Illini Basketball 2024-2025

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#251      
sacraig
BalloonsTheElephant said:
At least Ben has tried to change his game some and been somewhat effective in limited work in booty ball and going to the rim. His rebounding and overall energy and effort are up. His bad shooting is a symptom of the overall problem.

He's at least trying to evolve. Can't say that about his coach. Also, I made this video into gif for all to use when we shoot our 30th three of the game.

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I remain convinced that we have it in us as a team to be a good shooting team. I think the real problem is the volume of threes we take, which occurs because we settle for threes in many cases that are contested, off balance, or otherwise not ideal situations for taking them instead of working the paint. If we do a better job of consistently working inside, it should make the threes more open and improve our percentage. But if we just jack up threes as much as we do, it's easier to defend.

So, to me, it's less about not having shooters and more about not discouraging our shooters from taking a large volume of sub-optimal threes.

Admittedly, I am not an expert.
 
#252      
NarrowJ
St Michel said:
There's been a definite upturn in Illini basketball since BU took over but he just seems to have huge blind spots. MSU was just begging to have zone played against them but he can't seem to bring himself to be that flexible. Great coaches always seem to come up with wonderful out-of-bounds plays but he never does. And his "we're going to keep doing what we do no matter how many shots he blocks" has got to be among the most foolish words that a coach has ever spoken.
He seems to be a great motivator and knows how to attract talent but he just doesn't have much coaching talent himself.
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Were they, though?

They were not missing jump shots, whether they be 3s or long 2s or mid range 2s

Were we in foul trouble or wanted to slow the game down? (which are the only 2 other reasons to play zone)
 
#253      
Illini in Italy
St Michel said:
There's been a definite upturn in Illini basketball since BU took over but he just seems to have huge blind spots. MSU was just begging to have zone played against them but he can't seem to bring himself to be that flexible. Great coaches always seem to come up with wonderful out-of-bounds plays but he never does. And his "we're going to keep doing what we do no matter how many shots he blocks" has got to be among the most foolish words that a coach has ever spoken.
He seems to be a great motivator and knows how to attract talent but he just doesn't have much coaching talent himself.
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Zone . . .

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#254      
the juiceman cometh
Illini in Italy said:
Zone . . .

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Is Zone really an OMFG suggestion? I know there are a lot of those on here (like Fletch being the cause of our poor 3pt shooting) but I think the lack of incorporation of a zone defense is a legitimate criticism (with which one can disagree of course). I think I even remember BU busting out a zone in one game one time, and it actually working? Or maybe I just made that up or dreamed it. Either way, many teams successfully incorporate a zone defense (often against us!) so I don't think it's crazy to ask whether having this tool in the proverbial toolbox would useful.

As for whether it would have made sense in the MSU game, I have no idea, as I had to record that game and after seeing the score and reading some comments on here, I ended up prioritizing my mental health and skipped it.
 
#255      
BalloonsTheElephant
sacraig said:
I remain convinced that we have it in us as a team to be a good shooting team. I think the real problem is the volume of threes we take, which occurs because we settle for threes in many cases that are contested, off balance, or otherwise not ideal situations for taking them instead of working the paint. If we do a better job of consistently working inside, it should make the threes more open and improve our percentage. But if we just jack up threes as much as we do, it's easier to defend.

So, to me, it's less about not having shooters and more about not discouraging our shooters from taking a large volume of sub-optimal threes.

Admittedly, I am not an expert.
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I agree that if we click and hit threes, we can be as good as anybody. That just hasn't happened hardly at all since Oregon. We take volume threes because we don't have an offense that will get us multiple opportunities for a basket in each possession.

It's clear, the more threes we shoot, the more our offense isn't working. We aren't shooting them because we want, but because we have to.

Obviously we need to work inside out. Our threes against MSU looked bad because we looked exhausted. We've been sick and hurt, but kept a perfectly healthy guy on the bench and played DGL 3min. It's infuriating.

We went away from going inside, leading to missed threes, which turn into transition opportunities, which means faster pace. That means we are gassed and shoot more threes, and the loop continues. Playing 6 guys for 183 minutes and giving Jake Davis (14), DGL (3), and Tre (0), 17 total minutes is criminal knowing the health issues we've had.
 
