Illinois 73, Syracuse 44 Postgame

[Rap47]

Feels more NBA like. Switch. Help only when necessary. Maybe a little more on ball pressure than the league but for the most part we guard 1 on 1 pretty darn well.

Me, because of who I am, would love to see us throw out a 1-3-1 at some point like a JB Michigan team just to see what it looks like. If we were to use our buffer press and have teams not set up their offense until 18 seconds on the clock, then flip to a 1-3-1 when they set up, we’re talking about killing shot clock time like crazy. Especially late game if you wanna squeeze time with a lead.

The zone is not nearly as successful since the 3 point shot Era. A team would have been pleased to see people shooting 22 footers for 2 points.

 

[SCMART Illini]

Did anyone else notice an excessive amount of zooming in on a player after a basket? There were times it was 5-10 seconds, really wanted to see how our press was working, but instead got a great close up of one player for way to long. Yep, me being picky here. lol

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

Have we ever played a zone under BU? I don't remember us playing one even for a possession. I do agree with you - with the way college basketball is today with so much turnover every year with transfers, freshman playing key roles - switching defenses down the stretch to give the other team something to react to seems like a really good strategy. It would be very hard for a freshman PG for example to react to a new defense being thrown at them at the end of the game.

However, BU is a better coach than both of us and doesn't play a zone, so I don't think we'll ever see one. When to pick up full court and pressure seems to be the biggest change he's making this year in-game. There are lots of nuances of course in how they are defending ball screens and when to double the post etc, that he will change mid-game - but it's the same man-to-man principles every possession, every game. I'm sure there is a philosophy if you want to be great at something you have to do it every possession and not mess around with getting them to play a good zone defense too

Yes. When BU came to Illinois his preferred zone was 3-2, which interestingly enough, is my least favorite haha.

I’m a huge fan of literally everything else he does, and steal most of it.

 

[ptgrd23]

I think switching to zone once or twice per game to slow the pace down and confuse the offense is a good idea.

Lou was die hard man to man but would go to zone if we could not stop another team inside - vs. Kent Benson on Indiana 1976 National Champs.

It takes teams a while to figure out how to break zone. If they just bomb three's and they are missing them the zone is doing its job. Given our shooting woes excluding Plummer I would have played zone exclusively to defend against Kofi last year.

With our size a 3 -2 with Coleman on top would be be interesting. Of course I like pressing full court with Sencire and Coleman on top even better.

 

[Tacomallini]

I think I’m the only former student in history that hated that pizza

I was an undergrad 96-2001, worked at Papa Dels most of that time. Older staff said Gracia’s was really good at one point, but it was definitely shite by the late 90s. Surprised they’re still in business.

 

[Bbuck21]

I was an undergrad 96-2001, worked at Papa Dels most of that time. Older staff said Gracia’s was really good at one point, but it was definitely shite by the late 90s. Surprised they’re still in business.

Garcia's in the 70s and 80s was great. Maybe this doesn't make any sense, but my wife and friends agree with me, the slices on Wright were better than the pies on Green.

 

[Battle89]

I was an undergrad 96-2001, worked at Papa Dels most of that time. Older staff said Gracia’s was really good at one point, but it was definitely shite by the late 90s. Surprised they’re still in business.

85-89 here. Garcia's and PDs were neck-and-neck in the 80s for best pizza. I personally preferred Garcia's sauce, but think more people would have said PDs was their favorite.

Agree that I went back years later and it was godawful. I mean dirty restaurant, cobwebs, filth everywhere. We've not been back since.

 

[dbeverly26]

Garcia's in the 70s and 80s was great. Maybe this doesn't make any sense, but my wife and friends agree with me, the slices on Wright were better than the pies on Green.

I would agree with this. Textbook case of not managing the growth of a business very well.

 

[grue2]

85-89 here. Garcia's and PDs were neck-and-neck in the 80s for best pizza. I personally preferred Garcia's sauce, but think more people would have said PDs was their favorite.

Agree that I went back years later and it was godawful. I mean dirty restaurant, cobwebs, filth everywhere. We've not been back since.

My recollection of Garcias was that by '85, the pizza was lots of cheap cheese over a sweet/salty sauce. Whether you liked it or not depended on your view of heavy sugar and salt in the sauce. (Ugh IMO.)

For those in the SF bay area, the closest I have found are:
- Zachary's in Oakland/Berkeley is really good; they give Delz a run for best pizza.
- Blue Line w/~9 locations from Daly City to Los Gatos; a bit sweet, pricey for what you get
- Paxti's in Palo Alto; extremely sweet. I don't enjoy it; others really like it.

