Pregame: Illinois at UCLA, Saturday, February 21st, 7:00pm CT, FOX

[Homecoming 2019]

I do know what to tell you. Go back and read my post. At no point did I compare his role the last two years at Illinois to his much different high usage roll at UE. You implied he transformed from last year by saying not just from last year.

His game hasn’t changed so much as the pieces around him have been upgraded. His shot selection has improved, but I view that more as a function of better shots being taken by the team as a whole. Also he had 17 turnovers all of last year, so while that number likely improves this year, i don’t file it under extreme transformation.

I guess if I thought Underwood trotted out somebody who was team killing terrible for 25 minutes a game, I suppose I would see this transformation you speak of.

Hard to tell by the numbers for defense, but he does seem much improved there and his rebounding rate is up. He also leads the conference in turnover rate, which hes cut in half from last year.

 

[Rebounding Dog]

Maybe an unpopular take, but I've gone from disliking and being annoyed by Mick Cronin to actually finding his antics kind of humorous. He's for sure an !!!, but I now just laugh.

I went through the same evolution with Bill Walton and Bill Laimbeer many years ago. Somehow I get to the point of disliking them so much that it turns to a strange form of amusement.

I get that! Entertaining at least!

 

[ChiefGritty]

I do know what to tell you. Go back and read my post. At no point did I compare his role the last two years at Illinois to his much different high usage roll at UE. You implied he transformed from last year by saying not just from last year.

His game hasn’t changed so much as the pieces around him have been upgraded. His shot selection has improved, but I view that more as a function of better shots being taken by the team as a whole. Also he had 17 turnovers all of last year, so while that number likely improves this year, i don’t file it under extreme transformation.

I guess if I thought Underwood trotted out somebody who was team killing terrible for 25 minutes a game, I suppose I would see this transformation you speak of.

Hard to tell by the numbers for defense, but he does seem much improved there and his rebounding rate is up. He also leads the conference in turnover rate, which hes cut in half from last year.

And like, haggling over rate stats is missing the point here. The whole intent of what he is trying to do on the basketball floor has completely changed, it's extremely visible, more and more so as the season has gone on.

In his brain he was a lights-out shooting point forward last year, and crumbled when the reality didn't match, as it usually didn't. Now in his brain he's Lucas Johnson, and then occasionally add hot streaks of catch-and-shoot 3's.

 

[Altuve27]

I expect this one to be a dog fight. UCLA has been dog walked in consecutive games. They also have talent. I fully expect them to bring everything they have.

They are also in danger of missing the Tournament. They really need this game. Like I said, we are going to get their best shot.

 

[ptgrd23]

MIchigan starting line up matches Illini on size. Our bench is bigger.

Lendenborg 6'9" 240 SF
Johnson 6'9" 250 PF
Mara 7'3" 255 C
Cadeau 6'1" 180 PG
Burnett 6'5" 195 SG

Bench
McKinney 6'4" 225 G
Cason 6'2" 195 G
Gayle 6'5" 210 G

Illini

Andrej 6'7" 205 SF
David 6'9" 255 PF
Tomas 7'1" 255 C
Keaton 6'6" 180 PG
Kylan 6'2 205 SG

Bench
Ben 6'9" 225
Big Z 7'2" 245
Jake 6'6" 205

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

UCLA is coming off 2 embarrassing road losses:

At Michigan (86-56)
At Michigan State (82-59)

I expect to get their best effort although I don’t think they are a very good team. They’ve only played 2 good games all year (69-67 win vs Purdue which should have been a loss…they had a miracle comeback that game), and a 69-65 loss to Arizona way back in November

The only thing I associate Pauley Pavilion with as far as Illinois goes is Kevin Turner torching them.

Good thing there's nothing more embarrassing than being blown out on the road....

 

[AirTran]

Good thing there's nothing more embarrassing than being blown out on the road....

I guess we can ask USC about that

 

[PapaKvells]

F Boston!

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Good thing there's nothing more embarrassing than being blown out on the road....

It feels like the Michigan loss broke them. It was a two point game at half then the wheels fell off. They no showed in East Lansing and I wouldn’t mind if that sentiment lingered for a few more days.

