That is about as even of a box score across the board as you are ever going to see. The difference... A handful of free throws.
Alabama 90, Illinois 86 Postgame
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I'm struggling not to see Mirk as Giorgi 2.0. He's seemed bum slayer-ish.
Ben getting minutes is sad. I get that we needed to play him, but that alone is saddening.
Stoj and Bam were obviously vacationing instead of working on their shooting form.
...that said, this team will grow and win a lot of games.
Ben getting minutes is sad. I get that we needed to play him, but that alone is saddening.
Stoj and Bam were obviously vacationing instead of working on their shooting form.
...that said, this team will grow and win a lot of games.
Glass half empty: could’ve won that game a million ways and arguably pissed it away
Glass half full: first time we’ve seen this team fully healthy, and there are clearly going to be growing pains to reach our full potential — offensive flow, defensive communication, etc. I actually thought we got pretty much whatever we wanted on the offensive end and played like the tougher team. Sometimes shots don’t go in (free throws too…) and you don’t win these ball games. Glad we got the Texas Tech one. It’s a looooooong season.
Glass half full: first time we’ve seen this team fully healthy, and there are clearly going to be growing pains to reach our full potential — offensive flow, defensive communication, etc. I actually thought we got pretty much whatever we wanted on the offensive end and played like the tougher team. Sometimes shots don’t go in (free throws too…) and you don’t win these ball games. Glad we got the Texas Tech one. It’s a looooooong season.
Alabama is a well coached team and they have some shooters but Illinois should not have lost this game.
13-22 from the line kills you in close games.
Also we're just only +2 on the rebound line against Alabama. There is no reason that Illinois shouldnt have been the more physical team and imply imposed their will attacking the basket. They just got caught up and played the game at the tempo Alabama wanted to play at and played right into their hands.
The gameplan from the top should've been Stojakovic and Boswell attacking the basket and playing inside out but they settled for too many outside looks early and failed to change until it was too late. Stojakovic can be great but he also needs to avoid the 5 turnovers and 2-5 from the line.
13-22 from the line kills you in close games.
Also we're just only +2 on the rebound line against Alabama. There is no reason that Illinois shouldnt have been the more physical team and imply imposed their will attacking the basket. They just got caught up and played the game at the tempo Alabama wanted to play at and played right into their hands.
The gameplan from the top should've been Stojakovic and Boswell attacking the basket and playing inside out but they settled for too many outside looks early and failed to change until it was too late. Stojakovic can be great but he also needs to avoid the 5 turnovers and 2-5 from the line.
Pretty much my take too. Some very poor play at times and FT shooting stunk and cost the game. Rebounding was too sped up and their quickness conquered our height.
Biggest sore spot for me was to be expected...our frosh both had sub-standard games...but neither shrunk from the spotlight. They just did not perform with the competence of senior all-conference guys (and no one expected them to do that). Both have been surprisingly good and both need a bit more baking. Add in the Ivisic brothers playing with injuries and you get a team that fails in the clutch of a huge early season game to a very athletic team of skilled shooters.
But one thing that did shine tonight is that we have upper class leadership who did show up and try to carry these kids to victory. Bam and Stoja are elite and can do it against anyone. Follow their lead, execute, and get healthy.
As had been said, an extremely fun team to watch and I hope my wishes for their success adds something when needed. Unfortunately, hope was scoreless tonight....and every night. Go Illini!!!
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sacraig
- The desert
Odd flex.
I’m not low on team necessarily but it just feels clear that someone like Nate Oats is just a better coach/program builder. I’m not a psycho so I’m not saying fire Underwood since its not even a guarantee you hire a top 100 guy as a replacement but it’s somewhat frustrating all the same.
And stay healthy.
Frustrating loss. We had our opportunities. Clean up the mistakes on both ends and free throws, free throws, free throws! MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS!
Great game. We essentially lost it at the line. We were 13/22 tonight
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Yes. Several jumped on him for having the gall to predict a loss. So yes he gets credit, especially for all but nailing the final score.Congrats?
blackdog
- Champaign
Absolutely not. The dude was barely working himself back from tonsil surgery before the knee injury. He's not anywhere close to being in good game condition but once he has a chance to get there he's way too important to this team.
Alot of work to do. Instant thoughts:
Both the twins don't look right. Tomi I understand because its the first game back. But Z has not done much. Need to get that young man on the boards and get his knee right if its still an issue.
