Northwestern 73, Illinois 60 Postgame

[hiberto]

was expecting much more from TSJ and mayer as upperclassmen transfers. not much leadership or consistent performance from either of them

 

[IMPE ALL STAR]

No coach could coach this team well. We have guys on paper that should be great, but don't even come close to playing division 1 basketball at the moment.

Totally disagree with this. The team has pieces.

 

[Flyin' Illini]

The whole offense is broken, but passing is a huge problem. This team makes a lot of lazy or unnecessarily fancy passes that lead to turnovers, but even the ones that AREN'T turnovers are often just barely not stolen. It's like we are just daring the other team to take the ball away. I don't know what needs to happen for the guys to start taking care of the ball.

 

[CleverHandle1]

I feel Hawkins needs to go back being a role player--he's much better at it. I don't like MM's play--he's got a Jeckel and Hyde thing going on there. Might as well bench him. Melendez should only be a role player, too. I'm running out of options here. LOL. Play all the Freshmen, Goode (when healthy), DD and that French guy.

 

[illini80]

I truly thought some time off and extra practice would show some improvements. I certainly didn’t see it. I see selfish players and guys playing for themselves not their teammates. Not all, and not all the time, but enough that we won’t be successful if it doesn’t get fixed.

We needed a veteran point guard in the portal. We went a different direction and it cost us. Possibly the season, but I’m certainly not making that call now. At this point all I’m looking for is progress. And a game where we get hot from 3 is not what I mean.

Have a great night all.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

What in the hell happened after the game in Madison Square Garden?

 

[BBIQ]

I'm always positive about Illini mbb. But this team makes it hard to think we can do anything but go .400 in conference and win a game or two in the NIT. Zebras were questionable tonight, but the Illini are a bad team.

I love BU, tons, but he is failing. He MUST find a way to lead this team or find someone who can (maybe hand that part of coaching to C. Frazier??). He won't do it by getting in the face of every damn player as they come off rhe court. I teach and administer leadership for a huge organization. I am also a combat veteran of the USMC so I understand a myriad of different leadership approaches and styles but there does not seem to be an approach other than yelling and blame game on this team. If I am frustrated, I can't imagine how the coaches and team feel.

We can right the ship, but not the way we've been trying. I am not a basketball coach, he'll I wrestled in high school and passed on a scholly opportunity at Illinois to join the military. However, I can spot a disjointed bunch when I see them. This is one. Hope they turn it around.

Semper Fi Devil Nut!!

 

[Birdus]

I need someone to tell me why Underwood’s teams at SF Austin were successful. DM if you want.

I have some good friends that are KSU guys and they were livid when KState hired Weber instead of Underwood. And they said we were the luckiest team in the world when we got Brad.

I totally bought in that the cupboard was empty when he got here. But man, without Ayo and/or Kofi, his teams here have looked pretty out of control, indisciplined, foul crazy etc.

Don't forget about Trent. He is a lot better basketball player than most thought. He carried us in a few games. At Michigan he was unstoppable and single handedly won that game.

 

[sadcubfan69]

This isn't a team it's a collection of players. 100% on them for not even coming close to running anything resembling an offense or defense.

Minimal consistency across the board. Giving off good mixtape and highlight players vibes rather than of overall solid basketball players.

 

[PizzaHutParkingLot]

@LvilleILL @Indy Illini Fan pls tell us there is a grand plan to salvage the season

 

[HailtotheChief]

Coleman needs to start taking shots instead of passing. It's almost as if he's listening too much to folks telling him to pass first instead of look for his shot. He passed up a few open ones tonight that could have helped us.

Coleman needs to chill and not over think. He doesn't need to shoot more he needs to play to his strengths and shooting 3s is not it and teams know it's not. Houston did and others. There is a reason he has opportunities to shoot so often. They won't leave Mayer or Epps open like that
He needs to relax as do many of our guys.
Only 4 guys seem to play loose and react, Epps, Mayer, Dain and Harris. TSJ does most of the time as well. When I was in Vegas Skyy did too. Maybe his shoulder issues are legit. I think they are given his FT and shooting lately it looks totally different. As for Hawkins and RJ they are so far off in offense it's nuts.

 

[azillini1]

0-3 in the BIG, do not even know what to say.

Fighting the Gophers and Hawks for last place!

 

[5280Illini]

I expected an inconsistent start to the year, but not quite like this. I saw a couple of posts in the reddit game thread that indicated that there are chemistry issues due to discrepancy in NIL payments among the players. Any validity to this?

 

[the national]

 

[TriangleIL]

Watch the body language. There is a lack of leadership on the team, and the players and possibly even the assistants arent all bought in. Players need a players only meeting and decide if they want to salvage this season or not.

 

[SeattleSlim]

BTN showing game highlights. The Illini highlight was BU going apoplectic during a time out.

 

[Ramrod2010]

I have never seen a team with this total disregard of turning the ball over on offense. The reason seems to be that everyone is freelancing with no concept of running a play.
To quote the great philosopher Carlos Zambrano "We stinks"

I'll give you a like and a QFT referencing Zambrano, A+.

 

[CleverHandle1]

@LvilleILL @Indy Illini Fan pls tell us there is a grand plan to salvage the season

LOL! There ain't none. What can they possibly do? Maybe Perine and Goode coming back? But, I am not hopeful at all.

 

[the national]

A lot of poor choices tonight but Hawkins really killed us with his turnovers. So many empty possessions. I love his heart but he’s playing way outside himself.

 

[FlotownIllini]

Fundamentally unsound basketball. Extremely tough to watch, and even tougher to root for. I do not know how this gets fixed.

 

[Illini8420]

I think the Tim Anderson recruiting show has run its course

 

[Manual3for4peat]

Very disappointing. We really miss Damonte and Trent's leadership. We also really miss Kofi's skill.

 

[robow7]

Not sure I can remember an Illini team with worse chemistry. Someone feel free to jog my memory, but in the end, these kids don't even look like they're having fun.

 

[Southernillini]

Coleman isn't going to suddenly develop good instincts. It is what it is with him. Which is unfortunate.
I'm also bummed at how fragile TSJs confidence is.
With Clark you have terrible D combined with the freshman wall/no confidence in scoring. His +/- has to be the worst if anyone on the team.
Just lots of big time disappointment this year and I don't seet it suddenly changing.

 

[skyIdub]

What in the hell happened after the game in Madison Square Garden?

Watch the huddles, listen to the interviews. CoHawk and MM specifically. They are doing their own thing and tuning out the coaches. The only players totally engaged and playing hard every play are the freshmen.

BU is trying to put out a forest fire with a watering can.