Wisconsin 64, Illinois 58 POSTGAME
3DegreeIllini
- Chicago,IL
Trent got crap for that layup, but I think he may have had that layup pinned to the backboard if he didn’t reverse it.
We were due for a loss. I am not mad at the loss. Shows we can be fight with anyone. Just imagine where this team will be in a year. Refs suck for both teams and as fans we just need to get over it. The way the call the college game is bad. If you are mad about how the team played in this loss feel free to jump ship. Wisconsin is a tough team that, like us, gets teams away from what they want to do. We got into the mud with them and fought hard. I think Ayo learned a lot from this game. He needed to make mistakes like he did last night. He will learn from it and become a better player. The future is bright.
We did miss some bunnies, but they missed a ton of wide open shots early. The refs allowed a LOT of banging underneath, which was probably good for us. Replay that games ten times, and I think they win seven. But that's a top twenty team, playing at home. If the season started today, I'm sure we would be considered at least a top 30 team, and I'm good with that.
We recruited Griffin as a shooter and that is the weakest part of his game right now and that is the beauty of it.
Shooters don't forget how to shoot so that will come back with more minutes but he is light years a better rebounder and defender than I expected this year. He stands to make the biggest improvement next year. Like Georgi, another player this staff saw something in before anybody else did.
Shooters don't forget how to shoot so that will come back with more minutes but he is light years a better rebounder and defender than I expected this year. He stands to make the biggest improvement next year. Like Georgi, another player this staff saw something in before anybody else did.
Kipper may have bottomed out last night.
There were a couple of other defensive breakdowns as well. The one that comes to mind is when they let Davison take the 16 foot jumper near the foul line late in the game.
Last edited:
drsmitty74
- Rochester
And how to NOT leave the man with the ball while on defense. Happened several times last night and they drained the jumper each time.
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
There may be some recency bias in this thought - 5 points per game and can't shoot a 3? Kippers averaging 6+ and is at least a threat from 3. I don't think anyone's happy with Kipper's output this year - but I am having a hard time throwing Kip under this bus...
Yesterday we saw 4 FR and a SO on the floor. BTT prep. Our best shot to the Dance
BMoreIllini
- Baltimore, MD
Underclassmen MPG (200 minutes per game - 5 positions x 40 minutes)
Illinois:
Ayo (Fr.) 31.1 MPG
Frazier (So.) 30.1 MPG
Giorgi (Fr.) 25.8 MPG
Damonte (So.) 22.2 MPG
Jones (Fr.) 9.7 MPG
Griffin (Fr.) 7.9 MPG
Total: 126.8 MPG (~63.4% of games minutes)
Ohio State
Muhammad (Fr.) 29.8 MPG
K. Wesson (So.) 25.2 MPG
Young (So.) 21.6 MPG
Washington Jr. (Fr.) 17.1 MPG
Jallow (So.) 14.5 MPG
LeDee (Fr.) 6.3 MPG
Total: 114.5 MPG (~57.25% of game minutes)
Maryland
Fernando (So.) 29.1 MPG
Ayala (Fr.) 28.9 MPG
Smith (Fr.) 26.9 MPG
Morsell (So.) 25.2 MPG
Wiggins (Fr.) 24.2 MPG
Lindo Jr (Fr.) 13.3 MPG
Smith Jr (Fr.) 12.8 MPG
Total: 160.4 MPG (~80.2% of game minutes)
Maryland definitely has the most freshman/sophomore minutes per game, but while Ohio St may play more underclassman, we play ours more. (I only counted players who appeared in at least 20 games with at least 5 MPG played, which is why Kane doesn't appear. He's only appeared in 14 games.)
Last edited:
Tough loss, but felt as if we were the better team. Get a few bunnies to fall and we are celebrating a victory. Impressed with the teams progression!
Giorgi said he is not playing any better until everyone on the IL board spells his name correctly.
I hate to rip on the guy, but Kipper has put up a goose egg in 6 of the last 10 games.
Giorgi’s progress as a freshman is pretty special. I don’t recall another freshman at Illinois picking things up as quickly. Especially,considering the complex system. He’s one smart kid.
Last edited:
I'm just gonna say it. Giorgi is the best big man we've had since Augustine. And yes, that includes Meyers. Giorgi is such a diamond in the rough. Can't wait to see him in 2 years. Look out Big Ten!
Ayo made a few big plays down the stretch but he also tried to be the man too many times. Even in the inbound pass that got stolen... he had Trent open, but I think he passed it out too bc he wanted it right back in his hands. That’s not entirely a bad thing, but there was another play right before that where he had Georgi open for a dunk, but he short armed an 8 footer.
Not down in him though, it’s all part of his development.
Not down in him though, it’s all part of his development.
I think AG is better than Tevian at everything except for Tev's freakish athletic ability and he will only continue to get better as the game slows down for him. And this is not to knock Tev either. Obviously you can never have enough scorers on the wings but I think we're in better shape with what we have coming back than most realize.
Last edited:
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I'll take it even further....Giorgi will bet the next 1,000/1,000 player in Illini history. His feet and his smarts are too good not to figure out rebounding. He's going to get stronger. He will play in the NBA. He will be on Dancing With The Stars. Somebody will write a book/movie about his life.
I'll take it that you disagree with me. For the record, I'm not saying Giorgi is more athletic and has the NBA upside Meyers had. But as a college player, Giorgi is showing better scoring ability than Meyers had in college already. Defensively, we'll see how Giorgi develops.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
What are the board's thoughts on Giorgi getting blocked by Iverson on what should have been an easy 2 near the end of the game? Was Giorgi too relaxed on that shot attempt? Should he have gone in for the dunk? Was it just a demonstration of Iverson's superior athletic ability? I'm not used to seeing a guard swat a center.
I'm not blaming Giorgi or that particular play for the loss. Overall, I was happy with our performance on the road. We'll keep getting better.
I'm not blaming Giorgi or that particular play for the loss. Overall, I was happy with our performance on the road. We'll keep getting better.
Iverson is one of the most athletic dudes in D1 ball.
illinihawk16
- Chicago
During the OSU game, I just felt the Illini would win. Didn't have the same feeling during the course of this game. It was a disappointing loss, but what I found encouraging is that they could have (and probably should have) won. I think BU is really going to be able to use this game as a great teaching moment and have the Illini ready to hand Purdue its first home loss of the year. But first things first -- a strong performance and good win against Penn St.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I was at that one ... my girlfriend's first impression of the Illini. OUCH, haha. She - an Iowa graduate born in the Quad Cities - now considers herself an Illini fan and is obsessed with Giorgi.
