Illinois 60, Penn State 55 Postgame
- Status
We're 'struggling mightily' at 21-8, 14-5 in conference, and ranked in the top 20. You can't make this up. Unreal
I agree. Wonder if that was a makeup call for the out of bounds call. 9 out of 10 times a foul isn’t called on a free throw rebound like that late game. We definitely got the better end of the officiating last night. We shot 17 to their 3 free throws. If they shoot even close to the amount of free throws we did it’s a completely different outcome.
drsmitty74
- Rochester
My neck hurts after a loss or a game like this, because when I read all the "sky is falling" negative posts, I can't help but just shake my head.
Although this was a thoroughly ugly game, it also might have had the 2 most surprising plays of the year in Omar's spin move and Kofi dribbling between the legs. Who woulda thought those would happen?
The Good: Someone different on the Illini steps up each night to try to get the job done.
The Bad: Someone different on the Illini steps up each night to try to get the job done.
The problem is you never know what you’re going to get from this team. One night a guy scores 25... the next game he disappears. There has been little consistency over the course of the season other than the fact that fortunately there has been enough on the floor to win most of the games.
This team is impossible to read. Which is weird because so many of them are veterans.
And while on the subject of veterans... this is where the idea of Super Seniors is a problem. Any Super Senior on the floor is taking valuable floor-time from the young guys.
Sure, we love our Illini Super Seniors. But think where Goode and Podz might be right now if they were getting the tick and had the confidence by now they would have developed to be big contributors right now.
Super Seniors can be invaluable mentors. But you have to have engaged students for mentors to be successful.
Perhaps a quicker hook on the ‘Supers’ is in order when they are having an off night.
And let’s pray that the Illini somehow find a good consistent level of play now that Tournament Time is here.
The Bad: Someone different on the Illini steps up each night to try to get the job done.
The problem is you never know what you’re going to get from this team. One night a guy scores 25... the next game he disappears. There has been little consistency over the course of the season other than the fact that fortunately there has been enough on the floor to win most of the games.
This team is impossible to read. Which is weird because so many of them are veterans.
And while on the subject of veterans... this is where the idea of Super Seniors is a problem. Any Super Senior on the floor is taking valuable floor-time from the young guys.
Sure, we love our Illini Super Seniors. But think where Goode and Podz might be right now if they were getting the tick and had the confidence by now they would have developed to be big contributors right now.
Super Seniors can be invaluable mentors. But you have to have engaged students for mentors to be successful.
Perhaps a quicker hook on the ‘Supers’ is in order when they are having an off night.
And let’s pray that the Illini somehow find a good consistent level of play now that Tournament Time is here.
Almost looks like Payne grabbing and passing the ball back to DMW ... like some comical Globetrotter repetitive drill for the fans.
Is an insightful post, but I'll never pull Trent unless he is comatose.
AEX
- West Lafayette
In regards to the first point - someone else has to step up because other teams are selling out defensively on our most dominant offensive players. We could barely get the ball into Kofi's and Plummer's hands last night. Speaking of which, a couple posters in this thread made comments about Kofi's hands, but I thought he had some passes thrown his way that were just not realistic. In those situations, we have to adapt and find others to step up. The fact we've been able to do that - and still create offensive balance more often then not - is a real testament to this team. All that said, I do wish our 3 point specialists were a little more consistent, but, I think that's just how it goes with NCAA players. Between Plummer, Grandison, Trent, Goode, and DMW, if we could get three of those guys rolling at the same time, that would really be something.
As for super seniors, you noted their value as mentors, which is a huge value. But I agree that the young guys still have to stay hungry enough for the mentorship to matter. It's a tough balancing act, but most of the freshman have been able to get meaningful minutes. I imagine Goode and now RJ are getting enough time to stay invested and get more comfortable with the speed of the game. Podz on the other hand . . . I still have a lot of confidence that he'll be a key factor in our success in the coming years.
I almost (not really) felt sorry for Pickett last night when 2 or 3 times he was given the ball with 4 seconds left on the shot clock, and being guarded by Trent Frazier. I can't imagine much worse of a situation to be in.
And doing it while having missed kofi for 3 (im counting purdue since he played concussed from like the first 5 mins on after the edey elbow to the grill) conference games and belo for like half of them. We still arent at full strength (RJ/BBV out) even now.
And we were picked 3/4 in teh league at full strength......our worst case scenario is tied for 2nd with a 70% win % in league play. We got some entitled !!! fans lol
blackdog
- Champaign
If Goode and Podz were getting the tick instead of the super seniors this team would be middle or bottom of the B1G. We aren't anywhere close to the position we are now without those guys. Not to say that the young guys aren't talented but experience matters so much in college basketball. I would personally much prefer to win with these super seniors than go through growing pains with the young guys. We saw that story in BU's first two seasons and I don't want to go back there.
OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
Would have liked a more comfortable win but hey you all. A win is a win and we're finishing second place in one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA. Enjoy this team while it lasts these next couple of weeks. Don't be a......
Because Penn State saw him as the weak link to our offense and didn't guard him. That is also why Kofi couldn't get the ball. Williams made some of his shots, but you are very seldom if ever going to see that many wide open looks in a Big Ten game unless they are daring you to shoot.
Yep. He pretty much does that every game?????
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
rectangle?Don't be a......
Have seen several comments regarding Kofi not having a great game and not rebounding enough. He is our only consistent rebounder. last night he was doubled or tripled on every possession. For the record, last week Harrar (their big man) had 16 points and 16 rebounds against Michigan State. Last night he was so ineffective I never even heard his name mentioned by the announcers. Bottom line in my opinion is we need to find better ways to get him the ball in the right positions to score. I am not necessarily picking on your comment, but it seems that more and more of our fans seem to be unhappy with his play. Better enjoy it the next few games as we will miss his production next year.
Top of the big ten and struggling because the seniors are pushed to the max ore sometimes even beyond their talents or middle of the pack and be better more balanced teams because we've taken the time to insert the younger players and their talents into the team . The young guys are not really going through growing pains they are watching the mentors going through growing pains.
We don't want to go back to BUs first 2 seasons but when all those upperclassmen leave then what ?
We returned 60% of the minutes and 60% of the points from last years team and without Plummer where would this team be ?
Now next year we will only return 15% or so of the points and minutes and thats only if Belo and CoHawk return so we've basically have everything riding on these super seniors.
Chasing a big ten title is nice but I would've made integrating the freshmen so we can run back a better team than last year the priority instead of just running back the same team sans an all American nba pg
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Freshman get better in practice and the summer, not games.
Maxing out our ability to win now is how we recruit the talent we need to win later.
This. There seems to be this belief that of course the Illini would be as good giving the freshmen at least somewhat significant minutes — and they might have won a couple games that were lost. It is crazy. I mean obviously the coach who has made the Illinois relevant again, has led the team to most BIG road wins over the last 3 years and sees these players every day in practice has no idea who should be playing. The “backup quarterback syndrome” is strong in Illini Nation Luke.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Inserting freshmen into a B1G battle without tempering them first is a sure fire path to the bottom of the B1G. We are where we are at because of the personnel management skills of our staff, and the skills of the players we have. Nothing less, nothing more. Enjoy the ride . . .
Right bootsy...
Last I checked, we're looking at twelve other teams from the best conference in America in our rear-view mirror, and the only one not in back of us, like the rest, is hoping we don't end up on their side of the brackets.
Go Illini!
So you are saying this team is "like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get".
Really was something else seeing him
“plowing “towards the basket taking everyone with him.
the announcers stated this is the best 3yr stretch in program history (?). did i mishear/misunderstand? are they right? (although it was FS1......)
- Status