Texas Tech 84, Illinois 78 Postgame
Z also needs to be in there as rim defender against those floaters in the lane
It's so early and we don't have Jake and David. It's a perfect time to test and see what you have. You want all the guys to play in this type of game to see what you have. Andrej is a stud. Mirk is a stud. Coleman is a stud. Tomi does frustrate me with his one hand tips instead of jumping and grabbing the ball with two hands, but he has a lot of talent that shows and helps. Hopefully we get Jake back with enough of the season left to get his stamina b/c he's very important in a non-stat leadership roll that hits the big shots and does the little things. Brown is interesting, we'll see how things play out throughout the year. Z is solid but I do agree the 3-ball is almost off the table at this point, but I do like him at the right time to alter the other team's offense and when we have offensive lulls he's great for a pick and roll or baseline slip dunk. I think Lincoln might be the key. He's good! Really good! He has size, plays really good D, plays under control. As they learn and grow throughout the season we'll have a really solid group. Great test for a mix of old and young. Mirk helps us on D and rebounding so much! We'll be fine! 25-7 and a 1 or 2 seed. Deep run. Let's hope this is the year. ILL!!!
The end of the bench was brought in to wake up the team. There was no rhythm to begin with. It was an unmitigated mess in the first half. Then played better in the second half (for some).
Good sign that they made it respectable. But as been said, have to be better prepared, toughen up on defense, make your FTs, definitely missing Mirk and Jake, please say healthy!
Good sign that they made it respectable. But as been said, have to be better prepared, toughen up on defense, make your FTs, definitely missing Mirk and Jake, please say healthy!
Amazingly, Torvik gives us AdjO/D of 114.7/101.7, both of which are about 7 off our season rating
Given the score in the first half, I would have traded my car for the game to be close enough to come down to free throws
Continue to develop Lincoln. I’m no hater after the first real test, but I don’t think Vaaks is athletic enough to be counted on to protect the ball against good competition in crunch time. Additionally, that late wild three attempt smacked of desperation and panic from an experienced player. That said, Williams and Q looked comfortable as if they were reveling in the pressurized environment. Our newbies kept their composure and competed throughout and they will be the story in April.
Good because once Mirk is back, that won't work. This pre-conference schedule is tough, we are goingto lose games but once the 8/9 man rotation is set....look out.
I thought Illinois did great. It reminds me of the UConn loss last year that was the turning point for the season. The officials set the tone in the first half by letting them body the crap out of the Illini and it took a very young team to half time to collect themselves. It will be great to watch Illinois carry the second half intensity into the rest of the season. Playing @duke next week will be another great test.
- Great to see Stojakovic remember how to score in the second half.
- I disagree that Tomas was bad. Thought he was great and TT got away with a lot of reaching on loose balls and rebounds. Endlessly bumping and fouling anyone in the lane.
- Wish they had played Z down the stretch, he would have helped defend against those floaters that ended up being daggers.
- Coleman is a beast. I can see why everyone is worried about him injuring himself. He made two insane defensive plays and a bunch of great defensive plays. clutch shots. fought through injury and a sickness. He's a winner.
- Bring back Mirk and this team is unbelievable. I'd like to see the various permutations of Mirk, Quentin, Andrej, Tomas, Z and Williams.
- Williams and Coleman pressuring the ballhandler and switching on screens is going to kill a lot of teams.
- A little worried about Zens and Vaaks consistency especially with Davis out. Hopefully Zens can shake off the FTs.
- Illinois was playing sped up. There were a number of loose balls and plays that went the Texas Tech's way because Illinois was out of control especially in the first half.
- Great to see Stojakovic remember how to score in the second half.
- I disagree that Tomas was bad. Thought he was great and TT got away with a lot of reaching on loose balls and rebounds. Endlessly bumping and fouling anyone in the lane.
- Wish they had played Z down the stretch, he would have helped defend against those floaters that ended up being daggers.
- Coleman is a beast. I can see why everyone is worried about him injuring himself. He made two insane defensive plays and a bunch of great defensive plays. clutch shots. fought through injury and a sickness. He's a winner.
- Bring back Mirk and this team is unbelievable. I'd like to see the various permutations of Mirk, Quentin, Andrej, Tomas, Z and Williams.
- Williams and Coleman pressuring the ballhandler and switching on screens is going to kill a lot of teams.
- A little worried about Zens and Vaaks consistency especially with Davis out. Hopefully Zens can shake off the FTs.
- Illinois was playing sped up. There were a number of loose balls and plays that went the Texas Tech's way because Illinois was out of control especially in the first half.
Whether they're live or not is not the point.
It's a wasted chance on offense to:
1) attempt a shot
2) attempt a free throw
3) get an offensive rebound.
Having that happen on over 20% of possessions will hurt your efficiency.
pretty sure we wanted LW all along (easy to see why now) but he had to work out some eligibility problems first, which he did almost too late
Given the score in the first half, I would have traded my car for the game to be close enough to come down to free throws
Please don't take this the wrong way.
