Pregame: Illinois vs VCU, Saturday, March 21st, 6:50pm CT, CBS
- Status
This cr@p needs to stop. No effort. No desire. Seriously? Sometimes, people aren't as good as you want them to be. Maybe they aren't living up to YOUR expectations. That doesn't mean that the effort and desire isn't there. He's at practice working EVERY day, while you're on the sofa watching the day or at work, then eating, then on your sofa. That goes for all of us.
I'm all about being able to be critical, call out mistakes, etc. Bringing the ball down is a problem. I 100% agree. Settling for three's, I agree. That's across the board with this squad. This defaulting to effort, caring, fire, desire, focus, not trying etc....it needs to stop.
If you don't think that he's working his tail off and they're trying everything to uncover his talents, I'm not sure what to say outside of this staff has a pretty good history of development and success. Sounds like you're saying that Wagler has more effort and desire however.
Again, I'm not saying don't be critical. However, have some substance behind it. Don't default to laziness.
I'm in agreement with most of your post, however:
1)When we have a significant advantage in the paint(Friday, vs Wisconsin, etc), we have to recognize that. That second half against Penn, the adjustment was clearly made, we worked from the inside out, not vice versa. You saw the difference in the quality of shots and the easy hoops in the paint.
2)When we're playing a team that has a big, physical, front line, we're not going to be able to double up teams on the offensive glass. Michigan was a great example of that. In games where we can't chase down a ton of rebounds, our style is a problem. We can't rebound to a stalemate. We'll lose unless we're hot and we can't have that be the default.
3)When that's the offense, end of game situations where we need a bucket....it's not always ideal.
fireforge had a great reuben and beer menu Thursday. Too bad Penn had their event in the garage
Oh you bet and I'm not sure if Mirk can even dance!
Was that when he got the broken nose?
Fortunately for us, he's not close to an NBA level athlete at this point in his development.
They needed awful officiating and enormous luck just to get past Carolina.
I think that happened against Mizzou
Hill should be in for a long night with Bam on him and dialed in. Still crazy to think he was only out for a month with a fractured hand and surgery and to come back and play at a high level is crazy. Paul and Fletch are incredible!
Likely, I used the wrong words. I was not saying Z had no effort or desire, but the continued lack of evidence seems to say that the staff has either made none or has been unsuccessful in their efforts to develop his scoring skills around the rim....other than dunking,
Z is a highly athletic team player. It is hard to imagine that he would not respond if the staff were to work with him individually to develop dependable scoring skills within 5 ft. of the rim. It has been done successfully a thousand times or more over the past 100 yrs.
And in addition to his unsuccessful efforts to be a dependable scorer at 5 to 8 ft. from the rim, he brings the ball down way too often and gets it stolen way too often by little guys. It does not take a lot of work to develop both to a positive.
I did not intend to be critical of Z but place almost all of the two shortcomings on the staff. One thing for certain, both have proven to be re-occurring problems that are pretty easily corrected.
It is really surprising to me that after two seasons with Cal and one with Brad that both continue to be issues. The "why" is baffling.
Just curious, would you consider Nikola Jokić to be an NBA level athlete?
Certainly you can’t mean Luka Doncic?
Karl Heinz Granitza… wow. Honestly don’t think I’ve heard that name in over 35 years… well done!
Generally, I agree with you about the capable shooters taking open threes. Especially when the pass is to the pocket, the shot can be taken in rhythm, and the offense is set so there's a good chance of an offensive rebound. But if it's not Keaton, Mirk, Jake, or Ben, it's a so-so pass (Kylan has made a couple bounce passes around the perimeter), it's early in the clock, and we're still getting set so the chances of an offensive rebound are less, I would rather they wait to see if they can get something better.
Almost time to get those dancing shoes on for Round 2.
They want a fight? Ring the damn bell!
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Last edited:
After he leads the Illini to title this year, he'll be lotto pick....
In the SLIM chance that doesn't happen, he'd be a 2nd rounder this loaded draft.
Think he can be a later half 1st rounder next year in a shallower draft. And make a boatload of money next season. Illini are gonna have to open up the checkbook like theyve never had to do before with him. The Andrej money, the KB money, the Petro money.....is gonna have to be allocated to Mirk.
Hear you and completely understood. Where a I differ is I think the conceptual frame work behind all of our players shooting 3pt shots is so the opposition doesn't sag off. I am more of the school of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I am more in wonderment about second half FT shooting at this point in the season.
No and no way. But 10 Colleges across the land will pay him 3 to 7 million to enter transfer portal. If he gets more athletic and opens his hps. He will be a NBA baller and very good. I believe Adam Fletcher is the man to help him achieve his goals. Fletcher has been a secret weapon for our beloved for years!
Well brothers and sisters, here's to hoping VCU guards don't maul us to shreds like good guards have all season. I don't know Coaches, maybe more zone or 1,3,1.. I dont care. Man up and we'll be in for a rock fight. I also hope we Poud them In the PAINT. Then let our 3's rain on Occasion. I say, On Occasion. Kill em in the lane and free throw line. Move On!
This is super opponent-based.
Penn is #216 in DREB rate (they were 184 before our game, lol)
VCU is #143
Houston is #176.
We should be fine in all 3 games if we play to our standard. Illinois — 3rd best OREB team in the nation at 39.2%.
Florida however, might be tough as they’re #7 (2nd amongst high major teams).
Last edited:
I hear you and agree for the most part. UCLA shot 65% in the the last 29 minutes against us. They were 10-21 from 3 and shot 17 FTs (including 3 at the end of the first half) after the 10 minute mark. That was 46 of the 85 points they scored. I understand your observation, but 65% shooting doesn't happen against the worst defenses in the NCAA (23 of 36) from 2 point range. Your point about the defense in that game is well taken - but Bilodeau and Daily were pretty difficult to stop, Mirk played with 4 fouls. I think those are related. In my opinion we lost to UCLA because of execution (silly 3 shot foul at the end of the first half, missed foul shots in the second half and complete brain fart on the final play of the game).
- Status