Illinois 88, Purdue 80 Postgame

[kyillinifan]

This will make for a good weekend. May go to INDY on Thursday. Go ILLINI

 

[hoopsfan47]

Morez would have changed this game. That’s all I could think about.

It would have been a wonderful learning opportunity for Morez. Not likely he will see a player like TKR outside the NBA as KR is very highly skilled and a smart players who has been well coached. Give MJ 12 fouls and he likely could last 20 min. but come out a much better defender....and he is not a bad one now. We need him back.

 

[stlrunner]

Yes! Way to pull it out gentlemen! Great steal by Riley! Didn’t like that 3 by KJ but he made it. Huge bucket. I guess he was due.

I was watching in a hotel bar/lobby with my employee, who is a casual Michigan fan, and as we started that possession, I said “I hope they drive to the basket and don’t chuck a 3” and then KJ starts his stepback, and I said “Oh no” and when he made it…I just raised my arms and said “holy !!!!, he made it”. So glad he made that shot.

 

[LocalChief505]

Boozy

If u ain't booz'n, you're looz'n.

 

[SAELION]

3-0 the final three games to close out conference play after the beatdown from Duke. Wow. Amazing.

Yes. And most of us stated that 1-2 would be the likely outcome.

 

[jmm]

Purdue. Michigan is a paper tiger

Agree. My goodness their guards are explosive!

 

[Bigtex]

I think it's qualified. If DGL wants to stay he will be a champion here. Bam is just now coming into his own m DGL has an incredible opportunity to stay, learn and ultimately excel. I hope he doesn't take the Adam Miller route, but it's a hard choice.

Just because miller transferred is the only similarity.

DGL isn’t a pg and limited playing time. After 2 years likely time to move on.

Miller started as a freshman and played significant minutes. Still didn’t return

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1898225166116606070

 

[TheodoreRex]

Man, if we get that Tre and that Kylan- we are going to be an extremely hard team to bounce in the tourney. Also, when Kylan and Tre play like they have been, I WANT THEM BACK next year.

Massive win. Can't fathom how we haven't locked a 7 and have a chance at a 6. IMO-if we win 1 in the Big Ten Tourney, we have to be locked in as a 6.

I know KJ's stats don't pop, but THAT is the KJ I want. Under control, runs the offense, plays solid d, rebounds in key moments, played tough.

 

[hoopsfan47]

8-19 for 18pts for Smith….they made 5 3’s we will take them taking 2s didn’t want them to get hot from 3

Unfortunately, his two pointers included 4 totally unguarded layups. Unforgivable.

 

[illiniguy24]

I just wanna know who's idea was it to not stunt the gaps on braden Smith or double Kauffman renn until the final 3 minutes.

Legit had a 15 min convo with my buddy who didn’t play bball about hedging screens/going under/switching and why you do them because of this lol

 

[CV Illini]

Painter is a good dude. Always a class act in postgame interviews.

 

[HailtotheChief]

I hope I have to miss one next Sunday. My grandsons singing at church at 3pm next week likely during the B10 Championship Game. I'd love to miss that and record it because we are in the finals ..

 

[illini0440]

Unfortunately, his two pointers included 4 totally unguarded layups. Unforgivable.

Unforgivable. Lol

 

[OrangeKrush1981]

Unforgivable? Nah, we won. But utterly crappy defense? Yep.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Man, if we get that Tre and that Kylan- we are going to be an extremely hard team to bounce in the tourney. Also, when Kylan and Tre play like they have been, I WANT THEM BACK next year.

Massive win. Can't fathom how we haven't locked a 7 and have a chance at a 6. IMO-if we win 1 in the Big Ten Tourney, we have to be locked in as a 6.

I know KJ's stats don't pop, but THAT is the KJ I want. Under control, runs the offense, plays solid d, rebounds in key moments, played tough.

only 10 points, but 7 assists to just 2 turnovers!

 

[logjam]

M

Not only you. MOST of this board gave up on the season after Duke. Glad the team did not

Not me...

 

[illiniguy24]

Unforgivable. Lol

 

[OrangeKrush1981]

I was watching in a hotel bar/lobby with my employee, who is a casual Michigan fan, and as we started that possession, I said “I hope they drive to the basket and don’t chuck a 3” and then KJ starts his stepback, and I said “Oh no” and when he made it…I just raised my arms and said “holy !!!!, he made it”. So glad he made that shot.

It's interesting where we all are on the Illini spectrum: I wanted that stepback 3. And lucky for me (or all of us, in fact) it tickled the twine.

 

[AEX]

Didn’t watch live, catching the replay now. But two things that kept us in this game were great, timely cuts to the rim. Riley was really good in this regard.

The other thing was at least 3 or 4 buckets on plays off of timeouts. They weren’t overly complicated. Just smart, straightforward plays that took advantage of mismatches. So refreshing to watch, given how much we’ve struggled in that regard this season. And so important for staving off those long scoring droughts that killed us in previous games.

 

[SAELION]

Yes! Way to pull it out gentlemen! Great steal by Riley! Didn’t like that 3 by KJ but he made it. Huge bucket. I guess he was due.

KJ has been taking and making that step-back 3 all season. What's not to like?

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Painter is a good dude. Always a class act in postgame interviews.

I've been a Painter fan since his SIU days. That said, I'm ready for him to retire.

 

[OrangeKrush1981]

two things that kept us in this game were great, timely cuts to the rim. Riley was really good in this regard.

... two things that kept us in this game were great, timely cuts to the rim. Riley was really good in this regard.

From your lips to Brad's ears ....

 

[Captain 14]

Did I see this right....we are one of only 4 teams with 20+ wins the last six seasons!
(Houston, Gonzaga, San Diego State)

 

[so illini]

And Ben won this game for us with his 3 pointers and D on cough man change my mind

Ben played a pivotal role in this game. Well done sir!