Yep, those comments don't sit well with me either. Coaching comments about "fighting" ring very, very hollow when your team is Charmin soft.
Javon, Powell, Hansberry > Ben, Booth, Jake Davis.
Also I think we can now officially adjust our season goal to, “Hopefully we get red hot during the exact perfect stretch of games during March Madness and get some upsets!” Should remove some week-to-week stress.glass half full: KJ has played himself out of a lottery pick and now must come back to Illini next year.
What's the evidence that he's "a culture guy". 2 out of 3 years, the culture isn't good. Frankly, I think part of the reason the three point shots are flying so much is that they're easy to get. It's hard work getting the ball down low to the guy who had 11 points on 3 shot attempts.Brad is a culture guy. He's not an x's and o's guy. It's no coincidence that since the NIL era, the one successful team he's had was a team with 50% carry over from the year before. You can't instill a culture in one year. I really really really hope he prioritizes continuity over "talent" a little more. One of my few complaints with him.
I love this post because you touched on the biggest issue, which is recruiting.I totally see this as well. However, when you cobble together a team like this, young, foreign, transfers.....you have to install the culture of Trent, Ayo, DMFW...etc.
That is 100% on this coaching staff.
As has been said by those close to the program, and pretty easily observed for long stretches of games, we have an X's and O's problem. When the coach says "go shoot a 3 within 7 seconds" and your shooters are hot, you get Oregon, PSU...and the coach looks like a genius.
When the shooters go Antarctic.....there has to be a system that provides offensive flow, and defensive cohesion. We don't have that for 10 to 20 minutes per game. We have been held together to some extent by the best freshman rebounder we've seen in ages, and stretches of fire by Riley, DGL, and Boswell.
In between that we are literally unwatchable.
Seriously wtf?!?!? As the HC (you said he's more CEO than X & O's) he's accountable for these outcomes and this kind of decision making is extremely suspect.He also gave Hamer defensive coordinator responsibilities over Chester ... That did not sit well ...
What in the actual Hell? You can't be serious???He also gave Hamer defensive coordinator responsibilities over Chester ... That did not sit well ...
Not sure if anyone caught this, but Tyler stood up and was screaming at Riley to cut and Brad had to go over and shut him down. This terrible experiment must end nowI noticed that too. I hope it means something.
Unfortunately, this is the NBA we're talking about. They draft on potential not who's ready to contribute. If that was the case Dalton Knecht and TSJ would have been drafted higher. KJ will still be a lottery pick alongside Will because of their potential.glass half full: KJ has played himself out of a lottery pick and now must come back to Illini next year.
That's a massive indictment of this staff right there.What if I told you it would be cheaper as well ... By a LOT ...
Rutgers trotted freshman out there too.I think the bottom line is we are trotting freshmen out there. If this team stayed intact we would be more consistent next year. Of course no way we stay intact,
Yes! Brads offenses are clearly dependent on a bonafide superstar. That’s why I was so disappointed in out pre season portal.I’m not advocating we keep Tyler. But, is he really putting an offense out there that is so different from what Brad would do?
Brads offenses have always relied on a “hero” winning one on one battles IMO. Relied on it much more than I like at least. Ayo and TSJ and Domask were really great at it.
The years we haven’t had “that guy” have looked like this or worse.
Lately it's been all HydeBiggest Jekyll and Hyde Illini team I have seen in 70 years as an Illini fan. And KJ, unfortunately, has been the biggest Jekyll and Hyde player. Hard to watch them shoot so many bricks and play matador defense.
As a CWS fan, this does not compute.Again, pitchers and catchers about to report
I’m looking forward to baseball and, hell … I’m a White Sox fan!
That was foul #3. #4 was when he immediately got back into the game and made a wild shot block attemptCan someone who probably knows a lot more about basketball explain to me why Brad had Morez parked on offense at the 3 point line late in the game when we really needed him to get put backs for us or lord forbid a nice pass to dunk it?
And then they pass it to him out there and he foolishly drives to the basket and gets foul #4
Didn't seem to be smart BB to me, but that's probably because I know nothing.
I think in that case this board is prepared to pack Brad's bags.So full disclosure, I have never been an Underwood fan. I'm not a hater, more neutral. I don't think he's much of an Xs and Os coach, but he's brought in a lot of talent, and that's half the battle.
But honestly, if we didn't make an Elite 8 last year. Let's say in a parallel dimension Shannon didn't come back after the allegations and we were 5th in the conference and bounced out the first weekend, how hot is Underwood's seat right now?
My concern is Shannon was so good, he dragged the team to wins, covering the problems. I can't tell you what our offensive scheme is. I can't see that we actually have one. Do I think we're going to return more than half our roster next season? No. So I think Underwood's current roster plan, paired with his lack of Xs and Os, unless something changes, up and down is what we should expect.
Our front court ain't the problem right now. I like Dain but we upgraded the front court from last year. The guards are really hurting usDainja 21 points tonight on 10-14 from the field.