Illinois 66, Purdue 58 Postgame

#151      
Lol I see you were quick to add this edit. Since the Rutgers game, where he scored 19... He's scored 7 -> 4 -> 5... This sample size isn't enough for me to panic. Willing to bet he finishes the season somewhere around 9PPG, which I'm content with in combination with his lock down defense.

Few years ago, fans were suggesting we should be worried about Trent declaring early... lol. So quick to pull out the pitchforks the second players aren't making the flashy plays. Had pitchforks on Da'Monte for 3 years... and now he's a fan favorite. Let the game play out. Everyones got a role and +/- tends to align with what the coaches choose to put out there
I don’t want to be right. I’d rather he do just what Damonte is doing right now. Just knock down shots when you’re wide open. Trent seems to have a confidence issue with his shot. Hasn’t been the same since year 2.
 
#152      
I don’t want to be right. I’d rather he do just what Damonte is doing right now. Just knock down shots when you’re wide open. Trent seems to have a confidence issue with his shot. Hasn’t been the same since year 2.
I agree. He seems to hesitate on some open shots and tried to make something happen on well-defended ones.
 
#153      
This was definitely a flawed win. But tonight #3 Kansas, #7 Tennessee, #9 West Virginia and #14 Texas Tech all lost. I left #13 Rutgers off the list because they lost to a higher ranked team, but I believe they lost at home. My point.... Take the win. Despite the flaws we won decisively which is more than I can say for five teams ranked ahead of us.
I'll just keep stressing this: You can't afford to take games off in this league. It's a grind each and every night.
 
#154      
Actually, I'm sure extra ft practice would be productive. The problem seemed to be mental: everyone too juiced up. (If I remember right, Miller missed the first one every single time, and the same way each time, long. Kofi's were all pushed left.) It's not that they don't know how to do it.
I didn't focus on everyone's free throw shooting but just look at Kofi's. He'll shoot short the first time. Next up he's long and bricks it on the back of the hoop. Maybe the next is left (legit miss) and then long again. I wonder if he's changing his target and his eyes focus on different parts of the rim for each shot. I mean, are we sure Kofi does not need eyeglasses? His shot doesn't look that bad. It's gotta be either focus or vision. We always taught to focus on the exact same part of the rim for each and every shot. Every shot is exactly the same. Dribble twice, breathe, look up, focus on point, put it up, follow through, repeat. Do that 1000 times every day for two weeks, and you should see some improvement. If you couldn't shoot over 80% from the line in games then you couldn't play (and everyone was tracked on a board - daily FT practice and in game stats). And you have to practice FT's AFTER practice. I think after practice and FT's, we ran wind sprints and suicides; when you were done with those coach picked one person to shoot two FT's and if they missed either shot then you started over with sprints and suicides. Make your FT's ladies.
 
#155      
Hawkins entered at the under 16 timeout. With 14:54 remaining in the first half he made a block on what should have been an easy fast break score for Purdue. At 13:48 he puts up a tough shot drawing contact and a foul and the shot falls in, sure he missed his Free Throw but he made the shot AND put a foul on the opposing bigs. He comes up with a defensive rebound at 13:21 and then at 12:27 he secures an offensive rebound. Through that entire time he was good at getting open and keeping the ball moving if it came to him when he didn’t have a shot. Miller missed at least 2 feeds to him when he was wide open behind the arc.

In the 2nd half he came in at the under 12 timeout and assisted 1 of the 2 Miller 3’s and made one of his own in about 2 minutes of play before being taken back out.

He played a great 3 minutes in the first half and a good 2 minutes in the 2nd. Yet despite the team struggling at the start of the 2nd, Underwood didn’t bring him in until the under 12 and only gave him 5 total minutes. Miller played 20 minutes tonight and I’m not convinced his defensive play is so much better than Hawkins to justify getting 4x the playing time when Hawkins was clearly the better player tonight, especially when there weren’t any obvious blown coverages from Hawkins, and Miller missed multiple assist opportunities to Hawkins.

Is this all a recruiting gimmick? Don’t spurn Mr. Basketball a second time after Mark Smith left when things didn’t go his way? So now Underwood is going to play Miller 20 minutes a game even when that playing time could go to other guys?
 
#156      
I’m not sure BU has earned the right not to be questioned- it’s not like we’re hitting on all cylinders - we’ve lost two very winnable games already this season. I know he was just giving coach speak to not give rise to “who’s starting” but he needs to start Curbelo over Miller at some point, when he wants to,you know, actually play his best lineup.
Actually I think I understand the method to the madness. Let the starting 5 tire out the opponents so when Curbelo and his burst of energy gets in, winded starters will be trying to keep up with him. If Curbelo started, I don’t think his replacement can come off the bench and lead or change the game like he does.
 
