Illinois 60, Penn State 55 Postgame

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#201      
IllinistuckinGopherland
the juiceman cometh said:
Expectations were that this would be a top 10 team. Some even expected us to be better than last year (which I personally thought was unlikely, but I was in the minority on this board).
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Not saying you’re wrong, and agreed with most of your post - but even those who thought this team would be “better than last year” weren’t measuring that by how we end the regular season or the BTT.

Most BIG wins, #2 in the country, BTT champs, and a one seed. Short of going undefeated, there really isn’t a “better”.

So I think anyone who hoped “this team will be better than last year” would probably say mission accomplished if we make the Sweet 16.
 
#202      
RML
altgeld88 said:
Interesting take. FS1 showed that replay from two angles multiple times. The ball seemed to me never to alter it's trajectory after the PSU player defected it. A reasonable observer would infer, accordingly, that it did not touch Kofi. My viewing companion concluded same.
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When the spin changes, it's easy to conclude that the ball was touched. Much harder to conclude that the ball wasn't touched. If it was barely touched, the spin change might be undetectable. Ditto with trajectory change. If I remember right, the possible touch might have occurred only one or two frames after the PSU player touched it. That makes any change really hard to detect.
 
#204      
RML
Fwiw, I didn't see any trajectory or spin change either. But I wouldn't stake my life on the conclusion that it didn't barely graze Kofi.
 
#206      
EyeoftheIllini
RML said:
Fwiw, I didn't see any trajectory or spin change either. But I wouldn't stake my life on the conclusion that it didn't barely graze Kofi.
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This is how I felt. Also, is basketball like football in that original call on the floor will stand if they feel replay is inconclusive? Can’t remember if that is the case, but original call was PSU ball. I actually thought as far as BIG games go, the refereeing was fine.
 
#207      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Williams helps Illini hold off Penn State

His season-high 14 points lead 60-55 win in Champaign.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Da’Monte Williams made four 3-pointers on his way to a season-high 14 points, helping No. 20 Illinois hold off Penn State 60-55 on Thursday night.
The victory kept the Illini (21-8, 14-5 Big Ten) in contention for a share of the conference title if they beat Iowa and Wisconsin loses to Nebraska on Sunday. The Badgers have already clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title, and could win it outright by beating the Cornhuskers.
Jalen Pickett had 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds to lead Penn State (12-15, 7-12).
Williams scored the Illini’s final eight points of the first half, knocking down two 3s and a pair of free throws. Penn State was intent on limiting Alfonso Plummer and Trent Frazier’s looks from distance, and Williams often found himself with open jumpers.

“No, I don’t take that personally,” Williams said. “I haven’t really been shooting the ball well lately, but that still doesn’t stop me from coming in every day and doing my normal routines.”
Williams finished the game 4 of 11 from 3-point range, while Kofi Cockburn scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Frazier added 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting.
“I know how tough (Williams) is,” Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “He makes big shots. He makes big plays. He’s an elite role player. And I’m like daring him to shoot the basketball at home. People make shots at home, but you have to take something away and I thought our guys did it.”


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We escaped..................................barely..............................But, isn't that what it's all about ??......................scoring at least 1 more point than your opposition ??

And guess what ??......................we did that ....................was it pretty ??..........................H**l NO.............was it ugly ??......H**l YES...........

I will leave all the analysis to the great posters we have here , to dissect every play and every thought the Illini had last night , as I just enjoy the win and rest up until the game Sunday against the IDIOTS..................................

Maybe do a wake and bake ......................maybe cook some eggs using my new cannabutter...........................have some toast with my new cannahoney....

In other words , enjoy the win and try to squeeze out as much happiness as I can today ............And every day and realize I can thoroughly enjoy the win last night and go on smiling as Sunday approaches........................I sure would like to see R J and BBV get some tick next game .....They will be needed in the BTT.....................JMHO
 
#208      
alexander58
HailChief89 said:
You will not catch grief from this man. Frankly, we got beat in every category but free throws and IMO out coached by a country mile. Who the heck talks about Final4 as a Coach and player experience, expectations, and comes out and performs like that. The players and coaches just horrible. Kudos to Micah and his team of band aids. 1. Get Kofi up top, he cannot play the high pick and roll. 2. Force us to 1 side or other and make us play 3v5. We are in trouble folks. I hate saying it! Iowa is peaking and it will make send my TV out the door if they beat us.
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It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. Your positivity is infectious. 🤗
 
#209      
Illiniguy13
Ghost77 said:
I don’t understand all the talk on the broadcast of us being a final four and national title contender when we barely hang on to beat Penn State at home.
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It’s not difficult. We’re far from a perfect team. We have areas to correct and have our weaknesses, but what team doesn’t? We check many boxes. We have an all American, senior leadership, solid defense, good shooting and have proven our ability to win on the road in hostile environments. Not to mention we’ve been in contention to win a very tough conference, all while unhealthy. This game against Penn state has nothing to do with our potential to make a deep run.
 
