Right, James was right there for every game Dee played in.
Illinois 72, Iowa State 69 Postgame
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The first was big because they stopped going for the alley oop all night. From my viewings, they were big on that as part of their ball movement heavy offense. With Illinois’s size, they seemed to get scared off after Shannon just went straight up and got it.
The best part is, we know where he was last night- had some of the best seats in the house calling UNC's demise in Los Angeles as he's their radio color guy then likely had to acknowledge we won our game on-air in the midst of crying over the Tar Heels. Might have been the only time I'd ever want to hear him speak live. Shame we have a fringe tournament team that'll be on the wrong side of the bubble unlike UNC. What a tool.Tyler Hansbrough is punching the air somewhere tonight
Could not agree more. Marcus was the game-manager QB last night and his decision-making under that pressure was extraordinary. So many times he started the "hockey assist" that led to open looks (thanks to Coleman reacting quickly to make the weak-side pass or shoot, perhaps his best game this year in that sense). Then, when the Illini were barely hanging on with Shannon on the bench, he finally saw an opening to the rim, never hesitated, and got the three-point play that provided the bridge to when Shannon returned and sealed the deal. Only a dozen turnovers against that team is one of the main reasons the Illini advanced.
And I should add that Momcilovic, who had been a key offensive contributor of late for ISU, had only one point on 0-for-4 from the field. Seemed like Marcus had something to do with that, too.
Love the Varsity app, easy to sync radio stream to video stream...no need to put up with bad announcers.
This. I nearly forgot how much more enjoyable & interesting the remaining games are when the beloved make it deep in this thing.
I'm right there with you. He seemed so entitled, so much attitude earlier on. Now, hseems so completely bought in and humbled and coachable. Like he's been shaped by coaches and a culture that has made it overwhelmingly clear to him that this whole thing is bigger than him
biglug58
- Chicago, IL
And how it is hard to watch the remaining games if your team gets knocked out. LFG!
wasn't he wearing a IS cheerleaders outfit?
Illini in OC
In. The. Alley.
I met MD's Dad at the pregame yesterday. We discussed this and how MD had done this a lot in HS so it was not something new for him.
I did mention Jay Wright and Dad did not correct me.
Yes, the Domask's are even cooler than you'd expect.
We discussed the basement with the 16' ceilings.
NASchamp
- Atlanta
I think the coaches deserve a ton of credit as well. We were prepped and ready for ISU. So much so that the few times they weren’t trapping us it almost looked like we didn’t know what to do
. That’s how ready we were to attack their style of defense.Illini in OC
In. The. Alley.
THIS
biglug58
- Chicago, IL
You must be in Boston. Is that Saturday night dinner?
I'm sure this has been talked about, but my favorite plays of the game last night were those sneaky passes we had into the post. Dainja, Quincy, and Ty all had easy buckets thanks to our guards waiting for the trap and unloading precision point passing. That's a credit to whoever had the scout. We dissected their defense in the first half. Everything else came together, but I loved seeing that. Great game plan, coach(es) and way to execute boys!
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
When Buck decided to redshirt, I thought it was a smart decision by him, but was also really scared his defense would be the missing component to us making a run. While DGL isn't Buck, he's doing his best Buck impression and it's good enough to eat valuable minutes and make plays in huge games. The coaching staff getting DGL to buy in and Dra committing to his role says so much about the program's culture, the connectedness of this team, and his maturity. It takes a team to hang banners and he's a valuable part of it.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Terrence Shannon Jr. scores 29, Illinois advances to first Elite Eight since 2005
Illinois made a regional final for the fourth time in the past 40 years and will meet defending champion UConn on Saturday for a trip to the Final Four.
Agree that we need Marcus on the floor, but I actually thought Coleman did a good job in the mini hi-lo sets they ran for Dain (not sure if Marcus was out there or not for those). Dain didn't convert/finish on all of them, but it felt like we were still getting some looks without TSJ and MD.
We are gonna miss Coleman so much.
Coleman Hawkins Goat talk
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Let me tell you about my night (since many enjoyed my description of my week after last weekend). First, as everybody has already stated, the announcers were just horrible. When my wife says something about their ineptitude without prompting from me, that tells you a lot (I don't even listen to announcers unless it's somebody like Hummel, but when they are talking out of their !!!, it catches my attention). Not going to bother citing all their annoying ignorant comments. Second, the studio crew fawning all over Pearl almost made me vomit.
Now, to my extended family sports text thread: The only comment all evening (I guarantee almost everyone was watching basketball) was from one of the Pitt contingent about how great the ACC was after the Clemson upset. No comments after UNC went down. Not a word from the Duquesne group. But, here was the absolute best 3 posts in row:
Son-in-law #1 (Syracuse fan, but not an obnoxious ACC fan) "What's up with ILL playing all this defense?"
Son-in-law #2 (Iowa fan, that knows sports and is realistic) ""Love it. F Iowa St."
Son: He posted a Gif from Happy Gilmore with the words: "Happy learned how to putt" "Uh-oh"
I love those guys. Not a single comment from any of the Pittsburgh family contingent. Not ONE word. I loved it.
Regarding Uconn (clearly the best in the country), I have seen Illinois play many games this year that would have been good enough to beat UConn. And I am not a fan that wears Blue and Orange colored glasses. And remember Kansas 69-UConn 65, Seton Hall 75- UConn 60, and Creighton 85 -UConn 66.
I have never been more excited to watch The Fighting Illini, even the Final Four seasons, than I am for this game.
Now, to my extended family sports text thread: The only comment all evening (I guarantee almost everyone was watching basketball) was from one of the Pitt contingent about how great the ACC was after the Clemson upset. No comments after UNC went down. Not a word from the Duquesne group. But, here was the absolute best 3 posts in row:
Son-in-law #1 (Syracuse fan, but not an obnoxious ACC fan) "What's up with ILL playing all this defense?"
Son-in-law #2 (Iowa fan, that knows sports and is realistic) ""Love it. F Iowa St."
Son: He posted a Gif from Happy Gilmore with the words: "Happy learned how to putt" "Uh-oh"
I love those guys. Not a single comment from any of the Pittsburgh family contingent. Not ONE word. I loved it.
Regarding Uconn (clearly the best in the country), I have seen Illinois play many games this year that would have been good enough to beat UConn. And I am not a fan that wears Blue and Orange colored glasses. And remember Kansas 69-UConn 65, Seton Hall 75- UConn 60, and Creighton 85 -UConn 66.
I have never been more excited to watch The Fighting Illini, even the Final Four seasons, than I am for this game.
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