is a 20-something foot leaner unless you decide to try to make it to the basket where he already got rejected the last time...

 

[Deleted member 236589]

I am hoping in the near future we look at these losses as key moments of growth for this young team when they're beating quality opponents.

Yes. That's the point of playing this type of schedule. Play the best, try to hang with the best, try to improve and be a better team in March than they are in November.

This is a highly flawed team. Just have to build the foundation and keep improving.

 

[BlueLeader]

Aaron has to get open

I hope this is sarcasm. I honestly can't tell.

 

[Steelyunk]

“Trent Frazier hero shot” is way too much of our offense - but at the end of the game it was the right call. The only call in fact.

 

[kcillini]

We have other good players, no matter how good Trent is. He wasn't hitting tonight.

And they all stand around and look at Trent in the pinch.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

We have other good players, no matter how good Trent is. He wasn't hitting tonight.

I 100% guarantee you that Trent wanted the ball and got the ball because he’s Trent. If anyone else were to have taken that shot, this board would also be upset.

 

[haasi]

the only issue with trent taking the final shot is that we he was off all night. could be ankle. hard to say that that because he's our #1 option, he's very clutch, and he had a good look. but given how trent shot all night, if final look had gone to someone else (ayo, griffin) i wouldn't have complained.

 

[I Bomb]

Other than Ayo who else did you want taking that shot?

I actually thought they were drawing it up to rotate to Griffin. We have lots of guys who can knock down a 3, I'm just saying Frazier wasn't hitting tonight. I guess I understand the faith in him, but he was off all night, even the announcers were talking about it. That's the shot they took. NBD

 

[ChiefGritty]

You had 5.8 seconds. All you basically have time for is a 20-something foot leaner unless you decide to try to make it to the basket where he already got rejected the last time...

Or get fouled, or kick out, or maybe a floater.

He shot with 2 point something left on the clock.

Not the world's worst shot, understandable in the circumstances and makeable, but not a "good look"

 

[TCTORNADO]

25 fouls and ND shooting 55% from 2 pt, seems to be a recurring theme.

 

[ILLinoize92]

You had 5.8 seconds. All you basically have time for is a 20-something foot leaner unless you decide to try to make it to the basket where he already got rejected the last time...

Pretty much. (Insert definition of insanity)