USC 82, Illinois 72 Postgame

[BretMyBeachHouse]

a few points.

We're still young and inexperienced playing together. Yes, there are going to be continued growing pains. You thought it was over, but no, we're still growing.

I'm not second guessing the KJ decision. You're still playing the long game right now. I fully healthy KJ for the final 20 games of the year is better than 85% KJ for 21 games.

I don't think this is quad 3 by the end of the year. I think USC is going to get it together and be rated much higher.

 

[rbse]

who was that? total breakdown, unbelievable

 

[Illini89]

Boswell will always be Robin to someone else as Batman (currently KJ). We’re asking him to do too much and he’s not capable.

Maybe him jacking up 30 foot threes was a bad idea

 

[tell it like it is]

Yes guard play and defense was not good, but the fact Tomi only had 3 rebounds in 17 minutes is baffling. He should be embarrassed by that.

For sure, he and most all the rest of the team should be embarrassed.

 

[Fighting I 95]

Always seem to have a loss like this every season, and it’s frustrating.

When there’s such a systemic lack of anything, that’s on the coaching staff.

We played flat and with no intensity. We let their best player do whatever he wanted and didnt adjust. We didnt play our best player even tho its being said he was ready. That is on the coaching staff.

No one on the court played well either or was able to hit the shots we needed too.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

Extremely pathetic

 

[Old Farm Illini]

I’ll say it again: play your best player when he is capable of playing.

Please make your post less cryptic.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

I’ll say it again: play your best player when he is capable of playing.

Oh I'm sure we're good without him. Rather better... has the ball too much, doesn't allow the others to play freely and be assertive whatever the heck that means.

 

[NashvILLe05]

Our effort and focus today in one image.

 

[mysterio2525]

Who's birthday was it last night?

 

[PepeSilvia]

USC turned off our water, didn't allow bench or single player to go off. No easy tips by our bigs abd no driving layups. Missing opn 3s don't help.

Gave the defensive gameplan for opposing teams.

Pack it in, be physical, and force the Illini into 3s then crash the defensive boards.

 

[blackdog]

BU said no shootaround before the game. That doesn't work at all. Missed over 20 layups.

 

[Tables@EddieMunster]

First time in a game thread in awhile and h—y s—t lol just an absolutely wild place.

 

[Class_of_2020]

Whoever said we were getting a glimpse of next years team with KJ out…..boy do I hope you’re wrong

 

[Germanboxers]

So much for “raising our floor” Brad. WTF? The floor dropped into the cellar a day after you said that. No preparation. No energy. No focus. No Pride. Thought we were developing an identity…hope that’s not it.,

 

[FloridaMan]

I’ll say it again: play your best player when he is capable of playing.

If true, then we have our answer as to why our team too often plays down to the opponent. You cannot arrogantly expect to win just by showing up. This is D1 not junior high.

 

[Illini_Jack]

Brutal

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1878155629962866951

 

[CoachHooleyHoo]

I’ll say it again: play your best player when he is capable of playing.

Meh...not if it delays him getting back to 100% or at least close to that. The way they played against PSU, it looked like you could get him a little more time to get completely healed up. We'd all be ticked if they played him, he didn't play well, and it delayed his recovery.

 

[PNWIllini]

It was 9am for USC. There’s no possible way we should have lost this game given how we’d been playing.

Oddly enough “no possible way Illinois can lose” is usually a red flag.

For me it was Austin Peay that taught this lesson originally.

 

[Oracle21]

Underwood thinks this is good defense:

31 points
12/20 FGs
0/2 on 3s
7/7 on FTs

He looks at that and think the defense executed because they only gave up 0/2 from 3. He’s shown before that he will live with guys taking twos and hope the math wins out in the end rather than adjusting in game. Saw it with Martinelli/Barnhizer.

 

[fatboyslim]

The only way to make up for this game is to go on another long winning streak

 

[PepeSilvia]

Yes guard play and defense was not good, but the fact Tomi only had 3 rebounds in 17 minutes is baffling. He should be embarrassed by that.

I like Tomi and hope he sticks around for another year but he is just kind of soft for a 7 footer.

Needs to add strength on the lower body and work on banging a bit more and finishing forward through contact instead of floating away.

 

[WyattEarp]

BU said no shootaround before the game. That doesn't work at all. Missed over 20 layups.

See Razorback Basketball/John Calipari

 

[Mr. Roberts]

Oddly enough “no possible way Illinois can lose” is usually a red flag.

For me it was Austin Peay that taught this lesson originally.