#257      
Pikeillinifan
The illnesses and injuries have been beyond unbelievable.

Maybe this is the price the universe is making us pay for seeing a football resurgence.
 
#258      
CleverHandle1
No, it's not a OMFG suggestion at all. Maybe, BU and his son and that other kid should practice SOME zone in practice because it may actually work at certain times during a season. It's just that since zone is a forbidden word under BU, playing a zone this year would probably not help at all. Go figure.
 
#259      
Big Jack
I have a question for @LvilleILL1 @Indy Illini Fan or @illini0440 . you guys all seem to agree that Ty will go in the portal at the end of the season, which makes sense now. However I don't get why this really transpired Was it because TA left at a bad time so he couldn't transfer before the season? Why did he not transfer at the semester break if he is definitely leaving? Didn't other schools have interest? I don't get it and I don't really believe it was because he was over recruited. Just curious
 
#260      
Keisersose
We often play the opposite of a box and 1. We play 4 man 1 zone pretty much. Seems like each game we pick one guy to back off of and dare him to shoot. And then in many post game press conferences Brad has said that he doesn’t care if so and so gets his, or we can live with so and so shooting jumpers.

I don’t know why you won’t play a zone if you’ll do that.
 
#261      
thefalcon5
The sky is falling attitude across the fandom is so frustrating. Objectively this team has failed to live up to even reasonable expectations but the blame is much wider than a player or BU, not to mention injuries and illnesses derailing certain players. Not trying to make excuses, but at the same time there’s got to be some middle ground here.

Tomi: Ankle/Mono
KJ: Wrist
White/DGL/Riley: Flu
Morez: Wrist

Every team deals with adversity. This team, from the start was going to be a project. We were blessed with them jelling early and having some great performances. This team in particular has been riddled with issues out of their control. To me, that’s why I’m fine with however this season ends.

Conversely, the Matthew Mayer year showed you how poorly a roster can be constructed. I don’t get that vibe with this one. I’d rather us be unlucky than having a team full of egos/head cases.

Of course, BU/the staff could’ve evaluated some of these guys better (Booth being the obvious gripe, Ben has underperformed as well), but this was and still is objectively a top 25 talented team. Sometimes, things don’t work out. Revel in it being mostly out of anyone’s control rather than any other avoidable reason.
 
#262      
OrangeKrush1981
I thought this last April, and in hopes of being supportive been silent about this.

The issue now is: what will the coming year bring? Portal recruiting needs to be drastically improved over last year's profound failings. High school recruiting has been lost for the coming year (the roots of a progam), but one hopes that a more professional staff (not the kids) will revitalize this recruiting lane. International recruiting -- should we retain our head coach -- looks incredibly promising.

A team needs continuity from one season to the next though. Hopefully the head coach will agree.
 
#263      
RichardKeenesCousin
I was joking with my father-in-law after the game. He said that he is now accepting applications for a new favorite college basketball team. If I had to choose another team to support, I have no idea who it would be. What say you Loyalty?
Academy Awards Film GIF by CBS
 
#264      
jacekpardol
BalloonsTheElephant said:
At least Ben has tried to change his game some and been somewhat effective in limited work in booty ball and going to the rim. His rebounding and overall energy and effort are up. His bad shooting is a symptom of the overall problem.

He's at least trying to evolve. Can't say that about his coach. Also, I made this video into gif for all to use when we shoot our 30th three of the game.

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Missing person alert for this Brad Underwood.
 
#265      
Brosky
I agree about playing some zone. I said so before the season started. We don't have a team of "great" athletes, but we do have plenty of height and length. I wouldn't play a zone as a way of life, but from time to time it might work to our strength and length. Changing defenses can also disrupt the rhythm and focus of an opponent.
 
#266      
NarrowJ
RichardKeenesCousin said:
I was joking with my father-in-law after the game. He said that he is now accepting applications for a new favorite college basketball team. If I had to choose another team to support, I have no idea who it would be. What say you Loyalty?
Academy Awards Film GIF by CBS
Click to expand...

Yes, you guys need a team that is great EVERY SEASON.

Easy, how about UNC? Oh...

Kansas? Hrmm....

Oh I know!!!! Duke. Oh, but they went 13-11 in 2020-21 season so guess that doesn't work either.

Geez I don't know!!!
 
