Coleman needs to play better against good teams, shoot better and get more experience in more stress filled games. I think he will mature and improve. Was not his day today.
Arizona 83, Illinois 79 Postgame
- Status
He's done that his whole career
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
How does a basketball player not know the 5 second rule?
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
Box score on this one is really interesting. We only had two more turnovers, and one fewer rebound. Major discrepancy was in overall fieldgoal percentage even though our 3 point percentage was 9 percent better. We are still putting it together and Arizona already has. Be a fun one to replay in March, especially if we are back at full strength.
We’ve had a double digit lead against every opponent we have played this year. If we can harness the apex play and iron out some inconsistencies (which have been exacerbated by injuries and illness and bad luck) this team will be scary.
Arizona is supremely athletic and long, and we had a chance to win the game in the last two minutes…without a preseason first team all B10 pg orchestrating things.
This week has been incredibly encouraging re: what I think the team’s ceiling can be. And a couple of our wins (Rutgers and ND) look a bit shinier, don’t they? The shooting is for real, the rebounding is for real. The defense will improve like it always does for Underwood coached teams. I’m excited.
Arizona is supremely athletic and long, and we had a chance to win the game in the last two minutes…without a preseason first team all B10 pg orchestrating things.
This week has been incredibly encouraging re: what I think the team’s ceiling can be. And a couple of our wins (Rutgers and ND) look a bit shinier, don’t they? The shooting is for real, the rebounding is for real. The defense will improve like it always does for Underwood coached teams. I’m excited.
Not mad about it. We're a good team with some bad habits and a couple deficiencies that keep rearing their ugly heads at the most inopportune times. Played good enough to beat most teams tonight but we don't match up well with AZ, IMO (especially without an active PG on our team) .
We're about to go on a run.
We're about to go on a run.
You're right but Coach should always take that off his shoulders to the press.
Agree with most of this. We can't make so many lazy passes and spacey turnovers. That along with the fact Kofi has to squeeze the rock. He us not Shaq but he can certainly jump and try to dunk more shots in the lane like he did at the end of last year. Some of those blocks on him the skinny big guy hardly jumped. He can play much stronger than he did today.
This was a troubling part of the game for me, a stoppage around 2 minutes left in game. The TV camera stayed on this shot for multiple seconds. Belo wasn't involved at all. Not engaged. Whatever is happening, I hope he's recovering.
Attachments
Agreed. I do like that coach took the heat for this though.
It's gotta be tough; a major cog relegated to the end of the bench.
I think I'd be depressed too... or whatever it is.
We all see the talent on the Illini. But... there is still a gaping hole in this team.
What is the Illini offense right now?
1. Get it in to Kofi.
2. Shoot a Three.
Where is the regular dependable 2-point, mid-range offense coming from? You can’t be a Final Four team if all you’ve got is: get it in to the big man (he gets triple-teamed), or shoot Threes all night.
This is what Arizona showed. Versatility on offense and guys who can create a shot. Inside, outside, and mid-range game superior to the Illini today overall. And... darn good defensive effort on their part. In a hostile environment.
We all knew how Ayo was the shot creator when you needed a hoop. The Illini must find (or develop from the young guys) a new shot creator (under pressure)... not to mention a guy who can get some from 12' to 16'.
Yes, there are games where Get It Into Kofi and Shoot a Three are going to get you some wins. But not when March crunch time comes.
And still... this was a winnable game without all those key turnovers. And when Curbelo returns, he will create some sweet offense but he’s got to avoid that tendency to turn it over as well.
Great, gutty effort by the Illini and a real-Illini style crowd. A shame that the flaws did them in. But nice to see real Illini-style ball environment again.
What is the Illini offense right now?
1. Get it in to Kofi.
2. Shoot a Three.
Where is the regular dependable 2-point, mid-range offense coming from? You can’t be a Final Four team if all you’ve got is: get it in to the big man (he gets triple-teamed), or shoot Threes all night.
This is what Arizona showed. Versatility on offense and guys who can create a shot. Inside, outside, and mid-range game superior to the Illini today overall. And... darn good defensive effort on their part. In a hostile environment.
We all knew how Ayo was the shot creator when you needed a hoop. The Illini must find (or develop from the young guys) a new shot creator (under pressure)... not to mention a guy who can get some from 12' to 16'.
Yes, there are games where Get It Into Kofi and Shoot a Three are going to get you some wins. But not when March crunch time comes.
And still... this was a winnable game without all those key turnovers. And when Curbelo returns, he will create some sweet offense but he’s got to avoid that tendency to turn it over as well.
Great, gutty effort by the Illini and a real-Illini style crowd. A shame that the flaws did them in. But nice to see real Illini-style ball environment again.
I'm not normally one to complain, but since it has happened in EVERY game this season - how are you not going to call fouls when Kofi has the ball. He gets grabbed/hacked every time he touches it. It's almost as if the Ref's don't know how to officiate a true center.
I think the biggest travesty of the game is that Pruman91 (diehard Illini fan and creative maestro) and Bill Walton (PAC-12 homer and creative weirdo) didn't get to call the game together. Would have been magic.
I agree with all of this. We definitely need to limit the nonsense turnovers. That is our # 1 weakness. I think they flashed a 26 pts off turnovers for Arizona. Didn’t look that one up. I think all my adrenaline wore off and I’m now worn out and lazy. At least we aren’t Michigan. Lost at home to minnisota. I love it! Lol
That left basketball years ago. Even at the Jr High level it is all layups and 3s.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
They pulled that rule for a few years IIRC
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Any game that Bo ref's means a quick 2 technicals for me and ejection if I'm courtside........
But it would have been a 420 masterpiece.................
It surprised me, I kinda thought myself that the 5 second call was gone in college basketball. Guess you better know that if you're going to be on the floor.
Yep. Correcting myself it was with 2 seconds left. More understandable.
- Status