Kentucky 84, Illinois 75 Postgame

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#176      
Vinegarben
I am so glad that this frustrating year is finally over. I hope they all transfer out, flunk out or go play basketball in Tiawan anywhere but in Champaign. This is the most Fundamentally incompetent team ever. Cannot pass, dribble, catch the ball. In 73 years, this is the worst defensive team ever and that includes John Groce teams. I bet none of these players can even give you the definition of defense. I saw way more low lights than highlights. They only showed up every other game.
I don't want to hear Brad hype his new recruits like he did this group. They have size at all positions, they can shoot the 3, they can handle the ball and get out on the fast break and they will be very good defensively! Hell, my grandma is in a wheelchair, and she could score on this guys. They are built for MARCH! BULLLLLLLLLLL-St Brad.
Let the transfer start tonight-pack your bags-KJ, TOMI, WILL, KB, TRE, Hum., Rez., Dra. Please announce tonight before you get back home! Illinois needs to look for a coach that can coach defense!
 
#177      
SAELION
Who was that Junior High School team in the Illinois jerseys that played Kentucky. Clueless offensive scheme. Over play the vaunted Illini pick and roll and Illinois looks like helpless puppies. Defense? What defense? We have found Coach Underwood's ceiling, and it is unacceptably low. Keep Boswell (the only player with heart) and Coaches Antigua and Anderson and no one else. Blow it up Josh. BLOW IT UP. Need to upgrade coaching staff and players. Rebuild, reload, whatever. Mike drop.
 
#179      
Illini2010-11
This was the best matchup we could have hoped for, but the Illini team we saw much of February showed up. Tough to win these games, even if it was against a rather pedestrian 3 seed.

Offensive Gameplan: D- (too many unforced errors to be effective, and story of season). Tough to grade higher with so many turnovers in first 10 minutes of game.

Offensive Execution: F (See turnovers above)

Defensive Gameplan: N/A (Hamer needs to go)

Defensive Execution: F (Kentucky got what they wanted at will, some in transition from turnovers, but their set pieces also worked all game)

For the positives, the Illini did not ever quit. They fought to stay in game, but simply shot themselves in foot all night. Illini were their own rally killer.

KJ: Has great talent, but his loose handles hurt today (and most of season). He will definitely get drafted, and I expect him to find a role somewhere in NBA. Best of luck, and thanks for joining Illini family.

Riley: I hope he stays, but I completely understand wanting to go pro. Tough day today, but he really played well last few weeks. If this is his last game in college, thanks for wearing the orange and blue for a season.

Morez: Summer to get stronger and develop. Look out. Hope he stays.

Ivisic: Get healthy and spend a summer with Fletch. So much talent, but the injuries and illnesses really set him back.

Boswell: Really turned a corner in my view. I want him around next year.

Many needs for offeseason (coaching and players), but some key pieces are here if they stick around.

Disappointing result today, but it is the most indifferent I have felt with a season ending. A testament to how unpredictable this team was day in and out. On to next year.
 
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#182      
Illiniking
Yes, coaches are to blame for every issue that teams approach throughout the season. Get a clue
 
#183      
illinifan1971
If we would have made it to play a #1 seed like Houston, we would have lost by 50 points. It would have been embarrassing... Maybe this is best. At least we didn't lose by 40 points.
 
#184      
Curbelo Fanboy
Fitting end to a yo-yo season. I’m at about where I was in 2007 w Weber. Brad doesn’t deserve to be fired but tbh I think I can see it in a couple years. He just can’t coach in game. Repeated blowouts where we are out of it 5 minutes into game.
 
#186      
kellenk44
The teams I’ve seen in this tournament play really aggressive and relentless. We don’t.
 
#187      
Get yourself a new map
Zorak said:
I wouldn't describe this game as an !!!-kicking. If it were there would be a lot less "woulda could shoulda" stuff in this thread.
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Yeah I mean it’s always our fault with these C- performances; last year was a very narrow path to victory in the regional final, but we didn’t come close to taking it. We’ve been down 15+ in the second half in every one of our final tourney games. That needs to stop.
 
#189      
BatteredWifeSchwartz
illinifan1987 said:
At least we won a tourney game! I'll gladly take this over what we dealt with in the 2010's. Time to make some coaching changes and reload with upperclassmen next year (minus Morez, Tomi, and Kylan). Tennessee will get their revenge next Friday.
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The season is obviously still disappointing, but people really need to put things in context. The sky is not falling. Regroup and reload for next year.
 
#193      
OrangeKrush1981
The thing is: the roster was recruited for offense. Not defense. So saying out offense was ok but our defense was not good enough is a problem, from my point of view. We need to play both ends of the floor.

So Hamer and the defensive plans, etc were poor. But we also didn't recruit defenders who can score, although we recruited a couple of scorers who can defend (Kylan, and to a lesser extent, Tre). Somebody in charge needs to think about this.
 
#196      
blackdog
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Alright, my promised emotional hot takes … emphasis that these will be both emotional and hot takes, lol.

1. I bet he’s a nice kid, he’s obviously extremely talented, he clearly even gives great physical effort at times and I understand this is unfair … but I don’t remember a player in my lifetime who seems so unbothered by underperforming as KJ. And it pi$$es me off, and I’m ready for it to be done. When you’re getting embarrassed and a fire needs to be lit, sometimes it’s simply a bad look to be trotting around like it’s all good, bro

2. On that note, in a scenario where our NBA prospect freshmen got feedback where they needed another year … give me Will 11 times out of 10. Both drove me crazy at times, but I can envision a sophomore Will that goes down as one of my favorite Illini ever. I imagine a sophomore KJ as a slightly better shooter who still makes half-!!! turnovers and plays like it’s a scrimmage.

3. I’m starting to worry that Brad needs players with special attitudes to get through to his guys and make the full team tough. Ayo was special in this regard. So was Trent. So was TSJ. Even Kylan, who seems like the only one who was actually angry today, still trots about and is casual far too often. So who is going to step up next year and not let the casual BS fly? Who will be brought in to be a leader if no one is capable? This team is playing next weekend if it had strong and consistent player leadership like those past guys, pure and simple.

4. We saw what a lack of continuity does this year. Will we be so stupid as to let a single key returning piece get away for a supposed upgrade in raw talent??

5. Last and least seriously … I’m honestly starting to get so mad about the uniforms. I refuse to believe there’s some numb skull somewhere who gives two thoughts to what uniform we should wear each game and keeps deciding it should be the 1LL1NO1S defaults.
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On point #3 TSJ wasn't TSJ until his senior year. I hope we see Kylan make a similar type of jump in terms of his leadership and being able to take over games with attitude.
 
#197      
illiniguy24
Ultimately this felt like the UConn game to a certain, less embarrassing extent. Ugly first half but kept it within reach, but they make better halftime adjustments and end the game in the first 5 minutes of the second half
 
#199      
SemperFiIllini
The same Jr High mistakes plagued this team and certain players all yr. Not sure I'm a believer in the ability of our coach to improve things going forward.
 
#200      
phats22
alexander58 said:
There’s some Van Fleet in Boswell. Earlier the year I knew people where didn’t want him to see the floor, but he was the one who always showed toughness against the better teams. I thought team toughness was something we lacked. That was probably due to a lack of experience, especially from KJ and Ivisic. JMHO.
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agreed. i mean, KJ, TI and WR were all freshman (ok, first year players). that inexperience showed itself throughout the season and again tonight.

KB played with moxy and he has a frame thats developed over the past seasons at Arizona

the talent was there, but its not solely the talent that matters
 
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