#157      
He hasn't learned to move without the ball very well.
He has never really had to.
Did you happen to be Stefanovic run from right of the lane, underneath the basket, back up to the top of the key take the pass and hit the three. Trent was on him every inch of the way. Almost a thing of beauty.
 
#158      
It made me 😅 when Bardo said, " he's not very fast". 😂 wow.....
Bardo is getting to talk as much as Dakich

.
chatty cathy.jpg
 
#159      
Rick Barry. Wilt Chamberlain.

Only two guys I can recall shooting underhand for an extended period of time in the NBA. Barry was exceptionally good. Wilt was not.
Can not use Wilt as an example, his mind was always on the post-game. High school basketball coach was a advocate of the under-hand technique, I once lost a bet with him when he made 50 straight.


Image result for how many women did Wilt Chamberlain sleep with

In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Chamberlain also authored four books. None of the others created nearly the stir and controversy as his 1991 book, A View From Above. In it, the basketball great claimed to have slept with 20,000 different women during his life.
 
#160      
IMO
Don’t want Belo to start as he should be the leader for 6th man award and he finishes.
DaMonte brought his 3 pt avg down by going 3/5
Illini led in rebounds, assists, turnovers, blocks, steals and points so what’s the problem.
Ayo doesn’t need to take over just to pad his stats, not his style.
Good game by Cole after a couple of good games by Jacob just proves our depth.
 
#161      

Deleted member 186590

D
Guest
One of the issues is if Miller is going to devolve into a 3andD player - we can’t have three guys just playing a 3andD game at the same time, that is what Damonte and Trent are already doing, so we become a stagnant offense waiting for Ayo to do something or throw it into Kofi and hope for the best

Curbelo drives into trouble, out of it, kicks it out for open threes, drops dimes for easy dunks etc, essentially opens up the offense albeit making it more chaotic. But what he does gets everyone else involved in the offense whether it be an open three for someone or a dunk for Kofi etc,

The question is Wouldn't you rather start the game that way?
 
#162      
1) Time to pull Miller and start Curbelo. Nothing against Miller. Curbelo is that good.
2) Kofi should be a "Hack-A-Shaq" now for other teams. If he keeps up this free throw shooting, we'll be in trouble against the contenders.
3) I take today's game as a good omen for the Northwestern game. With today's film, I think they come out with incredible focus and energy.
4) Where's Grandison? Why can't Underwood play both Hawkins and Grandison in the same game??
Belo said he loves to analyze the first few minutes and come off bench knowing where to help. That analytical perspective is way more valuable than the 1 or 2 extra minutes he gets from starting. Belo is special. Maybe 6th man candidate.
 
#163      
I can’t believe BU isn’t starting Curbelo. What is he thinking? Doesn’t he realize if the Illini lose an important game this year that Curbelo doesn’t start that fans with certainly much more knowledge of the inner workings of the team and the defensive rotations he wants — not to mention coaching acumen— are going to blame him for the loss. No doubt that will lead to JW losing confidence and firing him. All because he just can’t swallow his pride and do what some fans know is best. How short-sighted and stupid of him. /s
I'm pretty sure BU knows what he's doing....Curbelo is a key component to this team, whether he starts or comes off the bench isn't going to change that....it's the number of minutes he plays and at key times he gets those minutes that's important.....and pretty sure JW won't be faced with that decision anytime soon:rolleyes:
 
#164      
Ok I may be going crazy but it seems every team we play set better ball screens than we do and get easier open looks than we do. Anybody can tell me why that is, the offense, players, or what?
I saw a video last summer of Stephen Gentry breaking down our offense, and he said they coach our screeners to roll to the rim before making contact with the on-ball defender. I’m not enough of a basketball junkie to fully understand why that is. But I think that even without contact, the ball handler is often able to turn the corner and get his shoulders in front of the on-ball defender, and a quick roll forces the big defender into a tough choice in whether to stop penetration or stay with the roll-man. I’d be interested in hearing more from someone who knows what they’re talking about (unlike me).
 
#165      
I’m fine with ‘Belo coming in off the bench especially since he says he likes it that way. But this starting lineup has got to get it cranked up from the start. It’s going to burn us. Do this against Wisky and Iowa, very well not be able to pull out of the hole.

Free throw shooting..it’s focus and mental with these guys. Kofi’s form is pretty darn solid.
 
#167      
For Pete's sake get Adam Miller out of there!
Every shot he clangs is a missed scoring opportunity and the ball goes the other way.
On StL television we saw Mark Smith of Mizzou and Adam Miller the same day. These two are clones. They get the ball, they pass it back. They stand still in the corner on offense and wait for a wide open shot which doesn't come.
 
