Got five fouls might as well use them right? As long as it isn't really limiting his minutes, which outside of yesterday it really hasn't I don't see a problem.
Illinois 75, BYU 73 POSTGAME
Got five fouls might as well use them right? As long as it isn't really limiting his minutes, which outside of yesterday it really hasn't I don't see a problem.
Not sure why you're even looking at RPI at this time of the year. I'm sure these are going to change but this is how the latest at the time of this writing looks:
RPI B1G Teams:
1. Minnesota 10
2. Maryland 25
3. Purdue 27
4. Northwestern 35
5. Illinois 47
6. Wisconsin 53
7. Nebraska 55
8. Indiana 70
9. Michigan St. 81
10. Michigan 84
11. Ohio St. 87
12. Rutgers 99
13. Penn St. 100
14. Iowa 147
AP/USA Coaches Polls Rankings:
1. Indiana 9/9
2. Wisconsin 14/14
3. Purdue 15/16
4. Maryland 29/28
5. Minnesota 34/43
6. Ohio State 38/NR
7. Michigan State 40/32
8. Michigan NR/38
I'd be much more concerned about where the Illini are on the second listing, rather than where they (or anyone else for that matter) are currently at on the first one. Note that the top 3 B1G teams in the AP/USA polls rank 70, 53 & 27. Only one even falls in the Top 50 of the RPI at this stage...
Agreed. Top 50 wins and Sub 100 losses are usually key metrics. Right now Winthrop is in the Top 100 in RPI so hopefully they can hang on to that. As down as the conference is there is only one sub 100 team so not many chances for bad losses either.
Outside the top 25, the second list is a joke. Unless you really believe that Loyola should be 43rd in the AP poll. Rutgers was 44th in week 4
Well, I really wasn't. Just responding to someone who was.
I'd probably lean towards using something that wasn't based on people voting, but that's just me.
If you're talking 25+ games into a season instead of 10-ish, I can certainly understand that point of view too.
Fully agree with this. Fouls haven't hindered Black this year. His consistent play has probably been the second best positive story this year. I rate Abrams returning as an improved player #1. Nobody could have reasonably predicted how well Abrams has played.
The refs probably won't be calling as many fouls in conference play too.
Good stuff! Healthy dose of realism.
I agree and I like it. Usually hurts us come tournament time though when our physicality is punished.
Yeah, that sucked...but at least we drew better than "Chicago's Big Ten Team". As far as I could tell, the only NU fans there were player families.
Granted, that might actually be all of NU basketball fans...
79illinois
- Winnetka, IL
I was there for both games Saturday night, the whole time. I think there were no more than 100 Northwestern fans there, including some sort of alumni pep band NU had and the NU cheerleaders. VERY low turnout for "Chicago's Big Ten team" - what a crock that is. I am not so sure Dayton outdrew lllinois but Dayton did travel very well and was much more present than NU's pathetic turnout. Of course, the ice storm in Central Illinois did not help the Illini turnout and was the reason Illinois had no band or cheerleaders, I am informed.
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
I would add that he's also a point in his freshman year where he's hitting the freshman wall given all of the basketball, travel and school work culminating at the same time. Giving him a physical/mental breather is a smart move on Groce's part.
At the end of the day, these are still kids and we aren't Kentucky academically.
True. In terms of percentages they may have drawn well over 50% of their fanbase, and I think that's pretty good!
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Northwestern's fan base:
Do you have knowledge he hit a wall. A few minutes playing time would actually reward the grind a bit.
Groce has to think Tate is the better answer, and at the end of the day Groce will own it. I personally think Tate is one less guy that BYU had to guard. JCL was cold in the second half. Both of those factors let the defense collapse and hurt MH mid range game and shut down our post a bit. We need a little more than what Tate can do. Maybe that is TJL or someone else but it needs addressed sooner than later.
Last edited:
I think a lot of our success came while Mika was sitting. He comes in, and the game gets closer. Then Leron gets two quick fouls and is essentially out. They come hard at us and our offense goes cold. After this the game is a tossup. We luckily picked it up and won it.. but it could've easily gone the other way.
Those two players had almost direct correlations to how successful their respective teams were performing.
Those two players had almost direct correlations to how successful their respective teams were performing.
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
I totally agree about TJL being a better option than Tate. No, I don't have any inside information but can surmise this based on previous seasons w/ Groce and TJL's recent games played.
100% agree with this. It was a bit better with Black in the game but it definitely needs a lot of work. Once they went zone we lost all offensive flow.
I just cannot imagine that some combination of the younger guys isn't better than Tate. I call bull on the JG players play players.
Groce has been reluctant to play young players in the past (see Hill\Nunn). He tends to favor veterans until the freshman in question makes it impossible not to change. My guess is with his seat as hot as it is, this pattern is only going to be stronger.
That said, TJL needs to get some minutes this year. I think as the season goes along his time will slowly increase. I think the progression will look a lot like Hill\Nunn, although I don't think TJL will ever be the started this year.
That said, TJL needs to get some minutes this year. I think as the season goes along his time will slowly increase. I think the progression will look a lot like Hill\Nunn, although I don't think TJL will ever be the started this year.
We see this comment all the time but I think there has been a lot of discussion that kind of disproves it.
Hill - averaged over 30 minutes a games as a sophomore (behind Rice as a freshman- and still played 14 minutes a game). Nunn - almost 20 minutes a games as a freshman and over 30 as a sophomore. AND... the senior Bertrand didn't start...
NOTE -- I am not saying I like Tate of Lucas (especially against a zone defense).