I may be in the minority- but I actually walked away feeling a bit worse about the team. I don't even care about the lack of offensive executive or defensive breakdowns. I was very concerned with how much tougher Bama was than us- we let their foul every play mentality bother us- we got worn out- didn't attack the boards aggressively, got out hustled, missed free throws and layups, etc.. We have a ton of talent- but Brad's gotta get this team tougher/nastier. I really didn't love our game plan tonight- why did it take until the last 7 minutes to hunt matchups on offense? We should've slowed the game down, half court matchup hunt- and utilize our size advantage. Instead we got in a track meet-shooting 3 match with a team that prefers a track meet and 3 point shoot out match.
Alabama 90, Illinois 86 Postgame
- Status
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
They say drunk words are true words, lol…
1. Overall, I’m not worried. Potential is so high.
2. So proud of our fans. Not only was Chicago truly our turf tonight, but the fans in attendance were active, rowdy and loud. Braggin’ Rights party vibe. Not trying to talk smack, but … frankly, take note, Champaign … SFC is strikingly wine and cheese compared to the weeknight atmosphere we saw tonight.
3. I was hoping we were Final Four good, but as of today? We are Sweet Sixteen good, with the potential for more. Let’s improve and raise that ceiling!
To any of you I anonymously saw tonight without knowing it, I-L-L!!
1. Overall, I’m not worried. Potential is so high.
2. So proud of our fans. Not only was Chicago truly our turf tonight, but the fans in attendance were active, rowdy and loud. Braggin’ Rights party vibe. Not trying to talk smack, but … frankly, take note, Champaign … SFC is strikingly wine and cheese compared to the weeknight atmosphere we saw tonight.
3. I was hoping we were Final Four good, but as of today? We are Sweet Sixteen good, with the potential for more. Let’s improve and raise that ceiling!
To any of you I anonymously saw tonight without knowing it, I-L-L!!
Ryllini
- Lombard
Would you consider Bama a top athletic team? If so, we just competed with them and really lost this game due to self inflicted BS. IMO.
Things aren’t always as they seem. Going into tonight’s game Illinois free-throw shooting was ranked 31st.
Unbelievable atmosphere. Amazing to have big Illini games back at UC.
Played like crap, shot like crap, defended like crap, rebounded like crap and still had a chance.
Shooting doesn’t seem to be any better than last year which is a huge concern for me.
But I’ll stay glass half full (3/4?) after that one. Gotta find a win vs Tennessee or UConn.
Played like crap, shot like crap, defended like crap, rebounded like crap and still had a chance.
Shooting doesn’t seem to be any better than last year which is a huge concern for me.
But I’ll stay glass half full (3/4?) after that one. Gotta find a win vs Tennessee or UConn.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
from my seat too.................
We started 2 Freshmen correct?
The open guy should take the shot… lol
Wagner has made his FTs, but he has not shot well from the field so far against high major opponents.
Of course, we’d all love for Bam to get left alone more often, but that’s never going to happen.
we were at 78% entering this game… 59% this game. problem tonight no doubt!
So 1 - 8 in these non-con home and home series feels bad.
Definitely not good. I like scheduling them but I would also like to see us win more than 1 lol
Tough game but Z is 40+% from 3 this year and 38% in his HM career.
37.5 is great if he's shooting that consistently and on contested shots. I'm sure they track it somewhere on the internets, but by the eye test Ben misses a sad amount of catch and shoot lightly contested 3s...that you expect a higher rate on.
I think Oats was very happy to let him have those.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
And it’s not like we had our Kofi Cockburns, Shaun Pruitts or George Mongomerys at the line. The guys who missed tonight are regularly your best free throw shooters (although I’m still skeptical that a career 64% FT shooter in Mirk is among the best, but so far he has been.)
Well right the ship at the line. This was a one-off that came at a very bad time.
Just how different would this game be if Z made that three....
I think the game @OSU on December 9th may be the biggest game of the regular season. We will (unless something very unlikely) be coming off of two consecutive losses, need to avoid a third and start well in BIG play.
I think the game @OSU on December 9th may be the biggest game of the regular season. We will (unless something very unlikely) be coming off of two consecutive losses, need to avoid a third and start well in BIG play.
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When I say toughness I guess I mean more mentally than physically. Our guys legitimately looked sad on the bench and on the court when Alabama was going on the run to erase our 9 point lead. No enthusiasm. No fight. Nobody stepped up and said this not going to happen. Nothing. And never really recovered I expected more from this group. AS a BOZ tried late but too late.
Still time of course but that was a red flag to me tonight.
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I could be wrong but I thought the entire team looked tired in the second half.
He's a cupcake-dominater type of player. Unrealistic for anyone to expect anything close to what he put up against those teams. Significantly brighter lights (and siza/athleticism) than a game on BIG+.
it seems that we were surprised by and unprepared for how physical Alabama played
Counterpoint…
When we fell behind by 11, we immediately fought right back.
When Texas Tech erased our lead, we immediately retook it and held it throughout.
Great vibes at the UC and I hope the turnout gets us more games up north. This team is loads of potential, especially considering the roster turnover. Tough non-cons are going to pay major dividends for teams like us who will need the time to gel.
Just want to put it on record that DJ Carstensen’s refereeing is even worse in person than on TV
Just want to put it on record that DJ Carstensen’s refereeing is even worse in person than on TV
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
This team can still get much better if they get and stay healthy, better conditioning and practice (then make) their free throws. Offense felt stagnant at times, in fact an 8 minute stretch without a FG. But, several players are not at top shape, not in top condition and practiced enough together. The can play much better.
Kylan getting his 4th was killer for this. Really limited him in checking him when it was needed most.
Yea but was it a problem when they shot 88% and 87% from the line against FGCU and Colgate. So think they did ok in that department while crushing the other cupcakes. There is an inconsistency there but this is not a game to game problem.
- Status