Illini_1979
- Oregon
I would like to see TJL be one of the ones that steps forward. Thought he had some confidence last year and hopefully has even more this year.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
- Status
I would like to see TJL be one of the ones that steps forward. Thought he had some confidence last year and hopefully has even more this year.
Why are the 2018 NCAA Champions ranked 37th???
Kramer116
- Chicago
I don't think the Augustana game counts towards our official record at least for a NCAA berth
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I'm assuming because we had a hole in our schedule and couldn't find a D1 opponent that would work. I'm sure Brad had contacts over at Augustana from his time as an assistant at Western and it worked out.
Not an ideal game, but I think the NCAA allows one non D1 game on your schedule each year. And I'm assuming they were pretty cheap to buy out for the game.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Well, if BU has to get on them in practice about it, then that energy from the players for a new coach isn't high. Energy and body language habits will need to be adjusted and improved. To me, this is the main battle for this team. We have talented players. We need tougher players, especially mentally.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
I think he also expects a certain level and energy that we havent seen in a long long time here
That's why he's going to be one helluva coach for us....plus Illinois is his dream job!
Southern at the SFC in 1 week from today!
Well that is normally where the NIT Champions are pre-season ranked each year...correct?
Practice and actual games are a lot different for players to be energized for. Coaches will always get on players for lack of energy in practice, because they want to see the same level as an actual game. But it's just human nature that you will be able to get more excited/energized for a game.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Its cliché, but it only takes 1 or 2 guys and the attitude is contagious.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
The best thing about having this many freshmen is that this attitude will be instilled in them from day 1 with BU. They won't have the ability to learn anything else while here. That will be critical over the next few years and will help to make it the standard here for all incoming classes.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Illini Basketball Preview Show
Fighting Illini Basketball Preview Show has been posted online:
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Fighting Illini Basketball Preview Show has been posted online:
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Dan
Admin
It's three games for the price of one - Southern, DePaul and NC Central for only $20-
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Free student tix for United Center game-
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http://ev11.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncom...B17FridayNightFrenzy&RSRC=FanOne&RDAT=DM86206
Free student tix for United Center game-
https://t.co/nJbCy7crSK
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Love watching these teaching films. We now have an offensive system! We don't own it yet, but we will.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
The story of this season will be how quickly the players adopt the system. One of the reasons it's so effective is because it's unorthodox. The handoffs, dive-cuts, rotations, constant movement off the ball — it's a big departure from Groce's ball-screen and watch offense. And for the freshman, it's an even bigger adjustment. These kids are used to having the ball in their hands in HS. Now they're going to have to work hard off the ball to get open shots.
I believe we'll get there in the end, but the learning pains could be ugly early (as we've already seen).
haasi
- New York
FiveStar, given your knowledge of the system and Underwood, did you expect us to be farther along at this point? Anything else that you saw that we did better or worse than you expected at this point? And how long do you think it’ll take for us to run the system reasonably well? Also any thoughts on our defense?
Appreciate your posts.
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haasi
- New York
Also one more for FiveStar or the group - given Underwood’s system and what we’ve seen so far, do we think that our weakness at big is surmountable, or are we basically screwed until we get more guys who can do a good job guarding bigs and rebounding?
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Not to steal FiveStar's thunder, but our lack of size shouldn't keep us from scoring points. Underwood has always had undersized lineups and scoring hasn't been an issue. The challenge will be at the defensive end. Can we keep bigger teams from scoring in the paint? Can we keep them from getting offensive rebounds and easy buckets? Those are the questions for me.
I think we are further along than we showed against Eastern. It was very, VERY vanilla. Super basic sets and nothing outside basic entries. I think the breakdowns were not system based. When I finally saw the second half, there were some hero ball issues. The one time we ran spread all the way through BU put his hands up like LOOK, IT WORKS! As far as when we will really be clicking, probably Feb-BTT time. We will have been defended as many ways as possible, and the counters, and counter counters will be more incorporated. When teams have 3-4 options to guard off one look, and they know it, we're gonna have some fun. We supposedly put up 90 vs. Vandy, so at some point in that game it was really hummin.
BU has played lineups vs hi majors and in the NCAAT with no players over 6'4, and won or been in position to win. We really only need one guy who can guard a post player, whether he is 6'6 or 6'10. It's more about perimeter ball pressure to make passing difficult, either to another guard or to the post. BU's rebounding style is to gang rebound the weak side (76-80% of shots go to the weak side he says), so with more numbers, the size should be offset. I also saw vs Eastern we switched big/little A LOT. He doesn't seem to be concerned with guards guarding posts down deep.
- Status