Game Thread: Illinois at Ohio State

[sacraig]

The more I think about our struggles, the more clear it becomes that it’s mental. Ugh, so frustrating!!!!

Absolutely. This team has talent through the roof. But they don't have good upperclassman leaders (it seems) and seem to struggle with confidence.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

Sadly, this is not a team of everyday guys. They seem to play when they feel like it and sleepwalk when they feel like it. Very disappointing.

Well, hope they come out to play this half.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

CBS' "hat tip" thing is a little cringey.

 

[CleverHandle1]

In the end, they could make a comeback, but they deserve what they get, this team does.

 

[80'sIllini]

Yeah, this is rough. Not easy being a fan.

It's so hard to enjoy watching this team

 

[DJM]

Love a Sunday morning game watching two teams that are hungry playing with pride. Hard to switch from the NW Maryland game

 

[steveinspringfield]

This has been pathetic. There’s a path to the big ten title and we have this effort. This isn’t Brad. This is the “leaders” on this team.

But...
These are Brad's recruits. All of them.
These are Brad's assistants. All of them.
This is Brad's offense. All of it.
This is Brad's defense. Whatever little there is of it.
I'm not saying he's a bad coach, or anything like that. But not putting this year on Brad is not seeing reality. He recruited and plays these so-called "leaders."
I know I will get blasted for this take, but Brad gets paid a lot of money to recruit and coach an elite MBB program.

 

[dbeverly26]

CBS' "hat tip" thing is a little cringey.

I thought the photoshop of Calipari holding a cowboy hat was kind of inspired

 

[Turpin & Tate in 2008!]

I don’t even think they look good. If we had a blue Flyin’ Illini throwback?? Sure. But everything 1LL1NO1S needs to die, lol.

Agree. Blue Flyin' Illini unis would be sweet.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

I think that his comment was a bit strong, but it's hard to argue that bigger guards have feasted on us. They have. Also can't really argue that we only stopped NW when DD and JE were on the bench.

 

[Tacomallini]

Where are people getting this? We’re 3-2 on CBS the last three years, and both losses were in the NCAA Tournament…

oh, you and your facts

 

[FeelYourPaign]

Did Clark Kellogg borrow BU's sport coat?

 

[Goillinikobd]

Guys won more games than anyone the past 4 years in the big and our fanbase can’t wait to get back to John Groce.

The word fan is derived from fanatic and you can’t rip on us Illini fanatics for being disappointed

 

[americanoutlaw11]

What would we be like with a coach. Who disciplined players instead of yelling? Our bad shots, turnovers, missed FTs, and not getting touches to the correct players would now be gone this late in the season.

Lol. I love these “mean old coach” posts from the Charmin crowd.

 

[Redbull]

We don’t play as a team or very smart. I’m a BU fan but some of the blame today is on the coaches

 

[azillini1]

No one on our team has more than 2 boards at the half.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

But...
These are Brad's recruits. All of them.
These are Brad's assistants. All of them.
This is Brad's offense. All of it.
This is Brad's defense. Whatever little there is of it.
I'm not saying he's a bad coach, or anything like that. But not putting this year on Brad is not seeing reality. He recruited and plays these so-called "leaders."
I know I will get blasted for this take, but Brad gets paid a lot of money to recruit and coach an elite MBB program.

And they technically could still win a share of the big ten if they win out.

I’m a year where they lost another all American and returned one rotational player.

I get the frustration. But, man this has been a good season.

 

[steveinspringfield]

This is classic Game Thread material right here.
Brad has won more B1G games over the last few years than any other coach.

He had Kofi, Ayo and Trent over those last few years. Maybe that's the difference. IDK.

 

[eas23]

Are we just tired. This is the end of that 4 games in 9 days.

Winning 4 games in 9 days is literally what you have to do to go to the Final 4.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Sadly, this is not a team of everyday guys. They seem to play when they feel like it and sleepwalk when they feel like it. Very disappointing.

Well, hope they come out to play this half.

Yep, disappointing. Even as someone who was only ever a high school athlete, I’ve been on a lot of teams - ranging from fall league baseball teams that were talented but lost a lot and just were dysfunctional all the way to our high school team that made the state championship twice. It’s SO hard to get a team to “get it” and foster chemistry and mental toughness. Really sad to realize these guys just don’t have that fire.

It’s making me incredibly thankful for Ayo, Trent and the other guys we’ve had as Illini the last few years.

 

[Uihoop2023!]

this is the hardest team to watch

 

[808Illini]

But...
These are Brad's recruits. All of them.
These are Brad's assistants. All of them.
This is Brad's offense. All of it.
This is Brad's defense. Whatever little there is of it.
I'm not saying he's a bad coach, or anything like that. But not putting this year on Brad is not seeing reality. He recruited and plays these so-called "leaders."
I know I will get blasted for this take, but Brad gets paid a lot of money to recruit and coach an elite MBB program.

The defense has been rough this year. Countless times we’ve seen players go for career nights offensively against us.

 

[Seagee]

Sadly, this is not a team of everyday guys. They seem to play when they feel like it and sleepwalk when they feel like it. Very disappointing.

Well, hope they come out to play this half.

Every Other Day Guys ? Certainly seem like every other half guys.

 

[New Creation]

Where has DD gone?

 

[Turpin & Tate in 2008!]

Missed most of the first half getting a massage. The masseuse commented about how much tension I was carrying in my neck and shoulders. I simply replied "I'm an Illini basketball fan." I couldn't see her face, but I can only imagine she was sadly nodding her response. Got out, checked the score and saw we were out to our usual slow start. Here's to another great second half comeback - we know they have it in them!

You should have waited a couple of hours on that massage.