Illinois 80, Missouri 77 Postgame

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#427      
Who is going to back up Big T if they both play extensive minutes and in foul trouble at the 5? Morez and Big T can play some together but not extensively or they would both be in foul trouble too often and there are not many options at the 5 if that happens and it would.
Good question. I’d like to see minutes for those 2 positions split like this:

4: Morez (15 mins), Carey (10-15 mins), Tre (10 mins), Ben (maybe 5 mins)

Tre is primarily at the 3, shifts to 4 to get more mins for him and for Will. Ben plays spot mins like Jake Davis does at the 3 - if he’s hitting shots, he plays more.

5: TI (30 mins), Morez (10 mins)

Tomi has been getting gassed late in games. This approach gets Morez 25 mins across the 4/5 and limits Tomi to 30. Carey slots in if both are in foul trouble.

I want to absolutely own the boards while keeping at least four 3pt shooters on the floor at all times. We’re going to have our off shooting nights and we’re likely going to continue to be TO prone but we have more opportunity to win on the boards with this approach.
 
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#429      
Oh yeah!! Maybe give him six fouls. Otherwise, I’m not sure how BU gets him anymore than he got
how about we start by playing him until he fouls out? at this point, i could care less if he fouls out every game. minute for minute he has flat out been one of the most productive players weve had.
 
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#431      
I simply can't believe that no foul was called after Morez was clearly thrown to the floor. That should have been a Double T and the player ejected from the game. There is no excuse for that incompetence. I know Gates running out onto the floor created a distraction, but that is something that shouldn't have been overlooked. Another thing, the play by play announcers weren't even discussing it, until like 5 min. later.
also, wasnt the last foul called on Tre a classic hook and hold by the Miznoz player? how was it not even reviewed?
 
#432      
I heard LaTulip say there was a time as an Illini where Plummer went 2 for 21 from 3. Slumps do happen to good shooters and I think things will change. I recall Harper went 1 of 17 from the field one stretch. BU said they will break out eventually and we all saw Plummer and I believe it will.
Domask had a horrific start to the year shooting the 3 ball, too
 
#433      
So is your glass half empty and ignore key times Ben did deter and make key stops yesterday. Because he did. BU has him in because he is better at it than others whether you agree or not
My glass is crystal clear. Ben is what he is. We can look at guys 1-15 and at some point they will execute correctly; however this is big boy D1 basketball and you're measured more by the frequency of deficiencies. Ben is what he is and he's not a power 5 defender or rebounder nor do I think he can develop into either. Maybe he'll get out of his slump and still be able to contribute in that facet.
 
#434      
You are soooo close to being the first person I put on ignore.
I read this which pretty much sums up our season so far,if you have a orange & blue blinder on you might want to skip it.

Mah, just repeating the forum negativity and playing the I'm a superior realist card without being a realistic.

Illinois replaced 11 players and starts 2 freshmen with 2 more getting significant minutes. Our loses are to the number 1 and 5 teams and at the teams first road B1G conference game.

What sort of blinders does one have to wearing to have expected more?

Glass half full - Enjoy the top 25 team and the one and done lottery pick. Might be a bumpy ride a times but this season is shaping up as a trip to be remembered.
 
#437      
One more thing about this game: I couldn’t help but think about how much this game symbolized a battle of opposing philosophies (and team composition). Mizzou = bunch of bully ball players that basically could only hit 2 point shots for 95% of the game. Illinois = skilled, versatile players that could hit shots all over the court. Our lack of physicality almost got us, but we were able to put together more runs feeding off guys hitting 3s and making nice reads.
... which is hilarious because the ES(ec)PN announcers kept claiming throughout the first half how the opposite was in fact the case. Terrible announcing duo, terrible officiating. Someone else noted this: it's unbelievable how composed BU remained.

We got it done but we can't keep relinquishing 10-point leads in 90 seconds. Will and Ben are obviously struggling; hope they keep pushing and the shots will eventually rain.

