Feel like Houston did that, and he just picked them a part on passes over the top and back downs.
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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Feel like Houston did that, and he just picked them a part on passes over the top and back downs.
And we saw Mirk back people down from anywhere outside the post how many times last year?
I didn’t say there was going to be a guard on Mirk.
If he is bringing the ball up the court frequently, we aren’t in a good spot. I believe my words were opposing coaches would attack him with quicker guards, I’m thinking more like blitzing.
Seemed like it must’ve been 100 at least, just on OOB plays alone.
Obviously that’s an slight exaggeration, but I just don’t share your concern. Remember the MSU game when we attacked Fears relentlessly with Mirkovic? He finished with 18 points 6 rebounds 6 assists and zero turnovers.
He did this a lot last season. You expect him to get worse at it?
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Yes, huge difference there.
If it were 40% on that kind of volume, he’d probably be getting a huge payday elsewhere (like John Blackwell).
Well, don’t just go on feel, go back and watch the video.
Houston didn’t guard Mirk with their guards and he wasn’t the primary ball handler, that was Keaton and Boswell. Anytime he had a guard on him was due to the way Houston defended the PNR and within the flow of the offense. It was Tomi who was passing over the D and Mirk was getting shots and layups from Tomi assists.
The very next game against Wisconsin he finished with 1 assist, 4 turnovers.
So 7 assists and 4 turnovers in the 2 games. Not too shabby for a 6'9 ballhandler.
EDIT: The 4 turnovers vs Wisconsin was his highest single game turnover total of the entire season. Also, 5 assists and 1 turnover in the 2nd game vs Wisconsin.
Houston blitzed plenty of time with both their guards and bigs - that’s Houston.
But now I’m confused, because you just said you didn’t mean guards guarding Mirk, you meant guards blitzing, but now you’re saying you mean guards?
If teams wanna guard or blitz Mirk with small guards and sell out double teams 25 - 30 feet from the hoop, as Brad says when teams press us, I welcome it
Edit - I should say. If mirk is the primary guy bringing it up the court everytime, I don’t know if I’d be concerned perse, but I’d agree with that would be odd. But I feel like something really would have to go off the rails with Vaaks for that to happen. Even then, we play slow enough I really doubt this would be an issue
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Yes it was probably one of his worst games, especially considering the 3 missed FT in overtime. However, it might’ve also been the game we needed him the most, because both Andrej and Kylan were hurt.So 7 assists and 4 turnovers in the 2 games. Not too shabby for a 6'9 ballhandler.
EDIT: The 4 turnovers vs Wisconsin was his highest single game turnover total of the entire season. Also, 5 assists and 1 turnover in the 2nd game vs Wisconsin.
We win that game if the blatant shove in the back on Keaton gets called …. or the 10 second in the backcourt. (I think bald head ref is retiring, so that’s one positive)
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Bald head ref highlights from this game.
He ruled this a Jump Ball (costing us 2pts):
Not a 10 second despite literally staring at the play:
What's a "blitz" in basketball? . . .
When your man is guarding you, and then a second defender dives hard and quick.
Usually off a ball screen or right when the ballhandler crosses halfcourt.
Ryllini
- Lombard
Typically when you are on defense and the guy you are guarding sets a screen and you leave your man and go and trap the ball handler aggressively. Alot times to prevent the ball handler from turning the corner and getting down hill or to his spot.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Yep, I hope there’s A LOT of difference; and I suspect there definitely is.
For one thing, he’s 5-10 times the passer that Mayer is/was. Seems to relish making the right play and is just looks to be a WAY a better: dribble, pass, shoot type player.
Mirk brought the ball up when the defense was tight on Wagler. Then we set a screen in the offense and got Wagler the ball.
If the little guy is tight on Mirk in the backcourt he will pass to the guard, who will bring up the ball.
Yeah, you’re off just a little bit. Probably closer to being off by 100 than the other way. An OOB play isn’t within the offense and we all know Illinois OOB plays probably didn’t convert anywhere near that many all season long.
As far as him getting worse in bringing the ball up the court, I sure hope not. The same way Coleman ripped him in the video, that same thing happened against MSU, Minny, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Penn right off the top of my head.
Got it, thanks!
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I live in Houston, so I am well aware of what their MO is. Yes, they did blitz us, but nowhere near their normal rate.
Yes, Houston and other opponents will end up with a guard on him with switches and other PNR defenses. That isn’t what I was talking about with teams guarding him with guards. I was talking about when Mirk brings the ball up the court, he won’t be guarded by guards. If Mirk is our frequent answer to getting our offense started, look for aggressive defenses to pressure him with more than a 4.
Mirk is indeed a playmaker. He has good court vision and can pass. He also turns the ball over at the top of the key when pressured.
While Brad welcomes pressure, it is all good when it works, and we’ve seen it work in the tournament. However, we have also seen when it doesn’t work as well. Mich, Maryland, and MSU didn’t really need guards to cause the problems or ineffectiveness or errors from Mirk.
MSU was the game I noted where he repeatedly picked on your quick handsy Fears to the tune of 18 points 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Odd that you’d use a game where he didn’t even have a single turnover as an example of him not being reliable with the ball.
It doesn’t seem like you’re watching the same games the rest of us are watching. David needs to be a secondary/tertiary ball handler, but to be concerned about that is odd to me because he did that last year and was phenomenal.
We shouldn’t be ahead of UConn until we prove we can beat them. Especially when the margin is one spot (not like one’s 3 and the other’s 16; it’s right next to each other at 3/4).
They’ve manhandled us each time, including last year’s final 4 and dating back to 2024.
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*We want the teams we beat to be ranked high.
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