Illinois 112, Penn 70 Postgame

#51      
Grandpa
My Uncle Billy was here and watched the game with me. He previously hadn't seen or heard anything about the Illini. He said that Vaaks was a great defender and was great taking it to the basket, but he should never shoot from distance. Nothing ever looked like it might go in.
I couldn't argue, that's how it looked tonight.
 
#52      
wc_illini
88_ILLINI said:
Good defense tonight, especially liked Vaaks' d. 21 assists on 43 made fgs - shared the ball well.
Way too many turnovers, gave up way too many offensive rebounds to Penn (they beat us by 1), need to shoot freethrows better - could bite us in future games
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They had way more offensive rebounding chances due to more missed shots (61 vs our 30). We got 47% of ours, they got 25% of theirs. Not as dominant as against FDU (55% vs 6.5%), but still very good.
 
#53      
Det_Illini_fan
zoiks said:
I’ve been away for a while. Are we no longer freaking out about the 9th guy in the rotation?
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No, we were worried pregame about beating Penn who we just dog walked out of the gym by 42 pts. So that’s the new thing. Worried that our highly touted recruits and offense might lose to teams we put away by well above the betting line.
 
#57      
Fly Illini Fly!
For the 2nd consecutive game, 100% of Illinois shots were below the FT circle OR from 3.

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#58      
wc_illini
Last year against Penn, our AdjO/AdjD was 150.3/112.8 (+37.5). Today, it was 123.9/85.7 (+38.2). The ratio may be more significant than the difference, in which case it was 1.33 last year and 1.45 this year. It's just one game, but on paper our better defense more than made up for less efficiency on the offensive end.

Together, these first two games would've been our 2nd and 8th best AdjD all of last year. On the offensive end, these two would've been our 9th and 30th best.

This was 87 possessions. Our highest last year was 79 (vs Alabama), and that includes a handful of OT games. Other than Alabama and the first two games (75 & 76 possessions), we never exceeded 72 in a non-OT game.

So the tempo may be misleading- despite scoring 112, the most exciting thing about today's win is the defense.
 
#59      
hoopsfan47
Illini in Indiana said:
Quentin Coleman is the stud and often compared to Keaton Wagler. But, just 2 short games in to the season I have to think Ethan Brown may be the better comparison. So quietly efficent it's crazy, please other teams keep sleeping on him.
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Quentin Coleman, more and more, shows that he may be the kind of player, like Gail Goodrich, Danny Ainge, Walter Clayton, or the two guards from Baylor, who can bring elite energy to a team in so many ways and will them to accomplish things no one dreamed possible. He just has so many ways to make a significant impact on both ends of the court that few have ever been able to do. Lots of talented, tough, heady, experienced players wearing the Illini uniform this season, but he the one that inspires them all.

Now, how he develops a magic with Mirk can really be special if these two elite and unique talents can blend their magic together. I have waited over 70 years to see a team perform like this in Huff/Assembly Hall...hope I get to witness this team at full strength and playing their best in April.
 
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#71      
NickOfTime
Fly Illini Fly! said:
For the 2nd consecutive game, 100% of Illinois shots were below the FT circle OR from 3.

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The Illinois shot map is the endpoint to basketball analytics. Layups, dunks, and threes are the most efficient shots in basketball. The midrange jumper and long twos inside the arc are the least efficient. Brad's offensive philosophy is layups and dunks at the rim, and open threes beyond the arc. The defense is focused on contesting threes and not allowing open layups or dunks, leaving open midrange and long twos.

If a teams plays with pace (we do), you maximize the number of possessions you can get. Maximum possessions, maximum points per possession. That's why Brad focuses on positional size (size = rebounds = more possessions = more points), three point shooting (open threes = made threes), basketball IQ (take the right shots) and character (so the team plays as a team).

Of course putting this all together is a challenge so Brad makes $4.4 million a year. But it boils down to taking the most efficient shots while giving up the least efficient over as many possessions as possible.
 
#73      
Brosky
aaeismacgychel said:
All I can say is damn we’re good. Absolute obliteration these past 2 games and Penn very well could win the Ivy this year. They’re a solid team. Insanely impressive through 2 games. This is just about as close to perfection as you can see from a college team. Obscene.
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Perfection? 19 turnovers (5 from Vaaks). As a matter of fact, Vaaks had a terrible game--missing free throws and all his 3 ptr. attempts as well. Lincoln Williams, Ethan Brown, QC, and Zens on the other hand....that's 4 true freshmen playing at an elite level. As others have said, we are deep.
 
#75      
jimbo72
Even with the injuries, I'm already in love with this team. I knew our freshman class was really good. All of them, even landon davis, big boy's gonna contribute in the future. On an off night, we still shot 38% from 3. How many shots did we jack up, assist, and rebounds. Insane. 😃 Ethan and others will get progressively better on Defense which is vital come Tourney. Free throws, feee throws all you Shooter's.🙏
Indiana, Ucla.with all their Pro's. Big10 is LOADED, will be a street fight and fun to watch.
 
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