It took you this long? I was sick of this in November, probably earlier
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
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Absolutely give BU credit for finding Domask and transitioning him to our full time PG. Domask has shined in the role too.
I question mainly defensively how it played out. Frankly I know nothing about RayJ or any other PG we might have landed’s defensive ability, but having strictly 6’5” guards has clearly affected our defense. I think Domask is an average defender at best and below average against many of the guards a true PG would match up against.
Obviously easy to nitpick this, and again Domask was a fantastic find (arguably best in the country?), I just question what this team would look like on both ends of the court with a smaller guard of starting caliber.
I question mainly defensively how it played out. Frankly I know nothing about RayJ or any other PG we might have landed’s defensive ability, but having strictly 6’5” guards has clearly affected our defense. I think Domask is an average defender at best and below average against many of the guards a true PG would match up against.
Obviously easy to nitpick this, and again Domask was a fantastic find (arguably best in the country?), I just question what this team would look like on both ends of the court with a smaller guard of starting caliber.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
During the normal flow of a game sure, but in critical moments lacking a true PG has mattered significantly on offense. Also, defensively we don‘t match up with other teams who have a halfway decent PG. We’re treating 3 SFs as guards on the roster and it might work on offense but has been a disaster on defense (Ty, Marcus, Quincy). Btw, I’m not suggesting they have been bad individually but they can’t guard high major guards as well as a true guard can.
The staff acts like the whole switching defense is an asset but it’s a liability because we can’t play straight up. If we could play straight up AND switch 5, then we’d be a monster but we can only play straight up on 2 of the 5 positions on the floor with the starters in.
As a critical type I really appreciate this perspective. In my opinion it doesn’t alter the criticisms regarding his in game coaching and preparation, but is a good reminder of how much we should appreciate these seasons and players.
I agree with this. Save the complaining about the tournament record for after the tournament. (Hopefully eating crow instead)
Really sick about the Purdue loss- I really thought that was our game to win. Would have been the signature win to get off the 4 seed line and build some momentum for the tournament. Brad has pulled a lot of good strings this year during games but this was not one of them- really confusing lineup choices in key moments in a big game
The only silver lining for me is that we don’t have to play the “what if” game anymore - the collapse at PSU, the home loss the Maryland the late game collapse at MSU- none of it really matters because we weren’t going to win the big ten and we’re simply not good enough to be a 2 or 3 seed
This is a fun to watch team and I’ve now come around to just accepting who they are- maybe this is the year we pull off an upset in the tourney for the first time ever and we can make a run- but I won’t be expecting it nor disappointed if we lose in the second round- we are who we are at this point
The only silver lining for me is that we don’t have to play the “what if” game anymore - the collapse at PSU, the home loss the Maryland the late game collapse at MSU- none of it really matters because we weren’t going to win the big ten and we’re simply not good enough to be a 2 or 3 seed
This is a fun to watch team and I’ve now come around to just accepting who they are- maybe this is the year we pull off an upset in the tourney for the first time ever and we can make a run- but I won’t be expecting it nor disappointed if we lose in the second round- we are who we are at this point
the national
- the Front Range
We have some smaller guards (Harmon, DGL) on the team but they don’t play as good of defense as TJ. I do agree we have a defense problem, I don’t necessarily think it’s centrally related to the “lack of point guard” issue that so many have brought up. We just lack elite defensive stoppers at the guard position.
We are also lacking some beef in the middle of our defense. With Coleman at the 5, we give up a lot of weight/wize to other 5s. It helps to create other opportunities for other teams PGs, especially off of Offensive rebounds. Brad knows this and is trying to reinforce the serious need for defensive rebounds (which we sorely lacked against Purdue).
Goode, Guerrier and Harmon are weak defenders. Purdue's point guard went off for 13 points of which 6 of which came in the last 4 minutes. We lost this game because we couldn't guard 3 pt shooters in the second half. Not because we couldn't contain a 6 ft. Point guard.
You're right, we couldn't contain two of them. Loyer and Smith took our lunch my money.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Useless stat time! I was thinking how impressive it is that in the last four seasons, we have been the #1 or #2 seed in the BTT three out of four years. It helps speak to the consistency within league play. So, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to look at the last four Big Ten Tournaments to try to quantify consistency in the league.
If you are the #14 seed in that year, you get 1 point. If you are the #1 seed, you get 14 points, and so on.
2020-2023 (i.e., before this year's BTT)
Illinois: 46
Iowa: 42
Purdue: 42
Wisconsin: 39
Michigan State: 38
Michigan: 34
Maryland: 33
Rutgers: 32
Ohio State: 29
Indiana: 27
Penn State: 22
Northwestern: 21
Nebraska: 8
Minnesota: 7
2020-24 (using projected BTT seeds as of now)
Illinois: 59
Purdue: 56
Iowa: 50
Wisconsin: 49
Michigan State: 47
Maryland: 37
Michigan: 35
Ohio State: 35
Indiana: 34
Rutgers: 34
Northwestern: 32
Penn State: 25
Nebraska: 20
Minnesota: 12
Again ... it's a made up stat. However, I think it looks at "most wins in the Big Ten" over that time in a way that tries to measure consistently being near the top rather than having one great (or poor) season that skews the totals. Two things that really stick out to me:
1. I would be so frustrated as an Iowa fan. They have been quietly near the top third of the league for quite a long time now, and they have nothing to show for it. We complain about not making a Sweet Sixteen, but Iowa hasn't made one since the 1990s (we have 4 since then). They haven't won a Big Ten championship since 1979 (we have 7 in that timeframe). Additionally, whatever we want to say about anti-Illini bias here or there ... we get infinitely more respect nationally as a "college hoops brand" or whatever than Iowa.
