Game Thread: Illinois at Rutgers

[Mr. Roberts]

Defense picked up. We only allowed 33. Rebounding is a mess, and shooting is a disaster. We should be down 25.

Curbelo has no clock in his head - he has to kick it sooner or get it up. Just not in sync yet.

 

[illini80]

8 offensive rebounds for Rutgers. The rebounding is the most upsetting. That’s 100% effort.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

Maybe RJ can guard someone else. We need some offense. At least give him a shot or 2 before you bench him. Who beside Kofi is looking good tonight?

Plummer when he took it to the bucket. That being said he’s killing us on D and on the boards.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

We really need someone other than Kofi who can reliably create some non-perimeter scoring. Our offense is either Kofi or 3s, nothing else. Since Kofi's probably not going to score 50 a game, we're susceptible to losing any given game if the 3s don't fall.

 

[WyattEarp]

I had to tend with kids for a while there…Does Monte have any Monties that I missed so far.
(It’s an important stat.) I’m guessing no.

 

[PapaKvells]

28-15 on rebounds. 1-14 on threes.

Those two stats are related.

 

[IceCuban]

Pretty much have to double our point total from the first half to win.

 

[azillini1]

Plummer when he took it to the bucket. That being said he’s killing us on D and on the boards.

He has 4 and has played a lot of minutes. No one but Kofi should feel like they played well in the first half.

 

[Bigtex]

Everyone who came in wanted to hit the 3
Go inside to kofi. Kofi you don’t have to shoot - kick it out and re establish position.

 

[1Illinifan]

Brad should be ripping a new one to every single player wearing "Illinois" on their chests. That was some of the most selfish, AAU level basketball I have seen out of a college team, let alone THIS team. Just an embarrassment how this can happen in such a meaningful game.

 

[dbeverly26]

This game would be tied if we had shot 28% from three.

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

We're a good team and Rutgers is playing well. But this has been one of the worst halves of basketball that we've played all year. Lucky not to be down by 30. Not sure why we look so slow and tentative. Looks like we forgot to pack our effort, rebounding, and defense. Hope Brad has something to say to the fellas at half.

Why doesn’t BU say something….before the game?? Call a time out or 4? Let’s GO!!

 

[HailtotheChief]

Only 7 assists and Belo had 3 of em Belo needs to play for us to be at our besti know Belo hasn't been healthy but he seems to be close now and just play starters minutes to be our best. Good thing is only 3 turnovers let's just hut a few shots and rebound and we can do thism

 

[FloridaMan]

I keep hearing about the great practices we are having. Those sure are not translating to the court on game nights right now. Settles said our walk through was the most intense practice he's seen this year. Maybe dial down the practices a notch and get our legs back under us?

 

[InDaAZ]

I had to tend with kids for a while there…Does Monte have any Monties that I missed so far.
(It’s an important stat.) I’m guessing no.

No, Rutgers players are free from leather bruises thus far…

 

[BlindLoyalty]

That was rough. 1-14 from 3. Shot 2 FTs. When your shots aren’t falling you need to DRIVE TO SCORE. 95% of our drivers are driving to pass out for a bricked 3. Drive draw contact, get to line & please reverse the ball and make RU guard. If the same team shows up for the second half, they can’t score enough to beat Rutgers or any B10 team. If they are going lose this one I hope they do so playing physical and tough In the 2nd.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

Well at least we cant shoot any worse than this. Nowhere to go but up

If we go 0-14 on threes this half, it’s on you.

 

[Dose of Reality]

We really need someone other than Kofi who can reliably create some non-perimeter scoring. Our offense is either Kofi or 3s, nothing else. Since Kofi's probably not going to score 50 a game, we're susceptible to losing any given game if the 3s don't fall.

Yes sir. And this is exactly what has many of us worried once March Madness comes around

 

[grantlab]

Brad should be ripping a new one to every single player wearing "Illinois" on their chests. That was some of the most selfish, AAU level basketball I have seen out of a college team, let alone THIS team. Just an embarrassment how this can happen in such a meaningful game.

Because they missed shots…?

-won the turnover battle
-played solid defense
-only “effort” category to complain about is the Rutgers offensive rebounding, but that’s basically been on Plummer…

 

[WyattEarp]

No, Rutgers players are free from leather bruises thus far…

Thanks for the update.

 

[Rocky]

Maybe RJ can guard someone else. We need some offense. At least give him a shot or 2 before you bench him. Who beside Kofi is looking good tonight?

AS I said in my preview (that no coach will see),RJ needs to guard Mulcahey.

 

[pruman91]

RU is playing us very close on D and we are giving them so many open looks on O................

I agree we need to go back to Kofi as he kept us in the game early in 1st half , and Trent and Fonz need to continue attacking the rim ......

I have no idea what has happened to DMW and Jake ......Jake only had 2 points against N-western and I believe only 2 tonight.....we need him to hit his average and start rebounding better......

Deon just said we need to beat the bully on the floor and RU is trying to bully us ......hope we punch back hard in the first 5-6 minutes of the second half....

cmon guys , we can win this ..........................

 

[RML]

Ok, I think the problem was that I wasn't drinking. The beer is poured now. We hit our opening shot, and it's all downhill for Rutgers from there.

 

[Bigw]

stop shooting 3s. Drive the bucket and draw a foul!!!! The 3 are not going Down tonight. Try something else???

 

[InDaAZ]

Brad should be ripping a new one to every single player wearing "Illinois" on their chests. That was some of the most selfish, AAU level basketball I have seen out of a college team, let alone THIS team. Just an embarrassment how this can happen in such a meaningful game.

7 assists on 11 made shots - not selfish… Both numbers would be significantly higher but for the lid on the basket.