Illinois 68, Michigan 53 Postgame

#226      
Well, we didn't need him last night. We had exceptional point guard play from Frazier. 18 pts. 7 assists (with only 2 turnovers) as he penetrated often and made excellent passes to open teammates on the perimeter. Whatever shortcomings we may have had, none of them involved point guard play. Oh almost forgot. Frazier also knocked down some treys. Curbelo doesn't have that card in his deck.

Damonte had the ball just straight up taken away from him last night when Trent was out of the game. We need another ball handler desperately.
 
#228      
I think the most disappointing thing about last night was the effort for 30-35 minutes. This opponent hung a banner for a conference title that we should have shared (at least). Their star center wanted to be quoted saying that no one likes Illinois and doubled down on it by trashing our fans at media day. Heck, even their coach referred to our pre-season all American as “Coffee.”

Maybe the team not seeing Dickinson out there let the air out of the balloon some, but it looked like we were sleepwalking at times. That play Hawkins bent over at the waist to try and corral rebound only to get stripped, which lead to a Michigan 3, epitomized most of the effort. I don’t understand how we weren’t up for this game.
 
#229      
Bardo and Meacham are Illini thru and thru. Michigan did out hustle the Illini last night. Illini looked tired.

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#232      
Past 3 games have felt like watching Wisconsin football. Slow, ugly, not very fun to watch, but we kept pounding away, and when the 4th quarter rolls around those gaps start to open up and we gash them.

This game specifically is exactly the type of game we need Curbelo. They were very phsycial, and were disrupting almost everything we do offensively. That's when you clear everyone out and just give the ball to Curbelo over and over in a pick n roll.
 
#233      
Maybe the team not seeing Dickinson out there let the air out of the balloon some, but it looked like we were sleepwalking at times. That play Hawkins bent over at the waist to try and corral rebound only to get stripped, which lead to a Michigan 3, epitomized most of the effort. I don’t understand how we weren’t up for this game.
I was going to say something along these lines, too. Maybe Illinois was so poised to beat Michigan with HD that subconsciously they had a bit of a let down when that particular scenario was not going to happen. Also, I think that when a team's best player is out, others step up and exceed expectations al a Illinois' beatdown at Michigan last year. So I am hoping both HD and Curbelo are back for the Feb. 27th rematch and we beat them decisively again.
 
#234      

sacraig

The desert
Hey coach Underwood this is a reporter. Why are you keep allowing players in every game to throw passes into Kofi that are at his feet at least five times a game? Coach Underwood. Why haven't tauuggt Mr. plumber to go above the screen instead of below the screen and get burnt every single time it makes him look bad defensively? Coach why is it when Coleman Hawkins and Omar pain are in the lineup without Kofi and Jacob Granderson can't you run an offense? Haven't you been practicing since early summer in October?
These are great ways to get serious answers from coach.
 
#238      

Illynois

Chicago
Well, we didn't need him last night. We had exceptional point guard play from Frazier. 18 pts. 7 assists (with only 2 turnovers) as he penetrated often and made excellent passes to open teammates on the perimeter. Whatever shortcomings we may have had, none of them involved point guard play. Oh almost forgot. Frazier also knocked down some treys. Curbelo doesn't have that card in his deck.
I just don't understand these takes.

1) How many times do you see this team fail to get the ball to Kofi in the half court. If they can't get it to him, the shot selection usually consists of some sort of contested jumper. Curbelo can get his own shot/create for others.
2) Every game, the lack of paint penetration is obvious. Trent (& Plummer to a lesser extent) can do it sometimes, but his handles as a point guard are average by point guard standards. I say this loving Trent Frazier. Curbelo can get to any spot on the floor he wants.
3) Do you not watch what happens when Trent goes out? The best way to describe it is watching a runner run a marathon with cement shoes.
4) I don't have the stats but Frazier has been playing a looooot of minutes out of necessity for ball handling.

Curbelo did not play well when he was in, duh. I obviously cannot tell you why but probably some combination of: Preseason expectations/ New team & role without Ayo/ Not 100% physically. While it's clear he wasn't playing great, the ceiling of this team is way higher if Curbelo comes back. Sure, he has to work things out, but his talent is undeniable. I just don't get how people can't see that after his impact to the team last year. Without another dynamic guard to get us a bucket when we're struggling, or to penetrate the paint, or to feed Kofi in the post, this team won't go as far as they can.
 
#240      

Geno33

Missouri illini Fan
Warrenton Missouri
I so hope we do get him back this year and he can get to 100% by the tournament. We really need someone who can make things happen when our outside shots aren't falling. And we have no really trustworthy ball handler other than Trent.

IMO getting him back is the difference between a Sweet 16 team and a Final Four team.
I've been saying this since he went down.
 
