Luckily they missed 11 out last 12 shots.
Illinois 60, Penn State 55 Postgame
This team finds different ways to win a game. My optimistic side says that's the sign of a great team. I just hope they continue finding whatever way they can to win...whether it be the amazing free throw shooting we saw tonight or second chance points or a season high from DMFW. Whatever gets it done. But for crying out loud, xan they please work on securing a rebound. Maybe that's how we win the next game.
How about Coleman?
IMHO, when perimeter shots aren’t falling you have to have someone who can put the ball on the deck (Davis, Murray) and finish (height and/or athleticism), be it at the rim or otherwise. (Heck, I'll take that even when perimeter shots are falling.) We had that last year. The player I deem the best to presently present such a threat is CH. Quite frankly, I don’t understand why he doesn’t get 30 - 35 minutes a game.
Yes, our defense didn't stop PSU. PSU stopped itself by not being able to throw the ball in the ocean
Could refs be required to wear glasses when reviewing plays in the final 2 minutes?
Missing DMW under the positives.
Yep, was that his shooting shoulder? hope not
I don’t know… it’s not common for anyone to blow everyone out every night. Last season was the exception for us, and I think playing with no fans really helped us grab some of the road wins by a large margin when the crowd (and the officials) weren’t there to will the home team back into it. I don’t think “last couple of years” is fair. I can’t remember a game this season (other than maybe @ Rutgers) where we were utterly blown out. I’m thinking back to 2019-20 where we got killed @MSU, @Rutgers and Maryland at home wasn’t really a ballgame either. I just think we are who we are at this point, and when it’s March, you take any notch in the W column you can get.
True, he knocked down some big shots.
Phone-A-Friend
And the Loyola game?
Depending on the NIL amounts, it may be right for Kofi to come back. He is getting significantly better each year.
The NIL pay may be the best paycheck he can get.
They were pressuring and chasing Frazier and Plummer all over the floor and we're willing to let Williams shoot. If you look at the handshake line you see BU tell the other coach "great game plan"....and it was. Expect to see more of it.
No, left shoulder.
I think it is because of all the injuries and sickness.
What you're not mentioning about 2019-2020 is after that Rutgers blowout we went on to win 6 of our next 7 to finish out the season and were playing great basketball. I felt way better about that team going into the BTT (which unfortunately never happened) than I feel about this year's team going into the BTT.
Agree. Not common in the B10, however, this same Penn St team was trucked by Nebraska by 23 points Sunday at home. I know Nebraska has played well of late. But we have not played well for the last month or more, and like Juiceman I worry we could be another quick out in the tourney that will be filled with teams much better than Penn State in the first two rounds.
Coleman sitting on the bench the entire second half while Penn State's bigger guards backed down our smaller guards to the basket and out rebounded us by a wide margin is a complete head scratcher. Can we not develop some offensive sets with he and Kofi in the game together? I remember it working fairly effectively against Michigan toward the end of the game.
It was PSU's game plan and defensive effort. They begged Da'Monte to shoot--and hugged Plummer. Sometimes you need to credit the other team's effort!
Thankfully, Da'Monte did enough!
Kofi needs to get his legs back. Just like a pitcher, late in the season with a dead arm. So far this season, the next day after the game, Fletch has posted a picture of Kofi running the tread mill. I think the 300 lb man may need to rest the legs a bit. He for sure isn't getting much time off during the game, so we may want to cut back on the cardio on nongame days.