FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Looking at that shot chart, is it any wonder that the mid-range game is passe?
Worth two points, but hard to make. Visual evidence.
Worth two points, but hard to make. Visual evidence.
Illinois 73, Michigan State 70 POSTGAME
Thanks Bailey. Far more interior looks than I thought we'd had watching the game.
I'd hate to see what that low post section would look like with Nnanna instead of Morgan :tape:
Yeah, pretty bad when you can recall all two mid-range shots made.
BTW, one of them was a beauty, as Izzo said, MH schooled a few of the MSU players last night.
That's my concern, we don't really have any sort of consistent inside scoring besides Mav postups. Felt like last night it was just Mav postups and treys, which worked last night, but we saw how tight the score was and we shot the heck out of the ball. What happens next season without that consistent inside presence? I just remain concerned about this offensive scheme
IlliniInOK
- no longer in OK! Centralia, IL
Obviously, the hope is that Tilmon will be that inside presence. And maybe Leron can develop a bit of a post game. But we will definitely miss Mav down low on Offense, which is something so never thought I would say even a year and a half ago. The young man has stepped up big time and it's great to see the hard work pay off.
hoosierlandillinifan
- Normal, IL
I attended last nights game, and let me just say, the atmosphere was insane. Even if just for a second, it felt like I was right back in Assembly Hall. Great win boys!
I Bomb
Stylin' and Profilin'
I guess it depends on the player - I've had a lot of conversations about this (based on my age, I guess, and remembering a time when the mid-range shot was huge), who would win now vs. then, etc.
I went back and watched the '89 Syracuse tourney game and between our guys and Owens, Coleman, and whoever on Syracuse - it was mid-range mayhem. All those guys on both teams could turn and bank in a little hook jumper from anywhere out to 15ft. It was in style at the time but didn't seem difficult by any means. That shot selection would look way out of place in today's game, though.
The hope is that with competent pgs we can get easy buckets like this from anybody.
http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/i/c/il-mms-19.gif
Certainly agree/aware on both points here. We just haven't consistently done anything out of pick and roll and while TJL has significantly boosted us in terms of setting up easy buckets off the pass, we still have a ways to go in that area IMO. Just something to keep an eye on going forward to ensure we don't have an over-reliance on the jumpshot.
The five main reasons for the late season Illini resurgence:
1. Consistent rotation. It seems that we have nailed down the main 8-man rotation and avoided diversions. TJL, Abrams, Hill, Leron, Mav with JCL, Finke, and Kipper.
2. Defense. We have settled on primary man-to-man defensive scheme, with more aggressive ball pressure up-top and quicker weak side help down low.
3. TJL at PG. Although TJL still makes the occasional freshman mistakes, the flow in our game is totally different than earlier in the season. Not a consistent shooter yet, but keeps defenses honest with his penetration and ability to pass when defenses collapse on him.
4. Mav in the low post. While Mav has been much improved for a while now, it seems he has developed a consistent low post game. He has been able to hit the short face up jumper from just outside the low block for a while, but he now seems to have added effective low post isolation moves that end up in a deadly baby hook down low. It is particular effective since he can pivot and hit the baby hook with the same consistency going to his left or right hand.
5. Energy of Kipper. KN has been a spark plug with his energy and play. His contributions do not always show on the stat sheet, but he brings consistent intensity both on offense and defense.
1. Consistent rotation. It seems that we have nailed down the main 8-man rotation and avoided diversions. TJL, Abrams, Hill, Leron, Mav with JCL, Finke, and Kipper.
2. Defense. We have settled on primary man-to-man defensive scheme, with more aggressive ball pressure up-top and quicker weak side help down low.
3. TJL at PG. Although TJL still makes the occasional freshman mistakes, the flow in our game is totally different than earlier in the season. Not a consistent shooter yet, but keeps defenses honest with his penetration and ability to pass when defenses collapse on him.