 

[Poe's Law]

And like, haggling over rate stats is missing the point here. The whole intent of what he is trying to do on the basketball floor has completely changed, it's extremely visible, more and more so as the season has gone on.

In his brain he was a lights-out shooting point forward last year, and crumbled when the reality didn't match, as it usually didn't. Now in his brain he's Lucas Johnson, and then occasionally add hot streaks of catch-and-shoot 3's.

Im not seeing a changed player so much as a player benefiting from scheme changes and improved personnel. Im definitely not seeing Lucas Johnson, but I’m happy you’re enjoying this year’s vintage of Humrichous.

 

[Hessel Blvd]

you know one thing that is noticeably changed with Ben this year? his freakin body. I know Fletch gets his flowers here frequently, but Ben and Jake are probably 2 of the most impressive examples of guys who changed their bodies in their time at U of I in a way that made them functional players on a top-10 type team. Ben especially, guy is just noticeably stronger.
I was thinking about that while Mirk was shooting free throws last night, noticing his arms are freaking sculpted after less than a year here... i sure hope we get at least another year of seeing Mirk becoming more of a physical beast.

 

[ugottabjoshinme]

I expect this one to be a dog fight. UCLA has been dog walked in consecutive games. They also have talent. I fully expect them to bring everything they have.

They are also in danger of missing the Tournament. They really need this game. Like I said, we are going to get their best shot.

I expect this theme to continue.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Im not seeing a changed player so much as a player benefiting from scheme changes and improved personnel. Im definitely not seeing Lucas Johnson, but I’m happy you’re enjoying this year’s vintage of Humrichous.

I think BH has turned into a much better defender

 

[Altuve27]

I think BH has turned into a much better defender

Ben deserves a TON of credit. Last year when he didn’t make shots he didn’t provide much of anything.

This year if he has an off night he still gives you excellent post defense. He has done a great job of walling up and staying vertical.

He has also rebounded well in several games, and he NEVER turns the ball over.

Ben has had a very good, very impactful season.

Oh, also, as Kyle pointed out on the postgame podcast, in 2 of the last 11 games Ben hasn’t hit a shot from the floor. In those other nine games Humrichous is shooting 52% from three.

 

[Hessel Blvd]

Does anyone know why everybody but Keaton were sitting together during mihailo/lee/redd time last night? literally everyone but him was shoulder to shoulder, and he was lounging like 3 seats away on the other side of a staffer. Weird look

 

[ptgrd23]

Maybe an unpopular take, but I've gone from disliking and being annoyed by Mick Cronin to actually finding his antics kind of humorous. He's for sure an !!!, but I now just laugh.

I loved how he embarrassed Izzo by pulling a UCLA player for flagrant foul vs MSU. Highlighted Izzo's hypocrisy for not punishing or bneching Fears for his multiple flagrant fouls.

UCLA's Mick Cronin ejects own player after foul in loss to MSU

UCLA coach Mick Cronin sent Bruins center Steven Jamerson II to the locker room after he fouled Carson Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt late in Tuesday night's blowout loss to Michigan State.

www.espn.com

Izzo threatens to bench Fears after tech in Michigan State loss

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called out star guard Jeremy Fears after he was accused of employ dirty tactics for the second straight game, this time earning a critical technical foul in a 76-73 loss to Minnesota.

www.espn.com

Mick started red hot with Final Four and two sweet 16's but has done less well recently. B10 is harder than the old Pac12.

 

[BillyBob1]

I loved how he embarrassed Izzo by pulling a UCLA player for flagrant foul vs MSU. Highlighted Izzo's hypocrisy for not punishing or bneching Fears for his multiple flagrant fouls.

UCLA's Mick Cronin ejects own player after foul in loss to MSU

UCLA coach Mick Cronin sent Bruins center Steven Jamerson II to the locker room after he fouled Carson Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt late in Tuesday night's blowout loss to Michigan State.

www.espn.com

Izzo threatens to bench Fears after tech in Michigan State loss

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called out star guard Jeremy Fears after he was accused of employ dirty tactics for the second straight game, this time earning a critical technical foul in a 76-73 loss to Minnesota.

www.espn.com

Mick started red hot with Final Four and two sweet 16's but has done less well recently. B10 is harder than the old Pac12.

