Trust me I love Underwood and yes he will get better. I can still say it was a poor effort on his part and not question his career as an Illini head coach haha
Baylor 82, Illinois 69 Postgame
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the national
- the Front Range
I'm not so sure about this. Ayo was totally owned. Kofi got into foul trouble and couldn't get in a groove. I don't think that's on Brad.
Spot on. Not sure where that happy enforcer has gone, but he needs to come back.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
It looks like we're re-learning what we learned early last season: we aren't at our best when Ayo is the one always initiating offense. Besides dropping it down low, our best dribble-drive possessions started with Curbelo. We need to find ways to get Ayo the ball in scoring position without making him take on 1-2 high-level defenders by himself every single time. That can work during the last five minutes but over the whole 40 it gets incredibly stagnant and predictable.
We matched their intensity for 30 minutes. Sounds great until you remember it's a 40 minute game. We pulled it together and won that Ohio game by playing a team offense. Today when the going got tough we got Ayo hero-ball, trying to beat double teams by himself. And turnovers were a big problem against Ohio, and a big problem tonight.
I watched West Virginia against Gonzaga, and their fans should be happy with how their team played despite the loss. I don't feel the same way about the Illini, particularly in the last 10 minutes. But if you're happy with tonight's effort, then great!
All a team has to do against us is run a pick and roll with whoever the hell Kofi is guarding. That is our defensive kryptonite.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Curbelo is the best PG we’ve had since Deron and it’s not even close. Can’t wait so see him develop.
Our shooting percentages on fg, 3s and FTs were nearly identical which it sure didn't feel like they were in the second half, but the box score doesn't lie. The difference was Baylor shot 7 more field goals and 8 more free throws. They won the game because they had 5 more offensive rebounds and 5 fewer turnovers.
Game of inches gentlemen. I think the coaches have found what they'll be working on in practice for the next couple weeks of the season.
Game of inches gentlemen. I think the coaches have found what they'll be working on in practice for the next couple weeks of the season.
That's not what I was saying. Dre was a mismatch. Belo is too, but in a different way. And the guys will work that out. It took a month for last years squad to build that trust and realize Dre was the +1. Belo and Feliz are clearly very different players.
Our shooting percentages on fg, 3s and FTs were nearly identical which it sure didn't feel like they were in the second half, but the box score doesn't lie. The difference was Baylor shot 7 more field goals and 8 more free throws. They won the game because they had 5 more offensive rebounds and 5 fewer turnovers.
Game of inches gentlemen. I think the coaches have found what they'll be working on in practice for the next couple weeks of the season.
Game of inches gentlemen. I think the coaches have found what they'll be working on in practice for the next couple weeks of the season.
1. One thing I really wish this team could do that 04-05 was so good at was shoot off the curl or screen. Ayo has become a solid 3-pointer shooter, Miller can shoot, and I think Trent shoots better off the dribble than when set.
That's why I think the fouls on Kofi killed them. Illinois had a pretty good margin in rebounding in the first half.
sacraig
- The desert
I don't even think Feliz was much of a mismatch in that sense. There are lots of good, physical guards. Feliz was (is) just a flat out good player with a very high motor.
Aside from a decent offensive stat line, I thought GB didn't have that good of a game. Grant it hes not a 5 but none of our bigs are showing good rim protection these days. The pick and roll and is affording opponents way to many high percentage shots. That was the difference. During a 5 min stretch they got much better shots than we did.
Ps.. ago did not get "owned." He went up against the bets 4 guard defensive line up in the country with a big that protects the paint. You can only do so much as 1 man especially when no one else is creating shots or knocking down outside shots.
Ps.. ago did not get "owned." He went up against the bets 4 guard defensive line up in the country with a big that protects the paint. You can only do so much as 1 man especially when no one else is creating shots or knocking down outside shots.
Thought we should try some 3-2 zone when Giorgi was in with Kofi. Baylor was eating us up.
We played like a bunch of guys who aren’t used to being on National television. Tight. You could tell by the early free throws.
Baylor played extremely disciplined basketball. I knew they were good, but man... they are quick defensively. The only clean looks we got were lobs to Kofi, but with him in foul trouble it was an uphill battle.
