FAU isn't beating us.
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
- Status
You think Coleman struggled defensively? lol
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
I mean, who are you going to trust when it comes to defensive analysis, grue2 or BU? Brad gives his thoughts on Hawk's defensive performance starting at the 14:57 mark.
Fun game to watch. But it was just an exhibition. Coleman played past 5 fouls. Best not to read too much into the game as I recall we supposedly won the last match up exhibition against Kansas and still didn't get out of the first weekend in March that year . It was an encouraging performance and something to build off. Excited to get into the reg season.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Two of those "fouls" were utter trash calls. Nevertheless, fully agree with your gist.
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
No exhibition game will matter in March, but both sides seemed to be playing for keeps and provided a decent pre-season snapshot fwiw. KU benefitted as much or more than the Illini from the exhibition game no foul-out rule. McCullar (their leading scorer with 25) finished with 5 fouls and KJ Adams (14 points, third leading scorer) finished with 6 fouls.
One positive for KU was Dajuan Harris' 8:1 assist to turnover ratio in what seemed to be a ho-hum game for him...
Kansas isn't the #1 team in the country (they can't shoot), but as far as matchups go, on paper that should have been our kryptonite - top-notch backcourt defenders and a dominant big man...we handled that test.
Our defense sure made it appear that way. However, McCullar is a plus shooter, Harris shot 41% from 3 last year, and the transfer Timberlake shot 42% last year on 7 attempts per game as a volume scorer, Dickinson shot 42% from 3 last year. I wouldn't say they "can't shoot", in fact I'd say it is a strength for them.
That isn't what was said. I expect every center to get burned repeatedly without good help defense. Not all of the layups were Dickeron. Whose job was it to step in their path? *I* could not tell where the defense broke watching real time. Something was off. Its possible Coleman played 5* defense, and all the mistakes were that of teammates. I could not tell. Thus the "unknown" category vs. the "bad" category.
Not sure where this belongs as it's only slightly Illini, but saw recent reports that former recruiting target Jon Scheyer was extended at Duke to 2029. Reportedly makes 7-8 mil/yr. First year went 27-9, which wouldn't be bad at a lot of schools, but given the program's boosters and recruiting, was surprised by the extension.
FWLIW, they were preseason 7 last year and finished 18. Preseason #2 this year, and have the #1 recruiting class for 2024.
FWLIW, they were preseason 7 last year and finished 18. Preseason #2 this year, and have the #1 recruiting class for 2024.
He doesnt like to contest layups for some reason. He did a good job on Hunter though
Real question, no snark intended to Luke or any poster, but I have never understood this starter talk. I may be in the minority here, but I don't see it and haven't seen it. Maybe last year if he doesn't get hurt, given all the other turmoil. But overall I view him as a mid-bench 3-point specialist.
Sure Brad calls him elite sometimes, but Brad says that about guys in pickup games at what used to be called IMPE. What am I missing?
I think people are realizing it's not that easy to find a slam dunk replacement for coaches.
They must see some great things out of Scheyer, and maybe are willing to take a leap of faith.
The kid is recruiting out of his mind. Better then coach K in terms of recruiting. 1st, 2nd, or third overall in ever years hes been the head coach. Getting talent is 60% of the game in college bball, IMO.
Last edited:
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Well, 2 phantom fouls may make him like it less.
Last years scrimmage was 4 10 minute segments. That was more of a joint practice. Coaches stopped in the middle of stuff all the time to Coach the kids. Sunday was played like a real game obviously.
Thanks. I didn't know that's how it was played. Sunday was played together by both teams. Very encouraging signs for this season.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Big difference between an Exhibition and a Secret Scrimmage.
Huge difference between this team and last year.
We beat the #1 team in a game BOTH teams treated like it was "real".
We Good.
We VERY Good.
I think folks are making too much positive and at least one of us way too much negative out of an exhibition game. Though, I admit it was a little bit more than that because the lights were on. It was 2 ranked teams facing off and there was the Dickinson and Self back drop. But here is what I saw:
1. D was a little weak early on both ends of the court (us and them). A lot of uncontested shots. But ramped up as the intensity ramped up. Coach has a lot of film to coach with there.
