Michigan State 79, Illinois 65 Postgame

[BrimfieldBomber]

I have also been trying to clue together the Tre thing, and I'm where you're at - with all the previous context clues around here. (It's getting back to a major theme that a few of our insiders have been also saying the last couple of weeks)

Tre either challenged Brad's coaching/philosophy/etc in practice, called him out in front of everyone, or possibly railed on the nepotism / poor results from Tyler this year.

And Brad took it personally. He certainly doesn't have the basketballs to explain the truth publicly.

 

[BoiseBaller]

Brad may not but 0440 already did today, here is the problem according to him:

“He (White) just struggles with knowing his role on the offensive end.”

That's been evident. He often gets a pass and goes one on one with a ton of dribbling before jacking up a tough shot. During one stretch, he was making quite a few of those, but that has ceased in the last month or so.

 

[uofi7477]

It was hard watching what unfolded on the Lou Henson Court tonight. I turned the TV off so I did not have to watch Coach Izzo shrug his shoulders as he shook Brad's hand as if to say," I don't know how we managed to win." He has probably done this after every one of his record breaking wins. Tough to have to watch Cronin and Izzo on back to back games. Having just read all the post game laments, I am going to make a suggestion. There is another Illinois basketball team playing in the B1G Ten. They are 20-5 so far this season. Coach Green and her staff have resurrected the women's program in an amazing fashion. The team is accomplishing wins while having three key players out with season ending injuries. They have two remaining home games, including tomorrow afternoon at 4PM against Nebraska. If you have not watched them play, I think you would enjoy taking in a game. They pride themselves on defense. They run actions and make adjustments. If the outside shots are not falling they drive hard to the rim and get to the free-throw line. They have seven in their rotations and they play hard. They have the all time Illini women's rebounder in Kendall Bostic who is also one of the best in the country. They share the ball and genuinely enjoy playing together. They are the team that should have a loud and packed State Farm Center. A full Krush section. Could we be like Iowa whose women's team plays in front of more fans than the men. Like the Indiana team that draws up to 10,000 fans per game. The players that are going to graduate have stayed with this program and have played together for three years. Imagine that. Come say thank you to Genesis, Makira, Brynn, Adalia and Kendall. Cheer them on against a Husker team that just beat Maryland on the road by twenty. If you can't make this game then circle Sunday, March 2nd against Michigan. The time of that game has been moved I think to 12:30. This team is all about what we feel is missing on the men's team. They deserve our support. Let's make it happen Illini!

Truth! 4pm today on BTN.

 

[idoc13]

I tell ya, I spent the better part of half an hour writing a rant on this. I'm probably better off that the site just ate it, but I'm still going to put a short version out here.

I am dumbstruck that they raised the jersey like that. I feel personally lessened that the school that taught me how to think could make such a poor decision. To see us do something so unserious knocks me down a peg.

I sympathize that there was shock and everyone is pressed for time. But, you get tools out there in less than a minute to roll it back up or remove it. Try some cute photos with the banner held up or skip them for the moment, I don't care. We've got to risk fumbling the fix to avoid raising an insult to the ceiling. Have someone in charge, ffs.

This was a lot more than a jersey hanging. It was even more than making a special exception for a special player. This was THE APOLOGY being given to one of our own in place of what college basketball owed him.

And you got it wrong TWICE. ... we got it wrong twice.

It's been mere days since this was done without any hint of difficulty. While I can't imagine that anyone close to the program would want to see this done on purpose as some kind of statement, the suspicion is now out there in the world. To have insufficient safeguards against whatever the heck happened here tonight is inexcusable. Shame on us.

Wish I could like this post 1000x. Spot on.

I do wonder if this was done on purpose.. Lots of people were upset about TSJ last year. I remember some “No means no” from our own crowd. Nowadays you’re guilty until proven innocent.

 

[Illiniwacker]

Back to back HOME game this team built up 16 points lead and back to back failed to execute the “killshot.” UCLA we survived but nevertheless that’s back to back letting 16 points lead disappear in mere minutes. Can’t call yourself a Final Four contender team when you lack that killer instinct to put team away there and now.

Final Four ? Lets just get a bye in the Big Ten tourney and try to make the tournament.

 

[BoiseBaller]

So how many of these freshman will be with us next year?

If I had to guess, I'd say one. But it could easily be none.

 

[roger murdock]

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

They’re elite at not seeing things the rest of us do.

 

[Vinegarben]

How is it possible to not score A SINGLE POINT IN THE LAST 8:29 of the most important game of the year. As much as I dislike whining Tom Izzo, I really believe he would have this team in the top 10 if not the top 5. I can't wait until the recruiting time when Brad and his minions tell us they have the greatest and most talented, sharp shooters coming in next year! What a crock!

 

[illini80]

If we hit them at a reasonable rate, that would be a lot of points.

But we don't...

