Illinois 79, Northern Kentucky 64 POSTGAME
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
The Malcolm Hill Show was fun to listen to. What a performance.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Bailed out by Malcolm, but then again, you can't really fault a team for having a really good player.
Unless you're a top 25 caliber team, you're likely to struggle against some of these cupcakes. Just need to keep improving and rack up the must-have wins.
Unless you're a top 25 caliber team, you're likely to struggle against some of these cupcakes. Just need to keep improving and rack up the must-have wins.
Spread was 17, we won by 15. On to the next one. Keep winning, get better. Get everyone back. One game at a time.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Followed game on radio, sounded like we struggled with basics. Need folks to step up. I see Black and Kipper taking minutes if we don't see more impact out of players.
Not encouraging, need to get some massive improvement on defense very, very soon. Leron will help, but the lack of quickness really hampers us. May have to use a lot of zone this year.
We'll have two better defenders by then and JCL's rust should be gone. Glad Finke got a double double but his defense is just god awful.
Deleted member 4960
D
Guest
I'll take it, better than how we started last year.
Hill is a beast. I am very disappointed with our rebounding. Mr Black, you can't come back soon enough. I hope JCL breaks out of his slump. we need a 2G 3 pt threat.
But anyways... this is a much better start than last season!
But anyways... this is a much better start than last season!
Deleted member 4960
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Guest
I would agree, our 1st half defense has not been very good, going back to last year.
Why did Thorne have so few minutes?
Just some thoughts from the game. This team can be good and go far but the key will be the defense. First half was bad but second half was better.
1. We have to have better point guard play. The first half we didn't have great point guard play. Have to have tracy on his game. Tate not much of a offense weapon so a lot depends on how much he has to play and development if Lucas.
2. The team needs to get better on team and individual defense. We can keep trying to recover and then fall for a pump fake. I do think when Finke guards more Forwards and taller players later on that will help some
3. Malcolm Hill will score and get his. He may have to will the team some nights to victory.
4. Team has to come out with energy and hustle. You can control energy and work ethic. No reason other teams should beat you in that.
5. This game pace was slowed down a lot with the foul calls. Dont expect to see as many later on in year
6. Continue to focus on inside touches and move the ball. Offense will be good
7. Tracy and Thorne will get better as season continues getting use to games, rules, calls, etc.
8. Leron Black and Kipper will help with defense and rebounding a lot
9. Coleman Lands will hit more of those open threes just has to get the rust off.
10. DJW and AJ are key role players. Have to bring the energy, defense and rebounding. They will score but rebounding, energy and defense is key.
1. We have to have better point guard play. The first half we didn't have great point guard play. Have to have tracy on his game. Tate not much of a offense weapon so a lot depends on how much he has to play and development if Lucas.
2. The team needs to get better on team and individual defense. We can keep trying to recover and then fall for a pump fake. I do think when Finke guards more Forwards and taller players later on that will help some
3. Malcolm Hill will score and get his. He may have to will the team some nights to victory.
4. Team has to come out with energy and hustle. You can control energy and work ethic. No reason other teams should beat you in that.
5. This game pace was slowed down a lot with the foul calls. Dont expect to see as many later on in year
6. Continue to focus on inside touches and move the ball. Offense will be good
7. Tracy and Thorne will get better as season continues getting use to games, rules, calls, etc.
8. Leron Black and Kipper will help with defense and rebounding a lot
9. Coleman Lands will hit more of those open threes just has to get the rust off.
10. DJW and AJ are key role players. Have to bring the energy, defense and rebounding. They will score but rebounding, energy and defense is key.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
USC is losing to Omaha in the 2nd half. Cause ya know, November basketball.
This team will get better as it goes and having black will help a lot. Still think this team will be fun to watch. Have to get better on defense though.
I expected JCL and Big Mike to be our second and third best players this season behind Malcolm. I still do, but for now, neither one deserves starter minutes.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
Nice W. Notice when things got tight when the game seemed in the balance Groce moved Hill to PG. Our defense is going to be a problem all year vs athleticism, penetration and ball reversal. I have seen a few practices, all of your expectations re: Kipper Nichols are too high. You are going to be disappointed and it isn't fair to Kipper.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Right now I feel like Mav is our second best player.
Foul trouble. He had 3 fouls in 6 min.
Illinidreamin
- Paris, IL.
My observations from the game were basically the same as bigillini's. Defense is our problem right now, in a big way. The speed of the opponents we have seen are just faster then us right now. I don't understand that one. We have the better athletes and better experience, so this is on the team. Need to vastly improve on this.
Another thing i am seeing is that we are not explosive in our jumping ability. Man after all the hoopla concerning the improvements in jumping ability I have yet to see it. I saw more then once a 6'5 guy out jump our 6'10 center. Its no wonder we were out rebounded so badly last year if a 4" improvement in leaping ability does not net more rebounds in that scenerio.
Point guard play is still our nemesis. When Tracy is our point guard we guard better and we have more options. Yes Jalen was active tonight, and that is good. I guess its a pet peeve of mine, but, when Jalen gets the ball after a made basket and then just stands there for 3 seconds holding the ball, I want to scream!
Tejon made the floor tonight but for like only 3 plays. I dont think he even was able to break a sweat. I thought he handled the ball and pressure. I like that he gets it up the floor with out preamble, no wasted effort.
Malcolm did what Malcolm should do. He dominated. When it was time to go they gave him the ball and he delivered. He is awesome. We had better enjoy this year. He is a great one.
Over all team did enough to win... They should have destroyed this team. NKU's Center is savvy for a freshman. Maverick should have schooled him and should never fall for the same mistake twice especially from a freshman but both him and big mike did several times. As usual we need to work on interior passing. We are looking right at the guy we are going to throw to and make 3 fakes at the same pass before we pass it. My forehead is sore from smacking it like I should have had a V8.. Our basketball I.Q. has got to pick up. Our game speed has to pick up.
But all that and we got a "W" I'll take it everyday and twice on Sunday!!
Another thing i am seeing is that we are not explosive in our jumping ability. Man after all the hoopla concerning the improvements in jumping ability I have yet to see it. I saw more then once a 6'5 guy out jump our 6'10 center. Its no wonder we were out rebounded so badly last year if a 4" improvement in leaping ability does not net more rebounds in that scenerio.
Point guard play is still our nemesis. When Tracy is our point guard we guard better and we have more options. Yes Jalen was active tonight, and that is good. I guess its a pet peeve of mine, but, when Jalen gets the ball after a made basket and then just stands there for 3 seconds holding the ball, I want to scream!
Tejon made the floor tonight but for like only 3 plays. I dont think he even was able to break a sweat. I thought he handled the ball and pressure. I like that he gets it up the floor with out preamble, no wasted effort.
Malcolm did what Malcolm should do. He dominated. When it was time to go they gave him the ball and he delivered. He is awesome. We had better enjoy this year. He is a great one.
Over all team did enough to win... They should have destroyed this team. NKU's Center is savvy for a freshman. Maverick should have schooled him and should never fall for the same mistake twice especially from a freshman but both him and big mike did several times. As usual we need to work on interior passing. We are looking right at the guy we are going to throw to and make 3 fakes at the same pass before we pass it. My forehead is sore from smacking it like I should have had a V8.. Our basketball I.Q. has got to pick up. Our game speed has to pick up.
But all that and we got a "W" I'll take it everyday and twice on Sunday!!