Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Sunday, February 27th, 1:00pm CT, CBS
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Remember the Groce years when we hoped good teams would overlook us and we could steal a W. Good times, good times.
Crazy how things change. Every team has us circled on the calendar now.
I think we lose to Michigan without 40 minutes of the best effort put out all year. If they play like they did in the first 12 minutes of the 2nd half against OSU Brad should pull EVERY starter from the game and sit their butts down and play the freshman PERIOD!
Yes, that…and of course padding the first half of the schedule with as many patsies as possible.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
OK; not true at all. Relative motivation, and habit of long lulls during otherwise competitive play not an issue. Ever. Got it.
Me too worried...
And Michigan has a fortunate temporary upgrade at Coach position...
Most good teams that aren't on the bubble and aren't desperate don't go thru long lulls. That's why they're really good teams. Good teams still play hard and sometimes harder than the desperate teams. You are equating desperation to playing harder and that is not true at all.OK; not true at all. Relative motivation, and habit of long lulls during otherwise competitive play not an issue. Ever. Got it.
Relative motivation?
Just move on man, you don't know what you are talking about.
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I assume Michigan will employ the same defensive scheme as tOSU in the second half. Have two or more people hanging on Kofi’s arms and Plummers defender does not have any help responsibilities. That leaves three guarded by one or two - we just have to find them and get them the ball.
Some people need to step back and take a breath. We don't need a perfect game to beat the likes of Michigan. We just need to be solid. With our personal if we just play consistent and solid ball we will beat 90% of the teams we play and if we play at our highest level we beat the other 10. Granted lately we've been on a roller-coaster of consistency and level of play. We still have time to work this out. The thing that matters now is that we are bringing our best game to the floor by the big dance and make a memorable run. We got this, Go Illini!!!
We lose by 7. Keep it close but can't finish. It's going to take Plummer or Grandy going off to have chance of pulling it off.
Ran across this today . . . it did improve my outlook just a little bit
Juwan needs to learn how the big boys do it.
hard to pick Illinois on the road against a talented team which has, as of late, been playing much better (especially at home). sorry, but wake me up when Illinois brings intensity and effort for a full 40 minutes. they haven't done it yet and i don't see it happening tomorrow. they'll play a solid 30 minutes or so, but otherwise give up a 20-2 run and lose by 7.
i know i'm going to get flamed for this, but what has anybody seen this year to make them confident that this team can/will "bring it" for 40 mins? i love this team and coaching staff, and think the future of Illinois hoops is very bright, but there is just (at least to this juncture) something missing with this team. i realize some of that can be attributed to injuries and the inability for the team (and specific players groups/units) to gel, but that is not a good reason for their often disinterested play.
they certainly have the talent to "turn it on" and make a deep tourney run, but that's not all that easy to do, especially when they're a much lower seed because of having lost a handful of games they shouldn't have lost.
i know i'm going to get flamed for this, but what has anybody seen this year to make them confident that this team can/will "bring it" for 40 mins? i love this team and coaching staff, and think the future of Illinois hoops is very bright, but there is just (at least to this juncture) something missing with this team. i realize some of that can be attributed to injuries and the inability for the team (and specific players groups/units) to gel, but that is not a good reason for their often disinterested play.
they certainly have the talent to "turn it on" and make a deep tourney run, but that's not all that easy to do, especially when they're a much lower seed because of having lost a handful of games they shouldn't have lost.
Big Jack
- Decatur
What a classic he has....and I am not a Cubs fan!!!
illini55
- The Villages, FL
Good post. Hard to read, but pretty accurate. Any team as talented as the Illini, that relies so heavily on the three pointer, can beat anyone, lose to anyone, look great one day, look awful the next. If Dickinson is hitting that top of the key 3 pointer, as he has been doing lately, it will be tough for Kofi to defend and will dramatically reduce Kofi's rebound numbers. Fingers crossed, but this game will be a tough one.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Honestly I believe that our issues are in line with the lack of the right rotational players. We need 2 real 4s, DMW is not that plays hard but he is undersized and typically overmatched against his man. If Hawkins would stand up and play to his potential this team is much better off. However when you start subbing we lack in scoring and defensive abilities... It is pretty simple to see.... If Kofi is out we are weak in the post as Omar just isn't cutting it.. We only have one above average guard sub at this point with AC... The freshman are good and there is talent there in the future but not right now. So if we sub out players one at a time we are not bad but when we sub out 2-3 from the starting lineup we are a below average team... Just my opinion and I love this team...
i hope i'm dead wrong. this team has the ability to beat (or at least hang with) ANYBODY. but only if they bring maximum intensity for 40 mins. i believe they have it in them, i just hope the light bulb comes on in time for them to make a deep tourney run.
i think you're dead on. while this team has a lot of talent, it also has some glaring holes, which makes it even more necessary to bring maximum intensity for 40 mins every game. i also love this team and hope they can start putting it all together for 40 mins each game. if they figure that out, they'll be fun to watch in the tourney.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Relative: a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence on another thing. As in... one team is in the tourney for sure and needs to play at a certain level to win and get seed "n" as opposed to "n-1." It's opponent has to win, period, to get in the tourney, period. Oh, and that first team... it has a bad habit, even in high-profile games, of falling asleep for long periods.Most good teams that aren't on the bubble and aren't desperate don't go thru long lulls. That's why they're really good teams. Good teams still play hard and sometimes harder than the desperate teams. You are equating desperation to playing harder and that is not true at all.
Relative motivation?
Just move on man, you don't know what you are talking about.
Motive: something (such as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.
It's not that complicated. Really.
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You shouldn't take heat for this because it's been more than a trend now. It's who they are. They rely on the three and as you mentioned, they can look great(make shots) for 30 minutes, then not be able to throw it the ocean for 10 minutes. Not many(if any) teams can burn up the nets for a full 40. So, the term "let up" for this team probably isn't the right one because they do play hard. Offense always looks good when the ball is going through the net....like the first 10 minutes vs Ohio State when Plummer was on a heater. 4 of 15 from the rest of the group just doesn't make it sustainable. In the absence of great shooting is Kofi. He has to be efficient (not shoot 5 of 15). There are two kryptonites for this Illinois team. 1)A team with big, physical guards (Rutgers) and 2)A center with size and skill to take their game to 17-20 feet and have the ability to drive to the basket. Kofi doesn't have the foot speed to deal with either. Dickinson is going to be an incredibly tough matchup for Kofi. He does everything well that really puts Kofi in a bind. Now, if Hawkins can have a repeat performance, he's well more equipped to handled Dickinson.
I agree with you. Per usual, Illinois plays well for 30 minutes, then goes on the drought(not taking the ball to the basket, missing free throws and not hitting from the arc). Most recently, letting up huge second halves.....Until I see that not be the case(it has been for weeks now), it's hard to pick them, especially on the road. I think Michigan will be the favorite going in and will cover.
Michigan(puke). 83
Illinois. 70
It sucks that after the beginning of the season that I feel this way. That Ohio State game took the starch out of me. That's a game we should have won, but the above all happen) and we lost is heartbreaking fashion. I'm still bothered by it today.
All that said, turn the page(I'm sure the team has), let's figure this stuff out and come out with a needed W.
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Great post. You pretty much hit their issues on the head.
There is no such thing as 'relative motivation' with how you are using it. Stop.
Furthermore like I've said your assessment that desperate teams play harder is a bunch of bs too.
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