Game Thread: Illinois vs VCU

[PopChampaign]

Nothing to worry about? Like this.

 

[AndyKaufmanstutor]

Post Tomi deep and/or take it right at Hill. I'm telling you.

Tomi on the blocks would be wonderful.

 

[IceCuban]

It will be interesting to see if the officiating goes back to something that resembles reality now that Texas can fill the "11 seed Cinderella" role instead of VCU.

 

[IllinoisGrad0609]

CBS is a FRICKIN' joke.

 

[CDRUSN]

Keaton has a golden opportunity to cement his NBA draft position, or slide lower down the board. Pro scouts put a lot of stock in how draft prospects play under the heightened competition and pressure of the NCAA tournament. He needs to start helping the team and himself, and I think he will in the second half.

 

[1975 grey ghost]

It's pretty bad when you have the refs, announcers both courside and in the studio rooting against you.

 

[One Man Fast Break]

Clean up the turnovers, hit some threes, match their energy on rebounds and hopefully you’ll be in Houston.

 

[SemperFiIllini]

Why do we always seem to wilt when teams get physical?

 

[Altgeld's Bells]

Wagler looks like he has a strap on his shoulder???

He did on Thurs as well.

 

[Illini John]

I would be out of my mind as a coach with this team right now.

I can't believe how casual they are with the ball. Knowing that VCU is going to swarm you. Ridiculous.

That assumes that they were prepped for VCU swarming them.

 

[zentrails]

For those who keep saying VCU's speed is cooking us offensively, I mean they have a total of about 6pts due to their speed. All of the rest is either putbacks, stepback threes, or turnovers... I really think people are seeing things based on their preconceived biases here. VCU has a total of 28pts on a lot of guarded shots. Limit the turnovers, clean up on the boards, win this half and move on.

Yep, we are clearly more talented than them but they seem to have the refs so that evens it out.
They are fairly quick, but not quicker than us IMO except for Hummer, Jake and the twins

 

[AndyKaufmanstutor]

It’s a damn good thing this is the one of every three games that Stojakovic does something in

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

What a godawful halftime.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

The amount of VCU love by the announcers and cameramen…ugh

Television is about narratives and storylines, not reality.

 

[Illiniam1984]

This halftime show is terrible! Good grief.

 

[illini510]

What a godawful halftime.

Lmao...you would think they'd have enough material to talk about with 5 games being in the books today but I guess it's more important to play some mascot game

 

[PizzaHutParkingLot]

What a godawful halftime.

Almost as bad as Jellyroll or the AD of Mark Smith’s HS filibustering before his commitment

 

[Dragons89]

What I cannot stand as an official myself is when officials intentionally officiate a game to keep the foul count somewhat even. Illinois doesn’t foul much. Don’t penalize them by allowing VCU to assault our guys. If they are fouling, call the fouls.

Officiating can be pretty easy. See a foul, call a foul. Don’t try to manipulate foul counts.

Exactly!!!

 

[CleverHandle1]

No, AS keep driving until they stop you and that's just about ALL we need to win

Yes, I don't want stupid TOs that lead to easy VCU baskets. He's playing great, but he needs to continue to stay under control.

 

[PapaDelsMadeMeFat]

1st half player grades.

Drej - A+
Tomi - A
KW- C-
Jake - B
Mirk - C
Bam - B
Z - C
Ben - B

Edit:
Zebras - F

And Edit again:
CBS halftime crew stupidity - Kindergarten frowny face

 

[SuperMetroid]

What in the name of Wink Martindale is this halftime show?

 

[FloridaMan]

Who is producing these between games and half time shows? A third grader?

 

[Flyin' Illini]

This halftime show is terrible! Good grief.

Fits right in with the Blake Griffin commercials.

 

[SummerofGeorge]

What a godawful halftime.

Sooo stupid! They must have plugged in “how to fill time during halftime broadcast” on ChatGTP.

 

[IlliniAlumnus]

Since Andrej is owning them, the refs will try to tag him with BS fouls to get him out of the game.