Game Thread: Illinois vs Maryland

[CasualObserver05]

I understand he's trying to coach with, mostly, Groce recruits, so there's that. However, how can you look to the future with hope when you only have one current commit to help this group next year?

No shooters, no inside help, no offensive concepts at all outside of "the first 7 second offense." I get it, he's brand new and hasn't been able to instill much of his offense yet but how does he explain a lack of simple help defense?

 

[Jester87]

I was excited at the beginning of the year about being able to watch the NCAA tournament with Illinois in it. Not going to happen. I need to quit wasting my time watching Illini basketball.

Too much orange kool-aid, friend.

 

[PJD86]

I am for giving underwood a looong leash, not sure what people expect, he has a track history of winning. He has so-so upper classmen, and Leron Black playing w a lot of freshmen

this team was picked 12th for a reason

 

[illinitiger]

I was excited at the beginning of the year about being able to watch the NCAA tournament with Illinois in it. Not going to happen. I need to quit wasting my time watching Illini basketball.

Yeah....without tolerance and patience you probably should take a break for a couple years.

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[CoalCity]

That was pretty fugly. Turned em over a lot and don't get much out of it.

 

[GoIllini23]

on the plus side, refs arent costing us the game, 4 total free throws between the two teams I think

I agree, but a physical game favors Md...I wish that was our problem though

 

[PlayAZ]

This will be our year, not only this year, but possibly until 2019-20 assuming we can get Okoro, Liddell, Ayo, and Whitney on board....the talent level is just too noticeable.

Cowan is playing ultra smooth and as much as we started battling towards the end, we are simply too overmatched. We cannot get good shots off early enough...Kipper getting hit in the head to end the half on a Smith block jump shot, sums up the first half.

Glass half full-ILLINI at home, represent...foul out every damn player on hustle plays if we have too, just don't go out lackadaisical again in the 2nd.

Kipper, Williams, Frazier, Black, and Greg to start is what I would do!

 

[IlliniinIowa]

Still makes my blood boil when John Groce said he's leaving Illinois in a better place than he found it. SO WRONG!!! Groce killed this program worse than even I thought.....

 

[Deleted member 29907]

Could have used another month of getting these guys ready for the BIG - shame we let NW get away from us. Lets fight back and see what we can do to get this close at the 8min mark. Just about impossible for MD to keep that shooting up and hopefully we start knocking down some open shots.

 

[CoalCity]

Let's come out and hit a few shots guys. Time for the shooting % to start coming back up to where we'd like it.

 

[Portillos]

Illini -3.5 second half

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

I remain confident that BU won't let us lose this game in this fashion. We might not win, but I doubt it will be a blowout at the end. Hope we come out on fire in the second.

 

[GoIllini23]

They are all pressing on their shots except Williams

 

[Deleted member 29907]

T

Kipper, Williams, Frazier, Black, and Greg to start is what I would do!

We need AJ in there to start knocking some down - we HAVE to force teams out of zone or we're dead.

Black is slowing us down on O and is not effective against a zone. He's not getting the elbow jumper up. I'd also go with Frazier at point - at least he was moving the ball around and is a threat at the top of the key.

 

[Dan]

Heh - Underwood brings the team out with 7:00 remaining in halftime (while the 3-in-1 is starting) and has them going through pregame warmups. Like, starting over. No two minute layup line - full pregame warmups at halftime.
https://twitter.com/ALionEye/status/937503406314479616

 

[Jester87]

Still makes my blood boil when John Groce said he's leaving Illinois in a better place than he found it. SO WRONG!!! Groce killed this program worse than even I thought.....

 

[CasualObserver05]

This will be our year, not only this year, but possibly until 2019-20 assuming we can get Okoro, Liddell, Ayo, and Whitney on board....the talent level is just too noticeable.

My biggest fear is everyone wants to watch this years team to see how things are different with Illinois basketball. If we're once again a bubble/NIT team or worse, I'm not sure the recruiting picks up.

The afore mentioned recruits are still going to have to commit off of a vision, not something witnessing on the court. Difficult sell. See this years lack of a class.

 

[GoIllini23]

Awesome!!

 

[TCTORNADO]

Maryland shot 73.1% for first half. Opponent record for whole game is Indiana @ 69.7% on 3/5/83.

 

[illinitiger]

I remain confident that BU won't let us lose this game in this fashion. We might not win, but I doubt it will be a blowout at the end. Hope we come out on fire in the second.

they are winning half court. I say we go full court pressure for 20 minutes. at least we dont have to drive against 7 footers that way.

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[TheFameProtector]

I understand he's trying to coach with, mostly, Groce recruits, so there's that. However, how can you look to the future with hope when you only have one current commit to help this group next year?

No shooters, no inside help, no offensive concepts at all outside of "the first 7 second offense." I get it, he's brand new and hasn't been able to instill much of his offense yet but how does he explain a lack of simple help defense?

The lack of inside help looks to be an issue for the next couple years, but I'm pretty bullish on our guards. This young group getting a lot of tick as freshmen/sophomores in this new offense should pay dividends next year. Rough to watch the product right now though.

 

[TeamWilliams]

We have no answer vs size and their zone. I think this could be a 30pt loss, probably biggest of BU's career

 

[Deleted member 4960]

Yeah....without tolerance and patience you probably should take a break for a couple years.

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I've been tolerant for 5 yrs. I've been watching Illini basketball since 1977. This is the worst run of basketball in my lifetime. I just expected too much I guess. This team can't shoot. And Finke is disappearing now the real teams have showed up. I figured with these guards we at least shoot 30% from 3. I thought Finke might give 10 & 5 at least.

 

[IlliniMed]

To be fair. Cowen hit some ridiculous 3's. He is GOOOD

 

[Dan]

Illinois just missed 10 straight 3's in 2nd half warmups...until Jordan drained one. Wow.
https://twitter.com/Sturdy32/status/937504562763714561