Agreed. Seems like a cool dude. He’s going to land a lot of good recruits in Ann Arbor, I’m afraid.
Illinois 71, Michigan 62 POSTGAME
Agreed. Seems like a cool dude. He’s going to land a lot of good recruits in Ann Arbor, I’m afraid.
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
We flow so much better when Dre comes off the bench. Too many cooks when he, Ayo and Trent are out there for extended time.
I don't know why it took so long to figure this out. Feliz was so good coming off the bench last year.
blackdog
- Champaign
14 pts, 8 reb, 3 assists ain't too shabby. He needs to cut back on turnovers but this seems to me to be a pretty typical game for him. I don't really know what people's expectations are for him.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
If he averaged this for the season he'd be 1st or 2nd team All B1G. Ayo came out and absolutely set the tone last night right from the beginning.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Agree completely on the moving screens observation. TV took some verbal abuse over those
Agree with this. The refs let everyone play for the most part, and I'd argue that we even got some home cookin' calls. The result was a very fast-paced game which favored our style, Ayo and Feliz especially. Michigan was hot early, but we stuck with them punch for punch. We got lucky with all of their missed 3s; I think if just a couple of these went in, it could've been a very different game and result. Kipper, Damonte, Griffin all contributed more than they detracted. Lastly, I'm starting to see Giorgi and Kofi starting to gel, and the offensive boards are reflecting it. It seems like Trent is starting to find opportunities to score in a variety of ways. Could it be that the team is maturing and learning to play better together?
Kofi looks like an upper classman and Teske an under classman. Kofi is really special.This picture.
Kofi: "I am the Lion. The King!"
Teske: "Eeeeeeeeeek!"
Our 3 point shooting must improve. We got lucky Michigan was having a poor shooting night as well. However, that has a lot to do with our defense. Frazier has stepped away from a scoring role this year and is locking people down!
Kofi and Georgi are learning how to play together. If they continue to develop, watch out! Twin Towers!!
Why is Tev not playing still? I feel like he could give us some offensive help when we are in slump. A lot more than Kipper. I almost cringe anytime he goes up for a shot. He did play some solid D tonight though.
Where is everyone calling for Underwood's head today? He's learning this team, just like they are learning each other. While there are still come core components from last year they are playing a completely different game with the big man. If we can keep this train on the tracks we will be a scary team by tournament time.
**Hope the ref is okay. He took a heck of a shot.
Kofi and Georgi are learning how to play together. If they continue to develop, watch out! Twin Towers!!
Why is Tev not playing still? I feel like he could give us some offensive help when we are in slump. A lot more than Kipper. I almost cringe anytime he goes up for a shot. He did play some solid D tonight though.
Where is everyone calling for Underwood's head today? He's learning this team, just like they are learning each other. While there are still come core components from last year they are playing a completely different game with the big man. If we can keep this train on the tracks we will be a scary team by tournament time.
**Hope the ref is okay. He took a heck of a shot.
As someone who has been pessimistic about this season since before it started I have to eat crow on this one, and it is delicious. I was really impressed with the game plan that the coaches came up with and the execution by the players. I was happy to see BU change the defense based on our personnel to start the season, and it's nice to see it paying off already. The team also looks more comfortable running less spread the last few games, though the weave has obviously been scouted and they might need to add some new wrinkles to that now.
My one complaint is that I wish Ayo would learn to throw the lob to Kofi on the pick and roll, there were at least 2 times where he could've had a monster dunk and instead Ayo took a tough layup instead.
I've watched probably 95% of the games these last 10 years and it's been brutal, but if this is the energy, effort and execution that we can expect the rest of the way it's going to be a fun season to watch
My one complaint is that I wish Ayo would learn to throw the lob to Kofi on the pick and roll, there were at least 2 times where he could've had a monster dunk and instead Ayo took a tough layup instead.
I've watched probably 95% of the games these last 10 years and it's been brutal, but if this is the energy, effort and execution that we can expect the rest of the way it's going to be a fun season to watch
This is the most encouraging thing from the past two games. After a game like this you can sometimes look back and see that a certain player played out of their mind (think B. Paul against OSU), or the whole team was hot from three, etc. These games have not been like that. They were normal performances, and the Illini were right there with two solid teams. Honestly, they were the better team in each of those games.
Michigan had the Illini scouted and took away some things they like to do offensively (totally disrupted the weave hand-offs), and yet the offense was still solid enough and guys were able to make plays. That is greatly encouraging to me. Teams in conference will know your tendencies and strengths and sometimes they will successfully neutralize them. Can you still find enough or new ways forward to win? Tonight was a great sign toward a positive answer for this team.
