Illinois 82, DePaul 73 POSTGAME

#76      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
ILLHangOut said:
I haven’t been able to watch more than an hour this season so far. Do you think that the 3pt struggles could be from a lack of rhythm in the offense? I feel like that could be a primary factor based on the little bit I’ve watched.

If so, I’d expect those rhythm 3’s off of transition to start falling.
Click to expand...

It definitely could be a factor. BU preaches patience and making the extra pass so it looks like sometimes guys get caught up between passing and shooting, thus losing their rhythm.

Also, nobody on this roster was known as a shooter coming out of high school except for Finke, Alstork, and AJ. Finke doesn't take many outside shots and we all know AJ has struggled most of his college career. Who knows whats going on with Alstork. Smith and Damonte were known as athletes who are best at attacking the rim. Frazier was known as a scorer, but a streaky outside shooter. Tejon was/is a pass first PG.
 
#78      

scaggs22

S
scaggs22
Mark Smith: wow, just wow. Once he learns that with every drive he has the advantage (conversion and/or foul), I think we'll see him totally take over games.
Da'Monte: the real deal. He's gonna make us very happy.
Trent: still trying to figure out what he can do at this level, but he'll get there
TeJon: didn't see the floor as well as I wanted tonight, missed another layup finish, but I'm not too worried as we keep moving on. Consistency an issue.
Alstork: A minus 25 points on the +/- scale while in the game last Sunday (while on the floor we lost 25 points to the other team), probably another negative today. He worries me.
Jordan: Thank you Aaron. We needed this!! Obviously an "all-around" player that's coming through. 3 for 3!
Kipper: Out of the doghouse for attitude issues and a complete 180 degree turn today. Again shows how important and successful he can be.
 
#79      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
Was sort of wondering why this B1G / Big East series was 8 games?
They have 10 teams, we have 14.
Why play 8? Anyone know?
 
#82      

helppitch

H
helppitch
scaggs22 said:
Mark Smith: wow, just wow. Once he learns that with every drive he has the advantage (conversion and/or foul), I think we'll see him totally take over games.
Da'Monte: the real deal. He's gonna make us very happy.
Trent: still trying to figure out what he can do at this level, but he'll get there
TeJon: didn't see the floor as well as I wanted tonight, missed another layup finish, but I'm not too worried as we keep moving on. Consistency an issue.
Alstork: A minus 25 points on the +/- scale while in the game last Sunday (while on the floor we lost 25 points to the other team), probably another negative today. He worries me.
Jordan: Thank you Aaron. We needed this!! Obviously an "all-around" player that's coming through. 3 for 3!
Kipper: Out of the doghouse for attitude issues and a complete 180 degree turn today. Again shows how important and successful he can be.
Click to expand...

Looks like you were wrong. Alstork +5 for the game while he was on the floor.
 
#83      

Punesguy

Punesguy
Ft. Collins, CO
Punesguy
Making Progress

The good news is that we’re 3-0 and I don’t think that would’ve been the case with last year’s team/coaching staff.
A few takeaways I had:
1. I loved our energy on the defensive end ... numerous blocks, steals and charges!
2. Smith is impressive now and he will be an absolute beast in a year or two!
3. Our Freshman are really talented and will only get better!
4. Our front court is thin and we could struggle badly in several games this season.
5. If this is how the referees are going to enforce the 26 rule changes, we better keep practicing our free throws ... 59 fouls is crazy!

Overall, the glass is more than half full of orange koolaid! I hope our targeted recruits continue to watch this progression because I am confident we will be a much more effective team (offensively and defensively) as the season progresses! :shield:
 
#84      

EfremWinters84

E
S. Carolina
EfremWinters84
Overall, a very nice win tonight! Here's how I rate our 11 scholarship players based upon their performances through 3 games:

1. M. Smith (poised and skilled)
2. K. Nichols (has greatly exceeded initial expectations from a year ago)
3. M. Finke
4. L. Black
5. T. Frazier (Love his court sense; quick; nice handles; He's on the verge of some huge offensive games)
6. D. Williams (Fundamentally solid; lots of upside in his offensive game)
7. T. Lucas (Ballhandling = a high good; can penetrate; no outside game whatsoever)
8. A. Jordan (Huge surprise! Good fundamentals; perhaps a bit slow? seems to lumber down the court; hoping his offensive production can counter Alstork's disappointing stats)
9. M. Alstork (turnover prone; no confidence; can't shoot; can't post up; Hoping he's not a complete bust)
10. Greg E.
11. Matic
 
#85      

Whitmans Sampler

Whitmans Sampler
Eastern Iowa
Whitmans Sampler
I’m not sure what to think of Alstork yet. Defense has been great, passing has been mostly good, but obviously has been indecisive with scoring opportunities. I’m thinking his better scoring games will come after short turnarounds when the young guys may not be as prepared, and his experience will help them out.
 
#87      

EJ33

E
San Francisco
EJ33
GoIllini40 said:
Mark Smith is the best Illini Freshman since...?
Click to expand...

I think I need more than 3 games to answer that :)

Is Smith the first Illinois freshman to score more than 20 points in one of his first three games?
 
#88      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
I see a lot of pre-injury Derrick Rose in Mark Smith’s game.

Obviously Smith isn’t on the same level Rose was as a freshman. But he’s the same kind of physical, penetrating guard. Hopefully, Smith’s larger frame helps him take the pounding better than Rose did.
 
#90      

kjkjkjkjk

K
kjkjkjkjk
Last year: we think we will win, and watch our team find a way to lose. This year: we think we will lose, and watch our team win. I'm okay with that!

This has been a heck of a lot more fun than watching a John Groce-coached basketball team.
 
#94      

BMo79

B
BMo79
EfremWinters84 said:
Overall, a very nice win tonight! Here's how I rate our 11 scholarship players based upon their performances through 3 games:

1. M. Smith (poised and skilled)
2. K. Nichols (has greatly exceeded initial expectations from a year ago)
3. M. Finke
4. L. Black
5. T. Frazier (Love his court sense; quick; nice handles; He's on the verge of some huge offensive games)
6. D. Williams (Fundamentally solid; lots of upside in his offensive game)
7. T. Lucas (Ballhandling = a high good; can penetrate; no outside game whatsoever)
8. A. Jordan (Huge surprise! Good fundamentals; perhaps a bit slow? seems to lumber down the court; hoping his offensive production can counter Alstork's disappointing stats)
9. M. Alstork (turnover prone; no confidence; can't shoot; can't post up; Hoping he's not a complete bust)
10. Greg E.
11. Matic
Click to expand...

myself I would have Black 2 AJ 3 D will 5
TJL has got to stay on the floor, getting those fouls he takes himself and his head out of the game
 
#97      

Illiini

Illiini
In the land of the Nittany Lion
Illiini
If the '17-'18 basketball season were a rock tour...

Every rock band names its tours. Why not Fighting Illini basketball?

What would you name this "tour"?
 
#98      

jbmay83

J
O Fallon
jbmay83
Thought we did pretty well considering that Depaul had a pretty good height advantage. Very impressed with their toughness, and no quit attitude. Not worried about the three point shooting, that'll get better. It's been awhile since I've seen the Illini take it to the hole and get to the line.
 
#99      

haasi

haasi
New York
haasi
BU was saying he’s starting to like our balance. It seems like we might have a real “ensemble cast” this year for the first time in recent memory- a bunch of guys who are major contributors, any 1 2 or 3 of whom can be critical in a given game. Cool to see. For years, it’s been a one or two man show. Malcolm/Kendrick, Ray, BP3, McCamey...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk