I thought it was interesting when we went to the 2 big lineup that Giorgi was uniquely effective in getting Kofi the ball for easy points .
It takes a big to feed a big?
It takes a big to feed a big?
Illinois 69, Indiana 60 Postgame
I think they had our 1st game this year and it took a couple hours for the replay to show up...
Underwood Illini teams are now 32-5 when keeping teams below 70 points.
Kofi did ramp it up a lot after coach pinned the rage meter during that timeout.
I like to see him play really mad, very effective.
I like to see him play really mad, very effective.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
No kidding. Even Northwestern is doing well this year.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
Boy do I like having this Ayo guy on my team. 
Who woulda thought they'd be sitting atop the conference at any point this year?
That game in Evanston is gonna be lit.
I dont think Kofi understands that the only way they stop him is if he lets them . I'm amazed at how many times he takes himself out of an offensive play with his erratic motor.
We need to stay way from 4 guards as much as possible its just not as effective as it should be because we don't have the skill.
You have Kofi and then Ayo and Curbelo and then you other guards are
either shooting poorly
gun shy
poor screeners
With least one other big you give a realer screener to Ayo and Curbelo and then you play whatever other guard has his shooting stroke as the kick out man .
I would rotate Kofi, Giorgi, Grandison, and Hawkins as much as possible at the 4/5 spots and would pick and choose my 4 guard usage more judiciously.
We need to stay way from 4 guards as much as possible its just not as effective as it should be because we don't have the skill.
You have Kofi and then Ayo and Curbelo and then you other guards are
either shooting poorly
gun shy
poor screeners
With least one other big you give a realer screener to Ayo and Curbelo and then you play whatever other guard has his shooting stroke as the kick out man .
I would rotate Kofi, Giorgi, Grandison, and Hawkins as much as possible at the 4/5 spots and would pick and choose my 4 guard usage more judiciously.
KTurner had 32 in a loss at UCLA and 35 vs. Indiana.
I knew the game was in the bag after Ayo hit the 3 to beat the buzzer off the loose ball.
Always nice to beat Indiana.
Always nice to beat Indiana.
Love seeing the Hoosiers struggle and my gosh is Ayo good!!
If we can get Adam Miller to hit 3 or 4 three's will be be functioning on all cylinders.
Agree 100%. Maybe it's just a confidence thing with Miller at this point, or maybe he drank too much eggnog yesterday. He had a lot of minutes with no points, no rebounds, no assists and no steals. And he was out of position and confused on the defensive end. I know people use the excuse that he's a Freshman, but he was Mr Basketball so I expected more at this point. That cannot continue if he wants to start. I would start Curbelo.
Per game? HTeres only 1 player in the entire big 10 averaging over 3 threes per game over the course of the season (harper jr at 3.6)
But sure if he did that, that would be a big boost. Just feels unlikely.
I would prefer Miller does more than just take 3’s. He is playing way too much like a one-dimensional player. He is more than that
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Sluggish game by the Illini, maybe too much xmas food, whatever it was it took us 25 minutes to really get our legs steady...
Ayo has really matured his game this year and has filled out his body so he looks stronger as the game evolves...his shooting , along with DaMonte's great improvement allows us to go to different options until it's AYO CLOSING TIME...
BTW, I know many here post Kempom stats, but that screen shot showing AYO behind loosier TJ-D is too absurd to be believable...I have yet to see anything from TJD that leads me to believe he is worthy of first OR second team ALL B1G , let alone even being talked about as a player of the year in all of college BB...
He has Egwu hands and misses numerous close in shots, sometimes not even drawing iron....IMHO, he is the MOST overrated player in college BB....He might have solid stats but to MY eye he isn't anywhere as good a player as advertised....And I have watched his games against other teams not just the Illini....
Great game overall by the Illini with Ayo and Kofi leading the way...sure glad they came back so Illini nation can fully appreciate how good they are....
7-3, 3-1 in the B1G........next game against purdont, next saturday.....GO ILLINI
Ayo has really matured his game this year and has filled out his body so he looks stronger as the game evolves...his shooting , along with DaMonte's great improvement allows us to go to different options until it's AYO CLOSING TIME...
BTW, I know many here post Kempom stats, but that screen shot showing AYO behind loosier TJ-D is too absurd to be believable...I have yet to see anything from TJD that leads me to believe he is worthy of first OR second team ALL B1G , let alone even being talked about as a player of the year in all of college BB...
He has Egwu hands and misses numerous close in shots, sometimes not even drawing iron....IMHO, he is the MOST overrated player in college BB....He might have solid stats but to MY eye he isn't anywhere as good a player as advertised....And I have watched his games against other teams not just the Illini....
Great game overall by the Illini with Ayo and Kofi leading the way...sure glad they came back so Illini nation can fully appreciate how good they are....
7-3, 3-1 in the B1G........next game against purdont, next saturday.....GO ILLINI
We got lucky there, easily could have turned into a 2 pt game and then fallen apart.
Ayo has greatly improved his draft stock by staying another year. I’m happy for him.
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
Really happy with the win! But somebody please fix the lackluster play in the first half. It's a pattern, and it establishes the tone of the entire game. We have given teams that have no business hanging with us confidence to take us to the wire. It cost us against Mizzou and almost cost us the last two league games. We have to be better prepared. Not sure if it is the coaches or players, probably both, but there is no excuse for it. Now go beat Purdue!
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Excellent point! Giorgi was superb in looking for (and feeding) Kofi. Giorgi looked good today.
Play of the game IMO was when we were up 5, Trent missed the front end and TJD beats everyone down the floor for a layup to cut it to 3, but Cuerbello hustles and somehow gets a hand on the pass to deflect it off the backboard for a turnover. Ayo comes down and hits a 3 to put us up 8. 5 point swing in a game where 5 points really meant a lot.
Maybe it was matchups but felt like this was our best defensive performance of the year so far. Hope they can build on it and right the ship offensively.
TJD couldn’t get good shots off over kofi.
we played some really good defense early. I felt like we rebounded every single one of their misses to start the game.
we played some really good defense early. I felt like we rebounded every single one of their misses to start the game.
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
There was a noticeable difference in our play and level of effort from minutes 25-40. That effort should be there from the tip.
There seems to be a pattern developing here: Kofi carries us for the first half, and then Ayo puts on the jets in the Second. I thought IU was going to pull away today and then Ayo puts on that show. Man, what a player.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
That UCLA game was his "coming out party". Superb game, and his performance came out of nowhere. I remember saying, "Who is this guy?" Huge contributor from that point forward.