Mostly Dre. He never failed to play with grit and 100% of his effort no matter the score. I thought about some of those defensive rebounds we should have grabbed that he would have gotten. We may be more talented this season, but Dre was a guy who’s energy and effort was absolutely contagious, and I don’t think we’ve got a guy outside of DMFW who plays with that kind of will 100% of the time. Not going to overreact to a ~10 point loss to #2 on December 2nd though. Last season’s non-conference slate was absolutely pitiful, and still, we almost won the Big Ten. Hard to bear, but need to be patient.
Baylor 82, Illinois 69 Postgame
Mostly Dre. He never failed to play with grit and 100% of his effort no matter the score. I thought about some of those defensive rebounds we should have grabbed that he would have gotten. We may be more talented this season, but Dre was a guy who’s energy and effort was absolutely contagious, and I don’t think we’ve got a guy outside of DMFW who plays with that kind of will 100% of the time. Not going to overreact to a ~10 point loss to #2 on December 2nd though. Last season’s non-conference slate was absolutely pitiful, and still, we almost won the Big Ten. Hard to bear, but need to be patient.
The loss is okay, as long as we learn from it. The team played well versus a team that is top to bottom more experienced than us. Our team will learn and hopefully use this to feed better play moving forward. Hoping our freshmen get a good taste of what real competition feels like. I like them and hopeful they will improve.
If Ayo wants to be considered among the most elite, he needs to take advantage of games like these. Getting 10 points and a win is better than 18 and a loss. Kofi has a lot to get better at...he needs to focus on dominating matchups like today, not sitting on the bench for a majority of the game with foul trouble. I’m hopeful They both will figure it out.
Whatever the case this team is back and I like our direction...despite the loss.
If Ayo wants to be considered among the most elite, he needs to take advantage of games like these. Getting 10 points and a win is better than 18 and a loss. Kofi has a lot to get better at...he needs to focus on dominating matchups like today, not sitting on the bench for a majority of the game with foul trouble. I’m hopeful They both will figure it out.
Whatever the case this team is back and I like our direction...despite the loss.
I’m not as upset as others. Despite the poor foul shooting, Kofi’s foul trouble, giving up too many offensive rebounds, Baylor’s relentless perimeter defense....they stayed with them for a majority of the game.
it’s gonna be a huge learning experience for them. Not only the young guys (who performed better than expected), but guys like Ayo, Kofi, Trent and DaMonte.
Georgi looked like the Georgi from his freshmen year. Good sign.
Hey, just think from where this program has come from. If this was Weber’s team from his last few years or Groce’s team , we would lose tonight by 30-40 points with no hope in sight.
it’s gonna be a huge learning experience for them. Not only the young guys (who performed better than expected), but guys like Ayo, Kofi, Trent and DaMonte.
Georgi looked like the Georgi from his freshmen year. Good sign.
Hey, just think from where this program has come from. If this was Weber’s team from his last few years or Groce’s team , we would lose tonight by 30-40 points with no hope in sight.
Totally agree.
Just think if we lost to Ohio
The Frosh. should be better for games like these. We need to regroup Saturday and take care of business vs. Duke. Curbelo gets in the paint with ease. He needs to be the primary ball handler with Ayo at wing. I hate when we give Ayo the ball and watch. Frazier needs less tick.
The coaches game plan was to have Kofi get into foul trouble immediately. Have Ayo shoot 6 of 18 and Miller shoot 2 of 11.
Here is a novel concept. Give Baylor credit for playing insane perimeter defense and disrupting every possession. Or just blame it all on Brad. That will work too.
Here is a novel concept. Give Baylor credit for playing insane perimeter defense and disrupting every possession. Or just blame it all on Brad. That will work too.
Baylor is just a notch better than the Illini at least at this stage of the season. We make some bunnies and free throws and this is a much closer game. I still think we have a good team.
I am concerned about Kofi thus far. He looks like he got step or two slower and does not look like he is is enjoying himself whatsoever. He is not protecting the rim the way he did last year and looks completely lost on rotations and help D.
