Game Thread: Illinois vs Chattanooga
- Status
Belo's a major plus in this game so far despite the roller coaster. It's extremely obvious.
Just got off work 10 minutes ago and tuned into the game and holy bleeping crap|?!?!?! are these guys for real? I sincerely hope Coach Underwood went full mode Chris Farley on our players because this is embarrassing. I'm having nightmarish flash backs of last season's embarrassing exit only this time its in the opening round.
Damn it Illini get it together! .
Damn it Illini get it together! .
Get Curbelo out there. Good lord.
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
Something named hankton draining bombs on us of course
HOW IS THAT NOT A FOUL ON de SOUZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what is going on.. for real
ALL EFFING ARM. GIVE ME AN EFFING BREAK
After #22 pushed Kofi but no foul call there. Through no fault of Kofi's his size works against him sometimes.
We can’t hit any shots
Ignatius Shang
5th year PhD, school of Information Sciences
- Champaign, IL
Great pass by Kofi.
I wish we could/would stop running out an undersized fivesome as our primary linup. Kofi + 4 undersized guys, I mean. Fine to have up to 2 smaller players on the floor, but not 4. At least until the other squad has been overpowered by a taller lineup (we have the personnnel, on the bench) that can control the defensive boards, provide the length -- on help defense -- to disrupt the other team better, especially in the paint, and get some buckets off the offensive glass. As a counterpunch, then sub in a shorter group of our guys who work their tails off to force turnovers on the perimeter and then sprint down the floor for perimeter shots -- open threes in transition, I mean.
It is frustrating that Grandison can't at this point log major minutes at the 3, his natural position. Hawkins needs to be the primary 4, and Grandison the primary 3 for as many minutes is possible, his shoulder situation permitting (probably not today, it looks like, and so maybe not Sunday if we get that far). The shoulder may well be the issue now. But as SOON as possible (next week if now is just not feasible), the lineup needs to be Kofi + 2 forwards and 2 guards (not 4 undersized players).
Melendez and Goode would look good too ...
The other thing is that Curbelo adds a ton of rebounding, at least usually. He is mostly and excellent, hard-working defender (though with exasperating lapses). His ridiculously great court awareness and under-noted athleticism is sooooo helpful. 'course, if he was locked in every second -- eliminating the inexplicable block-headed maneuvers and turnovers -- he'd show the first-rounder promise that his many exceptional plays on defense, on the glass, in transition and in the half court screams out.
This team is so much better than what we're seeing, with the under-achievement reflecting how out of synch these guys play. From the perspective of someone NOT in the gym for practice or in the locker room, it seems like the huge number of games missed due to injury, goofy NCAA suspension, and illness are the major culprits.
It is frustrating that Grandison can't at this point log major minutes at the 3, his natural position. Hawkins needs to be the primary 4, and Grandison the primary 3 for as many minutes is possible, his shoulder situation permitting (probably not today, it looks like, and so maybe not Sunday if we get that far). The shoulder may well be the issue now. But as SOON as possible (next week if now is just not feasible), the lineup needs to be Kofi + 2 forwards and 2 guards (not 4 undersized players).
Melendez and Goode would look good too ...
The other thing is that Curbelo adds a ton of rebounding, at least usually. He is mostly and excellent, hard-working defender (though with exasperating lapses). His ridiculously great court awareness and under-noted athleticism is sooooo helpful. 'course, if he was locked in every second -- eliminating the inexplicable block-headed maneuvers and turnovers -- he'd show the first-rounder promise that his many exceptional plays on defense, on the glass, in transition and in the half court screams out.
This team is so much better than what we're seeing, with the under-achievement reflecting how out of synch these guys play. From the perspective of someone NOT in the gym for practice or in the locker room, it seems like the huge number of games missed due to injury, goofy NCAA suspension, and illness are the major culprits.
No more analysis needed than that. It's been the rollercoaster they've been on since the beginning of February.
- Status