Game Thread: Illinois at Nebraska

[Steelyunk]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the players, other than Tomi being sick.

This is an issue of the staff. They need to look in the mirror.

But they’re shooting 16% from three. Isn’t that an issue?

 

[drsmitty74]

Tre is a black hole offensively

Tonight, he's not the only one.

 

[sacraig]

Wild we play two point guards just about every minute and have no assists at the half.

To be fair, we have whiffed a lot of decent quality shots that would have been assists.

 

[OrangeKrush1981]

Unless you want to give them growth serum so someone grows a few inches, it's really difficult. They're trying to attack but they aren't going to just run into dudes every time either.

What? We're too SMALL now? The excuses never end.

We run nothing other than a high screen on offense. The rest is playground one-on-one from a 5-out set.

 

[UCantHideYer]

Missing Tomi is really like being down 2 bigs. Morez is best when he‘s unleashed and playing aggressive. But an early whistle or two and Morez is done for the day.

 

[Cubfan]

Not at all. Unfortunately, I have way less faith in this group to “flip a switch” WITHIN one game. Don’t get me wrong, we can absolutely look awesome one day and bad the next, but it seems like it’s set at tipoff if we’ll be good or awful, lol. Even the 2023 squad could wake up, get hot and stage a comeback.

Hope I’m wrong.

I wish that I could coach this team ! I would even do it for 2 million $ !!

 

[IllinoisGrad0609]

Not a single assist for Illinois. Holy hell.

 

[OrangeKrush1981]

and we have Jake Davis and Carey Booth playing major minutes.

I bet Hoiberg could find a way to win with KJ and Morez and Kylan on his team. Jeez.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Just don't get how we're such a bad shooting team.

Regardless of whatever, we just can't make shots... just bricks... whatever you throw up. When you do that, it's never a good recipe.

 

[IllinistrandedinHouston]

Yeah because Jake Davis and Carey Booth are getting major minutes.

Davis is a good enough player in limited minutes and booth hasn’t shown that he should ever be on the floor.

Booth should not be on this team. That’s on Brad

 

[Illiniam1984]

Brad better bring in some better coaches in the offseason.

 

[DeeIL89]

Our lack of bench depth has been so exposed during this stretch without Tomi and bringing in guys that we expect to knock down open 3s is looking like a misfire by the staff.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the players, other than Tomi being sick.

This is an issue of the staff. They need to look in the mirror.

Short of making the shots for guys that are getting open looks, not sure what they're going to do differently. The shots are there. Have to make them. Hard stop.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

Right now, it feels like KJ doesn't trust the guys around him. Honestly, I can't say I blame him as our supposed shooters can't hit the broadside of a barn. But also, putting your head down, running into a double team only to get stripped, or throwing up an off-balanced shot isn't gonna work, either. We need easy baskets. I know our pick-and-roll game is non-existent without a big in there, but we still need guys moving constantly, cutting to the basket, and for KJ to keep his head up to make a pass out of the double team.

 

[thehass]

Besides the obvious poor shooting, our basketball IQ has been a zero.

I agree

 

[Class_of_2020]

Shame on all of you who said this was a good team. This is 2022-23 reincarnated

 

[ginabackes00]

The entire offense runs through him and we only have one other big. It has everything to do with Tomi.

This. And it's why KJ is a better player with him in the game. He's a pick and roll PG with the guy setting the pick being a threat from outside. It opens up his line to the basket and better spacing. He's an entirely different player when Tomi is playing.

 

[DevILLDawg]

I'm not sure the team likes each other...

 

[chief]

morez early foul trouble and turnovers a big factor

 

[Bigtex]

Another night likely another season and/or career high.

 

[Illini8420]

Brad still needs to get a clue and make us play fast. That’s our best chance given our roster situation. We slow it down, we die. Just like against Maryland late.

 

[Illini4Christ]

I’ve said since last June that he was the missing piece and maybe that is more visible now more than ever. I hope they get big Z and let them cook next year together.

 

[and 69 others]

Us? Or the team? Or both?

 

[Keisersose]

I bet Hoiberg could find a way to win with KJ and Morez and Kylan on his team. Jeez.

Morez has barely played. So like I said, Jake Davis and Carey Booth are getting major minutes.

 

[Illini89]

Is it just me or is Jake Davis like 1-30 from 3 this year lol