Riley is a good bball player. With Riley scoring 31 it is that same issue of letting one guy score. Cincy is good shooting team. Really enjoyed the game and it was a great turnout by Orange clad Illini. Beat Baylor
Illinois 105, Cincinnati 96 (Exhibition) Postgame
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Fans lamenting in players having great individual performances is understandable, but there are reasons why scoring concentrates against better defenses.
There is a triage aspect to high-level defenses, where they're designed to blow up ball movement, cut off passing lanes, and neutralize role players and secondary options/scorers. You also have the reactivity of on-ball defense (its fundamentally reactive) where the player controlling the ball dictates the timing, angles and movement. And high usage out of necessity is a thing where passing lanes are suffocated the offense naturally funnels through its highest-leverage creator or take a hot hand approach. Also diminishing returns of role players who rely on rhythm, spacing and catch-and-shoot opportunities created by ball movement. When ball movement is disrupted, those players efficiency plummets, leaving on-ball / primary players to shoulder a higher usage load.
In short, great defenses concentrate usage to a single player or action. Usually works out well, but if a guy makes the shots you choose to give up, it can backfire.
Just looking at Michigan, since they were the best defense last season:
David Coit, who averaged 13ppg, lit them up with 31 (8-12 from three)
Blackwell/Boyd made 12 threes in their 3 point loss to Wisconsin
Sean Stewart (who?) scored 22 against them
Jeremy Fears scored 53 across two games, with Kohler adding 23 in the second game
Jayden Reid (10ppg for Northwestern) doubled his output with 20
TKR 27, Smith 20 in game one & TKR 21, Cluff 20 in game two vs Purdue
Howard University, a 16 seed, had two players score 20 points against them
Labaron Philon dropped 35 on them in a tournament game
Illinois allowed a 20 point scorer 23x last season. Michigan allowed it 25x.
TL;DR - Concentrated scoring by the opposition does not necessarily mean your defensive approach as a whole is bad.
There is a triage aspect to high-level defenses, where they're designed to blow up ball movement, cut off passing lanes, and neutralize role players and secondary options/scorers. You also have the reactivity of on-ball defense (its fundamentally reactive) where the player controlling the ball dictates the timing, angles and movement. And high usage out of necessity is a thing where passing lanes are suffocated the offense naturally funnels through its highest-leverage creator or take a hot hand approach. Also diminishing returns of role players who rely on rhythm, spacing and catch-and-shoot opportunities created by ball movement. When ball movement is disrupted, those players efficiency plummets, leaving on-ball / primary players to shoulder a higher usage load.
In short, great defenses concentrate usage to a single player or action. Usually works out well, but if a guy makes the shots you choose to give up, it can backfire.
Just looking at Michigan, since they were the best defense last season:
David Coit, who averaged 13ppg, lit them up with 31 (8-12 from three)
Blackwell/Boyd made 12 threes in their 3 point loss to Wisconsin
Sean Stewart (who?) scored 22 against them
Jeremy Fears scored 53 across two games, with Kohler adding 23 in the second game
Jayden Reid (10ppg for Northwestern) doubled his output with 20
TKR 27, Smith 20 in game one & TKR 21, Cluff 20 in game two vs Purdue
Howard University, a 16 seed, had two players score 20 points against them
Labaron Philon dropped 35 on them in a tournament game
Illinois allowed a 20 point scorer 23x last season. Michigan allowed it 25x.
TL;DR - Concentrated scoring by the opposition does not necessarily mean your defensive approach as a whole is bad.
I loved that interview, !!! meets bench, !!! communicates to brain and brain communicates to body to play better. Paraphrasing a bit.
Some people think starting lineup will be mirk,tomi,Dre, Coleman and Davis.
But even in an exhibition, you can still see the bones of a team. And what we saw wasn’t some red flag — it was exactly what you’d expect when you’re experimenting instead of game‑planning.
Spacing that forces defenses to choose. Even average shooters become good shooters when the spacing is elite.
Illinois can put four shooters around any action. That means:
Help defense becomes dangerous. Rotations get stretched. Closeouts get longer. Driving lanes open up.
Yes Brad has started guys in preseason games before that would never start or maybe even play in a regular season game. However Brown is the first freshman he has done this with that I know of.
Better not to read too much into an exhibition game at all.
Me too. He is a cool cat. We are really fortunate to have our insiders. They all seem like very great people and their behind the scenes information is invaluable to the Illini family.
"Some people think".... not exactly the strongest way to make a statement. Sounds like the lead into a campaign promise.
Some people think the earth is flat, "just saying" (another weak term, but making a point)
So, what's up here, is there a delay to show until the regular season starts?
It's football season, and these are just exhibitions that don't really demand deep analysis.
Hoopster
- Peoria, IL in a van down by the river
Same. Indy was always great for this board.
Did he say something about leaving? I know he was posting during the Purdue game for football.
Indy still has an account on here, he was just posting on football board recently. I'd guess he is still around.
Couple guys that did disappear (and exactly at the same time; accounts now deleted) are Fly Illini Fly! and PleaseMakeABowlGame. Always enjoyed Fly's ability to quickly get all of the meaty X posts/content on here and PMABG's fondness of USC's depth.
Couple guys that did disappear (and exactly at the same time; accounts now deleted) are Fly Illini Fly! and PleaseMakeABowlGame. Always enjoyed Fly's ability to quickly get all of the meaty X posts/content on here and PMABG's fondness of USC's depth.
What! I had no idea those guys were gone! Dang…
For all the crap PMABG got/gets for the USC thing, I’ve secretly been hoping they’ll be really good to vindicate him haha
Haha yeah I had to give him his flowers when my own product/model rated USC’s depth as 2nd nationally.
No he just has not posted as much. I know he was posting in the football threads. I think he will be posting more during basketball season but dont want to speak for him
Seems like most of the insiders have been pretty quiet this offseason. Interesting considering what the expectations for the team are
I think part of that is that there hasnt been much to report. Pretty smooth off-season without much that needed clarification, other than the immigration stuff and the couple injuries. It's been pretty tame for us.
Bigtex
- DFW
But there are numerous recruits visiting and on campus and there is always something to provide context or additional information. And the big perspective on progress/practice of the players on the roster, the high expectations and the general perspective of this squad. Miss the insiders perspective.
I think they’re holding out for a cut of the NIL$$$. It’s the next logical step.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Insiders are only needed when our teams are bad and we need someone to give us hope and the entire future of the program hinges on the decision of one recruit.
When you're making F4's, have a coach with a lifetime contract, the best offense in the country, an All-American every year, and any time you miss out on one recruit, you just land someone as good if not better, insiders are no longer needed. The prophecy has been fulfilled.
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