Illinois 79, Wisconsin 69 Postgame

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#102      
Ransom Stoddard
Just got home from the game, a handful of takeaways:
1. Body language from the team was very different pre-game than the PSU or AAM games. They looked simultaneously looser and more intense, if that makes sense. Ready to play, as it were.
2. The crowd at SFC was eager to cheer for this team, and (not surprisingly) was the most active crowd from the tipoff of the games I've been to so far this season
3. For the first time since MSG this team appeared to believe in each other. Today was the first time I've noticed (not to say it hasn't happened) Shannon "coaching up" one of the frosh. We need that from him.
4. Epps and Harris are going to be huge for this program if we're lucky enough to get them both for a full 4 years. They're still raw, but they get it. I see DMW and TF in them.
5. My only real negative from today--our offense runs better when Shannon and Mayer aren't in the lineup together.
 
#105      
thehass
Illini-Rule said:
Making shots cures all..... and I'm extremely happy that Coleman is knocking down his 3's. That makes a much harder team to defend and opens up the inside.
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Agreed. Hawkins has to be more than a top of the circle passer. A beautiful thing when shots go down.
 
#108      
doowink
Say what you want about BU and his in game coaching abilities....watching the post game presser...he gets it....he's totally committed to helping these kids get better both on and off the court....he's totally committed into turning this program into one of the very best in the country....I know some think that he screams and yells at the players too much and needs to mellow a little....but hearing him give his answer in regards to Sky leaving the program and his answers to how the past couple weeks have gone, he cares about his players and the program....he very seldom throws players under the bus...if anything he sometimes over exaggerates on the positive side....I would think the players respect him and love playing for him.....and for the record I'm not Tyler or Mrs. Underwood
 
#113      
PapaKvells
Just watched from a recording. CoHawk was unconscious today and Shannon, Epps and Mayer were great. But Sincere Harris is quickly becoming my favorite player. He takes defense personally. Had a beautiful drive and kick on one of CoHawkā€™s 3s, and that sequence when he took that hard screen, popped up, and then ten seconds later was taking their lunch on an inbound pass speaks volumes to his toughness and tenacity. Heā€™s an honorary Frazier now, and may be leaving this program our best defensive guard of all time. Iā€™m not afraid to say it.
 
#114      
Jon
I know +/- can be a real wonky stat, but hard to argue with this one
 

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#115      
BashCtIllini
PapaKvells said:
Just watched from a recording. CoHawk was unconscious today and Shannon, Epps and Mayer were great. But Sincere Harris is quickly becoming my favorite player. He takes defense personally. Had a beautiful drive and kick on one of CoHawkā€™s 3s, and that sequence when he took that hard screen, popped up, and then ten seconds later was taking their lunch on an inbound pass speaks volumes to his toughness and tenacity. Heā€™s an honorary Frazier now, and may be leaving this program our best defensive guard of all time. Iā€™m not afraid to say it.
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I think Sencire might be a little pyscho, and that's not a bad thing
 
#118      
Combo
BretMyBeachHouse said:
I pretty much was counting on struggles from the get go. I've always thought, (still do) that our fans are overrating the talent here. Good, but not as good as many proclaim. But I don't think I was counting on the struggles to include the last two losses. And after the UCLA win, I definitely wasn't thinking that would be the case.
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Year in and year out, our fans overrate our talent. I think this is common among fans of other teams as well.
 
#123      
aaeismacgychel
BashCtIllini said:
I think Sencire might be a little pyscho, and that's not a bad thing
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His defensive play reminds me of a longer Dee Brown. Quick, tenacious, fast hands, super high energy, and will fight over screens. And he's doing it as a freshman. Can you imagine who this kid will be when strength and conditioning fills him out a bit more and he's able to effectively body people with his lower body? Kid will be Chester Frazier with Dee Brown's quickness, and Luther Head's length. Best of luck to the future B10. He's a monster.
 
#124      
racinghoss
Roundball Sage said:
Yours is from the fan perspective. I like to flip this around as well.

I have always been deeply fascinated by the ebb and flow of emotions of the ball players and the teams within the game and during a season. Raw human emotion that rises and falls with every shot and every possession.

You miss a shot or two and you begin to fear youā€™ll never hit another one. Or, you hit two or three in a row and your smile gets wider and you stick out your chest a bit more with each score. And then you miss one or two and youā€™re back risking the fear mode again.

And the Illiniā€™s now-famous Five Minute Stretches with no points. There is no good reason to ever go five full minutes in a basketball game with no points. And yet, it happens. Again... human emotion on full display in front of thousands in the arena and multitudes more looking at screens. You begin to miss and you begin to press and the other team senses your panic and begin to exert themselves.

To reframe your words above: The Teamā€™s fragile, powerful minds are capable of rejoicing for and despising the very same thing with equal ferociousness, within but a span of minutes. The groupā€™s depression and despair. Their pain, and ours ā€“ the fans.

Basketball is primarily a mental and emotional game first before ball ever hits the floor. Do you believe, or not. Do you fear the other team and fear to admit that to yourself. Do you level off your emotions and play with confidence and purpose. Or do you let the negatives take over and take root and residence in your fragile frame of mind. Can you play to your best... and play better tomorrow.

The years go by. The players may change. But these in-game ebbs and flows and emotions remain the same... generation after generation.

And this for me is near the top of why this is such a fascinating... and frustrating... and joyful game. There is no hiding your emotions when out on the court. They are on full display always. And there is no place to hide ā€” nor should you ever want to.

God this can be such a beautiful game.
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Wow! What do you do with yourself in the offseason??
 
#125      
Illinifan533
doowink said:
Say what you want about BU and his in game coaching abilities....watching the post game presser...he gets it....he's totally committed to helping these kids get better both on and off the court....he's totally committed into turning this program into one of the very best in the country....I know some think that he screams and yells at the players too much and needs to mellow a little....but hearing him give his answer in regards to Sky leaving the program and his answers to how the past couple weeks have gone, he cares about his players and the program....he very seldom throws players under the bus...if anything he sometimes over exaggerates on the positive side....I would think the players respect him and love playing for him.....and for the record I'm not Tyler or Mrs. Underwood
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Nobody should be surprised at BU's attitude, it's literally what he's been preaching from day one.
www.youtube.com

āœ‚ļø Underwood Leadership

56 seconds Ā· Clipped by insanetrain33 Ā· Original video "A Day with Brad Underwood | Illini Basketball Preview Show" by Fighting Illini Athletics
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
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