My biggest gripe in this game and the NW game is we were playing 5 on 4 defensively in both games. Both teams had a guy that was a non threat on the perimeter. That's perfect for Morez to come in and just camp out in the paint. And Brad should 100% know how to play that when we got that some treatment last year whenever Ty was on the court.
Tennessee 66, Illinois 64 Postgame
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OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
He also was solely responsible for an east Tennessee layup late when he did not recognize a cutter and then just stood there as the guy got the ball under the basket.
He simply is not quick enough in thought or in physical quickness to compete at this level. The sooner everyone realizes this, the better. Nothing’s happened since the NW game to come close to changing that.
He simply is not quick enough in thought or in physical quickness to compete at this level. The sooner everyone realizes this, the better. Nothing’s happened since the NW game to come close to changing that.
A game played where one team is older and more experience against a team newly minted together with young players playing. We held our own against the number 1 team. Could we have played better in certain parts of the game, Yes. It was a great environment. Hope the same juice will be brought against Big Ten teams. Yes, we can nit-pick plays and players. You look at this team from the Alabama game to the Tn game and there has been some very good progress. Beat Miz.
Yeah, 100% agreed. He would’ve been the physical presence we desperately needed last night.
That said, moving forward, what BU wants to do doesn’t seem to align with having a Morez-type player. I haven’t seen any recent commitments or recruits come through that aren’t shooters and can’t be a part of stretching the floor in a 5 out NBA style offense.
That said, moving forward, what BU wants to do doesn’t seem to align with having a Morez-type player. I haven’t seen any recent commitments or recruits come through that aren’t shooters and can’t be a part of stretching the floor in a 5 out NBA style offense.
6-9 close enough to 7 foot in my book. I think you know what I mean.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Was definitely disappointed by his lack of minutes in the 2H. He has been slumping big time but he’s a talent where all it takes is one half of basketball and he’s back on track.
Especially since those playing in front of him last night were certainly not setting the world on fire with their play.
I’m sure I have a lot of psychological flaws, but I think this is just called “being a passionate fan”- when you see something your team is doing that is just flat out wrong in your mind, you need to vent.
I honestly can’t think of a player on a really good team adding less value then Ben and getting so many minutes when there are extremely talented players on the bench that could be getting those minutes and developing and making us better in March
I’m a fan of Brad and I’m glad he’s our coach- I don’t think it makes us a bad fan to question some of his decisions- it just makes us a fan. I honestly think he’s adjusting to having such a young team vs a very old team last year. Most coaches would have called a timeout after tying the game with 5 seconds left and would have played your best rebounder when you couldn’t get a rebound against NW and TN, Brad has admitted as much
I love how honest Brad is in his pressers but I would love for him to just make better decisions with this team and stop admitting all the mistakes afterwards- I also fear he doesn’t have the assistants in his ear enough- Brad has a lot to think about during a game. Where are the bench coaches telling him to call timeout or to get someone in the game that can rebound or that Ben is getting toasted- that’s almost as bad to me they aren’t doing that
That game is going to take awhile to get over. Brad not calling timeout at the end to talk with his young team and get a defense set up is blowing my mind.
This now 2 out of 10 games that Brad has not done his job to help this young team. He left them out to dry. He really needs to step it up and coach better because if he does i think this team can be really good.
Obviously players made some mistakes that didnt help at the end but if brad is just gonna sit on his A** and not do the one thing hes paid to do then why is he even there.
This now 2 out of 10 games that Brad has not done his job to help this young team. He left them out to dry. He really needs to step it up and coach better because if he does i think this team can be really good.
Obviously players made some mistakes that didnt help at the end but if brad is just gonna sit on his A** and not do the one thing hes paid to do then why is he even there.
Northwestern and Tennesse, and a couple years ago Loyola choked us at the top of the key. Really crowded out the 3 point shooters.
Tomi can shoot and pass, park Morez down low. Now Tomi can pick at the top of the key, shoot or pass to Morez down low.
Morez presence likely causes Tennessee to move players off the 3 line.
Tomi can shoot and pass, park Morez down low. Now Tomi can pick at the top of the key, shoot or pass to Morez down low.
Morez presence likely causes Tennessee to move players off the 3 line.
Does MJ have outside range or is he basically a low block, energy, rebound guy? Those guys are obviously good to have around but he doesn’t have Kofi’s size and if he doesn’t have range I don’t see how he’s going to be a huge factor down the road. Therefore I don’t see the need to panic if he’s going to leave. Right now is he really that much different from Dainja? The sample size is very small…does he have range?
So much to unpack here. Nobody is "Blame(ing) Ben." People are blaming Brad for burying one of the top recruits in the country behind a player who has proven he isn't talented enough to play defense or rebound at the B1G level. And ruining our program's relationship with this recruit while likely poisoning its relationship with other potential recruits in the process.
