Illinois 76, Rutgers 58 Postgame
This.
RayJ Dennis is here and I think we might be talking Nat. Champ.
But I love Ty and we have a pretty good thing so lets roll with it
Agree.
If we had a “legit PG”, he probably wouldn’t have gotten 6 rebounds and a block today.
I just don’t understand the Ty at PG complaints. We’ve got to have the only PG in the country who can throw down a two handed dunk off one step in traffic. I’ll concede that he’s not conventional, but the game has changed so much I just don’t know how important it is the have that these days anyway. Plus he gets us 3-4 second opportunities every game on tip outs or offensive boards. I feel like that’s just as impactful as 3-4 extra assists.
You nailed it. That's 100% where I'm at.
We positionless basketballed the heck out of them.
I don’t care what position you call any of them.
They out Rutgers’d Rutgers at Rutgers.
The Illini aren’t a scalpel, they are bludgeon.
Embrace it.
I don’t care what position you call any of them.
They out Rutgers’d Rutgers at Rutgers.
The Illini aren’t a scalpel, they are bludgeon.
Embrace it.
I can't believe this has been said yet but............ we took them to the Pizza Hut parking lot and kicked their asses!!
Bigtex
- DFW
Illinois was much more effective against the press break in 2nd half - Coleman was good to great in 2nd half.
No DGL
No DD in second half ?
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Just got home to NoVA from the RAC roundtrip with my bro @Retro62 and his friend. Absolutely stoked. An 18-point BT road win at a fearsome arena where the boys went for the jugular right off the opening tip, then napped briefly late in the half, then applied a firm boot to Rutgers' neck for the entire second half.
Loved every second of it.
TSJ was simply a beast. Utterly dominant at both ends. Even with under 4 mins remaining in the game and up 15 he was still defending with intensity. Domask is so smart and canny with the ball. What an addition. We got 36 mins from him today. Guerrier impressed, too. Solid mins out of Harmon. Coleman had a massive + v. -, Ty was absolutely dogged and tough. At one point early in the game I looked at the rebound tally on the scoreboard: 14-2 Illinois. 55-27 for the game. Just filthy domination on the boards. Luke played excellent D and had a couple nice treys. Amani got some tick but looked overwhelmed. I can't imagine playing as a freshman in that environment a month into the season. Glad BU got him that experience. [EDIT: Perhaps] that's why we didn't see any DGL.
We got between 17-36 minutes from seven different guys. Seven. Solid contributions from eight. Deeeeeep.
Too many turnovers. Clean those up and this would have been a 30+ point win on the road in the BT. Heck, a 20-point road win never happens. Mind-blowing, IMO.
Rutgers was a 3.5 pt favorite at tip, I believe. Think about that. The boys mopped the floor with them.
What a fun two hours that was, in a fantastic venue. The arena is, as @Retro62 noted, "Hitlerific" on the outside in its soul-crushing, Brutalist hideousness. Inside, however, it's marvelous. So steep and so loud. Loved every minute. Strong Illini fan turnout, too. Enjoyed the "I-L-L" / "I-N-I" chants that got going on the road.
We wondered if they'd start slow. They fell behind 2-0. Within 5 mins they were up 14-2. Literally game over. Erase those three straight trips down the floor late in the half where we turned the ball over or took terrible shots and they converted each into a trey, and we go into halftime up 10-15.
Sweet dreams I shall have, if I the adrenaline ever diminishes.
Loved every second of it.
TSJ was simply a beast. Utterly dominant at both ends. Even with under 4 mins remaining in the game and up 15 he was still defending with intensity. Domask is so smart and canny with the ball. What an addition. We got 36 mins from him today. Guerrier impressed, too. Solid mins out of Harmon. Coleman had a massive + v. -, Ty was absolutely dogged and tough. At one point early in the game I looked at the rebound tally on the scoreboard: 14-2 Illinois. 55-27 for the game. Just filthy domination on the boards. Luke played excellent D and had a couple nice treys. Amani got some tick but looked overwhelmed. I can't imagine playing as a freshman in that environment a month into the season. Glad BU got him that experience. [EDIT: Perhaps] that's why we didn't see any DGL.
We got between 17-36 minutes from seven different guys. Seven. Solid contributions from eight. Deeeeeep.
Too many turnovers. Clean those up and this would have been a 30+ point win on the road in the BT. Heck, a 20-point road win never happens. Mind-blowing, IMO.