If you know of others in the south bay, please direct message me. (How I wish Zachary's would open a south bay branch.)

Now back to our regularly scheduled basketball discussion.

 

[Battle89]

My recollection of Garcias was that by '85, the pizza was lots of cheap cheese over a sweet/salty sauce. Whether you liked it or not depended on your view of heavy sugar and salt in the sauce. (Ugh IMO.)

For those in the SF bay area, the closest I have found are:
- Zachary's in Oakland/Berkeley is really good; they give Delz a run for best pizza.
- Blue Line w/~9 locations from Daly City to Los Gatos; a bit sweet, pricey for what you get
- Paxti's in Palo Alto; extremely sweet. I don't enjoy it; others really like it.

If you know of others in the south bay, please direct message me. (How I wish Zachary's would open a south bay branch.)

Now back to our regularly scheduled basketball discussion.

Agree @grue2 and I confess to preferring the sweeter sauces. I think more would agree with you and that was my PD comment above.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

I was an undergrad 96-2001, worked at Papa Dels most of that time. Older staff said Gracia’s was really good at one point, but it was definitely shite by the late 90s. Surprised they’re still in business.

Got a frozen Pop's to take home and ate at Garcia's (now out on Mattis) after the Purdue game a few weeks ago. Garcia's still had slices, but they cooked them up in a convection oven super fast - did not taste the same. Not as good but not awful. Would be interested to try a whole pie cooked conventionally to see how it compares to my memory.

We were served by Ralph. Yes, that Ralph. We had a nice conversation about the business over the years, the campus stores, and the stores they once had that were nearer my home in Indiana (Muncie by Ball State and West Lafayette) - we used to drive an hour to West Lafayette once in a while just to eat at Garcia's. We were sad to see that place close. Ralph is a really nice guy.

Oh, and the frozen Pop's cook up awesome.

 

[Timj83]

My recollection of Garcias was that by '85, the pizza was lots of cheap cheese over a sweet/salty sauce. Whether you liked it or not depended on your view of heavy sugar and salt in the sauce. (Ugh IMO.)

For those in the SF bay area, the closest I have found are:
- Zachary's in Oakland/Berkeley is really good; they give Delz a run for best pizza.
- Blue Line w/~9 locations from Daly City to Los Gatos; a bit sweet, pricey for what you get
- Paxti's in Palo Alto; extremely sweet. I don't enjoy it; others really like it.

If you know of others in the south bay, please direct message me. (How I wish Zachary's would open a south bay branch.)

Now back to our regularly scheduled basketball discussion.

Bay Area here! Zachary's is good. Paxti's is a chain, and it definitely depends on the location you go to SF Hayes valley one is pretty good.

Not South bay but Best option by far IMO is Capo's in North Beach. It's Tony Gemignani's(7x world pizza champion also owns Tony's and Slice House which are both very good) Chicago pizza Restaurant. Highly recommend.

Capo’s Pizza, Pasta, Cocktails – by Tony Gemignani – San Francisco, CA

sfcapos.com

Little Star is also good more of a Pizzaria Uno's style cornmeal crust.

 

[Ga65]

Food network?

 

[kyillinifan]

Didn’t Garcia have a hot air balloon that would fly by the stadium on Saturday. I believe it was in the shape of a tomato.

 

[InDaAZ]

Garcia's in the 70s and 80s was great. Maybe this doesn't make any sense, but my wife and friends agree with me, the slices on Wright were better than the pies on Green.

My recollection of Garcia’s by the slice in the early 80’s was that it had the right amount of grease to perfectly cut the alcohol that was sloshing around in my belly at 1am.

Admittedly, my overall recollections of those times are hazy at best.

 

[CalIllini66]

My recollection of Garcias was that by '85, the pizza was lots of cheap cheese over a sweet/salty sauce. Whether you liked it or not depended on your view of heavy sugar and salt in the sauce. (Ugh IMO.)

For those in the SF bay area, the closest I have found are:
- Zachary's in Oakland/Berkeley is really good; they give Delz a run for best pizza.
- Blue Line w/~9 locations from Daly City to Los Gatos; a bit sweet, pricey for what you get
- Paxti's in Palo Alto; extremely sweet. I don't enjoy it; others really like it.

If you know of others in the south bay, please direct message me. (How I wish Zachary's would open a south bay branch.)

