Yes, Andre's absence from the Big East Tournament was because he was in the concussion protocol, not because of a coach's decision (though that happened too this year). Andre indicated that he might have been able to play in the NCAAs had SJU won the BET, but they didn't.
Penn State 79, Illinois 76 Postgame
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Our fans would be crazy to not want both TSJ and Coleman back. We would automatically be preseason B10 favorite with the losses other teams around the conference will have.
I'm sure UCLA fans had some of the same pessimistic beliefs. Not sure what their issues were, but they certainly figured some things out. So I'm saying there is a chance.
Really....over the past 7 seasons they have won 3 big 10 titles and have been to one Elite 8 and 3 other Sweet 16's; with this year yet to play out. I would prefer their frustration over ours at this point.
That's part of the frustration with me, what are these guys getting out of going to Syracuse, LSU, St. John's that they are missing here? Nothing. It's just a pure "grass isn't greener" situation. It's not like a guy like Tevian Jones who can't get off the bench for 2 seasons going to a much lower conference where he can start and score a lot of points. Those transfers have always happened, even when players had to sit a year. It's the transfers from contributors with room to grow into even bigger roles that is so frustrating.
I don't want to see Jayden Epps go to like.. idk, Wake Forest or whatever just to be another whatever player on a whatever team. These guys would be better served HERE as part of a culture and program with continuity, you can't hold them hostage, but you can certainly do everything your power to convince them they're better served staying here.
Purdue isn't the only one (a program that's basically one very plausible Final Four run away from all their "frustrations" being completely erased), Iowa, Michigan State... these guys don't lose players to lateral transfers the way that we do.
I’m not si sure. There are some very good players that could stick around much like Kofi could have for 2 more years due to Covid.
UCLA's issues seem to be that the Pac-12 was surprisingly stronger that year than the metrics had them (if I recall, the 2020-21 season had a less robust out of conference slate than usual due to COVID, so the metrics were thrown off). I suppose it *could* have been a fluke, but the Pac-12 performed really well that NCAA Tournament whereas the Big Ten was a big time disappointment.
Revisionist history. Iowa has players leave all the time. Frederick was a starter and went to Kentucky. Just one example. MSU had a few leave last year.
I would agree with the poster on Purdue. Seems like Painter is somehow able to get guys to completely buy in. Perfect example is how he is able to redshirt freshman without any blowback and also somehow keep players like Brandon Newman on board.
I'm not saying they haven't been good but they haven't gotten results that align with their talent. Most hardcore Purdue fans expect to be disappointed.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Underwood is probably one of the most demanding coaches in CBB right now. Some guys, like Trent and Ayo (who came here because he wanted to be challenged) love it, but it's not for everybody. Adam Miller, if he had put in the work in the '21 offseason, could have been a great player but instead seems satisfied with being an ok starter at LSU. With Curbelo, you could see a disconnect with the staff at the end of last season. I believe losing Antigua played a role in that, but again, he wasn't putting in the desired work to become a better overall player.
Adults, much less 19 and 20 years may believe that the grass is greener elsewhere. Maybe we should stop bringing in high caliber recruits so our players don't think about leaving?
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois falters late, falls to Penn State in Big Ten Tournament second round
Despite a second-half lead and a postseason matchup, the third time wasn’t the charm for Illinois against Penn State.
CHICAGO — Despite a second-half lead and a postseason matchup, the third time wasn’t the charm for Illinois against Penn State.
Missed free throws and open 3s given up on defense were costly down the stretch in the Illini’s 76-73 loss to Nittany Lions in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday at the United Center.
Illinois shot 12 of 19 (63.2%) from the line and had just two field goals in a 6:26 stretch late in the first that put the team down 12 with under two minutes left.
The Illini couldn’t overcome that deficit, and fell to the Nittany Lions for a third time this season and went one-and-done in the conference tournament for the second straight season.
Terrence Shannon Jr. had a team-high 19 points for Illinois while Coleman Hawkins added 17.
Nittany Lions guard and 3-point specialist Andrew Funk got open looks on the perimeter and made the Illini pay, shooting 6 for 9 from 3 and scoring a game-high 20. That included a couple of dagger triples late.
I see his stats and he is drawing interest from some folks but is Ledlum a “sharpshooter “ people around here want. He does have good size and experience but is only 29 percent from 3, 74 turnovers and 54assists this year. I know you said it may not be him. I hope we get a better shooter and less turnovers than that.
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I'm confused by "The Epps situation." He had a bench role early but still played pretty good minutes. Closed out some big games (Texas). Was given the keys when Skyy left and performed probably above expectations for a Freshman.
There has been a couple ups and downs but that happens for all freshmen for the most part. I don't see how a different situation would be better for him moving forward.
Not to be overly pedantic, but Frederick transferred "up" so to speak.
He'll fit right in here.
There is a situation that is a private internal matter ... That's really all I can say about it ...
Think it will be resolved ... But I can't say that with 100% confidence ...
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
The guy that gets the open 3 for us typically isn’t a great shooter…at the PSU game yesterday it seemed every time they got the open 3, it was #10 (their sniper) getting a wide open look.
Illinois is very incapable of the big dagger/momentum-changing all three. Any time things are going well and things are hyped, feels like there's a clean look from three, BRICK. And then the momentum changes to the other direction.
I’m good with just frosh and dain. And if we can talk Shannon into NIL
The Epps/Coleman/Shannon part has me concerned. If none or only 1 of those guys come back, feels like an average team with little scoring. I know very little about Hansberry & DGL but doesn't seem like they are the kind of recruits that could fill that void. Would need some serious portal-magic to be competitive next year.
His dads tweet last night may have nothing to do with the private internal matter, but it felt like there was hidden context/meaning behind it.
Yeah, at the risk of getting some blowback here I'll say I think some on the board have been a little quick to excuse Dainja for this. On purpose or not, the player must be aware of his surroundings and his own actions at all times. This was a dumb play that only served to allow us to check the 'bad Illinois technical' on our 2023 Illini bingo cards.
Maybe not 100% apples-to-apples, but three years ago, the top player in the tennis world was disqualified from the US Open for inadvertently striking a linesperson with a ball hit in anger, ending his perfect season. By comparison a two-shot technical seems appropriate.
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