Game Thread: Illinois at Minnesota

[PlayAZ]

Well one thing is for sure, we have the right coach. Anyone tells me, he didn't foresee Black and foul trouble and Greg with ALOT of set plays towards the rim, is crazy.

Thank god they drew those up and practiced with Greg as well, otherwise this would be way ugly! As it stands down 13 is only Gopher ugly!

 

[Illininer]

Am I the only one who noticed the clock stopped for like a second after Smith hit the runner?

Total amateur hour by all the officials

 

[Jester87]

Refs are terrible.

 

[PlayAZ]

Second time DW mess up 2 1 fast break.. sigh

Very true, but take the good with the bad, best rebounding guard right now and also quick hands on steals.

 

[hoopsfan47]

How can a weenie like Pitino beat us like this?

Simple....he is not playing.

 

[Ol Dirty Gamer]

Black and Fink 0-9

 

[Deleted member 29907]

Ebo earning himself some minutes. Like to see that!

TJL and TF have to learn that when a shot blocker switches off on you - the pass to the guy they left is open. BU clearly sent a message on that and Smith heard it.

 

[FeelTheLovie]

Love the fight from the young guys. You can tell they aren’t Groce era players.

 

[Deleted member 3875]

Am I the only one who noticed the clock stopped for like a second after Smith hit the runner?

Total amateur hour by all the officials

Northern bias.

 

[sully]

I want to punch (or at least smack) both Pitinos in the face haha. Can't stand either of those grease balls.

Come on Illini . D up and make it a good 2nd half please!

 

[Deleted member 11241]

If we would have went 4-19 to start the game instead of 1-19, this would be a 6-7 point game. Was pleased with how we ended the half given how far down we were. We just have to stop coming out so sluggish to start the game

 

[hoopsfan47]

Refs are terrible.

Maybe not terrible....but likely not getting a Christmas bonus for their stellar insight and judgement. Otherwise, pretty much this game is being called as most B1G games....huge home team bias every night.
Been that way for many decades.

 

[Deleted member 3875]

How can a weenie like Pitino beat us like this?

Would love to see Brad and Lil Pitino go at it.

 

[OrangeNBrood]

Smith playing pretty composed. Has done some nice things from the point, and made better decisions than most of the team, tonight. Would love to see him knock down a three and start getting more aggressive, offensively in the second half.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Would love to see Brad and Lil Pitino go at it.

I am certain you could make that happen....for the right price.

 

[whovous]

Am I the only one who noticed the clock stopped for like a second after Smith hit the runner?

Total amateur hour by all the officials

I don't think so. It seemed to pause at 5.7, but when it restarted, it said 5.2.

 

[Deleted member 649710]

I cannot remember a worse Illini start to a game over the past 30+ years. Yes, that includes the 38-33 Penn State debacle. I've never seen this team miss 19 of its first 20 shots. Horrible. Whatever Underwood did before Miznoz worked; everything else . . . no. Figure it out!

 

[Deleted member 29907]

I want to punch (or at least smack) both Pitinos in the face haha. Can't stand either of those grease balls.

Come on Illini . D up and make it a good 2nd half please!

Don't like Little Lord Fauntleroy? Nor his sleezy Dad? hard to believe

 

[OrangeNBrood]

Finally a foul on Sideshow Bob

Staying with the Simpsons theme, look at ya boy Rich Pitino...

 

[Spoon House]

I'd rather they did this now as opposed to against Mizzou?

idk, man, I'm trying to find positives.

 

[Deleted member 29907]

Summation: Referees don’t like Illinois. Damonte needs to be on the court for at least 15 minutes in the 2nd half I can live with his occasional bad pass. If Finke and AJ aren’t hitting 3’s they may as well be on the bench. Frazier >>>>Lucas. We have to have Black at least match Murphy in the 2nd half. Minny’s size is an absolute killer as we have none. We need to play zone the entire 2nd half. And did I mention referees don’t like Illinois?

We've got to get a 3rd and 4th foul on Murphy by the 13 min mark.

 

[pruman91]

Need to stay in the zone D for second half

Hit some shots Illini

some of those minny blocks have some blood on them..

 

[katytxillini]

This game was set up to be a battle over what team could force the advantage. Huge advantage inside for them or ball pressure/tempo for us. I didn't know how much better Murphy and Lynch were than Black and Finke. I do now.

 

[Gunner23]

How was that not a foul on AJ’s drive? We are playing like poo but these refs are completely one sided.

If AJ walked, it was because of contact...seems like a foul caused the travel.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Their roster says Murphy is 6'6" and Lynch is 6'10". Konate is 6'11". They really do not have a size advantage over Finke Black, and Ebog.....but they sure have double the rebound instincts.