MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Last edited:
Illinois 90, SIU Edwardsville 58 Postgame
- Status
Steelyunk
- Tobacco Road
The offensive talent Underwood has assembled is crazy and is only going to get better as the season progresses - but I really appreciate the stepped up defensive intensity last night. Just need to squeeze some more of those loose balls. I know… that’s what she said.
After so many years of futility it’s really gratifying to root for teams that are fun to watch. I keep thinking of those Groce teams that stood around and fired up late shot clock threes and none of them could shoot. So many of us watched every one of those awful games. Great time to be an Illini fan.
After so many years of futility it’s really gratifying to root for teams that are fun to watch. I keep thinking of those Groce teams that stood around and fired up late shot clock threes and none of them could shoot. So many of us watched every one of those awful games. Great time to be an Illini fan.
I listened to the play by play with Barnhart and Dion. They are good together. But what I heard leaves me to question a few things. It sounded like SIUE got several layups and 27 offensive rebounds. I think Brad won't be happy about that. Free throw shooting for this group of marksmen should be an asset but not last night, left too many points at the line. With our size we should never be outrebounded. It wasn't one of their best shooting performances, but they still hung 90 up.
Just a note I thought was a jab at Coleman. I don't think Coleman ever got the tip on jump ball- Ivisic has 2 already. Cleanup a couple of things and get ready for the big game at Alabama.
Just a note I thought was a jab at Coleman. I don't think Coleman ever got the tip on jump ball- Ivisic has 2 already. Cleanup a couple of things and get ready for the big game at Alabama.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
from a pure talent perspective, without a doubt
I couldn’t agree more. The roster construction here is superb…and when you consider how short the window of time the staff had to assemble this group…it’s borderline astonishing. It really, really is.
8+ dudes that can pass and shoot. AND not just shoot…Light…it…up! Most teams got maybe one or two guys like that if they’re lucky. The passing…(minus a few lazy, not-meet-it, helium passes against that E-ville press)…has looked like a college version of the ‘86 Celtics. (Yes I know it’s just a directional school right now.)
And not just Kaspar. (Who is razzle dazzle and an obvious phenomenon.) Ivisic & Big Ben are sneaky good passers. They’re not being talked about enough…go back and rewatch. People not sold on Ben, yet? I don’t get it.
ALSO…I do not get people saying Kylan hasn’t played well…because he has…and not just on D. ( Prolly, ifKylan had knocked down a couple of those trays. We’d be hearing how well he played right now.)
KB is more unassuming/does things quiet. His calming presence has also been certainly felt at times. (We’re spoiled with Shannon.) But his ability to take it to penetrate and dish is unlike anybody else we’ve got. (Yes, DGL some…yes, Tre SOME…but not like the Bos. Kaspar? kind of/at times…but he doesn’t have the burst.)
I dig that BLOB we’ve running for a dagger in the corner too. But maybe the best thing to come out of this ballgame is the wrinkles.( That’s what she said.)
Last edited:
sacraig
- The desert
It seems we would lose to Gambling State in an exhibition, then.
Do you mean that it's not Jaksheohness or Humreekhouse? And what happened to all that gray? Love Bardo, but c'mon, how can you listen to your partner and the arena announcer correctly pronounce these names and continue to mispronounce them?
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
After 2 games, Illini are tied for 1st in the country in Kill Shots (which Evan Miya defines as a 10-0 run) with 5.
Early days, but fun to see the offensive firepower of this team...
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Love Marcus, but he's much more of a small forward who was forced to play point guard because of circumstances. (If you were tongue-in-cheek because of how Marcus bossed booty ball last season, my apologies).
I'm an old-school kind of sports guy. I love watching things like a runner scoring from first on a double to the gap in baseball, a football team running the ball down a defense's throat in football, a string-pulling central attacking midfielder threading through balls to a forward in stride in soccer, and a classic pass-first point guard in basketball. KJ is without question the latter for me, and I love it.
caveats about level of competition aside, ive been impressed with the overall basketball IQ, especially on offense.
great ball movement and off the ball movement, crisp swing passes and generally guys have been willing to pass up a good shot to get their teammate a great one.
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
I love KJ's play, and think he's going to be THE key player for us the way he guides the offense. But I have to offer that it doesn't matter how one defines what a point guard is, Marcus fulfilled that role in a non-traditional manner to a level of success the Illini hadn't seen since 2005. He was our point guard . . . .
That world was the mid to late 1980's, when those tyoe players stuck around 3-4 years.Imagine a world where KJ, Will, Tomi, and Rez play four years of college basketball for Illinois.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Tongue in cheek and booty ball in the same sentence....
.
PepeSilva, different topic...thank you for bringing Cedric Coward into my consciousness. Following him at WSU now, love his game. 6-6, very versatile, unselfish. Seems NBA type player.
There are many words that I can *never* get my dad to say correctly, no matter how many times I directly correct him. Same with my mother-in-law. Some people just can't get there. Now neither of them are professionally announcing basketball games, but there are certainly a lot of people out there with the issue.
After a good nights sleep I suppose he might have been wondering how Morez beat him to the rebound. Either way, the look on his face combined with the Krush’s reaction made me chuckle.
My concern is not having a go to guy when we NEED a bucket to stop a run or we need a winning play at the end of the game. Last year we had two with one being an All American. Too early to see if someone like that emerges. That guy looks to have to be KJ, but it's TBD.
Hey Geoff, who else can you get across the pond for next year?
Rez is a rebounding blackhole and a joy to watch on defense. love his shot blocking aggression.
to me, Tomi and Rez's ability/willingness to keep the ball moving on offense is so crucial. momentum doesnt die when the ball is in their hands c/w previous years.
lastly, props to Illini0440 (as always) who has been pumping up Tre White during the off-season. dude's game is smooth, shot is compact and confident and seems like hes just scratching the surface of his defensive capabilities. one game soon, he's gonna have a monster dunk....
Pretty sure it's Matt Mayer.
As good as the elite team was, it had some holes.
-Ty was not a true PG, provided no outside shooting
-Coleman had to play center, was exposed by true bigs
-Dain was a solid college center, but had limited outside shooting and passing. Undersized against 7 footer bigs
-bench was not deep and was exposed in NCAA
-Quincy G was inconsistent
The current team needs to get tougher on defense and rebounding. But has size, shooting, playmaker, passers, etc.
Don't want to take props from anyone but the media, BU and others have been singing Tre's praises. Those upset with Ty redshirting are trying to make the case against Tre.
- Status