And it doesn't matter if Antigua were Tony freaking Robbins. Denying Morez PT when he clearly merits it is going to trump anything Antigua might be able to do.
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If I had to venture a guess, the manic boxing out is a byproduct of him knowing he is physically overmatched and doing his best to neutralize one opposing player so another teammate can clear the board. It's not the worst approach but it's not great for a PF. We need the person at that spot pursuing the ball. If he was a guard it might work but he's not.
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
It is spacing, but right now our offense is so dribble heavy and entirely predicated on the high ball screen. It's spaced, but really predictable and we therefore aren't making defenses work. When we move the ball it's a thing by of beauty but that's not happening as much as it should.
In no particular order: IMHO, Morez might have more in his tool box than given credit for. I watched a few of his HS games on TV, and he's a decent shooter; are the Illini currently a better team on defense than offense?; and Tennessee's last play was one that Barnes got a long time ago from legendary DeMatha coach Morgan Wootten. Someone on staff should consider picking the brains of some of the old head HS basketball coaches on OOB and after time out plays - a lot of wisdom to be gleaned there.
Ivich needed to block Gainey's shot. Instead Ivich was looking at a man on the free throw line
Be arim protector bro ...you are 7 feet tall. Riley practice your lay ups. Ben H step it up ...this is Pwr 5 bball.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
But if the player is not a threat to hit that open shot, floor spacing doesn't really matter. They will just lay off that person like Illinois did with that one Northwestern player who they were betting wouldn't hit any threes.
Parking Humrichous in the corner right now isn't a whole lot better than parking any of us posting here in that same corner.
Calling that sideline inbounds thing a play is generous. On a play, people usually move. No one was moving. No screens, no one coming to the ball, just people standing on pre-determined spots. Because of where everyone was, there was no downside to the Tennessee player jumping the pass. No one was in the backcourt to stop him if he got the ball...and even if he whiffed, all that would have happened is Tomi handing the ball to KJ 40 feet from the basket with plenty of time for Tenn to recover defensively.
Irony that the last time we beat a #1 was on an Inbounds play which worked to perfection for us. We have to "copy some genius" sometimes. Who has the best plays coming out of a time out?? Lets Copy!
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Just bringing this down for those who commented about Boswell on Gainey since this was posted.
blackdog
- Champaign
Which is interesting because he actually is big enough and has enough vert to get rebounds if he just went up for them. We saw that yesterday with that epic put back slam.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Am puzzled by the placing of blame on BU for the two inbounding pays in the final 2 mins. The first one was rote and failed simply because KJ made an incredibly lazy, telegraphed, slow bounce pass that was easily picked off. (KJ giveth big time yesterday, and KJ taketh away.) The second failed, and ended up deep in the backcourt, because of the utter lack of anyone going to the ball explosively. I can kinda see criticizing BU for the second; however, I saw it as evidence that these guys just haven't played together often enough in a tight, late situation like that and don't know where each other are going to be. I'm old-school and don't understand why BU doesn't just have them stack and split; however, I also haven't played or coached in 30+ years so I might be missing something.
Anyway, I don't see either one of these problems as chronic ones. Both easily can be fixed.
We controlled the No. 1 team in the country for most of 40 minutes, got them in serious foul trouble, and had them on the ropes, all with a group of guys still learning to play together. We have a crazy amount of talent on the floor. We just need another month or so for it fully to jell.
Seriously: when was the last time any of us felt this good about our team's March prospects in mid-December, other than a year ago? I'm struggling... 2005 maybe. Probably 2004. People should chill IMO. I was delighted for 38 of 40 mins yesterday about how we played.
Now go crush Miznoz.
Anyway, I don't see either one of these problems as chronic ones. Both easily can be fixed.
We controlled the No. 1 team in the country for most of 40 minutes, got them in serious foul trouble, and had them on the ropes, all with a group of guys still learning to play together. We have a crazy amount of talent on the floor. We just need another month or so for it fully to jell.
Seriously: when was the last time any of us felt this good about our team's March prospects in mid-December, other than a year ago? I'm struggling... 2005 maybe. Probably 2004. People should chill IMO. I was delighted for 38 of 40 mins yesterday about how we played.
Now go crush Miznoz.
I understand why some of you are defending Ben. If he gets his shot together, there won't be many complaints. He was brought in to not just shoot 3's...but make them. He can't defend or rebound. It's still early in the season, but I'm starting to believe Goode would've been much better in the role.
P.S. Indy had a post in the second half that stated how most of us were feeling
P.S. Indy had a post in the second half that stated how most of us were feeling
It's not so much about the in-game decision as much as it is the prep work going in. These guys need inbounding drilled into their heads.
I'm of the mind though that the pass to Ivisic should have gone to a guard who will more readily be able to pick it up.
Ultimately these guys are still inexperienced. What a coup it would have been to knock off the country's top team with a group this young! It was not meant to be.
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