They wouldnt be marquee games if they were easy wins. We have enough cupcakes scheduled.I would just like someone we can beat. The marquee home and home matchups have been pretty rough the past few years.
They wouldnt be marquee games if they were easy wins. We have enough cupcakes scheduled.I would just like someone we can beat. The marquee home and home matchups have been pretty rough the past few years.
I enjoy the games too. They are a nice measuring stick. I'd just like to win a few of them, that's all.I would rather have a marquis home game against the likes of Arizona or Tennessee (even if they become a loss) any day of the week over a cupcake game. It is fun for the fans and it can only help the overall resume.
There are those of us that came to dislike Hamer on our own after watching a horrible defense for the past two years. That might just be me though.To be fair, people's complaints about current staff members are pretty much just what they get fed by one particular insider, so what people's complaints about this one will be hinges on that.
There probably a lot more Illinois people in Nashville than Tennessee people in Chicago. Illinois should have a good crowd especially with a Saturday game.
Not to mention since it is a weekend game, I can see quite a few Illini fans making the short trip to Nashville. I would consider making the trip, but it would be nearly impossible with a 2-year old and a likely 6-week old.There probably a lot more Illinois people in Nashville than Tennessee people in Chicago. Illinois should have a good crowd.
this is a terrible take, i have personally grown to love drop coverage leading to career days from 3pt shooters. its nice to have something to count onThere are those of us that came to dislike Hamer on our own after watching a horrible defense for the past two years. That might just be me though.
Not just talking about Hamer. Not even just talking about Assistant Coaches.There are those of us that came to dislike Hamer on our own after watching a horrible defense for the past two years. That might just be me though.
Laying the blame of some sub-par defensive performances at the feet of an assistant coach is pretty narrowminded, IMO. I highly doubt Brad is rubberstamping anything, and execution has as much to do with the player's physical attributes, attitudes, aptitudes, and health as anything else.
Maybe you don't like the scheme, maybe you don't like the adjustments, but that stuff is on Brad. The fire Brad bandwagon is pretty lonely these days, regardless. If you want to get on board, be my guest.
Fans with no working knowledge of the development of gameplans, or evaluations of the execution of those plans assuming that firing a member of the coaching staff is going to fix it all is just... you can fill in the blank.
If he's staying its because Brad likes him, and isn't putting the blame at his feet. Brad has been right more often than not in his career so far. He certainly has a better idea of what the coaching staff does well and doesn't do well than anyone posting here.
And some OOB plays too pleaseSounds pretty good. X's and O's. Let's hope there are some D's there too.
I don't care about the leggings I care about the defenses complete inability to make opposing teams uncomfortable. That isn't a metric but it's pretty obvious just from watching games that other teams basically can get to any spot they want on the court without much resistance.Absolutely, and the defensive struggles are way overstated by many
Illinois defended the 3 pretty well last year overall, opponents made on average only 6.7 threes per game vs Illinois (.336 percentage)
The way Illinois employs the drop coverage, we're not leaving guys open for 3s but rather mid-range shots... problem is some teams have guys who can make those... However, I felt we were sort of locked into that drop coverage due to personnel as you said (and we may very well be again this year)
But as so many have also pointed out, you can get to (and win) a F4 with only an 'above average' defense... its been an elite offense that seems to be required to win it all, rather than an elite defense
Also, some criticism is fine when warranted but people say things like hAmEr WeArS LeGgInGs HAHAHAHA and then later want to be taken seriously and I just can't
I think quite a few of us were unhappy with the Defense, and that was long BEFORE it was revealed that Hamer was game planning our defense.There are those of us that came to dislike Hamer on our own after watching a horrible defense for the past two years. That might just be me though.
There probably a lot more Illinois people in Nashville than Tennessee people in Chicago. Illinois should have a good crowd especially with a Saturday game.
Couldn't agree more with you also that defensive lapse at the end of the Tennessee game will haunt my dreams for years to come.whether that falls on Hamer or Brad or all above definitely would love to see some defensive improvement on next year's squad it would raise next year's floor so muchPeople complained because last year we struggled to stop most good teams. Our defense rarely made adjustments. We did not get steals so we had very few fast breaks and easy buckets. If we want to be a top 10 team we will have to improve. Coaching / X&O's is big part of defense. Hopefully it will improve in 2025-6.
Of course we all hope that’s not the case but I’d rather go 0-4 against good teams than 4-0 against Norfolk and Way State. Maybe I’m in the minority though.i know you wanna play the big games (as it should be) but going 0-4 against tennessee would stink. let's hope that's not the case.
Will he be allowed to recruit off campus?I like the add- clear upgrade in coaching experience from last year and he could turn into a home run if he adds to the player development side and is another voice on the X’s and O’s side.
It’s hard to judge his recruiting given he hasn’t been anywhere with the funds or cache to recruit top talent but every assistant has to start somewhere in developing relationships and he appears to already have a connection with a five star PG, hard not to like this hire