Now back to our regularly scheduled basketball discussion.

Agree about Zachary's - great deep dish pizza

 

[BRucks]

Didn’t Garcia have a hot air balloon that would fly by the stadium on Saturday. I believe it was in the shape of a tomato.

 

[Bbuck21]

My recollection of Garcia’s by the slice in the early 80’s was that it had the right amount of grease to perfectly cut the alcohol that was sloshing around in my belly at 1am.

Admittedly, my overall recollections of those times are hazy at best.

Those hazy memories are the best

 

[hoopsfan47]

Have we ever played a zone under BU? I don't remember us playing one even for a possession. I do agree with you - with the way college basketball is today with so much turnover every year with transfers, freshman playing key roles - switching defenses down the stretch to give the other team something to react to seems like a really good strategy. It would be very hard for a freshman PG for example to react to a new defense being thrown at them at the end of the game.

However, BU is a better coach than both of us and doesn't play a zone, so I don't think we'll ever see one. When to pick up full court and pressure seems to be the biggest change he's making this year in-game. There are lots of nuances of course in how they are defending ball screens and when to double the post etc, that he will change mid-game - but it's the same man-to-man principles every possession, every game. I'm sure there is a philosophy if you want to be great at something you have to do it every possession and not mess around with getting them to play a good zone defense too

Back in the day, my HS had the #1 ranked team in Illinois. The starting 5 had 3 that were 6'6", one and inch taller, and a 5'1" PG. The big guys all went to Power 5 schools while the PG went Div. 2 where he was an all-time leader for his school. They were pretty good defensively and used a 1-3-1 half court trapping defense from time to time. An opposing coach once described playing against it as trying to throw the ball through a tree. All the guys in the 3 across the middle were pretty athletic and long. Teams got off a shot just over 50% of the time. They rebounded effectively from it and one of the teams that lead them at half by 5 shot 75% from the field in the second half...and lost....as they did not get a rebound....not one on either end.

I bring this up only because this Illini team has the ability to use such a weapon when needed with the same kind of result. The dedication to switching man is a huge weapon and if trapping from it then it ts pretty similar, but if this team had that zone trap in the arsenal to spring on a team in a close game late, it could be game-changing.

But then BU has his reasons for what he does and I am a supporter as much as any.

 

[Bbuck21]

I’m not a big fan of their Christmas music. Kind of bland, very whiny notes, and definitely not upbeat at all.

That's my kind of humor. Thanks.

 

[Bbuck21]

Got a frozen Pop's to take home and ate at Garcia's (now out on Mattis) after the Purdue game a few weeks ago. Garcia's still had slices, but they cooked them up in a convection oven super fast - did not taste the same. Not as good but not awful. Would be interested to try a whole pie cooked conventionally to see how it compares to my memory.

We were served by Ralph. Yes, that Ralph. We had a nice conversation about the business over the years, the campus stores, and the stores they once had that were nearer my home in Indiana (Muncie by Ball State and West Lafayette) - we used to drive an hour to West Lafayette once in a while just to eat at Garcia's. We were sad to see that place close. Ralph is a really nice guy.

Oh, and the frozen Pop's cook up awesome.

Like the info. Any opinion why they (Garcia's) didn't succeed big time? In the late 70's it appeared to be on a great trajectory.

 

[Illinirog70]

That's my kid of humor. Thanks.

You have humorous kids? Do they look like you?

 

[Bbuck21]

You have humorous kids? Do they look like you?

I fixed it. Thanks for noticing.

 

[Illinimobile]

Didn’t Garcia have a hot air balloon that would fly by the stadium on Saturday. I believe it was in the shape of a tomato.

Champagne (Champaign?) and Propane!

 

[MDchicago]

Got a frozen Pop's to take home and ate at Garcia's (now out on Mattis) after the Purdue game a few weeks ago. Garcia's still had slices, but they cooked them up in a convection oven super fast - did not taste the same. Not as good but not awful. Would be interested to try a whole pie cooked conventionally to see how it compares to my memory.

We were served by Ralph. Yes, that Ralph. We had a nice conversation about the business over the years, the campus stores, and the stores they once had that were nearer my home in Indiana (Muncie by Ball State and West Lafayette) - we used to drive an hour to West Lafayette once in a while just to eat at Garcia's. We were sad to see that place close. Ralph is a really nice guy.

Oh, and the frozen Pop's cook up awesome.

DI story (p.2.) from 1974 regarding the acquisition of the Garcia's hot air balloon that used to fly around campus events.