Illinois 83, Grand Canyon 71 POSTGAME

#27      

sacraig

The desert
Someone in the game thread said this was a great job of scheduling. I couldn't disagree more. I agree we have to challenge ourselves early, but this game has zero upside. A win isn't worth a ton and a loss is devastating.

If you want a true road game in a hostile environment, just stick with playing Arizona in McKale Center, because winning that game would be huge and losing it doesn't hurt us much at all. There is zero reason to schedule games that make it more likely to lay an egg against a creampuff.
 
#30      

SuperMetroid

Evanston
Great start to the second half and then...ehhhhh. Really have no idea if we're playing down to the competition so far, or we're just not any better than last year yet. Sunday will be interesting.
 
#31      

Deleted member 652751

D
Guest
Good teams close out road games in tough environments. Good teams also don't do half the things we do incredibly poorly. I'm excited for if this team can actually clean those things up and if Giorgi, Trent and Ayo remember they can score 20 pretty easily. I'm pessimistic that our attention to detail gets that much better with how poor we do the little things.
Agree 100%. That's my biggest complaint with the coaches. Mentality, killer instinct, preparation have to get much, much better if we expect to make the tournament.
 
#33      

LeinieGuy

Will work for bourbon
Lexington, KY
I know we won, but folks, this was more evidence that they are not doing what we were promised by a BU offense (score in 7 seconds or then set up half court, etc.) They now just set up boring half court sets and look like they're making everything up, instead of having a motion offense or some kind of scheme.
 
#34      
Staying positive. That’s a double digit road win in a tough environment. Which is a lot better than a home OT win over NSU.

Ayo, Giorgi and Trent were our three best players last year. After two games, it’s Kofi, Feliz, and arguably Griffin third. That seems like a good sign.

We obviously need to fix something with respect to second half runs allowed to teams we are beating soundly.

Overall: C+ (NSU was a D)
 
#35      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Someone in the game thread said this was a great job of scheduling. I couldn't disagree more. I agree we have to challenge ourselves early, but this game has zero upside. A win isn't worth a ton and a loss is devastating.

If you want a true road game in a hostile environment, just stick with playing Arizona in McKale Center, because winning that game would be huge and losing it doesn't hurt us much at all. There is zero reason to schedule games that make it more likely to lay an egg against a creampuff.

Maybe...but if this is a favor to Colangelo to help boost GCU...I'm all for it. Very impressed. There is absolutely an upside to go into an environment like that and play a motivated team.
 
#36      

Deleted member 649710

D
Guest
Kofi, Dre and Griffin with excellent games. Need more from Ayo and somebody else off the bench. Defense still needs a lot of work. Depth is a real worry; I hope Jones works his way back and Kipper figures out how to do something, anything useful. We’ll lose by 15 to AZ playing like this.
 
#39      
Sounds like we have a lot to work on, but I’m not a coach, and I’m not a player; I’m a fan. So, to me, we won by double digits in a hostile environment, and we’re undefeated! I’ll literally erase my concerns and hope - with a true fan’s hope! - that we really bring it vs. Arizona!!
 
#41      

Deleted member 652751

D
Guest
I know we won, but folks, this was more evidence that they are not doing what we were promised by a BU offense (score in 7 seconds or then set up half court, etc.) They now just set up boring half court sets and look like they're making everything up, instead of having a motion offense or some kind of scheme.
Both offense and defense in the half court is atrocious. Again, hate to harp on it and sincerely hope BU is the guy, but it is what it is and he's responsible.
 
#42      

blackdog

Champaign
I know we won, but folks, this was more evidence that they are not doing what we were promised by a BU offense (score in 7 seconds or then set up half court, etc.) They now just set up boring half court sets and look like they're making everything up, instead of having a motion offense or some kind of scheme.

I honestly just have no idea what you are watching if that's what you think....you think Kofi got all those easy layups by accident?
 
#43      
We have played two low quality opponents and just scraped by. We appear to have 6 1/2 reliable players. Damonte only gets half. Not sure how anyone can be satisfied with this so far. Need Tevian badly and not even sure what we will get from him. Looking like a train wreck. Kofi and Feliz have been great. Kofi will not pile up same stats vs Big Ten opponents. He will be good but someone will have to increase their production. Ayo and Trent are the obvious candidates but color me concerned with this team.
 
#44      

I Bomb

Stylin' and Profilin'
I could see a lot of teams losing in that place - but I wonder if they get up more for the big visitors than when conf. schedule starts
 
#45      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
2-0 is good.
3-0 is better, but tougher to accomplish.
Team has talent, not all meshing at this point.
Giorgi, Ayo and Trent did not forget how to play basketball. They will remember.
 
#46      
I know we won, but folks, this was more evidence that they are not doing what we were promised by a BU offense (score in 7 seconds or then set up half court, etc.) They now just set up boring half court sets and look like they're making everything up, instead of having a motion offense or some kind of scheme.
This game wasn't very fun to watch outside of Kofi in the first 10 minutes and some strong individual plays by Feliz. I'm actually happy it's still football season for once
 
#48      
Kansas, VCU, Wisky, Auburn, LSU, and Northwestern, and Mississippi State all struggled against lower tier schools tonight (especially NW 😉).

I'd say not to read too much into these last two games.

Excited for the chance to take down Zona in their house. Go Illini.

Also, Kofi needs to at least get a hand up and contest jumpers. Only thing about his game I don't like so far.
 
#50      

sacraig

The desert
Maybe...but if this is a favor to Colangelo to help boost GCU...I'm all for it. Very impressed. There is absolutely an upside to go into an environment like that and play a motivated team.

If it's solely a favor to Colangelo (and he did have a lot to do with setting this up) then I hope we got something in return. It makes zero sense from a tournament strategy scheduling perspective.