Wow, bright-spot, TJL led all our guards today with 10 points, 4 assists, and only 1 turnover in playing 18 minutes. He has proved himself with his smooth team-play. Start him next Tuesday against NC State and leave him in longer throughout the game!!
Florida State 72, Illinois 61 POSTGAME
- Status
1.Because he's a candidate to Redshirt, 2. TJL still recovering from his injury 3.TA and JT are playing better and finally 4.Groce always decides at just the right moment when it' time for Freshmen to play. I'm sure I missed a few! Play the kid and let him gain some experience he's already the best Point Guard on the team IMO.
MrOizo
- Chicago
Well said, take the training wheels off already... I wonder if a better known, more experienced player sometimes gives the coaches a sense of greater control, as they have more trust in that older player to listen to them, run their system, etc. That illusion of control may blind against other factors, such as upside. Just a guess from an armchair psychologist.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
Those are waivers for specific individual players, not applied generally to entire programs.
And of course, because it's the NCAA those waivers are given out haphazardly and for every instance one is granted you could find one where it was denied under the same circumstances.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
I totally agree that TJL should get lots of playing time and that Tate should be capped at around 15 minutes per game, but where this season is concerned, switching out the PGs is akin to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The players don't seem to have any confidence; Malcolm and Tracy are both good players and I like them both a lot, but they look like zombies out there right now. Groce's positiveness must be falling on deaf ears right now; what he's saying will work hasn't worked in the last four years, so why would the players expect it to work now? I feel bad for Malcolm -- he'll go four years with zero NCAA tournament appearances. He has some nice individual achievements, but his teams have zero accomplishments.
Let's not fall all over ourselves with TJL expectations after one game against meaningful competition. Longtime readers will recall this board falling all over themselves about a true freshman Jaylon Tate at about this point of the year.
I did think he played well though. He's got a little change of speeds hesitation move to his game which is a nice weapon to have, especially as a little guy. A natural feel for keeping defenders off balance will serve him well.
I did think he played well though. He's got a little change of speeds hesitation move to his game which is a nice weapon to have, especially as a little guy. A natural feel for keeping defenders off balance will serve him well.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
Totally agree with everything you said here.
If he plays a lot there will be some games where he looks like he doesn't belong. It's what freshmen do.
illiniCA
- DC Area
I would be really happy if groce would adjust the rotations when someone gets hit....I'd like to see see TJL within the first 8min of every game and then decisions to be made on the fly
As I said last game our interior defense (Finke, Morgan, Thorne) is way to slow that can't cover their man or recover fast enough to help out. I would like to see line up with Black at the 5, DJ at the 4, Kipper at the 3, Malcolm at the 2, and Lucas at the 1. That would be a much quicker lineup and better defense.
Fast-forward to next year at this same time and insert Trent Frazier's name in your post wherever TJL's name occurs. Would the same be said about Trent?
What do you want to do, win a game? I thought of the same thing to improve our athleticism. We need to play the best match-ups, a lot of teams are playing with 3 guards and two forwards. Kipper is a wild card right now, he passes the eye test. I'm a big fan of his, just hope his game translates immediately to the college level.
Insert Tilmon's name, insert anybody.
TJL has some skills that are not just a flash in the pan. He has a nice floater in the lane, a nice 3 point shot, and dribbles/passes well.
As slow as Thorne, Finke, and Mav looked the last two games they will be ok in the big ten for many of the games. Will look to play the smaller faster line ups against Indiana and Wisconsin. Against Purdue they likely will need to go big against Haas and Swanigan.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
That's good, but he's not an elite athlete, so his ceiling is limited. Almost all of the great PGs these days are elite athletes.
He's the closest thing Illinois has to an elite athlete at PG for this season.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
Therein lies the problem. At least at that position.
I agree. I'm so tired of Groce trying to put a positive spin on it all the time. It's OK to say "we didn't play well". He seems like a guy who charmed his way into a job. and a few big recruits, but is in way over his head. Maybe if he had just a bit more edge or grit our team would reflect the same.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
Looks something like this:
That guy has WAY more handle than any Illini players...
Wasn't Audie Mathews a Clean Gene Bartow recruit ? I can't remember....
Yes, that's how they are done, on an individual basis. Each transfer is a unique situation.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
Through his positiveness, he's inadvertently created a culture of accepting losing. When we lose, the message is "I'm proud of the guys." So for the players, losing isn't such a negative thing as it would be if the coach was more negative.
It seems to me that JG doesn't even seem to be unhappy that we've lost 3 in a row... In the News Gadget video after the WVU loss, it seemed the same way.... He just doesn't seem to be bothered that he can't get them to respond... Just listen to his 'tone of voice' and view his body language. Strange....
- Status