Baylor 95, Illinois 91 (Exhibition) Postgame

#152      
Fly Illini Fly!
JKR said:
Given up 191 points in the first two games.
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The concern is points in the paint and rebounding.

Cincinnati: 42 points in the paint / 12 OREB
Baylor: 40 points in the paint / 22 OREB

Illinois allowed 40 or more points in the paint just 3 times all of last season.

But the honest truth is we’re nowhere close to the same rebounding team without Mirkovic (exhibition or not).
 
#153      
jjv0004
This team will struggle on defense all year. Lack of quickness is not going to get better.
 
#154      
Fly Illini Fly!
jjv0004 said:
This team will struggle on defense all year. Lack of quickness is not going to get better.
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We have more quickness than the team last year who finished 20th in defensive efficiency.

….

The formula is to protect the rim.

Last year’s shot distribution on defense:
  • % of shots allowed in the paint: 43.3% (20th; lowest to highest)
  • % of shots allowed in the mid range: 13.3% (319th; lowest to highest)
  • % of shots allowed from 3: 43.4% (310th; lowest to highest)

It’s the exact recipe this year. The problem is we’re too small at the 4 right now.
 
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#155      
I-L-L 1318
jjv0004 said:
This team will struggle on defense all year. Lack of quickness is not going to get better.
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I think some of the defensive woes (shots at the rim or drive & kick 3s) were due to us picking them up full court and then allowing a blow by. I think it was a point of emphasis to stick with it even if we were getting fried off it with it being exhibition. Assume we will play a little more zone in season especially w/ Mirk.
 
#156      
HensonHall71
Fly Illini Fly! said:
The concern is points in the paint and rebounding.

Cincinnati: 42 points in the paint / 12 OREB
Baylor: 40 points in the paint / 22 OREB

Illinois allowed 40 or more points in the paint just 3 times all of last season.

But the honest truth is we’re nowhere close to the same rebounding team without Mirkovic (exhibition or not).
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Completely agree- quick guards going off on us is nothing new , but we can allow that AND points and the rim and not get the rebound when they do miss

I would have thought Cam Crocker would have been cooking something up over the summer on defense but it’s not apparent what our philosophy or approach is at all. Maybe the 12 man rotation and all the different lineups is making that impossible and they likely didn’t want to show too much schematically in exhibitions but he’s going to have to get creative and at least take something away- just laying back in a zone would be better than what we are doing right now
 
#157      
Fly Illini Fly!
HensonHall71 said:
Completely agree- quick guards going off on us is nothing new , but we can allow that AND points and the rim and not get the rebound when they do miss
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As much as folks want to crap on the defense, Illinois was 11th among power conference teams in FG% allowed on the first shot of possession.

Pair that with 28th in DREB%, 19th in DREB% on missed FGs, and 1st in FT rate allowed … it resulted in a top 20 defense. (I do think we could’ve been even better if our defensive rebounding was top 5 or top 10)

Rebounding, not fouling, and protecting the rim are our 3 non negotiables.
 
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#158      
hangdog
HensonHall71 said:
Completely agree- quick guards going off on us is nothing new , but we can allow that AND points and the rim and not get the rebound when they do miss

I would have thought Cam Crocker would have been cooking something up over the summer on defense but it’s not apparent what our philosophy or approach is at all. Maybe the 12 man rotation and all the different lineups is making that impossible and they likely didn’t want to show too much schematically in exhibitions but he’s going to have to get creative and at least take something away- just laying back in a zone would be better than what we are doing right now
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Exhibitions are the test pilot stage of the season. We aren't yet even trying to see how best to use the craft (that's for non-conferance games). We are trying to see what causes the craft to fail so we can compensate for and address those weaknesses.
 
#159      
millineum
Any team with small quick guards is gonna kill us. Just have to hope we can put up more points. Rebounding should get better. Perimeter defense it’s hard to see getting better but Lincoln was a bright spot
 
#160      
LouHenson
To me it seems Z is critical this year we need way more out of him. Park him in the middle on D and let him contest the shots that Tomi just drops to. We get killed because Tomi can’t control the rim, but on offense he is much more effective than Z. I hope we see much more from Z this year, he has NBA potential, not sure Tomi really does?
 
#161      
ImGonnaBeILL
LouHenson said:
I hope we see much more from Z this year, he has NBA potential, not sure Tomi really does?
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I don't see it with either at this point.

I mean it's a weak 2027 draft overall so I guess it wouldn't be a surprise if drafted.

JMO Theyd need to be a lot better shooters than they are for all their flaws elsewhere. Z was 28 from 3 and T was 31 last season I believe. I'll be frank, all I hear about them is them gaining weight.....yet it's not translated on the court IMO
 
#162      
sdiver68
InDaAZ said:
On defense, LW was giving me Sencire Harris vibes, but with more reach.

Unfortunately, he resembles SH on offense, too. But I think he will be a fan favorite all year. I predict numerous “bring in LW” cries on the Game Threads every time a guard is torching us. Game changer…
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LW was an elite scorer in HS. He just needs the confidence that comes with tick.
 
#163      
CHI 1086
SescIllini said:
This is both encouraging and discouraging. On defense Lincoln had the length, footspeed and leaping ability to give Baylor guards issues. They needed to adjust their shots to get over him which resulted in misses. Ethan Brown is a steady player, feels like a Purdue type player that sticks around for 4 years and wins a lot but doesn't go NBA.

The discouraging part is these two freshmen are bringing an intensity/competitiveness that I would expect from our upper classmen. I know just an exhibition but still this is what I saw. Lincoln is going to play, his defense will travel. A combination of Coleman, Lincoln and Andrej would contain most teams IMHO.
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My hope is the young guys are playing their hearts out to earn a spot and the veterans are saving for when the bright lights come on....
 
#164      
Fly Illini Fly!
Second place is 1st loser said:
100%. The statement doesn't make sense. He'd be walking around and practicing, even if it was light, if there wasn't a setback. Being booted and using a scooter is a set back.
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Agreed completely.

If there's been no setback, then why is he no longer practicing?

At BIG media days, he was walking around perfectly fine, without any material assistance. The way he looked at the game, is how he looked after having surgery.

This is just Brad and Illinois trying to control the media narrative as best they can. But the signs are blatantly obvious.

The good news is that we'd rather have it now, than in the meat of the conference slate.
 
#165      
fuddrules
Fly Illini Fly! said:
The concern is points in the paint and rebounding.

Cincinnati: 42 points in the paint / 12 OREB
Baylor: 40 points in the paint / 22 OREB

Illinois allowed 40 or more points in the paint just 3 times all of last season.

But the honest truth is we’re nowhere close to the same rebounding team without Mirkovic (exhibition or not).
Click to expand...

I know exhibition - so TIFWIW

They like to talk about: Body by Fletch

Against Baylor it was like: Body by Sally

They looked weak, the returners primarily.
 
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