Illini Women's Basketball 2025-2026
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Unbelievable 3 point shooting in 2nd half. But our guard had too many out of control missed layups and turn overs. Was the difference in game.
A lot of no calls on Iowa
Really great game, entertaining game. Lots of positives, Illini played well. Iowa very good defensively, Had the nba style pick and roll working, crowd and broadcast really into the game
We needed Lety to help on inside defense. She was no help at all. Alves might be a bigger loss than even Gretchen. Guyton and Brown Hagger played well. Cearah is just terrific!
How about this stat Ava Heiden scored 28 pts in 24 minutes and was the only Iowa player to have a negative +/- at -2. Also Jasmine had 15 pts. 6-9 and 3-3 and had a -10 +/- worst on the team.
How about this stat Ava Heiden scored 28 pts in 24 minutes and was the only Iowa player to have a negative +/- at -2. Also Jasmine had 15 pts. 6-9 and 3-3 and had a -10 +/- worst on the team.
At the game. The team was composed for the most part annd actually had a six point lead in 4th quarter. Some no-calls had you wondering if the Illini might have benefited more if game was played at SFC. Jasmine was terrific., Iowa beat us with their inside game. On to the Gophers and a wrap on regular season. Proud of how our young team played tonight in a very hostile environment.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Illini just got pummeled by Iowa with no-calls all game long but especially in first half. Berry was smashed in the paint almost every time shooting. Fortunately no apparent injuries for the Illini.
Felt like there was an unsportsmanlike aspect to Iowa's playing and coaching. If I was an Iowa fan with some class, I would be ashamed. They had some players on the court that were cows and took up a lot of space.
Most demonstrately upset I have seen Coach Green on sidelines apparently with Illini not following her directions on offense several times.
Be a different outcome if on a neutral court...
Felt like there was an unsportsmanlike aspect to Iowa's playing and coaching. If I was an Iowa fan with some class, I would be ashamed. They had some players on the court that were cows and took up a lot of space.
Most demonstrately upset I have seen Coach Green on sidelines apparently with Illini not following her directions on offense several times.
Be a different outcome if on a neutral court...
Really impressed with Jaz’s offensive performance.
Destiny is clearly the fastest player on the court.
But she is going to have to figure out how to finish out against players 7 inches taller than her.
Tough call on the last foul by Jackson. But ILL made some critical mistakes that cost them. Ball screen defense on the Heiden pick and roll was bad; it was an elementary school horns set play, and they got an uncontested lay-up with 25 seconds to go.
Wallace is strong and skilled.
Wallace is not big, tall or long.
She's playing as an undersized 4 as has limited jumping ability.
Her M.O. inside is to slam her body into the defender, knock them off balance and power a shot up. She's usually very good at it. But when a defender is much larger (Iowa) or very long and skilled (USC), she takes a lot more shots to get her points. She becomes much less efficient inside.
Iowa was playing a form of women's basketball, maul ball. They aren't the only team to do it. It worked although it almost cost them.
Wonder what the play design was for the ATO where Guyton had a bad pass TO, Shauna was livid.
Team needs to lock in every possession. Offensively, an out of control drive or low % shot. Defensively, communicating and getting back on D every time. Comes with maturity.
Team needs to lock in every possession. Offensively, an out of control drive or low % shot. Defensively, communicating and getting back on D every time. Comes with maturity.
How should it be guarded? I honestly could not figure it out but I don’t have a basketball background.
Thought Heiden was setting great screens and rolling at perfect time where CP or LV had to choose between dropping down or covering ball (other Illini player just seemed out of the play). And neither option appeared to work at any point.
I wish we had run some more pick and roll 3PA’s in the 4th quarter. The ladies were literally 8/8 in the second half. Why not feed that approach until it fails instead of going to the post against larger Iowa defenders? Oh well, great game!
Destiny was manhandled on her drives to the basket. She got the Keaton treatment. I guess Iowa got some home cooking.
Disclaimer: Many years ago, I coached some basketball, and I know that Coach Green and staff have forgotten more about basketball than I know, but here is my crack at your question. Tough play to defend, which is why so many teams run it, especially when it guarantees the 2 best Iowa players are within 15 feet of the basket with minimal or no help defense. The setup--Chit-Chat on top at the point with the ball, Heiden on the left elbow, and Stuelke on the right elbow. Two guards in the deep corner, their only job is to maintain spacing and leave the middle open, which they did. The ball went into Stuekle's at the left elbow. Heiden dives toward the basket, and CeCe did a great job of taking that away. Seeing it was not open, Heiden came back sets a perfect screen on Berry; this is where it broke down for ILL as Berry was caught behind Heiden. Heiden sealed her, and Stuekle created space by dribbling toward the middle and made the pass for a lay-up.
How to play: 1) Have Cece aggressively hedge the screen to allow Berry to get over the screen, 2) switch the screen, which they did, but Berry is behind Heiden and cannot defend the roll to the basket. 3) Ice the screen, making Stuelke go toward the sideline, not the middle of the court, which is exactly what happened. 4) Have Guyton in a deeper help position, which concedes the 3-point shot from the corner but is better than Heiden taking an uncontested lay-up. 4) Play a zone, which we know that Coach Green is not a fan of, but I think the Iowa coach knows that as well. The ladies continue to improve, and this type of game will only help in the long run.
Thanks for the insight. No great options lol.
Would’ve liked to see more (4) of the help from Wing, but also would be tough assignment for JSH/AG/MW to be effective on Heiden, but test Stuelke passing ability and make Iowa think, À la Nebraska men’s basketball. If fuerbach/ deal on the wing help there, even though they’re pretty good shooters others are better, looking at stats.
Heiden takes ~22% of teams shots, 33% this game. Could’ve tried to have others take more shots, who usually don’t take as many.
Wonder if Wallace bodied HS more- prevent a good screen from Heiden (2) or have to reset and maybe blows up the play. sets her up to foul more, but refs seemed to let them be more physical.
Just hope we get those calls against Minnesota
Destiny was out of control for a good portion of the 2nd half. She made two horrible passes and drove into the lane three times just throwing a prayer up that was easily smack making those possessions equivalent of a turnover.
Because Aaliyah and Jasmine were playing so well.
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