Penn State 90, Illinois 89 Postgame

[DICKnaggie]

No. Really? This defense is terrible despite an old team and a coach that previously was prideful about defense. This issue is not new. We have been terrible defensively for the last half of the season. What a weird thing to make an esoteric pitch to not talk about our defensive shortcomings.

Fix them. We need to talk about it.

Why would we "hope" when we've seen this defense be sub par all year? This is not what Illini defensive culture is or has historically been. Current course of action is not helpful despite how much I appreciate your input.

 

[Grandpa]

I think we all agree that we don’t have a true PG. We are going to have more turnovers because of that but hopefully our rebounding advantage offsets that or gives us the advantage. You need to look at the total picture with the pieces we have. If everyone got what they wanted then everyone would win the championship. The coaches need to work with what they have. We are doing better than most in the new NIL world, so I’m personally happy as a fan but I would like a national championship as much as everyone else. I don’t want to go backwards though because of unrealistic expectations.

It also means that we don't have quickness to keep PGs in front of us. Give up a lot of layups to quick PGs.

 

[Hingle McCringleberry]

Well I have perfected the Illinois basketball viewing protocol (saved me countless wasted hours & frustration):
1. Record game and start watching the recording when the real game has about 10 min left in 2nd half (~1:30 min after tip)
2. Watch the first 5-10 min of recorded game
3. If the team looks flat, check real-time score to see if the game is worth watching
4. Save myself 1.5 hours of grief

 

[skyIdub]

So, Brad's solution is.....playing time? Lol....5 games left and we're gonna start benching seniors and grads for missed assignments to get them to play D?

Come on now. This is a schematic defensive issue, not personnel. Opposing coaches are running simple plays to exploit our switching and our guys are just chasing cutters around on terrible angles.

This defense is broken. You just got absolutely TORCHED by the #169th ranked team in offensive efficiency, #154 overall. Missing one of their top players?

Come on now.

 

[CogDog]

Defensive effort has been so soft. The ranking has gotten to our heads. We have the pieces for a FF, but below average toughness and focus. Intensity needs to double in the last 10 minutes, not be halved.

 

[number1IlliniFan]

While we are more talented than other teams, our basketball IQ is not very high, from the players to the coaches. If this team played in an All-Star Game, they might put up 200 points, but execute fundamental of the game? Not gonna happen. Can't handle the ball (18 turnovers), can't defend an inbound play (3 buckets under the basket), can't inbound a ball, can't break a press, can't manage the clock (Goode shooting a 3 with 23 secs on shot clock), can't make free throws at crunch time. Can't play defense. Coaches can't get players prepared, coaches can't manage the line-up and coach cannot manage the end of a game.

These are fundamentals of the game! You can't fix many of these things overnight. Our only hope is that we out score other teams and other teams don't get too lucky. I worry that other teams we face here on out will be more prepared and better coached and beat us with the basics of the game.

That being said, WHAT IF IN THAT LAST 60 Seconds: Coleman makes his FT's? or Harmon makes that last layup? Or Shannon gets the foul called on his last possession? Or Ty is playing instead of Goode? Or we wore our Orange jerseys? Ugh. Such a bad loss.

Congrats to Penn St though, they played the game the way it was supposed to be played.

 

[doltmanns]

I think we all agree that we don’t have a true PG. We are going to have more turnovers because of that but hopefully our rebounding advantage offsets that or gives us the advantage. You need to look at the total picture with the pieces we have. If everyone got what they wanted then everyone would win the championship. The coaches need to work with what they have. We are doing better than most in the new NIL world, so I’m personally happy as a fan but I would like a national championship as much as everyone else. I don’t want to go backwards though because of unrealistic expectations.

I turn 71 in 2 weeks and have been an Illini fan for 60+ years. I would like a national championship while I am on God's earth.

 

[jimbo72]

Really
We recruited a freshman and signed a freshman who's averaging. 11 pts. and 7 rebounds per game as freshmen? From Illinois? I understand we recruited transfers and we have a lot of older kids. But they're all gone after this year. You can have 7 seniors and 3 freshmen. Are you really gonna replace 7 seniors and 3 or 4 freshmen? Don't be foolish!

