Indiana 65, Illinois 63 Postgame

[Go Nats 88 Illini]

This is a team that can beat anybody and lose to (just about) anybody. I still have a good feel going into the tournamnet. Maybe being a little hungrier will be just what the doctor ordered (along with a healthy Grandison).

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

35.7%, 36.4%, 65.2%

66% of those stats will get you beat nearly every time

 

[bootsy1974]

We'll agree to disagree here. The Big Ten co-champion should not be a 4 seed in the tournament and they should have beaten Indiana.

Now, I know Kofi was missing in a couple, but I look at:

Cincinnati(double digit lead @ Neutral)
Marquette (double digit lead @ Marquette)
Ohio State(double digit lead @ Home)
Arizona(double digit lead @ Home)
Purdue (double digit lead @ West Lafayette)

Now, let's look at some wins

Northwestern (double digit lead @ home, got to 1)
Maryland (double digit lead @ home in first half, then went down 4)
MSU(double digit lead @ home, won by 1)

Those are all games where "the drought" occurred.

Now, I'm not going to take 15-5 and stick my nose up at it. It's a HUGE accomplishment. They'll be raising a banner and knowing that, to me, makes everything else gravy this year.

That said, this year....each game....has been a roller coaster of emotion because they never could play a full, even, 40 minutes.

I'm trying to be realistic, while at the same time being appreciative of the season these young men gave us.

Marquette we were without Kofi. Cincy was Kofi's first game back but we were still dealing with a not fully healthy team at that point.

You do realize that you could nitpick about double digit leads or whatever with every team in the country with exception of possibly a handful. We won the conference and finished in the top 15-20 that is consistent. Don't care how we did it, the results are the only thing that matters.

 

[LvilleILL]

All I will say is....the focus over the last month has focused on getting ready for the NCAA tourney. They want to go to a final 4, last year kind of took away the importance of the BTT. They will be playing at a different intensity we’ve seen all year. I’m telling you, this team will go to the final 4. Calling my shot-come back to this in a few weeks

 

[dbeverly26]

“You don’t miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

— Damonte Williams misquoting Wayne Gretzky, probably

Up to 14 pages of posts trashing Andre Curbelo, but what’s plan B? You don’t get good shots if you don’t attack on offense, and a lot of the time he’s the only one doing it. They got a decent number of bunnies and missed a lot of them, but what’s the alternative, pass the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds and take a contested three?

You can play a “clean” game (whatever that means) and not get good shots. But as long as Norman Dale approves…

 

[GBIllini]

Well I am still a glass half full guy on this team. I feel the same way about them as I did 6 weeks ago. Did they play their best today, no but they didn't play their worst either. Our turnovers weren't terrible though a few costly ones at inopportune times. Free throws weren't were we need them to be and our shots weren't falling. During our two scoring droughts we were getting some good shots that we normally hit. Except for a couple of out of control shots and one late in the shot clock, these are the ones we will take all day. Didn't want to lose this one but now we can take advantage of a couple extra days of rest to get healthier and get our batteries charged to 100% for the big dance. Still believe this team can make a significant run.
Especially now that they probably will be going in with a chip on their shoulders.

 

[Monticello]

Here has what I've gotten from the minority on the Illini Board today:

Belo is no good, despite being a (multi) preseason award winner and HUGE spark off the bench today and HUGE part of our future.

Brad Underwood can't coach but we don't want him to go to KSU. Not sure of what the logic is here on either stance.

Bill Self wouldn't have won with the '05 team even though he won a Natty in '08 at Kansas in just under 5 years at the helm.

Pru likes gummies.

DMW should shoot more.

DMW should shoot less.

CoHawk is awesome.

CoHawk isn't any good.

 

[OurMottoisOskeeWowWow]

It's frustrating how inconsistent this teams is. Seems like we can beat anybody and yes as mentioned multiple times lose to anybody. Hope this motivates this team going into the tournament. Hope they use this extra time to fire themselves up and improve like I think the Ohio State game did. Just gotta make sure we win the next game. That's all that matters now.

 

[IMPE Legend]

Yes, but that takes CoHawk off the floor. We need his length. I think it is a wash.

I agree. The move that needs to happen is Jake in for Damonte...but I don't see Underwood doing it. I love all the little things Damonte does...but having an offensive liability on the floor contributes in part to our long scoring droughts. We are not a defense first team. We just aren't. We are an offensive team that can play some defense. Trent does both which is why he is so important. When we have looked dominant it is when we are scoring. If we aren't scoring the rest doesn't matter much. Damonte will obviously be needed in certain situations and against certain opponents. I just don't think we can keep him out there for long stretches...especially those long stretches where we are struggling to score. Its hard to sit a 5th year senior, especially one who does so many little things, but when you don't do one of the big things it hurts. Having him off the bench, though, would be a great weapon to deploy when needed.

 

[Kingo24]

Not sure what has been discussed in this thread, but it was clear to me that the Illini threw this game in order to guarantee another conference team makes the tourney.

 

[Battle89]

It's an easy game. Make shots = win. Miss shots = lose.