4. Mav in the low post. While Mav has been much improved for a while now, it seems he has developed a consistent low post game. He has been able to hit the short face up jumper from just outside the low block for a while, but he now seems to have added effective low post isolation moves that end up in a deadly baby hook down low. It is particular effective since he can pivot and hit the baby hook with the same consistency going to his left or right hand.
5. Energy of Kipper. KN has been a spark plug with his energy and play. His contributions do not always show on the stat sheet, but he brings consistent intensity both on offense and defense.
Its obvious how much Groce loves his guys and the players love him. I can't believe I'm saying this, but if Hill getting to experience the tournament means Groce gets another year (And I realize that means he's probably getting extended...as per the Coaching Carousal thread) and we are 22-25 win team for the next 5 years but comfortably in the tournament and getting to the 2nd weekend half the time, I'm fine with it. Hill and TA and the other seniors, it's their blood, sweat and tears that they've poured into this program....I'm just a fan.
I just hope that if that is indeed the case, this years team SOMEHOW figures a way to get a win in the tournament....and I'd feel better with an extension if they got to the 2nd weekend (Like what got Groce this job).
I felt icky being OK with losses thinking, well, that only cements that there will be a new coach....just win against Rutgers, somehow win 2 games in the tournament, then win 2 more games in the NCAA and I'll be a happy camper. Sounds easy enough, right?
I just hope that if that is indeed the case, this years team SOMEHOW figures a way to get a win in the tournament....and I'd feel better with an extension if they got to the 2nd weekend (Like what got Groce this job).
I felt icky being OK with losses thinking, well, that only cements that there will be a new coach....just win against Rutgers, somehow win 2 games in the tournament, then win 2 more games in the NCAA and I'll be a happy camper. Sounds easy enough, right?
6. Re-emergence of TA as a shooter. This was big, because we needed something from the 1/2 spot besides JCL and TJL (at times). Helps our spacing, and he's also been defending well.
Yes, but I think the improved play of TA, and our more effective 3-point shooting, have been a direct consequence of points #3 and #4 above. Abrams was never comfortable at PG, which he was forced to play earlier in the season, taking away from his offensive game. And Mav has become effective down low in isolation, to the point that defenses have to keep honest down-low rather than extending to the perimeter. It has reached the point that you almost have to double-team him in those isolation moves.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Agree with all of your points, and feel like 2 and 3 are related. Shout out to TJL for his on ball defense - really like this kid.
Great W. Great to see SFC rocking. Very, very happy for the seniors.
I completely agree, but I sure wish I understood this better. TA was a so-so shooter his entire career, he suffered two tremendous season ending leg injuries, then returned to shoot 60% from three through the first ten games of the season. After that, his shot just completely disappeared. Now, it is back again.
Is there a physical cause behind all of this?
For the first time in a while, last night was one of those games that I was on the edge of my seat the whole game, pacing up and down during timeouts. I haven't felt like that for a while with regards to Illini basketball. I always follow closely, paying attention to strategies, plays, defensive schemes, offense etc., but it is a different feeling.
I think the technical term you are looking for is "fun". Watching the Illini is fun again.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
This is the part that amazes me most. A major reason he did not get more time sooner was his defense; it really was bad. He went from being a defensive liability to one of our best in a matter of very few games. The "light went on" for him in brilliant fashion.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I was right there with you. I'm interested in what got SFC so crazy last night. Was it SR night and the student ticket giveaway? Or did the buzz of getting back into the dance bring everyone back last night. It's not like we haven't had big games at home early in the year before the wheels fell off the last few seasons.
It could have just been conditioning. The sixth-year senior equivalent of hitting the freshman wall. As obviously hard as he's had to work to get himself back in game shape, there can't be any way he's in as good of shape as someone who had not had two major knee injuries over the last 24 months. And when the legs get tired, the jump shot stops falling.
Not his fault. Just one of those things. But, I think a reasonable explanation for what we've seen.
This makes a lot of sense to me, but why did they stop being tired? I'd expect the grind of a long season to make things worse, not better.
The other explanation is that it has all been mental, but I cannot buy that one for a second. TA is too smart and too tough.