i also think if Kofi moves on, the offense will look dramatically different; more fast breaks, faster pace in general, etc. similar to what it looked like before Kofi came, but maybe that's a coincidence
Houston 68, Illinois 53 Postgame
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Curbelo being a non-shooter makes him useless in the pick-and-roll action. His defender just drops back on everything and invites him to shoot.
Look at Shead on Houston and how he maneuvered in the p&r late in the game. Just hit runners and mid-range jumpers and made it look EASY.
Jake and Curbelo were bad in the first half, but Brad is really playing with fire by leaving them to ponder that second half all off-season.
Jake is trusted and Dre is an elite defender, yet they get sat in that quickly slips away with freshmen in? Even with old transfer rules, that would drive some guys to have fun elsewhere.
Jake is trusted and Dre is an elite defender, yet they get sat in that quickly slips away with freshmen in? Even with old transfer rules, that would drive some guys to have fun elsewhere.
This! They have to get longer and have guys that can get to the rim.This team had a great season considering their limitations. love Frazier we were lucky to have him
Personally, I think this is the high water mark for Brad here. Ayo and Kofi were special players. Not sure he can sustain getting that level of player.
My biggest disappointment is that we just run no offense. No movement, no screening outside the top of the key, no cutting. Guys just stand around and watch. Maybe Brad needs to bring in an assistant who can put in a decent offensive scheme. He's great for defense but man oh man, his offense makes my eyes bleed.
My biggest disappointment is that we just run no offense. No movement, no screening outside the top of the key, no cutting. Guys just stand around and watch. Maybe Brad needs to bring in an assistant who can put in a decent offensive scheme. He's great for defense but man oh man, his offense makes my eyes bleed.
I love Curbelo. Would love to have him back. I don't think its fair to hold this year against him. If he actually develops his shot and stays healthy, he can be really good. I'd love to see him play some 2 man action PnR with a big that can shoot like Dainja or if Hawkins actually develops a shot.
I would be very happy with him being our high % 2 pt guy next year, with limited TOs.
Careful. Manek from UNC got ejected for taking that approach
Fair, and I'd have to agree. I didn't mean right in the sense that they're the #2 team in the country necessarily, but right in the sense that they're a legit contender, and not just the product of a weak schedule, as the many posters on here who thought we'd easily beat them were saying.
sdfidaho
- Boise, Idaho
I was much more upset with last year’s loss.
While this team showed flashes of absolute greatness, they just could never sustain that greatness when the outside shots stopped falling. And they haven’t been falling for a few games now.
I think Brad did a really nice job this year to win the BIG title considering all the illnesses and injuries. Unfortunately, he couldn’t will the team to make open 3’s down the stretch.
Frazier is one of my all-time favorite Illini. So sad it had to end this way for him and all that will be moving on.
Hopefully Kofi stays and continues to improve, but if not, thanks for the memories! You sir are a gentleman and one of the all time greats!
Really like the retuning core and what Brad has coming in next season.
The future of Illini basketball is looking fun and bright.
Thanks for a great season!
Zorak
- Naperville
I don’t know how to believe that anymore. I just hope this isn’t as good as it gets for a while.
Fifth straight year they've made it.
80'sIllini
- Arizona
As lacking in dynamism our offense has been all year, the frosh should have played a lot more and been given more of a longer leash if they made a mistake. Gonna be a bummer seeing Podz transfer out- he's gonna be really good somewhere else and I hope RJ and Goode stay. Love Frazier and will miss seeing him play for us and despite playing 4 on 5 on offense when Damonte in the game I appreciate his efforts over his career- he and Trent had the toughness lacking in others. If we have another early flameout in the NCAA next year- I think one can reasonably conclude BU is underperforming despite his Big 10 success. Who remembers Big 10 titles versus NCAA successful runs? He said we were gonna play faster this year and we didn't. However, do have to give him and the staff props for achieving what they did despite all the injuries but can't use that as an excuse in the NCAA failures. Now that we may have 3 more guards coming in next year, is Curbelo gonna stay? What is our front line gonna look like without Kofi? Lastly, we seem to universally play scared to shoot when briefly open- how many shots did Hawkins turn down but maybe did so because he's a low % 3 point shooter but he could still take the ball to the rack for shorter-range shots. I wish he was more aggressive taking the ball to the rim. Our offense seems so regimented, scripted and predictable and we make too many fundamental mistakes like inbounding the ball in the corner. Hoping the fresh next year get much more PT. I'm looking forward to Harris in particular- he's gonna be good!
Illini, you’ve come a long way the past few years. You have restored the honor of Illinois ball. Illini Nation is grateful.
Trent and Damonte and Kofi – you have given your hearts to the Orange and Blue.
Goode and Melendez - you got major minutes in a pressure game in the Big Dance as many of us have been hoping for.
Things get settled out on the floor. Today, things were settled.
Every time the Illini caught up or made a push... Houston responded. That’s how you do it. When the game was on the line, they grabbed it by the throat. That’s what winning teams do.
Illini, you didn’t play scared today. That was a big step forward.
The Illini need more offensive balance. They need guys who can hit mid-range shots. They need guys who can take it with authority to the hole. They need playmakers who can manufacture shots out of nothing. They need guys who thrive on pressure and lust to have the ball in their hands when games are on the line and especially in Tournament Games. They need more than just get the ball inside to the Big Man and taking Threes.