The team played hard....or else they would have gotten boat raced by halftime. Some questionable decisions on offense...but that's what you get with Curbelo missing half the season. Just no rhythm or consistency. If they don't find some...it will be a tough row to plow in the tourney.

Sign me up for next years Curbelo & CoHawk show. Stay healthy, get some rest, and make a run to the Sweet 16.

We love no other. ILL-

INI. Agree with all, but man we missed more bunnies than Elmer Fudd...

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

I'm thinking this loss may be the best thing for this years version of Illini..... They absolutely NEED almost a solid week of practices. No games, no travel, and no distractions. This team has plenty of talent to make a long run in the Tourney. What they don't have is a unit that has played/practiced together any length of time.
Give BU and his staff this week to bring this group together and I think special things may happen.

PS: Those of you that are trashing Curbelo are clueless. He is a special talent that has been playing hurt. Please don't drive him away!!

 

[Illini-Rule]

Curbelo HAS to clean up his game. It's not just dumb mistakes, it's the times of the game of those dumb mistakes. For every nice play he has 3 bad ones. One example, misses front end of one and one, then gets blown by his man for a layup. That's where coach needs to hold him accountable for the mistakes. The Plummer disappearing act is just baffling. But I for one, would love for Curbelo to clean up his game and situational awareness during crunch time. If you take it to the hole, make the layup. Not some cutesy flip in hopes it drops. That's all i got. hopefully the veteran team will show up in the Dance and play a full 40.

I understand what your saying, but 4 assists to 1 turnover isn't making bad decisions. Throw in 10 rebounds and that's pretty good Stat sheet. Yes 1 for 7 shooting and missed free throws isn't ideal. But honestly we need him making assists more than scoring.

 

[BlueLeader]

How many decades since we last made the front end of a 1-and-1?

 

[OurMottoisOskeeWowWow]

Can we please not bash our players on here? I know this board doesn't react well to losses but let's not make it worse than it needs to be.

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

No kidding man. If you want to knock Belo, knock the missed FT. But the dude is a baller and brought a ton of energy. That charge late in the game, the pass to Hawk (that would be top ten SC if Hawk dunks it)...pure sweetness.

This^^^ He had to be in. He had as many rebounds as Kofi in 5 less minutes.

 

[sdfidaho]

I said at beginning of thread players played not to lose….and lost. Meant to say players played scared to lose…and lost. But up until the missed layup by Curb, I truly believed they would pull this game out.
Now I’m left hoping the week off is just what this team needs.
Get healthy and well rested for a deep run!

 

[KnoxIllini2]

How many decades since we last made the front end of a 1-and-1?

We made the last two front ends on 3/11/2022 about 12ish Central.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

Can we please not bash our players on here? I know this board doesn't react well to losses but let's not make it worse than it needs to be.

But it’s fun bashing the tools that bash our dudes.

 

[sdfidaho]

This^^^ He had to be in. He had as many rebounds as Kofi in 5 less minutes.

Curb keeps getting better and better.
I’m really starting to like the 3 guard lineup. The way Curb rebounds and plays D. Just need TF and Plummer to shoot their season averages.
CoHawks energy and length along with Kofi being Kofi……This team rested/healed up has all the pieces needed

 

[ejam21]

Curbelo HAS to clean up his game. It's not just dumb mistakes, it's the times of the game of those dumb mistakes. For every nice play he has 3 bad ones. One example, misses front end of one and one, then gets blown by his man for a layup. That's where coach needs to hold him accountable for the mistakes. The Plummer disappearing act is just baffling. But I for one, would love for Curbelo to clean up his game and situational awareness during crunch time. If you take it to the hole, make the layup. Not some cutesy flip in hopes it drops. That's all i got. hopefully the veteran team will show up in the Dance and play a full 40.

there is no way on earth he has a 1 to 3 good play to bad play ratio. PERIOD. I cant beleive some of the **** i read on here. 10 boards, 5 A/TO today, and should have had more assists given the blown coleman dunk/layup and and one that he short arm'd plus 2-3 wide opne plummer shots that didnt fall, a couple hockey assists, and drawing fouls on layups. Are you asying he had like 60 other bad plays to counter act those positive stats? LOL

 

[illinipimp]

We have sucked our way to a big 10 regular season title. Got it!

Guess you didnt comprehend. I said the last month despite winning the title. Our last 7 games we were 4-3. Those 4 wins by a combined less then 20 points. Those 4 were in doubt with under 2 minutes to go. Only one ranked team and we lost at home to them. Sorry not a hater just a realist.

 

[ejam21]

1 turnover, 1 steal, 4 assists, 10 rebounds. Clean it up.

must have had like 48 bad plays to make the ratio that poster claims LOL

 

[ejam21]

Yes, but that takes CoHawk off the floor. We need his length. I think it is a wash.

why cant grandy play the 3 and hawkins the 4 sometimes? especially if plummer is off like today

 

[CV Illini]

Guess you didnt comprehend. I said the last month despite winning the title. Our last 7 games we were 4-3. Those 4 wins by a combined less then 20 points. Those 4 were in doubt with under 2 minutes to go. Only one ranked team and we lost at home to them. Sorry not a hater just a realist.

Fully comprehended thanks......and I guess iowa wasn't ranked?