Yep. There are good 3’s and bad 3’s. When we shoot 25 or less we generally play pretty well. When we’re taking 35 of them, there’s a lot of bad ones in there. Yes I’m oversimplifying, but last night we made MSU look a lot better than they are by being lazy and jacking 3’s instead of working the offense. Man do I miss TSJ. And of course our D was crap too. A season that looked to be so much fun has been anything but that. The time to get it figured out is growing very short and seems unlikely if Brad isn’t willing to change his stripes.

 

[FloridaMan]

I tell ya, I spent the better part of half an hour writing a rant on this. I'm probably better off that the site just ate it, but I'm still going to put a short version out here.

I am dumbstruck that they raised the jersey like that. I feel personally lessened that the school that taught me how to think could make such a poor decision. To see us do something so unserious knocks me down a peg.

I sympathize that there was shock and everyone is pressed for time. But, you get tools out there in less than a minute to roll it back up or remove it. Try some cute photos with the banner held up or skip them for the moment, I don't care. We've got to risk fumbling the fix to avoid raising an insult to the ceiling. Have someone in charge, ffs.

This was a lot more than a jersey hanging. It was even more than making a special exception for a special player. This was THE APOLOGY being given to one of our own in place of what college basketball owed him.

And you got it wrong TWICE. ... we got it wrong twice.

It's been mere days since this was done without any hint of difficulty. While I can't imagine that anyone close to the program would want to see this done on purpose as some kind of statement, the suspicion is now out there in the world. To have insufficient safeguards against whatever the heck happened here tonight is inexcusable. Shame on us.

This post should be pinned. Agree with this 100%. What a total shame, and an embarrassment for all alumni.

 

[the national]

And iSU was overrated. As they are every year.

Throwing stones in a glass house. They only have 5 loses this year and don’t lose games like this one.

 

[21ChampaignSt]

In a little less than two months this has gone from one of BU's best coaching jobs ever to one of his worst.

He needs to make changes - specifically (IMO) to his staff and his roster construction / class balance philosophy. Continuity wins championships. I'll die on that hill.

But we shouldn't seriously be entertaining the idea of canning him. Think about it, less than two months ago he was a legit NCOY candidate. We all know his track record over the last five years. So you want to disregard all that - the big dataset - and fire him because of a small, recent sample of bad basketball?

Matt Painter, who everyone loves around here, missed the tournament 4 times in his first 15 years and he took over for a guy whose name is on their court.

Last thing, I've lost most of my hope for this team. However, without 2023, we don't get 2024. So, as long as this season is a bridge to something better next year, I can at least tolerate it. Another mass exodus and wholesale roster changes though and I'll be joining you guys in the chorus of concern over the direction of the program.

 

[RickBB]

I’ll also add this, MSU’s staff just projects competence and confidence. (Outside of Izzo’s constant whining)

It’s almost like Izzo’s job is to work the refs while his assistants handle in game adjustments and strategy. I don’t ever see anyone other than BU barking instructions from our sideline.

 

[illini80]

Brad needs to keep as many of these players as possible so that next year we are not dealing with all of these same issues.

I suspect you may be disappointed. Massive turnover is the new normal most seasons. It makes coaching/evaluation even more important. Talent is great, but if you can’t coach them you get this right here.

 

[MurphysBurger]

Because A) they stink at Xs & Os
B) they are stubborn
C) they think they're the smartest man in the room
and
D) Two of them are basically kids with no real experience

 

[RickBB]

Now that the emotional responses are done.

Last night was lost from coaching rotational mistakes. All on Brad. Utter garbage.

Tre got into it with him one practice and his ego can't let it go. Most coaches would see it as fire and have a 1-1 conversation where they appreciate criticism and to simply not do it in front of others. No idea on DGL/Jake.

MSU was fresh in the final 10 and we weren't. Keeping up with the best transition team in the BIG10 on a 7 man rotation is horrible game plan.

Go back and watch the span. Jacking 3s is a sign of exhaustion because it's the easiest shot to get. You don't need to cut or bang with anyone. Ben, tomi, KJ and Will were all missing short. And everyone is coming off sickness and injury. Their conditioning isn't going to be where it should.

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

This is good insight from a name I don’t recognize. I’m now gonna go search all your posts and see if I should be paying more attention to what you’ve got to say.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

And iSU was overrated. As they are every year.

What??? They were what people thought should've been the final 1 seed (over UNC) and had some monster wins on their resume (and won the B12 tournament).

Pretty inapt to just make stuff up to throw shade at what was a very good Illini basketball season.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Now that the emotional responses are done.

Last night was lost from coaching rotational mistakes. All on Brad. Utter garbage.

Tre got into it with him one practice and his ego can't let it go. Most coaches would see it as fire and have a 1-1 conversation where they appreciate criticism and to simply not do it in front of others. No idea on DGL/Jake.

MSU was fresh in the final 10 and we weren't. Keeping up with the best transition team in the BIG10 on a 7 man rotation is horrible game plan.

Go back and watch the span. Jacking 3s is a sign of exhaustion because it's the easiest shot to get. You don't need to cut or bang with anyone. Ben, tomi, KJ and Will were all missing short. And everyone is coming off sickness and injury. Their conditioning isn't going to be where it should.