#241      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Loyalty game/post-game thread criticisms after ugly, grind-ey, double-digit win over hated rival as dialogue from the film Airplane:

Joey : Wait a minute. I know you. You're Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Roger Murdock : I'm sorry, son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.
Joey : You are Kareem! I've seen you play. My dad's got season tickets.
Roger Murdock : I think you should go back to your seat now, Joey. Right, Clarence?
Captain Oveur : Nahhhhhh, he's not bothering anyone. Let him stay here.
Roger Murdock : But just remember, my name is...
[showing his nametag]
Roger Murdock : ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.
Joey : I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense.
[Kareem gets angry]
Joey : And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Roger Murdock : [breaking character] The hell I don't! LISTEN, KID! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night! Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!
 
#244      

Bigtex

DFW
I didn't mark this up, but given he's even playing out of position and still doing this, I had to share... Recognize the dude while he's still here.
One of the Legends


View attachment 14362
Had been yelling for much of the game that our guards (not you williams) to take the ball to the basket. Michigan was over playing to the high side. Somewhere around 6:00 left the Illini (really Trent) started taking advantage and scoring at will.

This screen shot demonstrates the change in approach. Trent layup…
 
#246      
One thing that really stuck out last night was that, for as important as his shooting/offense has been for us this season, Plummer's defense is really hurting us. He's probably the worst backcourt defender we've had in the Underwood era. He gets targeted often and Kofi's lack of shot blocking means there's less resistance behind him to cover up for his weaknesses. We need Plummer's shooting to capitalize on the Kofi double/triple-teams on offense, but on defense I think he is best served when one of Coleman or Payne are on the court and can offer more rim protection. Either way, we need him to commit to being peskier/nastier on defense, despite his physical limitations, if we want to go on a run this March.
 
#247      
One thing that really stuck out last night was that, for as important as his shooting/offense has been for us this season, Plummer's defense is really hurting us. He's probably the worst backcourt defender we've had in the Underwood era. He gets targeted often and Kofi's lack of shot blocking means there's less resistance behind him to cover up for his weaknesses. We need Plummer's shooting to capitalize on the Kofi double/triple-teams on offense, but on defense I think he is best served when one of Coleman or Payne are on the court and can offer more rim protection. Either way, we need him to commit to being peskier/nastier on defense, despite his physical limitations, if we want to go on a run this March.
Yeah he can’t keep guys in front of him. uM pg lived in the paint.
 
#248      
One thing that really stuck out last night was that, for as important as his shooting/offense has been for us this season, Plummer's defense is really hurting us. He's probably the worst backcourt defender we've had in the Underwood era. He gets targeted often and Kofi's lack of shot blocking means there's less resistance behind him to cover up for his weaknesses. We need Plummer's shooting to capitalize on the Kofi double/triple-teams on offense, but on defense I think he is best served when one of Coleman or Payne are on the court and can offer more rim protection. Either way, we need him to commit to being peskier/nastier on defense, despite his physical limitations, if we want to go on a run this March.
Agree. The matchup with he and Jones is one I circled before the game. Aside from transition baskets and scrappy/hustle baskets off of offensive rebounds, their only offense in the half court were Brooks and Jones picking on Plummer, depending on who he was guarding.

I felt like Plum’s defense was improving quite a bit pre covid pause, but he seems to have regressed a bit. Hoping he can find it and his 3 pt shot soon. Unfortunately it feels like he is letting 1 affect the other.

Give UM credit for scrapping and keeping it close, but in the half court they looked B-A-D bad. I know they were missing HD but I think they might be one of the worst 3-4 teams in the league. Might struggle to even make the NIT.
 
#249      
Man, I had to rewatch the game on DVR as I missed it live, but I think someone else mentioned that the FS1 broadcast was brutal and felt like a hometown Michigan broadcast. It was inexcusably bad.
 
#250      
I just don't understand these takes.

1) How many times do you see this team fail to get the ball to Kofi in the half court. If they can't get it to him, the shot selection usually consists of some sort of contested jumper. Curbelo can get his own shot/create for others.
2) Every game, the lack of paint penetration is obvious. Trent (& Plummer to a lesser extent) can do it sometimes, but his handles as a point guard are average by point guard standards. I say this loving Trent Frazier. Curbelo can get to any spot on the floor he wants.
3) Do you not watch what happens when Trent goes out? The best way to describe it is watching a runner run a marathon with cement shoes.
4) I don't have the stats but Frazier has been playing a looooot of minutes out of necessity for ball handling.

Curbelo did not play well when he was in, duh. I obviously cannot tell you why but probably some combination of: Preseason expectations/ New team & role without Ayo/ Not 100% physically. While it's clear he wasn't playing great, the ceiling of this team is way higher if Curbelo comes back. Sure, he has to work things out, but his talent is undeniable. I just don't get how people can't see that after his impact to the team last year. Without another dynamic guard to get us a bucket when we're struggling, or to penetrate the paint, or to feed Kofi in the post, this team won't go as far as they can.
Well, although it will be nice getting Andre back, Kofi is averaging 22 ppg. He's getting plenty of touches and plenty of points. It's true that Andre is our only "pure" point guard and I'd like to get him back soon. But if you watched last night's game you should have seen what excellent point guard play we got from Frazier.