 

[Illini231]

Can we stop pretending that not having a point guard isn't a huge flaw of this team?

 

[Leelnd]

That was so frustrating... From the waving of the goaltend, whistle swallowing, not taking timeouts when needed, missed free throws, fouling the 3 points shooter, and harmon late in games inbounding. I can't take it.

 

[IlliniMike_Aurora]

Fair but you also need the right players in at the right times

agree

 

[dmb24illini]

To play devil’s advocate here:
There was still 2 minutes left, he was 3-4 from 3 at that point and it was an open look. We go up by 11 if he makes it and the game is likely over.

Sure, if it goes in, we're not talking about it. But that's bad basketball. Take 10 more seconds off the clock.

 

[IlliniMike_Aurora]

True but it would help to have SOMETHING to execute wouldn’t it ?

yes, I'll agree with you on that, i just think at times it feels like 5 of us illinoisloyalty diehards could get the ball in and score on the illini on an out of bounds play,

the players are flat out failing at BASIC set plays we've done since kindergarten, is it that F*ing hard to get the ball in? or defend the other team doing it?

I just feel coaches and players are both failing at simple tasks right now - and its so freaking frustrating

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

The only other team that has allowed PSU to score 90 pts in a game this year is ... RIDER. #238 Torvik Rider. #256 defensive efficiency Rider.

Even Iowa held PSU to 89 pts. Tonight, we had a worse defense than Iowa. Let that sink in. A team known for not playing defense. We're worse than that team defensively right now.

 

[hooraybeer]

time to beg Sincere to burn his redshirt and save our defense

if our defense is going to be this bad regardless i’d rather have Epps in at PG

 

[Saturdaze]

I’d be less frustrated with BUs commentary if there were noticeable improvements concurrent with his deflections and lack of responsibility. I understand if he was trying to cover for his guys, but every week it’s the same problems.

We lose at Maryland if hadn’t shot 32 of 36 from FT, and we blew a 10 point lead in final 3 minutes against Nebraska before winning in OT.

 

[Orange Roughy]

 

[Orange Roughy]

 

[PopChampaign]

I had a few beers and stopped watching the game late in the 4th to start dinner and just now checking Loyalty and see this shxt. What the hxll happened? We were in control of the game when I stopped watching, TSJ was getting to the bucket at will, playing decent defense, had momentum, I feel cheated. It’s that feeling when you blackout, wake up the next morning and is a mixture of confused, scared, anxious and worried.

 

[Eternal Optimist]

I wish we could consistently be who we should be with this roster. We really can beat anyone this year. Unfortunately, we can also lose to just about anyone as well. I give our team a passing grade for creative ways to disappear at the end of games this year.

 

[BDMAN]

This team has tremendous potential. However, to go from playing great defense to no defense is a coaching issue. Brad has not shown to me that when things go off the rails that he has a plan to get the team back on.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

I slept on this disaster. Woke up.

This kind of is what we are. Brads done a remarkable job of turning this program around and every year we are gonna be right in the top 20-15. We are a presence again nationally recruiting and in the portal.

That said, if I’m Whitman and he and or his agent start flirting again this offseason, while Sean Miller is available and interested…. We have had three all American players. We’ve made 0 second weekends. The lack of adjusting in game is maddening.

This whole, “oh this is the assistants fault on the defense”. It just doesn’t fly. You’re the boss. Make the adjustment.

The whole air balling on another point guard is also infuriating. Yes the offense is amazing. Imagine what it would be with a good point guard with Marcus and TJ together?

I’m not sure at this point what the answer is. I guess find another Gentry to help with X and Os. But, when they panned to Josh in the crowd the first thing that came to mind after the game was I bet Josh was pissed

 

[Coop70]

I turn 71 in 2 weeks and have been an Illini fan for 60+ years. I would like a national championship while I am on God's earth.

I am 71.....the actuarial tables don't give us much hope.

 

[Illiniam1984]

He looks pissed off.

 

[Dr Copejam]

We will not get past the first weekend in the NCAA