Wisconsin 91, Illinois 88 OT Postgame
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I haven’t read through all of this and I know there’s a lot to be frustrated about but has anyone brought up the fact that UCLA had 4.9 seconds left, coming out of a timeout, and went coast to coast to get a game winning layup. And we had 5.8 seconds, coming out of a timeout and basically jogged up the floor and got off a thirty footer. Am I the only one a little disappointed with that last play?
For today? No. I refuse to blame coaches when the difference is free throws. I can nitpick, but ultimately....step up and make the free ones.
That said, I'm not a huge fan of the roster construction and philosophy, but things might have changed if the crystal ball was present and we knew Ty would be out for the year. As it turns out, his bite defensively, his athleticism and his ability to get up over the rim and win 50/50 balls...that's the element that's missing.
Webster’s online dictionary
in•san•i•ty
Noun
1. Doing same thing over and over and expecting a different result
2. Thinking Underwood is a good coach
in•san•i•ty
Noun
1. Doing same thing over and over and expecting a different result
2. Thinking Underwood is a good coach
I am surprised that this is the sort of thing people argue about. Is Brad Underwood doing what needs to be done to achieve the goals he has, for years, stated?
No.
Is he going to be replaced, IF this season's team fails to make the Sweet Sixteen, and IF next years's (to be constructed) roster fails again to make the Sweet Sixteen?
No.
I don't underrstand why fans here should therefore keep their worries and frustrations to themselves. Worries and frustrations regarding the Underwood era are, as this ninth season wends its way to a conclusion that -- today, and based on the eight previous seasons -- are I think reasonably a source of worry. Ain't that so? What have I missed?
Problem is that those scoring threats aren’t consistent either. Yes guards are slow. Wagler and Boswell look like they’re in slow motion. Wagler has done well because he’s shifty and smooth and is taller than most other guard’s but a lot of people are talking about him going pro and it seems he may struggle because he’s so slow.
To be fair, I am pretty sure neither of those guys is going to lose to a team with a worse seed in the Tourney this year.
I have an honest, real question for some of the doom and gloom folks here...do you find some kind of relief from posting that we're destined to lose in the first round, or that there is "no chance" we make the sweet sixteen? Or that Brad should be fired? I just...don't understand what leads to those kind of comments.
Was today frustrating? 100%...missed FTs late, bad officiating, lack of killer instinct, the list goes on and on. Has the last month or so been disappointing...also 100%...and that means the team is definitely in a negative trend, and the hopes of a Final Four seem to have been dashed. But are we really worried about losing to a 14 seed? Do we really think Brad should be fired after having the most regular season wins in 20 seasons, just because we've finished the season on a downward slide? Y'all realize those are wild takes, right? Can crazy things happen and we lose to a 14 seed? Sure...but...I just don't get how we suddenly feel like that is a certainty.
Also...real question...who do you think we're going to hire to replace Brad? I'd rather stick with what we've got, and trust him to keep tinkering and figure out how to continue tweaking what he's doing to figure out how to have a team playing at its best in March.
Was today frustrating? 100%...missed FTs late, bad officiating, lack of killer instinct, the list goes on and on. Has the last month or so been disappointing...also 100%...and that means the team is definitely in a negative trend, and the hopes of a Final Four seem to have been dashed. But are we really worried about losing to a 14 seed? Do we really think Brad should be fired after having the most regular season wins in 20 seasons, just because we've finished the season on a downward slide? Y'all realize those are wild takes, right? Can crazy things happen and we lose to a 14 seed? Sure...but...I just don't get how we suddenly feel like that is a certainty.
Also...real question...who do you think we're going to hire to replace Brad? I'd rather stick with what we've got, and trust him to keep tinkering and figure out how to continue tweaking what he's doing to figure out how to have a team playing at its best in March.
Why? Because "players gotta make free throws?"
Really?
Come on, some guys are reliably better at making free throws -- including particularly when it matters -- than are others. Coaches know that. Toughness means, among other things, making free throws. When it counts. Coaches know this. Coaches put together the roster; players do not.
Which means: coaches are responsible for recruiting guys to their roster who will be able to make free throws when it counts.
So did I just indicate that, every time, without failure, players on a will-constructed roster will free throws when it counts? Nope. But enough of the time, in enough games.
Right now, the Pizza Hut Free Throw Champs miss too often when it counts. Meaning: squad makeup is short on mental toughness.
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I think he outcoached Otz in the S16 game.
There are a few crazy, negative takes here. But most of the critical takes are not unreasonably negative.
There are also a few crazy, positive takes here. But most of these are not unreasonable. Only some.
???? what in the world are you talking about?
We were playing 6 and 7 players completely different match ups 4-7 games ago.
There is nothing wrong with Wagler. He had 4 days off. He doesn't need more rest. The change is that opponents are guarding him with larger players and he is having more difficulty when he goes to the rim.
Its not more complicated than that.
Think about this way. We make 1 more FT in both Wisconsin games and against UCLA and MSU and this conversation isn't happening. Why insist on blowing it up onto something that it isn't?
I liked it a lot better when we were just arguing about weather or not Miami of Ohio sucked (they don’t… well, ok. They kinda do )
All in good fun. We’re all frustrated. Hopefully this team can figure it out and give us an enjoyable next few weeks
All in good fun. We’re all frustrated. Hopefully this team can figure it out and give us an enjoyable next few weeks
I hate blaming losses on officials. However, your observations and analysis appear 100% accurate to me.
Keaton is not going to get a rest. It's win or go home every game hence forth.
So it's not that you are incorrect in suggesting that Keaton is worn down -- I think you're correct about that.
Even so, it's all hands on deck for every game henceforth,
I agree with this. What we are lacking is a true dawg that can D up, get gritty, and make a big shot. When you look at guys like Fears and some of these other BIG guards they just want it more than our guys at the most critical times. They attack the basket and play for whistles. We are a good team and with a few bounces here and there we can make a run, but it'll be difficult beating teams with quick and grimey guards.
I rarely post, but always am lurking. Brad and staff have done exceptional at bringing the Illini back to national prominence. We field an upper tier Big 10 team year after year. That is an accomplishment that the majority of coaches could not accomplish. I complement him in that regard. I am disappointed in the lack of in game adjustments that our coaches don't make. In my view, it appears to me that Brad and staff are stubborn enough to always think we will always stick to the same game plan because it has worked well for us the majority of the time. That is true, their scripted game plan that never changes has been successful most of the time. It is when the other team does not comply with the normality that the Illini struggle. I know Brad loves tall, long guards. That has its advantages in most situations, until you meet a super quick guard that penetrates. Going forward, I truly hope we can recruit the quickness at the guard position to defend opposing quick guards and can create their own shot or set teammates up for open shots.
Hence the rest of my post you left off
I live in a high pressure world of complex solution sales. Either you win the deal or you lose, 2nd place is the worst place to be as you wasted a ton of time and still came up with nada. So close losses don't mean anything. Looking good early in the sales cycle doesn't count for anything. Binary, win or lose.
If Underwood was in sales in he would looking at being placed on a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) and if he didn't improve he'd be fired.
His answer to how to solve his continued disappointing losses and underachievement in the NCAA is "just keep trying gosh darn-it".
The question that I have back to you is how long do we as a fan base, Alumni, and especially for donors; do we continue to accept a lack of real results (competing for Championships)? This year...next year...for the next 3-5 years....
I look at historic performance data and Brad's isn't great, especially for the investment that has been made to him, his staff, our facilities, and our team.
Just my take, fire away.
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