I am concerned about Kofi thus far. He looks like he got step or two slower and does not look like he is is enjoying himself whatsoever. He is not protecting the rim the way he did last year and looks completely lost on rotations and help D.
Spoken like a true Illini Fan.
sacraig
- The desert
My thoughts on this:
1. Anyone who was comparing this year's team to 04-05 either never watched 04-05 or has no idea the things that made them who they were. This year's team may have a mix of players that have potential similar to 04-05, but they have nowhere near the level of experience playing together that Dee, Deron, et al. did. Hell, we have a handful of freshmen included in the group some were using to compare this team to 04-05. It was never a good comparison. Maybe by the end of this season our team starts sniffing around in that rarefied air, but certainly not early.
2. I wouldn't say clearly. They were the better team but not by so much that we were entirely outclassed. We had a shot to win this until we had a momentary lapse, and a great team like this Baylor team will sense blood and absolutely kill you if you let up like that. That's something we can fix with more experience.
3. Absolutely.
4. Absolutely.
5. Oskee Wow Wow
I reserve judgement on Baylor until after the Gonzaga game.
Dre was the physical x factor that teams struggled with, I think Belo will be that guy but with his facilitation rather than scoring.
I agree with this. Kofi looks slow. The whole team did tonight.
A good test this early and will make us a better team come conference and tourney time. Also an early game in Indy, which could be the spot to be in March. I fear that we will lose at duke as well next week. One of the toughest places to play, but really important to show well even if we lose.
Has to be a way to feed him the ball better.
TheAngryBavarian
- Charleston/Collinsville
I see more positives than negatives. When your three best players don't play well at all, and you're still competitive with the best team I've seen all year (I think they beat Gonzaga, especially if Suggs isn't 100%). Things to work on, but I'm not calling the season a failure at this juncture. Thrash UT Martin and beat Duke
Realize Brad has not been in many games like this at Illini. He will study tape and get better too. I really like Underwood. Would you rather have Groce or Weber coaching ? Lets take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. Our Freshmen will continue to improve aka Belo, Miller and Hawkins.
I wouldn't call it terrible....but if I were coach for a night I would say: ---Kofi, be tall and present on D..."dont ever reach"
--on offense
1. Push ball in transition
2. belo and ayo....drive, attract a crowd or foul and drop off to Kofi often.
BL,
On D....we let kofi get in and stay in foul trouble .....
on offense, we had advantages that we skipped in favor of the offense of choice.."pass around key for 20 seconds and toss heavily contested shot towards end of clock"
Deleted member 11228
D
Guest
Not a must win and I see no correlation between losing that game and how we fare in Big 10.
Very nice take
Curbelo can get inside, sometimes a little too deep. He needs to make a decision quicker before he's stuck, and players need to slash in to receive the pass.
sacraig
- The desert
If we are relying on one guy to be a "physical" player we are in trouble. Don't get me wrong, Feliz was a huge boon to our team, but his contribution went far beyond being "physical." We have a lot of guys on our team who are capable of really physical play.
Baylor does, too, and they were relentless with it. They've been here before... last year. We haven't for 15 years. Rome wasn't built in a day. I think this will be an eye opener and motivator for our guys that you cannot ever let up when playing at this level. You can't sulk after a miss or a TO. You can't cruise after one good play. You have to go for the kill. Constantly. That's what Baylor has that we don't.
Baylor ran a pick and roll to get Kofi his second foul. If we don’t learn to defend the pick and roll with a lob we’re in trouble. Giorgi also got dunked on from a pick and roll so it’s not just Kofi.
Ayo was smothered. However I agree with most if he’s being defended that well why run a 1 high and 4 low. Let someone else create.
Our weave offense does nothing against a team like Baylor that switches everything on the perimeter.
we’ll get better just like last year. We started rough and by tournament time we were ready for the big stage. Our record may look similar to last year but we’ll be feared in the tournament.
Ayo was smothered. However I agree with most if he’s being defended that well why run a 1 high and 4 low. Let someone else create.
Our weave offense does nothing against a team like Baylor that switches everything on the perimeter.
we’ll get better just like last year. We started rough and by tournament time we were ready for the big stage. Our record may look similar to last year but we’ll be feared in the tournament.