2. I loved the offensive flow in the first half and early in the second. The play in the second half where all 5 players touched the balll TSJ to corner, to top wing, to top key, to Domask (I think) for a wide open 3 was 05 esq. Beautiful! Nothing we've seen here for years. Maybe since 05.
3. We have depth
4. We only turned it over 14 times in an exhibition game guys! Against a top ranked team! Considering we handed out TO's like candy on Halloween in the past, and again, in an exhibition game, that is encouraging. They should get better, theoretically.
5. When KU extended the pressure late, we went stagnant. Flow stopped. A lot of standing around, penetration stopped and we settled for tough shots. But we were running the clock. Still, want to see movement.
6. Dain still can't shoot FT's. Did he not work on it?
7. Rodgers needs work on the line too.
8. Not really concerned about point guard. We have a lot of people who can start the offense and if we're running out, whoever has it is point.
9. I like what I see from Domask and Guerrier. Hopeful on Harmon.
Overall, I was encouraged.
ILL!
1. D was a little weak early on both ends of the court (us and them). A lot of uncontested shots. But ramped up as the intensity ramped up. Coach has a lot of film to coach with there.
2. I loved the offensive flow in the first half and early in the second. The play in the second half where all 5 players touched the balll TSJ to corner, to top wing, to top key, to Domask (I think) for a wide open 3 was 05 esq. Beautiful! Nothing we've seen here for years. Maybe since 05.
3. We have depth
4. We only turned it over 14 times in an exhibition game guys! Against a top ranked team! Considering we handed out TO's like candy on Halloween in the past, and again, in an exhibition game, that is encouraging. They should get better, theoretically.
5. When KU extended the pressure late, we went stagnant. Flow stopped. A lot of standing around, penetration stopped and we settled for tough shots. But we were running the clock. Still, want to see movement.
6. Dain still can't shoot FT's. Did he not work on it?
7. Rodgers needs work on the line too.
8. Not really concerned about point guard. We have a lot of people who can start the offense and if we're running out, whoever has it is point.
9. I like what I see from Domask and Guerrier. Hopeful on Harmon.
Overall, I was encouraged.
ILL!
CoHawk definitely played some of the best defense for Illinois against Kansas. He wasn't perfect but he had solid positioning, he bothered Hunter a ton, especially in the 1st half, and he forced other players on Kansas to contribute. I would argue he was our 2nd best defender on the day if not #1 due to the number of minutes he played. As for our top defender on the night I though it was Sencire Harris by a large margin who shut down Harris, singlehandedly stopped Kansas in transition (the only Illini to do so) and forced 2 moving screens (if called correctly), though he only played 7 minutes.
If you want to focus on the bad, I think it's your prerogative to do so and I do think it can bring up reasonable concerns so I'll at least try being constructive in responding to those:
-Luke had a really bad day in all facets of the game. No two ways about that. In fact that was probably the worst game he's played in an Illini jersey. I don’t expect it to be the norm, and he played well against Ottawa in my opinion outside of pure shooting. I think it's way way way too early to write him off, but yes, if how he played defense against Kansas becomes the norm and he also struggles with his shot, others will take his minutes.
-Harmon has as you've said been a step slow in his on-ball defense in every game he has played so far. He has had good recovery, and his support defense on bigs has been quite good showing off quick hands, but yeah, he needs a quicker 1st step.
-Domask got taken advantage of physically at times. Hoping he will be a bit more stout as the season goes on, but guarding strong P5 forwards may be a tough task for him. That said, he'll have the advantage going the other way in those matchups
-Ty had an up and down day on defense. He had some really good plays and he also had some plays where he lost his man or had a lapse in awareness of what was happening. Those are issues that young players have and hopefully they'll happen less and less as the season goes on. I still worry about his defense against quick guards as from what he's showed thus far, he's struggled keeping up with them, but he played a bit better in that aspect today.
In any case, there's my constructive feedback to your concerns, but we also just beat Kansas. It's ok to smile a little and enjoy it
They didn't want to get lobbed to death so he wasn't supposed to help off of the bigs.
- Status