Illinois 79, UCLA 70 Postgame

#451      
For a frosh, Ty is very good at rebounding, defense, handling, looking for open teammates, and being where he is supposed to be. Those things alone make him hugely valuable to the team. But he is terribly deficient as a shooter....from the field and the line. Likely, as a kid, he was praised so much for being unselfish and working hard for his team that he just did not spend any time other that required by coaches in learning efficient shooting technique (and I have no idea, just trying to make sense from what I see and know). But to go any further, which I am pretty sure is in his mind, he must learn to become a solid shooter at several levels. It will take an effort and focus much like we have seen from TSJ, but he started from a higher plateau. Regardless, Ty will be a solid and important player for the Illini, and I truly hope it is for 4 years.
You know, shooting a basketball is not something just everyone can do, especially with D1 athletes trying to stop you.

When I was at the fair alma mater I remember talking about basketball in a Motor Control class, and scientists don't really know how a person knows how to shoot a ball. It is just that mind body connection that tells a guy to shoot at this arc and with this much force. Some guys can work forever and will never be an above average shooter.

That said, practice will help, but not everyone is capable of ever becoming a 40%+ 3 pt shooter or 80%+ from the stripe. The announcers were going on and on about Terrance Shannon but he shot 83% on FT as a Fr and improved his 3 pt shooting every year, being over 38% last year. So he wasn't starting as a bad shooter like they seemed to be trying to make him out.

Sidenote, am I the only person that thought it was hilarious that he wakes up at 4:20. Terrance, do you have something to tell us? lol
 
#457      
Oh yea... look at my post in the previous thread before the game thread. This was my post in the pre-game thread,

"Yea their point guard is tough. They are a good team. But I think we're up for the task. These are the types of games I'd rather us cut our teeth on early to get ready for March. This is what you come to Illinois for. If you're a baller, these types of games. And from what it sounds like, this team doesn't shy away from a tough game based on the secret scrimmage. This would be a good game to see Mayer and Melendez (M & M if you will) have breakout games for this season. I think this team is so deep that they can just keep attacking in waves with no let up. Eventually wearing teams down and pulling away to win games."
You absolutely called it and was right on track! What about tomorrow? What do you think?
 
#462      
You absolutely called it and was right on track! What about tomorrow? What do you think?
I think it'll be the same outcome. I believe we triumph in the end. However, I do feel that we will need more than just TSJ carrying the scoring load, and we need to play better defense against the 3 ball against Virginia. They can shoot it from deep. And they'll make us pay inside and out if we miss our assignments on defense. I still think we wear them down, as we will most opponents this season. I-L-L
 
#464      
Is that you, Mr. Cronin?

(I presume that's where you were going with that)

Stephen Colbert GIF by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
 
#469      
Been watching Illini basketball for 65 yrs. and there are 4 games I remember vividly.
1. Fall or 73 when Dick Vitale brought an undefeated Detroit team to Assembly Hall. They had a kid scoring 25 per game. Two kids I knew well from my hometown, Otho Tucker and Brad Farnham, started for the Illini. Farnham guarded their star and held him to 4 pts or so as the Illini cruised to a win.
2. Flyin Illini of '89, my favorite team ever. They provided so many wonderful moments and amazing play. But it was the loss to Cheatigan after they beat them soundly twice that is so disappointing....still. Should never have happened.
3. Of course, the most amazing and unbelievable was the '05 Illini and their comeback victory against my Alma Mater...the Arizona Wildcats. I will never forget where I was and how my attention grew as I periodically glanced at the restaurant's TV and the disappearing margin. I root for the Wildcats to win every athletic contest...except when they play my Illini hoopsters for which I have had an crazy affinity for 65 years.
4. This UCLA game, and the play of TSJ and Sincere ranks with all of those and will be fondly recalled as long as I live and breathe. Nothing else to say.
Great ones!!

Others I will always personally remember.

Tyler Griffey with the lay up to beat number one Indiana and Brandon Paul scoring 43 to upset Ohio St.

Go Illini!!
 
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#471      
Been watching Illini basketball for 65 yrs. and there are 4 games I remember vividly.
1. Fall or 73 when Dick Vitale brought an undefeated Detroit team to Assembly Hall. They had a kid scoring 25 per game. Two kids I knew well from my hometown, Otho Tucker and Brad Farnham, started for the Illini. Farnham guarded their star and held him to 4 pts or so as the Illini cruised to a win.
2. Flyin Illini of '89, my favorite team ever. They provided so many wonderful moments and amazing play. But it was the loss to Cheatigan after they beat them soundly twice that is so disappointing....still. Should never have happened.
3. Of course, the most amazing and unbelievable was the '05 Illini and their comeback victory against my Alma Mater...the Arizona Wildcats. I will never forget where I was and how my attention grew as I periodically glanced at the restaurant's TV and the disappearing margin. I root for the Wildcats to win every athletic contest...except when they play my Illini hoopsters for which I have had an crazy affinity for 65 years.
4. This UCLA game, and the play of TSJ and Sincere ranks with all of those and will be fondly recalled as long as I live and breathe. Nothing else to say.
5. Wake Forest 2004 - Up by 32 against the #1 team in the country on national TV from a raucous Assembly Hall. Our first true taste of how that season would be.
 
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#473      
Great ones!!

Others I will always personally remember.

Tyler Griffey with the lay up to beat number one Indiana and Brandon Paul scoring 43 to upset Ohio St.

Go Illini!!
This almost sound like a new thread, something like “Greatest games we remember”. One comeback for me that comes to mind was the comeback at Clemson back in December 2009. I remember watching the game, with the sound off, because my first wife was in the ICU and we had a nurse who was very strict about sound. To me that game was a godsend as it was a brief break from reality, that I sorely needed and it so awesome to see the 23 point comeback on the road. I am normal a pretty quiet person but I did struggle to keep quiet in that room and I really wanted to turn the volume up just to hear what was going on. But in my mind that yelling and cheering very loudly in my head that night. ILl-INI!!!
 
#474      
Great ones!!

Others I will always personally remember.

Tyler Griffey with the lay up to beat number one Indiana and Brandon Paul scoring 43 to upset Ohio St.

Go Illini!!
Best for me was 88-89, Georgia Tech game at the Hall. OT, Kenny Battle slam to put it away and the crowd exploded. Was the game that sent us to #1 in the polls the next day. We didn't know about Kendall's foot yet... Awesome experience.
 
#475      
Been watching Illini basketball for 65 yrs. and there are 4 games I remember vividly.
1. Fall or 73 when Dick Vitale brought an undefeated Detroit team to Assembly Hall. They had a kid scoring 25 per game. Two kids I knew well from my hometown, Otho Tucker and Brad Farnham, started for the Illini. Farnham guarded their star and held him to 4 pts or so as the Illini cruised to a win.
2. Flyin Illini of '89, my favorite team ever. They provided so many wonderful moments and amazing play. But it was the loss to Cheatigan after they beat them soundly twice that is so disappointing....still. Should never have happened.
3. Of course, the most amazing and unbelievable was the '05 Illini and their comeback victory against my Alma Mater...the Arizona Wildcats. I will never forget where I was and how my attention grew as I periodically glanced at the restaurant's TV and the disappearing margin. I root for the Wildcats to win every athletic contest...except when they play my Illini hoopsters for which I have had an crazy affinity for 65 years.
4. This UCLA game, and the play of TSJ and Sincere ranks with all of those and will be fondly recalled as long as I live and breathe. Nothing else to say.
Illinois #3 vs. MSU #1 January 1979. Eddie vs. Magic. Eddie for the win.