I don’t think we will see too many nights where Ayo & Ace go a combined 8-29.
Personally, I was less disappointed in the Illini than I was impressed by the Bears. They are going to make some good teams look bad.
Baylor played extremely disciplined basketball. I knew they were good, but man... they are quick defensively. The only clean looks we got were lobs to Kofi, but with him in foul trouble it was an uphill battle.
I don’t think we will see too many nights where Ayo & Ace go a combined 8-29.
Personally, I was less disappointed in the Illini than I was impressed by the Bears. They are going to make some good teams look bad.
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They had a great game plan for Ayo and he struggled. Even 3 more layups and the game changes.
I want to know when baylor got on site. I know we wanted to arrive at 10pm the night prior for covid reasons but maybe we needed to get there earlier to acclimate for our first away game against what I think could be the best team in the country.
Kofi fouls didn't help. Wake up call for the freshmen, welcome to the big leagues.
I'm not worried.
I want to know when baylor got on site. I know we wanted to arrive at 10pm the night prior for covid reasons but maybe we needed to get there earlier to acclimate for our first away game against what I think could be the best team in the country.
Kofi fouls didn't help. Wake up call for the freshmen, welcome to the big leagues.
I'm not worried.
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I thought Giorgi had his best game in over a year. We were going to be down 15 at half if he didn't show up. He was definitely net positive tonight.
Oh no, he was way better on the interior with his ability to take contact and finish than most. strength and feel wise, he ate up guys. He was a mismatch at PG many times last year.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
Some of you guys crack me up man. Sometimes you just gotta give credit where credit is due. Baylor is a really f*cking tough team. They won 23 straight games last year. 7 of their top 8 guys are back. This was probably a #1 seed team in the tourney last year and who knows what they would have done. I thought we battled our asses off and hung with them. Their perimeter defense is the best we have seen. It definitely took us out of things we wanted to do. Tip your cap. That’s an elite team. I’m glad we went through this tonight.
A 4 or 5 star recruit should not be getting outplayed by a Presbyterian transfer... period...
I think the knee jerk panic and disgust from this game is a bit much. Baylor was #2 for a reason and they showed that tonight.
Now are we #5 next Monday? Likely not, but we will still have a Top 10 showdown to look forward to on Tuesday.
We showed a lot of positives: Giorgi is still an offensive threat. Hawkins is not afraid to battle. Belo is so smooth and fun to watch (he will set the career assist record).
Ayo was hounded all night and a couple of those fouls on Kofi were reminiscent of the ‘05 title game against Auggie. Even with that, we still hung with Baylor.
Yes, that stretch in the second half with the mental lapses, crushing Baylor offensive boards and subsequent 3’s were killers, but I don’t think it warrants an overreaction.
It is a learning opportunity to build from and I’m excited to see where we go from here.
Now are we #5 next Monday? Likely not, but we will still have a Top 10 showdown to look forward to on Tuesday.
We showed a lot of positives: Giorgi is still an offensive threat. Hawkins is not afraid to battle. Belo is so smooth and fun to watch (he will set the career assist record).
Ayo was hounded all night and a couple of those fouls on Kofi were reminiscent of the ‘05 title game against Auggie. Even with that, we still hung with Baylor.
Yes, that stretch in the second half with the mental lapses, crushing Baylor offensive boards and subsequent 3’s were killers, but I don’t think it warrants an overreaction.
It is a learning opportunity to build from and I’m excited to see where we go from here.
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Agree, I think that the jury is still out on both teams.
Baylor's perimeter game is hiding weakness inside on both ends of the floor. Theyre elite rebounders, shooters, and defenders. That is enough to get them far, but by my eye they can certainly be exposed on any night they go cold. They might be worthy of #1, but they are not world beaters.
Illinois got outmatched and outhustled for a few stretches tonight and couldn't land a haymaker of their own. However, assuming they have even a decent season, their talent and tempo will mean that most games they play this year won't be this close. This week of games is very valuable.
Deleted member 11228
D
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It really is unreal how one loss, especially this one, makes some people irrational.
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