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

If you are indeed accurate with this, it just really throws a wrench into all of this and is extremely disheartening. The roster turnover is already such a hurdle, but it's just not overcomeable if Brad's ego is so much in the precedence that you have to bench a guy for the rest of the year to not cope with what was (I hope) just some back and forth fire.

The team is suffering from lack of depth, and has enough of a hurdle already with guys not being whole with injuries and illnesses.

Really discouraging.

 

[ILL-Intentions]

If I were DGL I don’t think I would stick around. It really pains me to say that and I don’t want to see that but you only get 4 years of college. Brad is going to recruit over him and this game showed that he’s not going to get a chance. Everyone’s end goal is to keep playing somewhere but there is no way for him to do so if he sits on the pine. I’m not saying he is a starter or should play starter minutes but there needs to be some sort of in between and see if he executes better than the others in his spot.

 

[Joel Goodson]

thought I'd wake up feeling better...nope!

 

[JD76]

On the player side, we have some who are not good “team” guys, and some with really low basketball IQ. That problem is compounded by the fact that hustle, toughness and teamwork are not rewarded by the staff.

On the coaching side, we have nepotism, stubbornness, and an apparent inability to adjust in game. Brad has for a long time proven himself to be a bad manager of people, both players and assistant coaches.

A lot of what we are seeing was covered up by some transcendent talents who came through the program, most notably Ayo and TJ. In addition to the two first rounders, who are already at times adopting the NBA “I’ll get mine” mentality, I expect MJ, DGL, TW and TR to transfer. Is it a coincidence that these are four of our toughest guys?

Brad took us from the dumpster to good, but I don’t think he has it to take us from good to great.

 

[redwingillini11]

Can’t believe we are going to waste this season wirh such a great collection of talent because Brad would rather sit on his butt and watch the world burn than coach his players.

 

[FloridaMan]

Now that the emotional responses are done.

Last night was lost from coaching rotational mistakes. All on Brad. Utter garbage.

Tre got into it with him one practice and his ego can't let it go. Most coaches would see it as fire and have a 1-1 conversation where they appreciate criticism and to simply not do it in front of others. No idea on DGL/Jake.

MSU was fresh in the final 10 and we weren't. Keeping up with the best transition team in the BIG10 on a 7 man rotation is horrible game plan.

Go back and watch the span. Jacking 3s is a sign of exhaustion because it's the easiest shot to get. You don't need to cut or bang with anyone. Ben, tomi, KJ and Will were all missing short. And everyone is coming off sickness and injury. Their conditioning isn't going to be where it should.

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

It has been the downfall of many. Hope it's not too late for him to see more clearly. Unfortunate, and no one is bigger than the program.

 

[OrangeLife]

Now that the emotional responses are done.

Last night was lost from coaching rotational mistakes. All on Brad. Utter garbage.

Tre got into it with him one practice and his ego can't let it go. Most coaches would see it as fire and have a 1-1 conversation where they appreciate criticism and to simply not do it in front of others. No idea on DGL/Jake.

MSU was fresh in the final 10 and we weren't. Keeping up with the best transition team in the BIG10 on a 7 man rotation is horrible game plan.

Go back and watch the span. Jacking 3s is a sign of exhaustion because it's the easiest shot to get. You don't need to cut or bang with anyone. Ben, tomi, KJ and Will were all missing short. And everyone is coming off sickness and injury. Their conditioning isn't going to be where it should.

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

That really pisses me off, if that is the sole reason for benching Tre. I watched him hit 3 after 3 last night in warm ups, he was more dialed in than anyone. Maybe Brad should watch the team warm up and see Ben struggle unguarded to hit threes at the same time last night. My son and I watched him literally miss 10 in a row. He seemed a little testy with the kids grabbing balls and helping the team warmup as well. Tomislav was struggling last night, his health issues may have caught up with him a bit. The Brad Underwood from a couple of years ago would have been fired up and calling a time out to chew the team out during that epic collapse.... where the hell was he? Let's save our time outs for the last 20 seconds when are in the middle of missing 19 shots in a row?????

 

[illiniguy24]

Now that the emotional responses are done.

Last night was lost from coaching rotational mistakes. All on Brad. Utter garbage.

Tre got into it with him one practice and his ego can't let it go. Most coaches would see it as fire and have a 1-1 conversation where they appreciate criticism and to simply not do it in front of others. No idea on DGL/Jake.

MSU was fresh in the final 10 and we weren't. Keeping up with the best transition team in the BIG10 on a 7 man rotation is horrible game plan.

Go back and watch the span. Jacking 3s is a sign of exhaustion because it's the easiest shot to get. You don't need to cut or bang with anyone. Ben, tomi, KJ and Will were all missing short. And everyone is coming off sickness and injury. Their conditioning isn't going to be where it should.

How our coaching staff doesn't see this in game blows my mind.

Thank you for sharing. Really disappointed to hear that. Plenty of great teams have great players that challenge the staff and grow from it. It looks like it will be our downfall.