#169      

AirNeezy

Orange Krush '13 -'14
For Pete's sake get Adam Miller out of there!
Every shot he clangs is a missed scoring opportunity and the ball goes the other way.
On StL television we saw Mark Smith of Mizzou and Adam Miller the same day. These two are clones. They get the ball, they pass it back. They stand still in the corner on offense and wait for a wide open shot which doesn't come.

Adam Miller plays defense. Really, really good defense in fact.
 
#170      
Hilarious doom and gloom this am. "Bench Miller"..., "we lose if we play that bad v NU".
Purdue isn't horrible. We took their best shot, while we struggled at the line and had too many turnovers, we beat them with defense and depth. Illini teams of the past decade would have folded. This team fights. Enjoy it.
 
#171      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
Maybe Hawkins out practiced him this week. BU Has been known to make a point. Just a guess anyway.

Watched the BTN B1G show this morning and in his presser Brad referenced just that...hawkins has had great practices the last 2 weeks..
2 gems from his presser....." I was not the free throw coach today " and when asked about playing the 3 frosh together he said " 3 weeks ago my blood pressure couldn't handle it "
The BTN announcer Mike Hall said when the purdont team went on their 17-0 run that " THE ILLINI DIDN'T FLINCH "...........think about that .....In the past what would of happened...
We had very good stretches of play and some not so good but, this is the B1G and every game is a dogfight with 9 ranked top 25 teams and maybe 10-11 teams in the dance....
We won and that's all that matters to me....sure , we need to shoot FTs better and yes, Ayo had an off nigt for him, but we found a way to withstand, maintain and come out a winner.....
on to kittyland and another ROADKILL.....
 
#172      

altenberger22

South Carolina
For Pete's sake get Adam Miller out of there!
Every shot he clangs is a missed scoring opportunity and the ball goes the other way.
On StL television we saw Mark Smith of Mizzou and Adam Miller the same day. These two are clones. They get the ball, they pass it back. They stand still in the corner on offense and wait for a wide open shot which doesn't come.
I love Adam's game! Patience.......
 
#173      
I didn't focus on everyone's free throw shooting but just look at Kofi's. He'll shoot short the first time. Next up he's long and bricks it on the back of the hoop. Maybe the next is left (legit miss) and then long again. I wonder if he's changing his target and his eyes focus on different parts of the rim for each shot. I mean, are we sure Kofi does not need eyeglasses? His shot doesn't look that bad. It's gotta be either focus or vision. We always taught to focus on the exact same part of the rim for each and every shot. Every shot is exactly the same. Dribble twice, breathe, look up, focus on point, put it up, follow through, repeat. Do that 1000 times every day for two weeks, and you should see some improvement. If you couldn't shoot over 80% from the line in games then you couldn't play (and everyone was tracked on a board - daily FT practice and in game stats). And you have to practice FT's AFTER practice. I think after practice and FT's, we ran wind sprints and suicides; when you were done with those coach picked one person to shoot two FT's and if they missed either shot then you started over with sprints and suicides. Make your FT's ladies.
Not many players at any level shoot 80% on free throws in games.
 
#174      
IMO
Don’t want Belo to start as he should be the leader for 6th man award and he finishes.
DaMonte brought his 3 pt avg down by going 3/5
Illini led in rebounds, assists, turnovers, blocks, steals and points so what’s the problem.
Ayo doesn’t need to take over just to pad his stats, not his style.
Good game by Cole after a couple of good games by Jacob just proves our depth.
I love Belo coming off the bench when the other team is a ittle tired or they have players just off the bench. Instant pick me up for our team.
 
#175      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky

“It’s more not just the physical plays, it’s more the emotional state with which they keep our huddles and our team,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said of the value of the two seniors helping snap a lengthy run. “What most people don’t understand is you can get pretty dejected when a team is on a run like that.

“You can let that swell and you can never bounce back from that. In the timeout huddles, it was, ‘Hey, we’re fine. Just settle in. Let’s do what we did in the first half defensively.’ Everything is positive. That allows them to stay in the moment so then they can make those shots and make those plays. It’s the value of experience and tremendous leadership.”
“I’m slowly learning to trust them,” Underwood said. “Three weeks ago? Probably not as much. I probably would have had some high blood pressure. That’s more on the defensive end than anything. Our growth on the defensive side for those young guys has been fabulous. It’s a matter of time before they really dial in offensively and start making shots. We saw a little touch of that (Saturday), and I hope that continues.”
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We have a great team and coaching staff..................PERIOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!