Yikes. Game felt very winnable until the 4th quarter, then it seemed like our girls gave up when things started going Kentucky’s way.
Illini Women's Basketball 2024-2025
- Status
I had to watch espn for score updates. Seems like a lack of depth (injuries) and 2 games in 2 days...maybe they floundered??
Too many minutes for our starters over the past two days. They were gassed.
Cook & Bryant combined stats…rough game.
2-20 FG
1-11 FT
2-20 FG
1-11 FT
My takes after watching both games in Nashville in person this week:
*The game against UMES was a tough one to officiate for the referees. They could have called a foul on UMES every time that the Illini had possession (this is NOT an exaggeration). It almost appeared that the UMES coach encouraged this style of play. The game was EXTREMELY physical. I think the officials felt like they in turn needed to call some ticky-tack stuff on the Illini to balance it out. All 5 of the UMES starters should have been fouled out by the end of the 3rd quarter. I was worried that this rough game was going to take a toll on us for our matchup vs Kentucky.
*In the Kentucky game, it was an evenly matched game for the first half .. obviously so with the score tied 28-28 at half. Even though the Wildcats came out of the halftime locker room on a hot streak. I feel that the entire complexion of the game changed with one of the most horrendous player control fouls that I have ever witnessed. I don’t think that Coach Green has been assessed a technical yet in her 3 years at Illinois, but I thought for sure she was going to get one after that terrible call, and nobody would have blamed her. You could tell with our short bench that our ladies were gassed as the Wildcats were able to pull away in the 4th quarter.
I don’t feel like tonight’s loss to #14 Kentucky will drop us out of the top 25. I hope the girls get to enjoy a few days off for the Thanksgiving break .. get a few players healthy .. win the rest of our non-conference games .. and have some momentum as they enter a tough Big Ten Conference schedule.
On an unrelated note, I’m almost positive that the young girl that sang the anthem tonight in Nashville is the same one that sang at the State Farm Center in Champaign earlier this season.
Happy Thanksgiving to all in Illini Nation.
*The game against UMES was a tough one to officiate for the referees. They could have called a foul on UMES every time that the Illini had possession (this is NOT an exaggeration). It almost appeared that the UMES coach encouraged this style of play. The game was EXTREMELY physical. I think the officials felt like they in turn needed to call some ticky-tack stuff on the Illini to balance it out. All 5 of the UMES starters should have been fouled out by the end of the 3rd quarter. I was worried that this rough game was going to take a toll on us for our matchup vs Kentucky.
*In the Kentucky game, it was an evenly matched game for the first half .. obviously so with the score tied 28-28 at half. Even though the Wildcats came out of the halftime locker room on a hot streak. I feel that the entire complexion of the game changed with one of the most horrendous player control fouls that I have ever witnessed. I don’t think that Coach Green has been assessed a technical yet in her 3 years at Illinois, but I thought for sure she was going to get one after that terrible call, and nobody would have blamed her. You could tell with our short bench that our ladies were gassed as the Wildcats were able to pull away in the 4th quarter.
I don’t feel like tonight’s loss to #14 Kentucky will drop us out of the top 25. I hope the girls get to enjoy a few days off for the Thanksgiving break .. get a few players healthy .. win the rest of our non-conference games .. and have some momentum as they enter a tough Big Ten Conference schedule.
On an unrelated note, I’m almost positive that the young girl that sang the anthem tonight in Nashville is the same one that sang at the State Farm Center in Champaign earlier this season.
Happy Thanksgiving to all in Illini Nation.
Third year in a row of no depth. Don't get it.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Thank you very much for the in-person report. Much needed after the absence of TV at my abode. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
blackdog
- Champaign
So many injuries
We need to get Shay, Berry and Jas back ASAP. As poor as our shooting was, we were still hanging in there for three quarters because we were getting to the FT line. Time to put this game behind us and move on.
Dan
Admin
Let's see how the season and the interest within this thread progresses
In the past WBB could also get added to the Upcoming Games on the Home Page. (The full schedule & results are always listed on the first post of the WBB thread.) Go Illini- Status