That and guys like Trent and Damonte still reach out to coach and would run through a wall for him. Ayo has repeatedly mentioned he is where he is because of the development under brad. His players love him.
Illinois 68, Alabama A&M 47 Postgame
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I was at the game sitting more or less (way, way, way) behind the Illini bench. The body language of a couple of players (mostly Hawkins) was bad all afternoon. The Illini didn't enter this game with intensity and didn't find that intensity until they were in peril of losing a lead to a team that started the game at KenPom 334.
And FWIW, AAMU's KenPom improved by 7 with their loss.
And FWIW, AAMU's KenPom improved by 7 with their loss.
Apparently it’s easy to overlook when you win a big 10 tourney and follow it up with a reg season title. Suddenly, the team facing adversity and some want to blame it on “angry Brad”.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Perhaps our coach was the only one whose team was playing far, far, far below their potential?
I couldn't watch the game live. Why would BU and Matt be in a heated conversation when Matt was the leading scorer and seemed to have a good game?
Honestly I’m not too worried about Coleman. I’ve always found he tried to do too much in games like this.
Playing against better competition honestly settles him down a bit and as a result makes him a better player
I kinda recall BU starting his first season here as a regular volcano of rage on the sideline, the first few games anyway. But then it seemed someone told him to tone down the histrionics (JW?), or he did it on his own, and his sideline demeanor changed from then on to just the occasional ragers.
He seems to have turned it back up a notch so far this season.
He seems to have turned it back up a notch so far this season.
80'sIllini
- Arizona
I stand corrected. Sure feels lower than that. Maybe, in part, cause today he was 1 for 5.
I don’t know what you were looking at but it didn’t look heated to me. He had his arm around Matt’s shoulder and was smiling
When Matt went to bench basically when game was over, him and Brad had a long chat.
TV zoomed in on it for a bit, was heated but subdued.
That was Brad’s smile he gives when he wants to scream at someone but he’s trying to hold back
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
This is the age of NIL and the transfer portal. Elite transfers are mercenaries. They didn’t come here to be a role player and blend in. They came here to get big minutes and jack shots to improve their draft prospects. Further, Mayer has a National Title Ring on his finger and I suspect he probably chuckles a bit when Underwood a guy who has managed to beat Drexel & Chattanooga in 5 seasons does his Bob Knight impersonation on the sideline, at the press conference and in the locker room. The balance is tricky and Underwood may ultimately figure it out this season, but he most certainly needs a bit of self-examination as well. Underwood’s response to coaching adversity this season has been less than stellar and it recently has been seeping into the public sphere. The players need to improve and show leadership, but so does Brad Underwood and hopefully he can do it in a dignified manner.
Watching Mayer off the ball I can see why Brad gets after him. If the play doesn’t involve him he stands in the corner with his hands on his knees. You can also see when he gets the ball sometimes his teammates know it’s going up. As do we as fans. Yes he’s scoring more but he’s not bringing it all the time. Especially on defense sometimes.
I think he’s a great player and if he buys in he’ll help us win a lot of games. IMO that’s the disconnect.
I think he’s a great player and if he buys in he’ll help us win a lot of games. IMO that’s the disconnect.
I liked when BU looked at Epps after a travel and said you traveled. Epps was trying to argue the call. I have thought certain players on this team and previous teams complained too much. I liked BU correcting that. If you argue everything you are the boy who cried wolf
Totally agree. I should have been more clear in my concern being that this team - not just Skyy - is generating only about 2 assists per game for its starting point guard. I'm a huge Skyy and Illini fan but I was certainly hoping for better team play offensively, and definitely less struggles with a team like Alabama A&M. Disclaimer: yes, as I have said before, I am impatient. Also, I love this program and still believe by March this team will be firing on all cylinders. We, as fans, deserve a long tournament run after the drought we have been subjected to since 2005.
How some of you act surprised when Underwood is an in-your-face coach is amazing. He's done this at every stop he's been and with a degree of success.
The key is there's a purpose to his yelling. He doesn't do it because he's a jerk face drill sergeant. He does it to get the absolute best out of his team.
I sure didn't hear Ayo, Trent, Kofi or Damonte complaining about being yelled at too much. Welcome to big boy basketball.
The key is there's a purpose to his yelling. He doesn't do it because he's a jerk face drill sergeant. He does it to get the absolute best out of his team.
I sure didn't hear Ayo, Trent, Kofi or Damonte complaining about being yelled at too much. Welcome to big boy basketball.
I think the effort was pretty good today. That was clearly the emphasis after PSU. It improved. I only saw guys standing around a few times.
That said, effort is only one component of what we've been seeing. The bigger thing I saw today was offense. I can't decide if it's execution, lack of a decent system or both. I've always thought Brads halfcourt offenses here left a lot to be desired. It's predicated on guys "stepping up and making plays". So I tend to think it's mostly the system. Part of it is transitioning away from having Kofi. But it needs A LOT of work and improvement. Mayer put us on his back today and got us the W. But that won't work in league play.
That said, effort is only one component of what we've been seeing. The bigger thing I saw today was offense. I can't decide if it's execution, lack of a decent system or both. I've always thought Brads halfcourt offenses here left a lot to be desired. It's predicated on guys "stepping up and making plays". So I tend to think it's mostly the system. Part of it is transitioning away from having Kofi. But it needs A LOT of work and improvement. Mayer put us on his back today and got us the W. But that won't work in league play.
Yeah..it’s very clear that on offense he is trying to get his and not focused on running offense. Don’t have much of a problem with that if he continues to make shots.
When the shots don’t fall however he needs to still be a plus on defense or he can’t be on the court
They were different teams, different personalities, different blends. I don't remember a presser like the Penn St. presser in the past 3 years. In his presser today, his denial of the issues, body language, starting to say something but stopping.... was different.
I'm not trying to make a big issue of it, but to imply that things are just the same as always been (another of your posts) I don't think is quite equal to what's happening.
Shh. Mine might hear you.
OOOF. Mayer sounded TERRIBLE in this interview. He sounds like a real cancer to the team, IMO.
If you haven't listened, take a listen. For real, his whole interview surely won't sit well with him or the players who respect BU. Maybe I'm overreacting or reading too much into his comments, but dang.
Agreed. was just saying the same thing to my wife.
YES!!! This team has Final Four potential and played today like one that will be going home in the first round. That is what is so frustrating about watching them. If they can just focus and flat out bring it every time they step on the floor we can have one hell of a year.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
What was his response?