you are, completely..................jmhoWe sit here and rightfully blame ourselves for throwing the game away. We led for 35 minutes of that game. After that game, BU had his team meeting and they looked GREAT right after. Seems like we're falling back into that false sense of security. I could be COMPLETELY wrong.
In the second half yes.Zone
Well, we live in the age of 16s beating 1s. Nowadays it's just not so easy to win, let alone win with style.I know a win is a win, and teams rarely drop in the rankings when they win, but we shouldn't be a Top 5 team. There is no excuse for letting both Nebraska and Northwestern take the game down to the wire. The Big 10 is a great conference, but the gimme games shouldn't be this difficult.
I get your premise, but can’t say I agree. I think they had their reset moment when they lost 2 in a row at home. I think the two cancelled games has had an impact on the team. In this crazy year when the team doesn’t have much other than basketball, I think those interruptions might have a bigger impact than we realize as far as growth and consistency. Best thing for this team will be a consistent schedule with no more cancelled games, so they can develop and maintain a flow.Taking the O & B glasses off for a second...
The best thing that can happen to this team is to get absolutely rocked in a game. We haven't been really out of a game all year. In the losses, less Baylor, those games have all come down to the final few minutes and they could point to a play or two where they could say...if this or that happens, we could have won.
This team has not been humbled this year. I think it's coming and I think it's going to be a good thing big picture wise. When you're ranked #5, have won six in a row, are getting national love and are being mentioned as Final Four contenders....it becomes hard to coach because 18-21 year old kids know everything. Meh, we're ok, we'll turn it on late and win. Can't do that.
I think a good humbling will hit the reset button, get this team locked in and will give Underwood a full set of eyes and a full set of ears focused on him.
With your line of thought you must also think the Zags, Baylor, etc need humbling also, or is that just for us....Maybe I am. The theory could be way off base. That said, if we want to be mentioned with Baylor, Gonzaga and Michigan....can't be involved in wild ones at the end vs the likes of NW and NE. The game at Nebraska, we got bailed out by Ayo. Maybe I'm concerned for no reason. I hope so.
fair enoughBaylor and Gonzaga are winning in runaway fashion night in and night out. Kansas State or Iowa State didn't take them to OT. Same with Gonzaga. BYU and St. Mary's didn't push them in the last five minutes. When those teams get a team down...it's over.
Again, it just a theory. Another poster brought up a very good point. This "lull" seems to have coincided with the postponements and scheduling changes. That's a very likely and valid factor.
Collins shoulda bolted for greener pastures after their tourney appearance. That’s as good as it’ll ever get for NW basketball.NW started 3-0 in league play and now has lost 12 in a row. With NW getting a new AD, Collins should be on the hot seat soon. Collins did not get a "lifetime" contract like Fat Pitz.
Remember, the only time NW made the NCAA tournament they were swept by a John Groce coached Illini team. This was their best team EVER and they could not beat the Illini.
This team hasn't been humbled this year? Have you just tuned in recently? They got pasted by Baylor. Mizzou beat us AGAIN in our rivalry game. We dropped two winnable games at home. A good humbling? The coach takes care of all the humbling our players need going forward. Good Lord. So many of our problems are really just groupings and chemistry. You could easily tell when a particular combo of players on the floor had no chemistry and that's when the stupid turnovers happened. The right group comes in and the lead widens. It's not effort or pouting or individuals just playing bad (unless you want to talk about free throws again) it's just that group looks like they haven't played together often enough. And I really don't care for Georgi at the 4 guarding out on the perimeter - he gets smoked on a drive over and over and over. Keep him at the 5 spelling Kofi at keep Georgi's confidence up. Put him out where he doesn't play well and he shatters. Now that you've taken off your O & B glasses; maybe find an optometrist and get some prescription lenses for your post season viewing. It's all good but that humbling thing - that's just silly. Yeah, I want to see us win out. I'm done with humbling.Taking the O & B glasses off for a second...
