Game Thread: Illinois at Marquette

[Chad Fleck]

As stated above by another poster, this is not a problem Kofi can solve. Simply have to work harder and smarter with the ball. Inside out game needs to show. Too many shots simply thrown at the board. Going to need to hit FF and that is a huge if also.

I disagree. Breaking the pressure and then dumping it to Kofi as they try to cut off passing lanes is exactly what they need.

 

[ChiefGritty]

And of course, the notion of Coleman Hawkins as an offense initiating ballhandler just died as predictably as a slutty girl in a horror movie.

 

[Cook]

We can clear the full court pressure and blitz/destroy their 2 guys back....dont understand why we are stuck to half court offense...make them pay.

We have the horses to run these guys off the court if we choose to. If we play half court we will continue to struggle.

100%
I've never been impressed with Underwood's approach to handling full court pressure D.
Attack the hell out of it! Wish he would watch the Michigan VCU game when Michigan destroyed Shaka's defense.

 

[CasualObserver05]

Co-Hawk, at best a nice 4th or 5th option at this level currently (not saying improvements down the road aren’t possible.) Verdonk 50/50 to even catch Curbelo feeds. Kofis importance is immeasurable and extremely apparent in 1st half.

 

[FloridaMan]

We need to get shooters to spots on the break. We beat the press and either back off or drive on the two collapsing defenders with no one in position to score off the dish. The kick 3 needs to be a weapon against this press. Hit a couple, get them scrambling, then the drive to the hoop opens up.

Would have thought this would have been an area of intense attempts to improve during the off season. I believe it was the B10 tournament by the time our bigs started passing out of the post. Have not seen yet this year.

 

[zentrails]

We can clear the full court pressure and blitz/destroy their 2 guys back....dont understand why we are stuck to half court offense...make them pay.

We have the horses to run these guys off the court if we choose to. If we play half court we will continue to struggle.

Yep our guys make it over the line then just stop there for a while. puzzling

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

Curbelo has to realize he’s not a luxury like he was last year. He gets into foul trouble and there is no Ayo to just have play more minutes. If he doesn’t understand that and learn how to dial back some of the TOs, gonna have ugly halves like this Hopefully they don’t result in ugly losses.

 

[grue2]

What are we going to do when we don't have Da'Monte anymore?

Kenny Battle ever have kids? If so, the grandkid should be entering JH/HS about now.

 

[Icy veins]

Halftime prediction: we win by double digits

 

[spillini]

We need to get shooters to spots on the break. We beat the press and either back off or drive on the two collapsing defenders with no one in position to score off the dish. The kick 3 needs to be a weapon against this press. Hit a couple, get them scrambling, then the drive to the hoop opens up.

There were a good 4-5 possessions where we had open looks early and passed them up. We need to shoot those considering the lack of execution to get easier looks.

 

[mydosburns]

Won’t mention them by names but some players are getting exposed after good showings against lesser teams. Need to take a step back and realize this is a higher competition

 

[ILLFAN67]

Unfortunately we don’t have anyone tonight that can finish a shot inside

 

[grue2]

I think we need to act like we actually have some plays and run them.

Do you have any evidence that we have offensive plays? Citation please.

 

[Calillini]

Kenny Battle ever have kids? If so, the grandkid should be entering JH/HS about now.

What are we going to do next year when we don’t have Trent, Kofi, DMW, Belo (looking less like NBA ready)

 

[sully]

Sloppy 1st half. Hopefully we cut way back on the turnovers in the 2nd half and get a W. GO ILLINI!

 

[FrankNitty30]

Yeah, B1G coaches will be licking their lips at how amping up ball pressure stops us from running offense. That's not a problem Kofi solves.

False

 

[pruman91]

I have a splitting headache.....bricks and turnovers are the reason why.....that was a piss poor performance by the Illini......

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

That Payne turnover is on Curbelo.

 

[FloridaMan]

We need Kofi badly. And a new, young big from the looks of things.

 

[Illini_Jack]

Nice play Hawkins

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

What are we going to do next year when we don’t have Trent, Kofi, DMW, Belo (looking less like NBA ready)

It's game 3, it's way too early to panic. The rest of these guys will continue to progress over the next 25+ games.

 

[Epsilon]

Hmm. Is it really traveling if you get pushed…?

 

[Mr. Roberts]

Payne is .... not good.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Halftime prediction: we win by double digits

I would love nothing more, but I’m nervous.

 

[Illinisaurus]

Can someone tell me when the illinois game starts...I flipped on FS1 and there's a grade school game being played