(1) How well the team shoots from 3 point range has very little correlation to wins in the Brad/Tyler offense.
(2) How many offensive rebounds we get off the 3 point miss has a much higher correlation to winning Pct.
(3) How many defensive rebounds we get has a higher correlation to wins.
(4) How well we shoot free throws has a higher correlation to wins.
Brad used 3 Freshman in his rotation and we were thoroughly beaten on the glass and at the line.
Clearly, Jake and Mirk would have made the difference.
All that said. This team has more talent than the group that Bill Self recruited in 2002 - 2003. I have to tell you I was impressed. Without those two, we will have to grow positionally when we play good opponents. The defense was pretty good. Clearly the Freshman had to adjust to playing on the road in the NCAA, and they did really quickly. Very few switches, just straight up man to man. That was pretty impressive.
If we can get healthy, we can be very good. Otherwise, there is a bit of learning process but this team should be pretty solid come January.
I didn't like this at all. At the risk of sounding like an excuse though, just have to give credit to Tech. Just dont fall back 20 points at halftime and they'll be good.
I like these early tests. It'll prepare them that much better for the B1G season and March. Looking forward to another great year and hopefully NC.
You guys don’t think the slower pace last season has something to do with that stat ?.
Good comments from BU. Talked about winning plays not just being shots, but rebounding, free throws, and taking care of the ball. Those come down to toughness and will to win. It's been our bugaboo for a couple years now at different times throughout the seasons. Hopefully he can figure out how to get Tomi, Z, and Vaaks to consistently be more locked in. No way we should be getting out rebounded by double digits and shooting under 50% from the line. 2 out of 6 from a supposed "shooter" from the line? Come on
LarryGotFouled
- Allen, TX
I was there and watched the pregame. Z went about 0-15 in pregame. I’m serious - he didn’t make a single one. Mystifying.
2-pointers:
Illinois: 20-26
Texas Tech: 17-38
.....
Layups / Dunks:
Illinois: 15-17
Texas Tech: 12-22
.....
3-pointers:
Illinois: 10-34
Texas Tech: 9-27
.....
Free Throws:
Illinois: 8-19
Texas Tech: 23-26
....
Illinois had the much better shooting game from the floor, but just couldn't make free throws.
Illinois: 20-26
Texas Tech: 17-38
.....
Layups / Dunks:
Illinois: 15-17
Texas Tech: 12-22
.....
3-pointers:
Illinois: 10-34
Texas Tech: 9-27
.....
Free Throws:
Illinois: 8-19
Texas Tech: 23-26
....
Illinois had the much better shooting game from the floor, but just couldn't make free throws.
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I honestly never need to see him him shoot a 3 again. It's been a LONG, LONG time since that game at Iowa last year when he made a couple of clutch ones. Nowadays, unless we get an offensive rebound off of it, it's basically a turnover. I still think he has something to contribute as a rim runner.
This was really good from Brad. I loved how he basically said 'Mirk coming back isn't going to save us' meaning we are good but we have to play better regardless when he comes back.
In 2026, Z is 12 of 63 from 3 (19%). This is 27 games. Close to a full season. 7 of those 12 makes came in 3 games. He's 7 of 14 in those 3 games. The other 23 games, he is 5 of 49 (10%)
If you're keeping score at home, watching him chuck up another & thinking "when is the last time this FN guy made one of them?", that was March 13, 2026 vs. Wisconsin. 8 games ago. 0 for the postseason. 0 for the season to date. Yet still chucking them up.
He is 3 of his last 37 from 3 in the last 17 games. A remarkable EIGHT percent!! You could probably close your eyes and hit that many.
I personally can't wait for Mirk to come back and pray that all but cuts off Z's minutes. I'm excited for seeing dawgs like Lincoln getting more minutes like he deserves. Z never developed. Neither physically nor his game. Jakstys is an end of bench big....at least you get some inkling of toughness and effort.
If you're keeping score at home, watching him chuck up another & thinking "when is the last time this FN guy made one of them?", that was March 13, 2026 vs. Wisconsin. 8 games ago. 0 for the postseason. 0 for the season to date. Yet still chucking them up.
He is 3 of his last 37 from 3 in the last 17 games. A remarkable EIGHT percent!! You could probably close your eyes and hit that many.
I personally can't wait for Mirk to come back and pray that all but cuts off Z's minutes. I'm excited for seeing dawgs like Lincoln getting more minutes like he deserves. Z never developed. Neither physically nor his game. Jakstys is an end of bench big....at least you get some inkling of toughness and effort.
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Going back to last year, he was 3-5 against Northwestern on Feb 4. We've played 17 games since that game and he's made 3
Damn you beat me by 2 minutes lol. Good job.
I hope he doesn't cut off Z's minutes because even though he has been terrible shooting the ball, we still need his defense and rebounding.
As amazing as the analytics guys have been, that this has been allowed to become a reality is one of the greatest mysteries of our time.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