Finally, Morez: love him. Dude moves without the ball and positions himself on D like few I've seen lately. And has a swagger you don't often see in a true frosh. Just going to be a monster once he figures out how not to foul underneath.

I pleased to say that, although I'm neither an Illinois native nor a resident, my contempt for Miznoz and their fans exceeds that for both Iowa and Indiana. Beating them is pretty sweet. The view from Columbia this coming Wednesday:

1734984481195.png
 
#438      
I think there is one aspect that was on display during this game, that I think we have all grown tired of in basketball, NCAA or NBA. I can't stand the complaining to the refs on EVERY SINGLE CALL. Coleman drove me nuts when he did it, but, that was just CH being CH and it was never going the change.

I have been impressed with Rez, Tomi and Tre specifically. Not just during the obvious missed calls during yesterday's game, but all year, these guys have held their composure. I don't know if its the coaches or just the type of players they are, but it is impressive and I'm happy to see it. I think we have all seen Bam come over and get a guy's head refocused whether that is KJ or Rez or Tomi. I like this group, and we all discussed the early bumps, which we have seen. But I personally can't wait to see how we play Duke in Feb. That game will show us where we are.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
 
#439      
My glass is crystal clear. Ben is what he is. We can look at guys 1-15 and at some point they will execute correctly; however this is big boy D1 basketball and you're measured more by the frequency of deficiencies. Ben is what he is and he's not a power 5 defender or rebounder nor do I think he can develop into either. Maybe he'll get out of his slump and still be able to contribute in that facet.
Well, I agree with you that Ben isn't as good as Morez or Big T on D or the glass but I guess I disagree with the concept that BU doesn't see our other options in practice each day and weigh all facets plus roles when he decides to plug in Ben over Booth, WR, or shorter players like Davis or Trey and limit Morez at the 4 out of our need for him behind Big T. Morez is a power 5 defender at the 4 spot but he may be the only one we have and Morez is vital and needed fill a lot of tick at the 5. Morez can play with Big T some but for now it will be limited since we don't have a 3rd 5 man. Coleman struggled last year at the 5 and had some size but not the strength needed. We need Big T and Morez 10 fouls at the 5 most of the time. Morez is our only player that can back up and defend at the 5 and he is slightly undersized. I think BU has seen more of this team on a daily basis and has good reasons for his rotation at the 4. I do agree Morez may be a better option at the 4 and likely would get the nod if we had a 3rd guy besides Morez that could defend at the 5 spot but we dont. If we did I think we would've seen more Morez and Big T together and we still may. It's a tough call and hopefully one BU is using his wisdom and insight since he sees practice everyday.

We have had some good shooters have slumps and I too really hope Ben, WR, and Boswell start knocking down some threes. I think they will.
 
#441      
One other question… Booth, first one off the bench to play 2 mins total? Can anyone make that make sense?
Only reason is that BU wants to give him ample opportunities to play hard and actively...but most often he stands around waiting to shoot a three. Needs to defend hard and get some tough boards. Might I suggest BU telling him he can shoot one trey for every Offensive board or block. Get a dozen of those Carey....then fire away!!!!!;)

Not wanting to slight CB, but for a guy with his size and athleticism, he can add to this team in a dozen ways and we need him to start doing that.
 
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#442      
Well, I agree with you that Ben isn't as good as Morez or Big T on D or the glass but I guess I disagree with the concept that BU doesn't see our other options in practice each day and weigh all facets plus roles when he decides to plug in Ben over Booth, WR, or shorter players like Davis or Trey and limit Morez at the 4 out of our need for him behind Big T. Morez is a power 5 defender at the 4 spot but he may be the only one we have and Morez is vital and needed fill a lot of tick at the 5. Morez can play with Big T some but for now it will be limited since we don't have a 3rd 5 man. Coleman struggled last year at the 5 and had some size but not the strength needed. We need Big T and Morez 10 fouls at the 5 most of the time. Morez is our only player that can back up and defend at the 5 and he is slightly undersized. I think BU has seen more of this team on a daily basis and has good reasons for his rotation at the 4. I do agree Morez may be a better option at the 4 and likely would get the nod if we had a 3rd guy besides Morez that could defend at the 5 spot but we dont. If we did I think we would've seen more Morez and Big T together and we still may. It's a tough call and hopefully one BU is using his wisdom and insight since he sees practice everyday.