View attachment 47719

They said the ucla player fouled out on the play.

 

[ChiefGritty]

I loved how he embarrassed Izzo by pulling a UCLA player for flagrant foul vs MSU. Highlighted Izzo's hypocrisy for not punishing or bneching Fears for his multiple flagrant fouls.

UCLA's Mick Cronin ejects own player after foul in loss to MSU

UCLA coach Mick Cronin sent Bruins center Steven Jamerson II to the locker room after he fouled Carson Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt late in Tuesday night's blowout loss to Michigan State.

www.espn.com

Izzo threatens to bench Fears after tech in Michigan State loss

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called out star guard Jeremy Fears after he was accused of employ dirty tactics for the second straight game, this time earning a critical technical foul in a 76-73 loss to Minnesota.

www.espn.com

Mick started red hot with Final Four and two sweet 16's but has done less well recently. B10 is harder than the old Pac12.

View attachment 47719

Every UCLA coach seems to do that, just peter out as they go along. Alford, Lavin, Howland it's all kinda the same story.

It's a weird program, they have huge advantages and huge disadvantages that are very unique.

 

[jumpingjack]

Maybe an unpopular take, but I've gone from disliking and being annoyed by Mick Cronin to actually finding his antics kind of humorous. He's for sure an !!!, but I now just laugh.

I went through the same evolution with Bill Walton and Bill Laimbeer many years ago. Somehow I get to the point of disliking them so much that it turns to a strange form of amusement.

I feel about him like I used to feel about Fran. He's delightfully irritable, like my inner rage monster manifested as a basketball coach.

 

[Sheldon Ram]

I may be a worry wart but this game Saturday scares me. Sometimes after blowout wins teams come out lackadaisical in the next game. The good thing is I bet the coaches are in their ear about the same thing. Let’s just get a win and have 4-5 days to prepare for Michigan

 

[ptgrd23]

Every UCLA coach seems to do that, just peter out as they go along. Alford, Lavin, Howland it's all kinda the same story.

It's a weird program, they have huge advantages and huge disadvantages that are very unique.

Jim Herrick won a championship in 1994 then got fired after next season. Crazy given John Wooden's UCLA bagman during 11 national championships

On Oct. 11, Harrick and Lavin held a dinner for three prospective recruits at a Westwood restaurant, and, in violation of NCAA rules, five Bruin players also attended. NCAA rules state that no more than one current student-athlete per recruit can attend such a meal, paid for by the university. UCLA declined to reveal how much money the dinner involved.
Wednesday afternoon, Young said the decision to fire Harrick was painful, but the only one possible in light of Harrick’s actions and attempts at a cover-up.

UCLA Dismisses Harrick as Coach

Basketball: School says he broke recruiting rule, lied about it. He calls penalty excessive.

www.latimes.com

 

[joeybcrazy13]

Bam bam

 

[TheOx76]

There are several times per game that our perimeter defender gets beat off the dribble and funnels the opponent into the lane where Big Z is waiting, yet somehow, inexplicably fouls the player instead of letting Z either block or change his shot. I hope we can let Dent and Skyy try to shoot over out bigs instead of foul. Obviously, we don’t usually foul a lot but it’s still maddening at times to see. Also, Tomi just needs to go up vertically some times.

 

[RML]

Wondering if we get away with running that DHO up top to Tomi flex cut on first possession for a third consecutive game .

Shhh!

 

[Altuve27]

I may be a worry wart but this game Saturday scares me. Sometimes after blowout wins teams come out lackadaisical in the next game. The good thing is I bet the coaches are in their ear about the same thing. Let’s just get a win and have 4-5 days to prepare for Michigan

I get it. Illinois played close to a perfect game. 51% from the floor, 44% from three, 93% from the line, and they held USC to 37% from the floor defensively. No team is likely to replicate that in consecutive games.

UCLA is better than USC, BUT Illinois is really, really good. Just do what you do, play smart, play hard, and move the ball and they will be fine.