#267      
Big Jack
RichardKeenesCousin said:
I was joking with my father-in-law after the game. He said that he is now accepting applications for a new favorite college basketball team. If I had to choose another team to support, I have no idea who it would be. What say you Loyalty?
Academy Awards Film GIF by CBS
i
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I will never root for another school as long as I am still above ground. May not root for the coach but will certainly support the players wearing orange and blue. Tom or Steve if you are out there and reading this forum, time to get the old printing presses ready and a stash of blank bumper stickers.

With Brad we're BAD!
I'm SAD with Brad!

Any other good slogans?

Thoughts?
 
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#268      
Brosky
What I say is, women's basketball. I enjoy the women's game. I watch two women's teams on a fairly regular basis: the Illini and Illinois Wesleyan.
 
#269      
sacraig
jacekpardol said:
Missing person alert for this Brad Underwood.
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As of, what, maybe a year ago (maximum two) this board was consumed with how Brad yelled too much and was driving away all the players and assistants because he uses too colorful language.

And now this board is consumed with how Brad doesn't yell enough and clearly has lost the fire.

Never change, Loyalty.
 
#270      
eas23
Big Jack said:
I have a question for @LvilleILL1 @Indy Illini Fan or @illini0440 . you guys all seem to agree that Ty will go in the portal at the end of the season, which makes sense now. However I don't get why this really transpired Was it because TA left at a bad time so he couldn't transfer before the season? Why did he not transfer at the semester break if he is definitely leaving? Didn't other schools have interest? I don't get it and I don't really believe it was because he was over recruited. Just curious
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Ty isn't an NBA player so the best way to maximize his value while he still can is to use Illinois' resources this year then get paid to play 2 years somewhere else.

I don't even mean that in a cynical he's taking advantage of us way. It's just a fact of how the system works now.
 
#271      
BWA
eas23 said:
Ty isn't an NBA player so the best way to maximize his value while he still can is to use Illinois' resources this year then get paid to play 2 years somewhere else.

I don't even mean that in a cynical he's taking advantage of us way. It's just a fact of how the system works now.
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Unless he’s shown enough in practice for us to pay up, which I doubt.
 
#272      
jacekpardol
sacraig said:
As of, what, maybe a year ago (maximum two) this board was consumed with how Brad yelled too much and was driving away all the players and assistants because he uses too colorful language.

And now this board is consumed with how Brad doesn't yell enough and clearly has lost the fire.

Never change, Loyalty.
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I'm a result driven human being - give me the Brad that performs best on the basketball court. Hurley isn't excatly someone that doesnt ruffle feather, same with Izzo, I can go on and on
 
#273      
sacraig
jacekpardol said:
I'm a result driven human being - give me the Brad that performs best on the basketball court. Hurley isn't excatly someone that doesnt ruffle feather, same with Izzo, I can go on and on
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I mean, I agree. I don't care if the coach is mild-mannered or fiery as long as to they win.

I just think Loyalty is one of a kind.
 
#274      
IMPE Legend
sacraig said:
I mean, I agree. I don't care if the coach is mild-mannered or fiery as long as to they win.

I just think Loyalty is one of a kind.
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I think the comments this year are due to the complete 180 degree change by Brad. Seems weird to go from such a fiery personality to the mild mannered guy we see on the sidelines now. Its not like Brad is a kid, his personality is well established. So such a sudden change is...jarring. Of course if we were winning you would 100% not see the comments, but it comes back to people searching for any solutions.
 
#275      
21ChampaignSt
IMPE Legend said:
I think the comments this year are due to the complete 180 degree change by Brad. Seems weird to go from such a fiery personality to the mild mannered guy we see on the sidelines now. Its not like Brad is a kid, his personality is well established. So such a sudden change is...jarring. Of course if we were winning you would 100% not see the comments, but it comes back to people searching for any solutions.
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Kid gloves. I think Brad knows he has a young, possibly soft team. So he adapts his communication style to suit them.

Plus we know from some of the comments made by the players and the media that he's still pretty fiery in practice. Which to me points back to him trying to protect their psyches during games.

I guess if I were to nitpick it would be that he doesn't work the refs hard enough. Seems like other coaches always get at least one makeup call or something just to shut them up. (Although he's been T'd up like twice this year, right?)
 
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