Illinois 87, Valparaiso 64 Postgame

[Illiniguy13]

This is not a good team. Oh well. Maybe they will figure it out soon but they are running out of time.

It’s November 17th

 

[zentrails]

The powerful giant Justin Harmon led the team with 9 boards.

OTOH, four players with 7, two with 5 and one with 6

 

[One Man Fast Break]

It’s November 17th

Indeed. Still time to figure it out but they gotta do it before too long

 

[JSpence]

OTOH, four players with 7, two with 5 and one with 6

Jesus, that's a lot of rebounds.

 

[Illinifan33]

It’s November 17th

The concern is they are having the same problems they had all of last year. This team struggles to get motivated to play an entire 40 min

 

[dbeverly26]

Jesus, that's a lot of rebounds.

This was an 80 possession game. It would’ve been pretty entertaining if the first half was flipped with the second

 

[Dan]

 

[GallopingGhost]

People who only see the score will think that we were pretty good.

That’s probably good that AP voters don’t watch the games. Not these anyway

 

[OB positive]

Good rally in the second half to win going away. The first half was another story. Sometimes Brad's positionless basketball looks more like pointgaurdless basketball.

 

[blackdog]

On the FT shooting: Underwood addressed it a little in the radio interview but it's all mental at this point. Watching Dain shoot before the game and he always knocks down 5, 6, 7, 8 in a row, way more makes than misses. Something about being in the game that seems to be throwing him off.

 

[whatahack]

Was there any recognition for Rev???

 

[KingWolf11]

I would die for Roger Powell

 

[LvilleILL]

The ceiling of this team is SO high, but we won't be at our best until some point in 2024. Need to start way faster as we figure things out though

 

[blackdog]

Was there any recognition for Rev???

A nice ovation before the game and showed a couple highlights during a first half time out. The crowd was only 3/4 and mostly asleep so not a lot of noise for him or much of anything really.

 

[whatahack]

A nice ovation before the game and showed a couple highlights during a first half time out. The crowd was only 3/4 and mostly asleep so not a lot of noise for him or much of anything really.

Thanks...that's too bad. He's a great Illini

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Do they not practice their free throw shooting at all? Seriously? This is becoming a broken record. I'm more concerned about the free throw shooting than the slow 1st half that they had. They are going to lose all the close 1 and 2 possession games due to their inability to shoot free throws

I like to see Goode hitting his 3's though for a second straight game. That is very encouraging. We need his shooting badly

You can shoot 1,000 free throws in practice. There's no pressure, it's just you and the rim, there's no pressure, your teammates might be yelling in your ear....it's relaxed and a kid will make 800 of them.

You put the same guy on the line, one and one, 17,000 strong watching you and only you, the TV cameras are on and the free throws are for real. Can't replicate that in practice. It's 100% confidence that you're going to step up and make them.

 

[PepeSilvia]

The highlight of the game was the Rev’s coaching. They came out ready to play. Hoping he resurrects Valpo and eventually gets the chance to come home.

I think he will do a genuinely good job there. Spent a lot of time with Bryce Drew and Gonzaga and his dad is a legend in the southwest suburbs. I think he will recruit the mid major tier of Chicago area kids really well.

 

[JSpence]

On the FT shooting: Underwood addressed it a little in the radio interview but it's all mental at this point. Watching Dain shoot before the game and he always knocks down 5, 6, 7, 8 in a row, way more makes than misses. Something about being in the game that seems to be throwing him off.

I mean, yes and no. It agree that it looks like there is a pattern at this point. BUT:

There are cold free throws. And warm ones. And winded ones. And tired ones. Those are all different before you factor in the mental aspect.

 

[RealWorld52]

Great game

 

[PepeSilvia]

The powerful giant Justin Harmon led the team with 9 boards.

Would like to see him get going a bit on the offensive end but he's a tough player.

If he can end up being a bench scorer and Domask can provide a consistent 2nd option I think this team will be fine.

 

[Get yourself a new map]

Stafford listed as a computer science major. Thats pretty cool, at least.

 

[Orangetool]

What we wanted,

what happened!

 

[jumpingjack]

That was something.

 

[One Man Fast Break]

On the FT shooting: Underwood addressed it a little in the radio interview but it's all mental at this point. Watching Dain shoot before the game and he always knocks down 5, 6, 7, 8 in a row, way more makes than misses. Something about being in the game that seems to be throwing him off.

Running up and down the court, playing defense, rebounding, pressure. All of it.

 

[jumpingjack]

Jesus, that's a lot of rebounds.

Can't get rebounds if you make all your shots.
4d chess, baby