Game Thread: Illinois at Texas Tech

[PopChampaign]

Vaaks, AS and Tomi need to go win this

Doubtful, all have been ineffective against this defense. To make up a 20 point deficit AND win? Yea… no

 

[March2TheArch]

I don’t think we can teach physicality and strength beyond a certain point.

 

[Chase321]

There are some early conclusions being formed here. Some comments that should be bookmarked for later in the season.

 

[GrayGhost77]

Hopefully some trash cans are paying the price for that abysmal first half (lack of) effort.

 

[Illini in Indiana]

Freshman & tough road environment

Missing Mirk & Jack, who wants to lead ? Tomi, Andre, ....

 

[Oracle21]

we are without a primary ball handler.

That’s the biggest issue I see. QC can do it. Other than him, a PG by committee with Brown/Vaaks even Mirk when he gets back isn’t gonna work.

You can have the best passing team in the world but without some guys that can dribble you will have the opponents feasting off passing lanes

 

[ChiefGritty]

This needs to be a 7 man rotation

You can't play as fast as we aspire to with that short a bench.

The answer may well be "so be it, play at the tempo that keeps the right personnel on the floor" but that's a mighty quick hook for our new philosophy.

 

[myspace]

Delete

 

[JJE]

Brad wants to win, but don’t think for a second a butt kicking like this won’t be used to motivate and teach these guys.

 

[March2TheArch]

You very likely aren't going to win, but need to play way harder 2h.

all the pre-season hype drained in one half of basketball. Baylor was a wake up call. Texas Tech is the alarm bells.

Duke will be angry if MSU upsets them.

 

[TheodoreRex]

I'm not sure if I'm more mad at the lack of effort or the fact that their stadium sounds far more electric than State Farm Center did at any point last year...

Wake up call for our team and our fans?

 

[Chillinini]

Just have to get and keep everyone healthy for the rest of the season.

Have to get tougher. Watch MSU, extremely tough. They will make this game look not as bad.

If not, this is what we are.

And there is no leadership. No DFW, Feliz, Ayo, Ty, TSJ types on this squad.

 

[Jersten]

This needs to be a 7 man rotation:

QC, Brown, Stojakovic, Tomi, Z, Vaaks, Lincoln.

The other freshman rotating 3 minute stints is totally killing the rhythm of the team.

It seems that Brad likes to do this though, especially before conference play. I wonder if he's just seeing what kind of character some of the players have

 

[eas23]

We'll and he'll be fine, but I'm already disappointed that Stojakovic had a half like that. I wanted consistency from him more than anything.

 

[HoopsterMan]

Too easy to fall trap to us running circles over the tomato cans. It's a different skill altogether to run your offense past bad teams, than to go grind with similar level athletes.

 

[sacraig]

There are some early conclusions being formed here. Some comments that should be bookmarked for later in the season.

If you came to the message boards for measured discourse... bless your heart.

 

[JKR]

Honestly the most disappointing part is how much better there crowd sounds consistently than our home games these days

That's the most disappointing?

 

[PopChampaign]

If this it what playing at a fast pace looks like don’t sign me up. Turnover and injuries every other possession. Don’t think I’ll stay up here in the east coast for the second half

We can play fast against athletic teams that can play defense. To add to that, we don’t have as many reliable weapons as we thought. To be down 20 at half is an embarrassment to our Program. Letting DGL pop his sh%t is unacceptable. We look weak. Drop us down to 15 or lower after this loss, team needs to wake the f up

 

[March2TheArch]

2nd half is just early practice to work on all the defensive breakdowns and weak defensive rebounding.

 

[ILLHoopsterFan]

In absolutely no way is this the most disappointing part lol.

I agree, but let's face it, SFC is a soft environment for visitors.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Only lineup that worked even a bit in the 1st half was the twin towers lineup. Being down 2 guards, I might lean a bit more into that though that does mean JJ is going to need to get some run to spell them

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

You very likely aren't going to win, but need to play way harder 2h.

This. It's all about effort and physicality right now. Say what you(not you) want about Boswell, but this bullying and lack of toughness would never have happened last year.

 

[skyIdub]

This looks a lot like the worries posted about this style of offense. Just like in the NBA, when it's working...it's amazing.

When it's not...it's the ugliest, sloppiest, unwatchable playground basketball.

 

[BoiseBaller]

Just have to get and keep everyone healthy for the rest of the season.

Have to get tougher. Watch MSU, extremely tough. They will make this game look not as bad.

If not, this is what we are.

And there is no leadership. No DFW, Feliz, Ayo, Ty, TSJ types on this squad.

This is my thought. Play slower, if guys are dinged keep them out. We aren’t winning this game so just don’t get anyone else killed. Can’t afford it.

 

[Battle89]

Having flashbacks of the Matthew Meyer team. 1v1 basketball with no offensive flow and a million turnovers .. what in the world. The guys forgot how to process and left their brains on the plane.

TT won't get as many lucky bounces or shoot that percentage in second. Hopefully Tyler runs a few plays to get some confidence back.

Honestly this was my biggest fear when this new offense was announced. Play fast, no set plays, etc.

People will say last year’s offense was tailored to KW but at the same time all you hear is about our huge amount of returning production.