Could be like our Manu Ginoboli. Not saying he is anywhere as good or a future NBA pro, but more of scoring, passing, bulldog, rebounding, unique, etc...
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Awesome win. With this, it really makes the close game at Maryland and the comeback feel real, like the team can actually be elite when it comes together.
As other posters have said, the upside is that we still have a lot of improvement. Ayo seems awfully lazy/careless with the ball in half court sets and needs to clean that up, but man did he play to his strengths tonight. We still don't have an elite floor general that can set up offense when the game slows down. That is a bit more concerning to me than the brick city we had from three, which seemed mostly unlucky + nerves.
Really hoping we can open up some more PT for Tev and Ben against OD and NC A&T (i.e., not make the games close). It would be nice to get those guys some run before B1G play.
As other posters have said, the upside is that we still have a lot of improvement. Ayo seems awfully lazy/careless with the ball in half court sets and needs to clean that up, but man did he play to his strengths tonight. We still don't have an elite floor general that can set up offense when the game slows down. That is a bit more concerning to me than the brick city we had from three, which seemed mostly unlucky + nerves.
Really hoping we can open up some more PT for Tev and Ben against OD and NC A&T (i.e., not make the games close). It would be nice to get those guys some run before B1G play.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Problem is then his defender is dragged to the middle, where Kofi is operating. If Giorgi could just develop a consistent 3 pointer, this team would be unstoppable.
haasi
- New York
we played well last night, ayo included, and got a great win. Second half was legitimately fun to watch with the exception of the two minutes where Kofi clobbered the poor ref and they pressed us to cut the lead to 4. but we came back and finished strong. Shout out to Feliz.
All that said, Ayo needs to get much stronger and develop his jumper. He won’t be able to create in the half court until he develops strength and he needs to be able to consistently hit from 15 feet out to 3. Feliz is our best driver (and he’s only serviceable, not amazing) and it’s despite the fact that he’s much shorter than ayo and doesn’t have some of ayo’s physical gifts. it’s because he’s much, much stronger than ayo. Was hoping ayo would be much stronger this season than last but doesn’t appear to be the case. He didn’t need strength to score at will in high school, but he needs it at this level (and all the more so in pro ball)
All that said, Ayo needs to get much stronger and develop his jumper. He won’t be able to create in the half court until he develops strength and he needs to be able to consistently hit from 15 feet out to 3. Feliz is our best driver (and he’s only serviceable, not amazing) and it’s despite the fact that he’s much shorter than ayo and doesn’t have some of ayo’s physical gifts. it’s because he’s much, much stronger than ayo. Was hoping ayo would be much stronger this season than last but doesn’t appear to be the case. He didn’t need strength to score at will in high school, but he needs it at this level (and all the more so in pro ball)
Agree with setting the tone... he came to play.
However, in late game situations, he tends to get in trouble with his dribble... whether it's in the paint or around screens, he seems to loose his dribble or turn it over.
I get that the team is looking at him in the final minutes, but we need to get the ball in the post in late game situations... we would be more likely to get a foul and a possible and 1
I may be a little biased since I rushed the court when we beat Indiana in 2013. Beating #1 on a buzzer beater is as good as it gets, those are the types of scenarios court storms should happen in IMO. Felt natural to rush the court there and not forced. So I think the fact that I was there makes me go into “get off my lawn” mode when I see court storms for much less exciting wins.
In ALL situations, there is a reason that inside/out play has been proven over and over to be successful for almost every team! Let Kofi/Giorgi continue to work on theirs, and also learn when/where to find spot up and slashers!
This picture.
Kofi: "I am the Lion. The King!"
Teske: "Eeeeeeeeeek!"
This is old news, but he is an absolute UNIT
As someone else mentioned, I'd like fewer turnovers and would love to see him create more offense. No reason he shouldn't be in the 6-8 assists range every game. But don't want to detract from a really solid performance from him....getting his mojo back, for sure!
And if a couple of ours had gone in........blowout. Don't let that point get lost.
There's no antidote for losses quite like this win. I will quibble with what you say above just a tiny bit though --I think Michigan didn't bring their A game. I think these guys are getting better at knowing what it takes to win, though. We will need to win some on the road, and this is encouraging. Road wins will be precious.
Hope that ref is ok --what a freak accident that he wanted to make the call moving out on the court, while Kofi swung a bit wildly where he was moving to.