Kylan was great tonight, leader, aggressive and played defense. He needs to make better reads on pick and roll but overall, hats off.
Andrej was awesome in spurts. He can't shoot, which is a problem. But i love the aggressiveness and he needs to be taking the ball to the rack consistently.
Mihailo was timid. I think there is a ton in there. Need to get him healthy and aggressive. Good to see him get minutes. He sees the game well and I continue to say, I think he could be a major piece.
The Freshman were Freshmen tonight. Its the way it is. Keaton, overall was OK but Mirk was bad the whole second half. Learning experience.
We are a better rebounding team, but the ball found Alabama more then us on alot of the long rebounds...BUT...we were also getting out hustled on the boards too and that was unacceptable.
The offense gets stagnant and we dont get easy buckets it seems. Need more time with everyone together to get the ball moving, make the extra pass and find the open man. Hero ball will work, but not all the time. The team is talented, but we need to start working better together. On to the next.
Both the twins don't look right. Tomi I understand because its the first game back. But Z has not done much. Need to get that young man on the boards and get his knee right if its still an issue.
Kylan was great tonight, leader, aggressive and played defense. He needs to make better reads on pick and roll but overall, hats off.
Andrej was awesome in spurts. He can't shoot, which is a problem. But i love the aggressiveness and he needs to be taking the ball to the rack consistently.
Mihailo was timid. I think there is a ton in there. Need to get him healthy and aggressive. Good to see him get minutes. He sees the game well and I continue to say, I think he could be a major piece.
The Freshman were Freshmen tonight. Its the way it is. Keaton, overall was OK but Mirk was bad the whole second half. Learning experience.
We are a better rebounding team, but the ball found Alabama more then us on alot of the long rebounds...BUT...we were also getting out hustled on the boards too and that was unacceptable.
The offense gets stagnant and we dont get easy buckets it seems. Need more time with everyone together to get the ball moving, make the extra pass and find the open man. Hero ball will work, but not all the time. The team is talented, but we need to start working better together. On to the next.
These two statements are stunning to me. These are the only guys who added anything tonight.
Few main game thoughts:
The sequence with Big Z missing a open three... we don't get back and directly leads to a Wrightsell three. Don't have the exact timestamp, but felt like a huge momentum swing play - Andrej had been cooking. Could've had the lead, instead BAMA goes from up 2 to up 5.
Brad subs in Big Z late in the game - around 2 or 3 minute mark - and every possession from there on out BAMA puts him in ball screens and destroys us with Philon. All but put the game away.
Free throw shooting hurt bad. Between this game and last year's BAMA game we have missed 20 total free throws. The ones late hurt the most from Bam and Wagler. Stojakovic ones were huge momentum killers.
Getting outrebounded was unacceptable. BAMA last game got outrebounded 48-23 by Purdue.
BAMA had NUMEROUS travels that went uncalled. Say what you want about the flagrant, but those were called - for the most part - against Texas Tech. I'm not sure BAMA got called for any this game.
The sequence with Big Z missing a open three... we don't get back and directly leads to a Wrightsell three. Don't have the exact timestamp, but felt like a huge momentum swing play - Andrej had been cooking. Could've had the lead, instead BAMA goes from up 2 to up 5.
Brad subs in Big Z late in the game - around 2 or 3 minute mark - and every possession from there on out BAMA puts him in ball screens and destroys us with Philon. All but put the game away.
Free throw shooting hurt bad. Between this game and last year's BAMA game we have missed 20 total free throws. The ones late hurt the most from Bam and Wagler. Stojakovic ones were huge momentum killers.
Getting outrebounded was unacceptable. BAMA last game got outrebounded 48-23 by Purdue.
BAMA had NUMEROUS travels that went uncalled. Say what you want about the flagrant, but those were called - for the most part - against Texas Tech. I'm not sure BAMA got called for any this game.
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Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
Yeah? How so?
Govoner Vaugn Fan
- New Orleans
Lost track of the times Z got the rebound and pulled the ball down to his waist where a Bama player grabbed the ball for a tie-up or steal/
Really really even game across the board. Hit free throws man...
Free throws aside, his shot looks just fine to me.
A typical loss in the Underwood era. Dont get me wrong but I love Brad but lots of head scratching losses in the last decade. We don’t win many of these games is what I’m saying. You want to be Elite? Win “home” games when you’re favored. Yes he he didn’t play but good coaches make a difference in game.
Neither twin was very healthy tonight...but both were game...
Agreed, I thought Ben was great tonight.
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