Game Thread: Illinois vs Michigan

[TheodoreRex]

To be clear, we have been outplayed so far, but it also feels like every stray bounce of the ball is going RIGHT TO THEM.

That does tend to happen when another team outplays you and is playing with more energy.

 

[BoiseBaller]

Whete’s the foul there?

In High Knees polluted mind.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Wagler having 4 TOs is uncharacteristic. Only 1 game this year with more than 3 (Wisconsin).

 

[illinitiger]

Ghost fouls...
Wish Brad coached our guys how to "create fouls"...

game called like this...we should be on foul line alot more than we are.

 

[Dragons89]

He has 15 ... with 3 fouls.. he hasn't hit a wall, he is getting the other teams top defender. He is on the top of the scout... before he was #3 or 4.

The second half he has played with way more energy. I said I hope not!!!!

 

[Simeonriceburner99]

When you are the biggest team in the country and play like the smallest, eventually it will come back to bite you. And that's what we've witnessed these past three weeks. I hope it turns around tonight.

 

[Chase321]

Refs out to get us after Brad complained and sent videos of bad calls to the league

Every coach does that routinely.

 

[DeeIL89]

Our points per possession in the second half is good, but of course defense just can't get enough stops right now.

 

[FromTheLogo]

Once Keaton has it inside the free throw line, they collapse. Several teams have done that and he has had a hard time finding the open man as of late.

 

[TheFlyingIllini1317]

probably bc he gets fouled 2-3 times per possession then they call that cheap crap

They let Michigan be so physical on defense then call ghost fouls on us at the rim

 

[Illini-Rule]

To be clear, we have been outplayed so far, but it also feels like every stray bounce of the ball is going RIGHT TO THEM.

They also just look quicker than us.

 

[TonyClifton]

What adjustments are you hoping for after 20+ minutes and a half time? There are no magic words or plays to draw up when we're physically inferior, as most teams are to Michigan.

The only light that can turn on for us is getting hot from distance. That's the adjustment. Make shots.

Cool. Let's do nothing.

 

[SampsonRelpenk]

Feels like the only path to victory is to hang around and then go nuclear the last few minutes à la Indiana 2013.

 

[Bootheel Illini]

Refs really leaning in for Mich. Calling a foul on Wagler at the rim?? Phantom call and made the basket. Yaxel getting calls, Wagler not getting any.

 

[camo202]

I’m tired of seeing him roll too

 

[illinitiger]

probably bc he gets fouled 2-3 times per possession then they call that cheap crap

He does seem like he gets hazed by refs

 

[fantasydaily708]

Defensive stops multiple in a row nothing can begin until we can stop them consistently. Might not be in the cards tonight

 

[FloridaMan]

Do our guys want to win? They act like they are in study hall in the huddle. Half asleep.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

That's Boswell both times on the mara plays.

 

[Mistakenj]

This is why you don’t have a majority of Euro players in your team. Athleticism and physicality is not a trait they have.

 

[grantlab]

I’ve never watched the “Brad in the huddle” and been particularly inspired.

 

[Flyin' Illini]

This is too physical a game for us.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

15 FT to 5. Phantom fouls called, body blows not called.

No, they are pounding the ball in the paint aggressively and we're really perimeter orientated. If they get an offensive board, they go right back up with it. We need to hit the three, so we're a bit stuck with the discrepancy. Knew this was going to be the case.

 

[TheodoreRex]

I’ve never watched the “Brad in the huddle” and been particularly inspired.

What does he actually coach during games? He just sits with his arms folded or yells. I've never listened or watched and felt- wow, we have a true X's and O's coach.

 

[Crossbow]

I’ve never watched the “Brad in the huddle” and been particularly inspired.

It's hard to watch