I would argue it’s big Z that should really stop taking 3’s- it’s beyond a slump right now and he’s 7’2” we don’t need him shooting threes.
I don’t mind Andrej taking one or two a game when he’s wide open
Pregame: Illinois vs VCU, Saturday, March 21st, 6:50pm CT, CBS
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I don’t mind Andrej taking one or two a game when he’s wide open
I just don’t like possessions where the ball doesn’t move. When we take quick shots it feels like we rarely make a good percentage of those.
Just how it seems to me. When we get paint touches, and move the ball from side to side that’s when we shoot at a better clip.
Well early in the second half Penn came out of their zone andramped up the man to man pressure harassing and doubling Keaton and that was when our offense took off. Side note, they matched us basket for basket early on in the second half before Brad took out Jake, who couldn't gaurd anyone last night and put in Ben. It had an immediate effect on Penns offense.
Illinois kill-shot is making threes and offensive rebounds. When we do BOTH, here’s what we look like offensively:
Penn — 42% from 3, 52.6% OREB rate, ends up at 1.568 points per possession
USC — 45% from 3, 43.3% OREB rate, ends up at 1.436 points per possession
Mizzou — 45% from 3, 55.6% OREB rate, ends up at 1.433 points per possession
Purdue — 48% from 3, 44.8% OREB rate, ends up at 1.387 points per possession.
WHEN the shots aren’t falling from 3pt — Illinois still has a 39.2% OREB rate on the season, which is 3rd in the nation.
Regardless of the bad shooting on a given night, we’re almost guaranteed to still be well over 1.2ppp IF we play to our season average of rebounding 40% of missed shots. It’s what makes this offense dangerous (also what makes the accusations of “live and die by the 3” quite untrue).
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NASchamp
- Atlanta
I would agree. It costs us a lot of easy rebounds and put backs when he drifts out to the 3pt line. I’d rather keep him close to the rim, also as a constant lob threat.
Unless the other team has a large center clogging things up that we need to draw out of the lane.
Z was shooting really well and he isn’t now. So all the more reason to keep him inside. Tomi as well.
Z is 3-27 since MSU…
blackdog
- Champaign
CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, & Tracy Wolfson)
NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview | 3 Illinois vs. 11 VCU - University of Illinois Athletics
No. 3 seed Illinois faces second-round matchup vs. No. 11 seed VCU on Saturday at 6:50 p.m. CT on CBS.fightingillini.com
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
We still live in a world where Giorgi wore the uniform
My Lord. I knew it was bad. Just not that bad
blackdog
- Champaign
Similar goofball energy but Mirk just feels more like a walking ball of chaos. He says so many things that from anyone else would be so cringe worthy but it's absolutely loveable from him.
Z has one strong scoring move when he is not hitting threes....the dunk. It is very frustrating to watch him get a board 3 ft. from the rim and throw it out to Keaton or Bam because he lacks the strength or skill to shoot it in if he can't dunk it. I am certain the coaches would like him to put it back, but there has either been:
1. No effort to develop dependable moves like a jump hook, or flip like Tommy.
2. No desire for him to score two and the staff prefers him to toss it out.
For sure, if I were coaching him, he would have spent 1000 hours by now working on a couple of solid scoring moves every time he got the ball within 5 ft. And one thing he would be doing if he wanted to get on the floor is never bringing the ball down below his head when in traffic.
Unfortunately, Z is such a talented rim protector and rebounder that he needs to play. But I cannot understand why he does not try to score or loses the ball way too often. Otherwise, I love his play...but he could do so much more.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
If it's one of our better shooters and they're open, we might not get a look that good again. Otherwise I agree
If it weren't for Keaton and his FreshmanCBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, & Tracy Wolfson)
NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview | 3 Illinois vs. 11 VCU - University of Illinois Athletics
No. 3 seed Illinois faces second-round matchup vs. No. 11 seed VCU on Saturday at 6:50 p.m. CT on CBS.
ness, Mirk could easily be in the discussion of top 2 performing Freshman during Brads tenure. That just goes to show where we're at as a program now...and I'm all for it 
Onwards to a Natty!I've wondered about having Mirk set the high pick, and when Andrej/Keaton turn the corner, they have the option to throw a HIGH oop to Z who is coming in off the baseline.
I feel like the Illini making 3s and getting offensive rebounds is a result of games when Illinois moves the ball very well and attacks inside to create opportunities to pass out to open shooters.
The ball movement creates more in rhythm open looks(tend to shoot better on those looks) and it gets the defense out of position with guys helping and scrambling to closeout which they are in a worse position to boxout and Illinois can turn those unchecked guys into offensive boards.
The quick 3s when the defense is set doesn't put any pressure on the opposing team to defend and leads to fewer offensive rebound opportunities because the defenders are set and near the guy they are responsible for checking.
I didn't really know where to put this one, but the tiny bit of Petro I see enthuses me. Every time he's in there, if only for a couple of minutes, he makes at least one or two superb passes. I wouldn't blame him if he transfered out, but I hope that doesn't happen. Most likely, we'll lose both starting guards after this season ends. One to the NBA (Wagler) and one to graduation (Boswell). This would leave the door wide open for Petro if he'd seize the opportunity. In my mind, that would be great to see.
Is there a longer version of this clip? I seem to remember a sentence or two more.
I have been preaching this all year. Ball movement creates open looks and easy scoring opportunities. It moves the defense side to side creating open lanes to the basket. Whip the ball around and we win.
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