#211      
IllGuardU
logjam said:
IMO...Frazier has played hurt/restricted for a while...everything else agreed. Also Kofi seems thicker...slower and tired...would say last 3-4 games.....and do we crash the boards anymore? Or is our defense so bad we have to run everyone back after a shot? Appreciate the late semi press to change up things last minute.
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Kofi isn’t trying for O rebounds now. Wonder why.
 
#214      
Aldy1955
Illiniguy13 said:
It’s not difficult. We’re far from a perfect team. We have areas to correct and have our weaknesses, but what team doesn’t? We check many boxes. We have an all American, senior leadership, solid defense, good shooting and have proven our ability to win on the road in hostile environments. Not to mention we’ve been in contention to win a very tough conference, all while unhealthy. This game against Penn state has nothing to do with our potential to make a deep run.
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You win the first 2 in the big dance you got a shot .
 
#215      
Vinegarben
The most ugly game of the year and there have been a few. After 29 games this team continues to struggle mightily. I disagree about the defense being great. PSU was getting good shots and making them until the last 5-6 minutes. It wasn't the defense in the last 5 minutes that stopped them either. PSU got 3,4,5 rebounds during that stretch and just went ice cold. Our whole offense was out of sinc, no energy. The Illini weren't ready to play, maybe thought after PSU got stomped by last place Nebraska this would be a cakewalk. The poor shooting has continued from most of the lineup. Not to take anything away from Damonte Williams play last night which was excellent but if he is our leading scorer going forward the Illini are in deep trouble. If they come out against Iowa flat and ho hum on Sunday Iowa will shoot us out of the gym. Unless something changes pretty quick with the ups and downs of showing up every night for 40 minutes this team will be 1 and done in the Big tourney and the NCAA tourney.
 
#216      
TonyRu85
I actually thought Penn State had a pretty good game plan to keep themselves in the game. As mentioned previously in this thread, leaving DMW and Grandison some of the time to not allow Kofi to catch the ball is probably the only way you can really stop/contain the big man. If you let him catch it, most of the time its game over. Any opposing team is going to have a better chance against us when DMW has more shot attempts than Kofi. Glad he was able to make a few, we needed them all. I would not be surprised if we see that type of defense in the tournament.
 
#217      
altgeld88
Vinegarben said:
The most ugly game of the year and there have been a few. After 29 games this team continues to struggle mightily. I disagree about the defense being great. PSU was getting good shots and making them until the last 5-6 minutes. It wasn't the defense in the last 5 minutes that stopped them either. PSU got 3,4,5 rebounds during that stretch and just went ice cold. Our whole offense was out of sinc, no energy. The Illini weren't ready to play, maybe thought after PSU got stomped by last place Nebraska this would be a cakewalk. The poor shooting has continued from most of the lineup. Not to take anything away from Damonte Williams play last night which was excellent but if he is our leading scorer going forward the Illini are in deep trouble. If they come out against Iowa flat and ho hum on Sunday Iowa will shoot us out of the gym. Unless something changes pretty quick with the ups and downs of showing up every night for 40 minutes this team will be 1 and done in the Big tourney and the NCAA tourney.
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Yes, but in those final several mins, despite multiple PSU chances because of our terrible luck on bounces (did I count correctly four separate shot-clock resets at one point on a single trip they took down the floor?), we played solid defense. The only truly open look they had, IIRC, was that three from the corner that rimmed.

We were flat, and Brad said so afterward; also said that he was concerned by how flat the shootaround was. Could be a variety of reasons: losing out on a realistic share of the R/S title less than 48 hrs earlier; having played very well against Michigan after a disappointing loss to OSU and just not staying in that groove; it's early March and it has been a long slog through Jan and Feb.

Pair that with a team that just got curb-stomped at home by the last place team, and also plays a very slow, deliberate game that denies transition opportunities. Then add our team that likes to play faster than that and is flat. It's a recipe for what we saw: a fairly ugly grind.

OTOH we won and did what was necessary down the stretch to get stops and score. Bright spots: 15-17 from the line; CoHawk's energy and astuteness (again); DMW doing DMW things; Trent doing Trent defendy things; Omar Payne's elegant, Fred Astaire-like spin move and finish that exactly no one watching could have ever predicted, and that immediately followed his hands-like-skillets attempt to corral a quick pass that was as hideous as his drive to the hole was gorgeous; learning to play a grindy game against a lesser team controlling the tempo that will serve our boys well later this month.

What we show against Iowa truly tells me where this team is. Senior night. Hated rival on fire lately (winning 8 of its last 9). Maybe even a share of the title up for grabs if lightning strikes twice and NEB takes down another top BT team on the road.

Enjoy the final performance of TF, and DMW in the Hall. And Jake and Fonso, who have been indispensable. Let's be thankful for all they've done for this program, and look forward to their grit, seasoning and wisdom having rubbed off on the younger guys. I'm optimistic about March for us.
 