Rutgers was a 3.5 pt favorite at tip, I believe. Think about that. The boys mopped the floor with them.
What a fun two hours that was, in a fantastic venue. The arena is, as @Retro62 noted, "Hitlerific" on the outside in its soul-crushing, Brutalist hideousness. Inside, however, it's marvelous. So steep and so loud. Loved every minute. Strong Illini fan turnout, too. Enjoyed the "I-L-L" / "I-N-I" chants that got going on the road.
We wondered if they'd start slow. They fell behind 2-0. Within 5 mins they were up 14-2. Literally game over. Erase those three straight trips down the floor late in the half where we turned the ball over or took terrible shots and they converted each into a trey, and we go into halftime up 10-15.
Sweet dreams I shall have, if I the adrenaline ever diminishes.
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The week of uninterrupted practice was a big reason for this.
Ball movement was way better. TJ is leading by example, especially on defense. Goode lookin like he can shoot it. Dainja played with a chip on his shoulder. Damask is steady Eddie, good IQ. Ty is just really physical, tough and definitely a Brad guy. Coleman keeping it simple, not pressing trying to do too much.
Free throws still a concern. A great look today on the road. Hope we keep it rolling!!
Free throws still a concern. A great look today on the road. Hope we keep it rolling!!
Definitely agree that the potential is there. but flashes is the way I'd see it as well.
Actually, Jaylon Tate isn't "between" those two. Which really speaks to why we should be content with the team we have. We've got the pieces to be good, perhaps top 25 at the end of the year and noise in the tournament.
Ty probably puts all of Groce's non-tourney teams into the tourney.
Ty had a rough few possessions to start the game but also made a few nice plays that led points. Still doesn't seem comfortable, but I think at worst he's a wash. He offers some strengths against smaller guards and has some weaknesses that can be exploited.
To take him out to put in DGL or Nico isn't going to improve the team on the floor right now because of the impact on defense. If he can clean up his passing when under pressure, he will be fine. He'd do better at the 4, but QG is doing great and we need Domask as a shooter at the 3. So might as well put our best 5 out there and make it work.
To take him out to put in DGL or Nico isn't going to improve the team on the floor right now because of the impact on defense. If he can clean up his passing when under pressure, he will be fine. He'd do better at the 4, but QG is doing great and we need Domask as a shooter at the 3. So might as well put our best 5 out there and make it work.
Think you’d lose the beach house on that one
Really good performance. Amazing how good this team can be if the three is falling. Love the defense on this team with Hawkins there, lots of length and athleticism, they have all the making to be an Elite Defensive team.
"No DGL"
As there shouldn't be. All that kid does is shoot every time the ball touches his hands, and he ain't making them very often.
"No DGL"
As there shouldn't be. All that kid does is shoot every time the ball touches his hands, and he ain't making them very often.
That was fun! Top 10 caliber performance for sure. Our transfers looked the best they've looked and no matter what lineup was on the court we looked connected.
Way back in the days of Ayo
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
BU looked very relieved in his presser regarding the win , but also he knows how much last weeks practices paid off for the team in getting the win........................I have watched many many years of B$G BB and a win , on the road , in a hostile environment should galvanize the team to maintain their confidence going forward......
I found what TSJ said in numerous interviews about this 3 game road trip to be telling.........he said " we are here to win games ".....
He was asked about spending time in NYC and he said " that stuff doesn't matter to him "............TSJ is , without a doubt , more mature this year and is approaching the season like a man on a mission......It surely helped for him to go through the draft process and hear what he needs to do to improve his game and attract interest from NBA executives for the next draft.........
I also think having certain players NOT on the team this year (MM) has allowed TSJ to assume the alpha male , leader of the pack mentality in what he does in practice and in the games.......Pikiell made it a point in his presser to single out TSJ's improved shooting ability this year .....It said it looks like TSJ spent a ton of time in the gym to prepare for this season........
BTW , my fever is now 100.3 *.....I think the Illini's blowout performance had something to do with it.........................JMHO
Ayo was a great player and was great at finishing inside but he wasn't nearly as fast or strong as Shannon.
Ayo was quick but he wasn't nearly as explosive as Shannon.
There were a lot of great things that happened in this game, but I think it can't be understated how we just utilized the past week of practices getting better as a team and saw it pay off on the court. This is a team coming together that will continue to get better as the year goes on. What a wonderful 180 from last year's team where the only thing getting done in practice was drama.