TheDukeUIUC
- Twin Cities, MN
We are going to get run out of MSG next week if we have similar effort.
Alabama 90, Illinois 86 Postgame
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Tough game to bring back two players. I’m thinking he’d rethink that.
Andrej is who we (Pac12 country) thought he was. Please practice playing around this fact, coach. Give him support.
Bam and Wagler neutral at times. Bam turned it up at the end but had some plays off - including the missed free throws during clutch time.
Z asked to do too much. Too many 3’s. Too many 1:1 with guards. Play some zone, coach, it’s better for Z.
Hum was decent on D. Hit some big 3’s. Will he ever hit the ones he’s expected to hit?
Mirk got quiet in 2nd half. Costly turnovers in 1st. But he’s impactful consistently
Andrej is who we (Pac12 country) thought he was. Please practice playing around this fact, coach. Give him support.
Bam and Wagler neutral at times. Bam turned it up at the end but had some plays off - including the missed free throws during clutch time.
Z asked to do too much. Too many 3’s. Too many 1:1 with guards. Play some zone, coach, it’s better for Z.
Hum was decent on D. Hit some big 3’s. Will he ever hit the ones he’s expected to hit?
Mirk got quiet in 2nd half. Costly turnovers in 1st. But he’s impactful consistently
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
It's all in good fun. Busting balls is good.
Illinois hasn't had its full roster. I expected a little slop. We got a little slop. Alabama is really good.
1st - Giorgi slander? Really? Giorgi was not a superstar but he was a valuable, selfless player and I'd love to have a dude like that again.
2nd - Mirk is 19. He's new to NCAA ball. He's going to have off nights. Give it some time. Will Riley was still a mess halfway into conference play.
Get off it man, he was the 3rd best player on the team tonight and probably the best defender. This loss is not on him.
That I will agree with you on.
Their bigs outplayed, out hustled our bigs.
Games like this IMO show why all our bigs will be back for another year of college basketball (whether it's with us or elsewhere another story).
I think we've got to play more zone against the upper tier of college basketball or teams will continue to abuse and target Ivisic Bros on high screens
Ben was 2nd on team in rebounds. He played 26 minutes....Ivisic Bros played 30 combined (and even that 30 was too many with how they played tonight). Better days ahead but Ben was much much better defensively than either Ivisic brother tonight. Both of them were getting targeted by Bama when they were out there
Games like this IMO show why all our bigs will be back for another year of college basketball (whether it's with us or elsewhere another story).
I think we've got to play more zone against the upper tier of college basketball or teams will continue to abuse and target Ivisic Bros on high screens
Ben was 2nd on team in rebounds. He played 26 minutes....Ivisic Bros played 30 combined (and even that 30 was too many with how they played tonight). Better days ahead but Ben was much much better defensively than either Ivisic brother tonight. Both of them were getting targeted by Bama when they were out there
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My comment has nothing to do with his importance to the team. He can be important and still drive me crazy at times. I think he is going to be one of those players who drives you crazy at times. It is based on last year and this year, not today's game.
the national
- the Front Range
So much potential. We got more creative on offense and they resorted to shoot long 3s (and made a lot of them). Our defense is better this year and we made a lot of mistakes today. We kept letting Alabama off the hook by missing free throws. But, we were right there.
I’m frustrated but optimistic. Petrovic is gonna be a stud.
I’m frustrated but optimistic. Petrovic is gonna be a stud.
NASchamp
- Atlanta
Look. We’re still far from 100% healthy and have yet to even really gel. This is a learning opportunity. Sucks we could have (and should have) stolen it. But little things in the second half really killed us. Hell, our two big guys didn’t even play most of the game.
We have the pieces. But need to come together.
We have the pieces. But need to come together.
Hot takes can be garbage takes.
82% free throw shooter last year.
Didn’t we just do that? Didn’t we just go to the wire against a very too athletic team in a game that could have gone the other way but for free throws and some silly mistakes?
Disappointing loss, but not discouraging. Free throws were the difference. Seems like that is our Achilles heel every year. Can't wait till all the guys are healthy.
I think the top 4 players are Ivisic, Boswell, Mirk, Stojakovic.
So if you want Petrovic to play more that means taking Wagler off the floor. I don’t think Brad wants to do that. Wagler played the most minutes tonight at 36 minutes despite being 2-9. He clearly is sold on what he brings to the team
So if you want Petrovic to play more that means taking Wagler off the floor. I don’t think Brad wants to do that. Wagler played the most minutes tonight at 36 minutes despite being 2-9. He clearly is sold on what he brings to the team
Well, i mean "this year" is only 2 games. 1 against Jackson State, and the other fresh off a knee injury against Alabama.
As for last year, I'm not sure you remember how atrocious the conference play was without him.
IL was -2.5 in what most considered a home game with their best guy (and most likely bama counter) barely playing?
It's hardly worth giving the dude flowers. If he shows me the betting slip I'll congratulate him.
It's hardly worth giving the dude flowers. If he shows me the betting slip I'll congratulate him.
Keaton and 2nd half Mirk....yuck
Yeah, his mid-range game is actually very very good. His shot looks good.
Philon scored 19 in the second half. I mean, someone stop him for God's sake! Just poor effort defensively I felt. Maybe throw some zone in there because they were beating us all night once they stopped settling for threes. I know we can score, but we will need to learn how to get stops if we want to be really good. Not convinced we have the athleticism as a team to do that, but hope we do.
Counterpoint: Alabama is possibly the worst team in the country to zone, and I thought the staff used it pretty effectively as a “surprise” tactic to throw their offense out of rhythm.
Having Z on the floor is a problem for the defense when Bama has 5 guys who can handle and shoot the ball.
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Alabama was switching every pick at the top of the key particularly in the second half. And Illinois was unable to take advantage of mismatches in the lane. Either great defense by the smaller Alabama defender or lack of recognition by Illinois.
Really. He played great defense with 2 blks, 6 boards, made 3 of 8 from 3. He is not a top player on the team but he is contributing. I just don't understand the hate for this guy.
He is averaging 10.8 pts, 5.3 rbs, 0.5 blks, 1.3 assists, and 0.0 TO in 22.8 mins/game. That is pretty much what you want from the 6th man.
Wow, even though we lost I see just as much or more potential in this team than the Ayo/Kofi team. So many different players that could step us and take us to the promised land.
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