Thanks to all the players for their hard work and dedication. Thanks to the coaches for your tireless hours of working to make Illinois ball elite.
And thanks to all members of Illini Nation that stand with this program in good times and lean ones.
The hopes for an Illini National Championship live on. Major steps have been taken to get closer to that prize. A few more steps still need to be taken.
And with another bitter and disappointing loss today... that National Title will taste even sweeter when it comes.
You’re on the right road, Illini. Keep moving up and believing. Keep working harder. Keep getting better. Keep getting more comfortable playing ball in March.
We’re right there with you.
Trent and Damonte and Kofi – you have given your hearts to the Orange and Blue.
Goode and Melendez - you got major minutes in a pressure game in the Big Dance as many of us have been hoping for.
Things get settled out on the floor. Today, things were settled.
Every time the Illini caught up or made a push... Houston responded. That’s how you do it. When the game was on the line, they grabbed it by the throat. That’s what winning teams do.
Illini, you didn’t play scared today. That was a big step forward.
The Illini need more offensive balance. They need guys who can hit mid-range shots. They need guys who can take it with authority to the hole. They need playmakers who can manufacture shots out of nothing. They need guys who thrive on pressure and lust to have the ball in their hands when games are on the line and especially in Tournament Games. They need more than just get the ball inside to the Big Man and taking Threes.
Thanks to all the players for their hard work and dedication. Thanks to the coaches for your tireless hours of working to make Illinois ball elite.
And thanks to all members of Illini Nation that stand with this program in good times and lean ones.
The hopes for an Illini National Championship live on. Major steps have been taken to get closer to that prize. A few more steps still need to be taken.
And with another bitter and disappointing loss today... that National Title will taste even sweeter when it comes.
You’re on the right road, Illini. Keep moving up and believing. Keep working harder. Keep getting better. Keep getting more comfortable playing ball in March.
We’re right there with you.
Belo needs to heal. I still don't think he is over the concussion. He will be great next year.
This was the team we had many times throughout the year. Our offense was Kofi and hope we make threes. Nothing in-between. The players just really lacked drive in many of our games this year. Looking forward to next year and what these new guys can bring. Thanks to Trent, Damonte, Alfonso, Grandi, and Kofi for all you did to make the last five years better and better.
If the opposing coaches know you won't change things up their game plan will be to exploit your weaknesses. And you will let them for 40 minutes.
I agree. It's apparent why Wisconsin beat Houston earlier in the year. They have an unbelievable nose for the ball when it comes to rebounding. Houston missed so many freaking shots in this game.
schnaurt
- Phoenix, AZ
It’s a real bummer for the team to shoot 35% two games in a row.
Good season, and had a lot of fun watching this team. Keep building the program and better results will come but the program is building.
IMO, the insertion of Curbelo at the end of the year was a problem. No time to gel. Also this was just a bad matchup. Had decent length at every position and were able to switch everything on the perimeter. That always left two men to focus on the entry pass to Kofi. It is the type of team that the faithful have had an issue with all year.
Thanks to Trent and Damonte for helping change the program. Much rather prefer debating how we lost in the second round and how we get to the sweet sixteen rather than sweating selection Sunday.
Good season, and had a lot of fun watching this team. Keep building the program and better results will come but the program is building.
IMO, the insertion of Curbelo at the end of the year was a problem. No time to gel. Also this was just a bad matchup. Had decent length at every position and were able to switch everything on the perimeter. That always left two men to focus on the entry pass to Kofi. It is the type of team that the faithful have had an issue with all year.
Thanks to Trent and Damonte for helping change the program. Much rather prefer debating how we lost in the second round and how we get to the sweet sixteen rather than sweating selection Sunday.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I’m tryin’ man, and I think we can be good next year … but if NU/PSU/Chattanooga aren’t as good as Arizona/Purdue/Wisconsin, then this team had a mental block. The teams of 2000-2006 almost seem mythical with their comparable consistency.
Frustrated is putting it mildly. No adjustments of any meri at all. How in the hell does he not play Curbello or grandison at the end when we're only dowmn by 2 or 4 points with 6 minutes left. So what if Trent and DW are seniors. I'm sure they would much rather leave school by at the very least making the sweet 16 at least once. THIS REALLY STINGS. Underwood is great recruiter but needs to take a back seat to strategy and late game changes.
Don't misunderstand me, I am always and always routing for any achiements this team accomplishes.Just lashing out a little. NEXT YEAR ALL THE WAY.
But how else will people get edgelord internet points?
yeah but having the screener also not being able to shoot makes the pick and roll useless as well .
Kofi pulls every defender into the paint and so you really cant spread the flor with him in the game and its worsened by just how many guys we had that were struggling from the outside.
To me the issue is coaching stubbornness your team has struggled for nearly 2 months with flatness and and poor starts . After the last game I would've pressed right from the start and tried to speed the game up and get more guy's going right from the start whether it was a layup or a transition three just play a bit faster and try and get some easier baskets and ten settle into Kofi .
Instead we did the same slow march of death wehere we walk it up the court they triple team Kofi we shoot uninspired, go down an big, and then come up short on the rally.
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