The best thing that can happen to this team is to get absolutely rocked in a game. We haven't been really out of a game all year. In the losses, less Baylor, those games have all come down to the final few minutes and they could point to a play or two where they could say...if this or that happens, we could have won.
This team has not been humbled this year. I think it's coming and I think it's going to be a good thing big picture wise. When you're ranked #5, have won six in a row, are getting national love and are being mentioned as Final Four contenders....it becomes hard to coach because 18-21 year old kids know everything. Meh, we're ok, we'll turn it on late and win. Can't do that.
I think a good humbling will hit the reset button, get this team locked in and will give Underwood a full set of eyes and a full set of ears focused on him.
Best zone offense...just need to feed Ayo beyond top of key at 30ft mark.Our zone offense has not improved and teams have figured this out.
Giorgian*Giorgi can absolutely dominate the post offensively, just like his freshman year. We obviously lose the type of defensive protection Kofi provides with his size, but we are in good hands (and feet) with the Dancing Georgian.
I feel like whenever we have Curbelo, DMW and Kofi on the floor at the same time, teams automatically go zone on us.Best zone offense...just need to feed Ayo beyond top of key at 30ft mark.
Do you ever think positive?Baylor and Gonzaga are winning in runaway fashion night in and night out. Kansas State or Iowa State didn't take them to OT. Same with Gonzaga. BYU and St. Mary's didn't push them in the last five minutes. When those teams get a team down...it's over.
Again, it just a theory. Another poster brought up a very good point. This "lull" seems to have coincided with the postponements and scheduling changes. That's a very likely and valid factor.
not disagreeing with lulls and TOs and FTs, ..., but bad examples. KSU and ISU are NET 226 and 232. WI (19) > BYU (28) and Duke (67) > St Mary's (70) didn't push us either. non-BTN P5+3 conferences have 2-8 teams worse than Neb or much much worse than NW. Big 12 is solid except bottom 2 are very bad, yet teams have had to escape KSU (KSU last 3 games vs. TT, Texas, and OKSt - 11/3/7 points) and ISU (WVU, BU, Texas, WV, OU - 5/11/6/4/7 points whereas ISU has blown out multiple times, eg MissSt beat them by 39 and Iowa by 28: 105-77). BigEast, ACC, SEC, PAC have many very bad teams if we are equating NW with bad. Yes I wish all 40 min last night were like first 10 (= 25 to 7; 100-28 would have been one for the ages)Baylor and Gonzaga are winning in runaway fashion night in and night out. Kansas State or Iowa State didn't take them to OT. Same with Gonzaga. BYU and St. Mary's didn't push them in the last five minutes. When those teams get a team down...it's over.
MY OH M-AYO!Ayo is something else.
Baylor and Gonzaga are winning in runaway fashion night in and night out. Kansas State or Iowa State didn't take them to OT. Same with Gonzaga. BYU and St. Mary's didn't push them in the last five minutes. When those teams get a team down...it's over.
Again, it just a theory. Another poster brought up a very good point. This "lull" seems to have coincided with the postponements and scheduling changes. That's a very likely and valid factor.
Every single person watching in O & B was saying "NOOOOOOOOOOOO, wow nice shot, thanks Ice Water Ayo."That deep three made me feel...things.
In the past 2 games, he has started, not gotten into foul trouble, and played a TOTAL of 18 minutes. 9 minutes/game as a starter. I'd love to know if that has EVER happened to another Illini (or anyone anywhere?).Anyone else find it strange that Grandison starts, plays really well and is a huge part of why we jump out to an early lead, and ends up with just 12 minutes?
Yup, real nice 1st half.Giorgi had a nice game.
Last nite he started out great with a 15 ft shot and a 3 pter....then he comes out and I was thinking " why " myself....DMW has been playing great but I am glad grandi is starting now and wish he would get more tick...his hustle and rebounding is needed...In the past 2 games, he has started, not gotten into foul trouble, and played a TOTAL of 18 minutes. 9 minutes/game as a starter. I'd love to know if that has EVER happened to another Illini (or anyone anywhere?).