#218      
Emerson Bigguns
Vinegarben said:
The most ugly game of the year and there have been a few. After 29 games this team continues to struggle mightily. I disagree about the defense being great. PSU was getting good shots and making them until the last 5-6 minutes. It wasn't the defense in the last 5 minutes that stopped them either. PSU got 3,4,5 rebounds during that stretch and just went ice cold. Our whole offense was out of sinc, no energy. The Illini weren't ready to play, maybe thought after PSU got stomped by last place Nebraska this would be a cakewalk. The poor shooting has continued from most of the lineup. Not to take anything away from Damonte Williams play last night which was excellent but if he is our leading scorer going forward the Illini are in deep trouble. If they come out against Iowa flat and ho hum on Sunday Iowa will shoot us out of the gym. Unless something changes pretty quick with the ups and downs of showing up every night for 40 minutes this team will be 1 and done in the Big tourney and the NCAA tourney.
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We won. Perhaps most ugly win?

Good teams have bad games. We had a bad game and won.

They played better with the game on the line. PSU didn't get many clean looks down the stretch. (not to mention 2 shot clock violations) Good teams find a way to win close games. In some ways its better preparation for the tournament to win ugly. You are going to have adversity in the tournament. You've got to be mentally tough enough to get past it.
 
#219      
Ransom Stoddard
You'd think we were 8-21 and sub-200 on KenPom from some of the comments I read. The B1G is--hands down--the absolute toughest conference this year and Illinois is a win (and a Badger loss) from a co-championship. Factor in all the games missed from Kofi, Belo, and several of the bench players, this is quite an accomplishment. The conference is an absolute meat grinder this year and we're guaranteed a share of 2nd place. Go back 10 years, and how many of us would have thought we'd see 3 straight seasons finishing 3rd or better in the conference?
 
#220      
HensonHall71
illiniguy24 said:
Didn’t have time to look through the 5 pages I got behind on, so sorry if it was already mentioned.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499568943433928715
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Good for him- PSU made the strategic decision not to guard him, which worked in taking away Kofi and Plummer for the most part, so it was a good strategy - DMW just did his job and made them pay enough to squeak out a victory. It does show you how deep of a team we are when our 8th best scorer can step up when needed
 
#221      
21ChampaignSt
TonyRu85 said:
I actually thought Penn State had a pretty good game plan to keep themselves in the game. As mentioned previously in this thread, leaving DMW and Grandison some of the time to not allow Kofi to catch the ball is probably the only way you can really stop/contain the big man. If you let him catch it, most of the time its game over. Any opposing team is going to have a better chance against us when DMW has more shot attempts than Kofi. Glad he was able to make a few, we needed them all. I would not be surprised if we see that type of defense in the tournament.
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A few games ago, I said this team's ceiling will come down to Grandison and Hawkins (I foolishly left out DMW). And what PSU did last night is exactly the reason I think that. Any team who has the personnel to do so should follow Penn State's template. If you're guarding Trent or Plummer, stay glued to your man. If you're guarding anyone else, surround Kofi. Make him make the right read.

Grandison, Hawkins, Williams, and Goode have the ability to make defenses pay when they deploy this strategy. They just need to make shots like Williams did last night.

Now for a more controversial take- if teams are going to drop cover the ball screens, give me some pick n pop action. Kofi can make a 12-15 footer. If we only do it 2 or 3 times a game it'll at least keep the defense honest and open the lane up a little bit.
 
#222      
KOTC2
I wouldn't be surprised if this team made it to the Final Four or got eliminated in the 1st round. Like last season, they're all over the place consistency wise.
 
#223      
WyattEarp
Orangetool said:
Be angry from the bell to the end. Maybe play against his friendly demeanor.

Coach would tell you he prefers a pissed Kofi.
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Heck, I think KOFI prefers a pissed KOFI If he’s cussing out his coach to ride his butt more that’s somebody who wants to be playing with that edge/chip…just might need a little help getting into character
… OR at the very least…
craves the coaching to do his consummate best.
 
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#224      
Emerson Bigguns
I'm not going to measure a season strictly by the tournament. There is so much variance in a single elimination event. The best team rarely wins. You've got to catch a couple breaks along the way.

People are hyper focused on it because the ending for last year's team sucked. Massive upsets happen every year. When you haven't been in the tournament for awhile, it stings even more. I get it. It doesn't mean this team has fundamental flaws that the tournament will ALWAYS expose.

Its really all about matchups. Even if you just look at the top of the B1G you can see this play out. We handled Wisconsin easily, but we haven't been able to beat Purdue, and they haven't been able to beat Wisconsin.

Loyola was a criminally under seeded team that matched up with us better than most. We came out flat and got embarrassed. That stuff happens. It doesn't mean it will ALWAYS happen, or that last years team was garbage. There is a reason why they call it MADNESS.
 
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