2. Indiana got a dead cat bounce last year with all of that talent back, but man ... they have been futile for years now. And I love it, lol. They are actually delusional enough to think that Illini and Purdue fans still look at them like this "big bad empire" that will forever live rent free in all of our heads and as if the name "INDIANA" on their jerseys makes it a huge game ... and they're literally living in their own world.
If you are the #14 seed in that year, you get 1 point. If you are the #1 seed, you get 14 points, and so on.
2020-2023 (i.e., before this year's BTT)
Illinois: 46
Iowa: 42
Purdue: 42
Wisconsin: 39
Michigan State: 38
Michigan: 34
Maryland: 33
Rutgers: 32
Ohio State: 29
Indiana: 27
Penn State: 22
Northwestern: 21
Nebraska: 8
Minnesota: 7
2020-24 (using projected BTT seeds as of now)
Illinois: 59
Purdue: 56
Iowa: 50
Wisconsin: 49
Michigan State: 47
Maryland: 37
Michigan: 35
Ohio State: 35
Indiana: 34
Rutgers: 34
Northwestern: 32
Penn State: 25
Nebraska: 20
Minnesota: 12
Again ... it's a made up stat. However, I think it looks at "most wins in the Big Ten" over that time in a way that tries to measure consistently being near the top rather than having one great (or poor) season that skews the totals. Two things that really stick out to me:
1. I would be so frustrated as an Iowa fan. They have been quietly near the top third of the league for quite a long time now, and they have nothing to show for it. We complain about not making a Sweet Sixteen, but Iowa hasn't made one since the 1990s (we have 4 since then). They haven't won a Big Ten championship since 1979 (we have 7 in that timeframe). Additionally, whatever we want to say about anti-Illini bias here or there ... we get infinitely more respect nationally as a "college hoops brand" or whatever than Iowa.
2. Indiana got a dead cat bounce last year with all of that talent back, but man ... they have been futile for years now. And I love it, lol. They are actually delusional enough to think that Illini and Purdue fans still look at them like this "big bad empire" that will forever live rent free in all of our heads and as if the name "INDIANA" on their jerseys makes it a huge game ... and they're literally living in their own world.
Thought it would be fun to check out Marcus #s since he turned the corner somewhere around Christmas... so last 20 games, to pick a nice round even number of games:
Compare to:
And, just for extra fun:
The FG% is better than everyone except RayJ & Kolek (who he's right in line with). Has the best FT% of the bunch (although Kolek right behind him). More PPG than everyone, 2nd most rebs, 2nd lowest turnover avg, 3rd highest assist/turnover ratio. He's literally #1 or #2 in every single stat other than assists.
Compare to:
And, just for extra fun:
The FG% is better than everyone except RayJ & Kolek (who he's right in line with). Has the best FT% of the bunch (although Kolek right behind him). More PPG than everyone, 2nd most rebs, 2nd lowest turnover avg, 3rd highest assist/turnover ratio. He's literally #1 or #2 in every single stat other than assists.
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Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
the national
- the Front Range
This is impressive. Our dude really is The Dude.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Cold reminder that shooting was extremely optional back in the day to be considered a great player. Frank shooting below 40% as a junior is tough on my nostalgia.
I remember him having a back injury that year. He seemed like a sure-fire lottery after his sophomore year and decided to come back and try it again. That 2002 season reminds me of our '21 finish.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
blackdog
- Champaign
I saw a really interesting question posed on the Reddit CBB page and wanted to throw it out here to see what people think. You could press a button and your team (Illinois) wins 3 championships in the next 15 years but your arch rival wins 4 in the same time period. Are you pushing the button?
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Of course. Do we look down on one blue blood because another has more championships? 3 titles in 15 years would put us in the elite conversation.
Yes. But if it is Michigan, Indiana or even Iowa I would likely struggle with the decision. (Probably some others as well…Misery for ex.) lol.
yuck-o
Of course. I been pushing the Illinois championship button for years and plenty of teams I hate have been getting rings already. No downside
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I really don't hate other teams like some other fans in College Basketball. Personally, I have a specially affinity for the Big Ten Conference that grades more important than my hate for any other program. When it gets to tourney time, I'm rooting for B1G teams.
the national
- the Front Range
I sorta do, but I wouldn’t call it rooting. It’s more like expecting those other teams to do their B1G duty and win. I expect it, mostly out of respect to the rest of the teams. We need all teams to help raise the national brand. Having said this, Mich this year in football was the first time I was full throat cheering for the non-B1G team.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I remember a couple years ago at a B1G media day, press were asking players which player from the B1G they wished played on their team. I think everyone named a player on a different team except Kofi, who named Coleman Hawkins.
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