We have had some good shooters have slumps and I too really hope Ben, WR, and Boswell start knocking down some threes. I think they will.
I think it's as simple as Underwood loves the 3 pt shot. He wants that stretch 4. I'm not sure what he wants to stretch the defense for, if we just set up a ring around the 3 pt line and jacks 3s. If you were stretching the defense to get good post looks or create driving lanes, I'd get it. But that's not what we do. We've dropped a bit, but currently 51.1% of our shots are 3s.

I would think, if we really wanted to keep with largely 4 out 1 in, you could have Morez be the 1 in and Ivisic being out. I'd think that is not a great plan though. Ivisic is a wizard with assists in the paint. I think the staff is going to have to use the Christmas break to work on an offense that works with Morez and Ivisic in the game together. Perhaps Humrichous will work better coming off the bench with fresh legs when everyone else is a little tired.
 
#443      
This should no longer surprise anyone.
Brad no prepping the team in the final minutes is becoming common practice unfortunately. Hoping someone on his bench would think for him in these situations. Not uncommon to have “that guy” on the bench in the HC ear. We need one badly.
 
#444      
Watching the replay again. How Dennis Gates was not ejected for being inside of the three point line confronting the official on that technical foul confounds me. That's an AUTOMATIC ejection in any NBA game I've ever seen.

But that was par for the course in this game. The officials did not control the game.
 
#445      
Watching the replay again. How Dennis Gates was not ejected for being inside of the three point line confronting the official on that technical foul confounds me. That's an AUTOMATIC ejection in any NBA game I've ever seen.

But that was par for the course in this game. The officials did not control the game.
I agree and I wish they had a given the entire fiasco a video review. There should have been a double technical on the Tigers
 
#447      
Do the refs get reviewed/evaluated? The throw down against Mroz and foul on KJ were pretty egregious. Can’t imagine there not being some repercussions for the zebras for these misses
 
#448      
That 2001 Arizona game to go to the Final 4 will never be beaten - easily the worst reffed game that I have ever seen. Did not help that Bill Walton was calling the game and his kid was on the floor playing for the Wildcats.
“A knee to the groin, an elbow to the side of the head….”
Almost cost me a remote control listening to his garbage (I think it did, actually)
 
#449      
I've been watching college hoops for many decades. I can't ever recall seeing a player (let alone a huge one) literally wrap his arms around an opposing player's waist and throw him to the floor, which occurred in the paint as Gates had run onto the floor in anger nearby and was getting teed up.

And... no call. No review. Nothing. Dude should have been teed and tossed. We'd have ended up with four free throws and the ball. Apparently all three of the refs were staring at Gates and no one paying attention elsewhere. Mind bending incompetence.

I also can't recall feeling this dissatisfied after a Braggin' Rights win. But it is indeed a W. And oh my Boswell. Thank goodness he grew up in Champaign and apparently understands what this game means to us.

:illinois:
What really ticked me off is they showed 50 replays of Gates on the court and the announcers didn't mention Peyton Marshall's body toss a single time. Maybe it was mentioned at halftime but I doubt it - had the game DVR'd and skipped it.
 
#450      
Don’t want to be a Debbie Downer in here but it needs to be said. Hum, Jake Davis, and Carey Booth are contributing a lot less than we hoped for at this point. Rotation beyond 8 guys is really weak. Not sure why Ty thought he wouldn’t be playing much…
can't speak for Booth, Ty, or Hum, but Jake Davis is contributing about [checks stats] 6.6 more minutes per game and 0.9 more points per game that I thought he'd be
 
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