Illinois 78, Maryland 72 Postgame

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#77      
Well, our guys finally got into a rock fight and willed their way to a win against a great effort by Md. and Mills. Good to get one of these rather than an overtime loss with a bizarre finish.

Likely, in 70 years of watching Illini hoops, I have seen a similar game, but I don't r remember one. Md. made circus shots that we wanted them to take and it triples at a high clip for most of the game while getting the ball to bounce their way most of the time. And yet the Illini pulled out a win and once again learned on a frosh star to lead them.

Unlike most in the game thread, I will not fault our effort. Yes, our guys made some flip of the coin choices that were not the right guess, but overall the effort and play was a bit substandard. But this win against what seemed to be fate is to build positives upon. There will be no easy games and 40 minutes of torture by the opponent is to be expected.

Now, go chase your dreams and goals and leave nothing in the tank. Shoot with confidence, defend like Navy Seals, move the ball, and rebound. Show everyone that you can play above the norm in every game.
 
#80      
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#83      
The existential question for this team is which is the mirage, the way we shot from 3 earlier in the year, or the way we're shooting from 3 now?

You can guard us totally differently if we don't have guys you have to prevent the launch from 1-5.
We are a considerably better team shooting it from three than last year's team, but the strategy is such that we are expected to get rebounds on the misses. You don't need to shoot 40% as a team if you can get seven or eight more possessions than the other team.
 
#86      
The existential question for this team is which is the mirage, the way we shot from 3 earlier in the year, or the way we're shooting from 3 now?

You can guard us totally differently if we don't have guys you have to prevent the launch from 1-5.
We can shoot the 3. Ben is due for another hot game. Wagler will start hitting them. Plus we now have 4 days to get right. We’ll be fine. I bet Tomi will have a good game in the BTT!
 
#88      
We are a considerably better team shooting it from three than last year's team, but the strategy is such that we are expected to get rebounds on the misses. You don't need to shoot 40% as a team if you can get seven or eight more possessions than the other team.
One trouble rebounding-wise is that everybody has gotten hip to the way we play volleyball on the offensive glass. We were crushing people on those little tip-outs in January but if you prepare for it you can shut that down.
 
#91      
With finishing 15-5..we are the winningest progarm in teh b10 in the 2020s by 2 games

Only us and purdue have not had a losing record in conf play this decade

Now lets go get some wins in these tournaments
 
#93      
Is the shooting our legs? Is there a beet juice shortage?
I hope Wagler isn’t hitting a wall.
Wagler has played way too many minutes this year. One problem I’ve had with Brad over his tenure is his refusal to play Petrovic, Dain, & others.
 
#96      
What the hell is wrong with Tomi? If he doesn’t get it going soon I fear our ceiling is limited.
 
#98      
I will never apologize for a road win, especially in conference play. Especially one where I wouldn't say anyone outside of Mirk played above a B-/C+.

But, it's a showcase of very thin margins for us - when we don't rebound at a high level, it can be spooky hours.

That said, they hit a lot of tough shots. We missed a lot of good looks. Only won rebounding by 3. And still won. But really, really, would like us to atleast throw one knockout punch game in the Big Ten Tournament before we hit the tournament.
 
#100      
That is the ultimate “a win is a win.” Tough slog, but never let it slip away. Triple bye. Probably locks up 2 seed barring a deep run by Iowa State in their tourney because we likely will only play Q1 teams from here on.
Me!!!! But also if they didn’t call it on the Maryland player at the start of the game who did the same thing then they couldn’t call it on Mirk.
 
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