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Illinois 83, Grand Canyon 71 POSTGAME
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<blockquote data-quote="LarryGotFouled" data-source="post: 1494735" data-attributes="member: 229656"><p><strong>It's early, I guess.</strong></p><p></p><p>Easy to go overboard on hot takes, but I agree with posters on the 'it's early, we're 2-0' train and also with the concept that we'll know a lot more Sunday night. A couple things stand out though:</p><p></p><p>* The entire team seems...confused...on the offensive end. I actually think they've been better this year with ball reversal and not letting the ball 'stick'. However, 90% of the cuts have no purpose whatsoever. It is infuriating to see a repeated sequence of guys passing and then casually moving through the lane area with not even a thought of looking for a pass or positioning themselves - or looking to back pick someone else's man for a lob. It's like going through the motions and they make it easy for their trailing man to cover them. It winds up being a lot of 'activity' with no 'productivity'. I have to think that BU is hiding some of his 'stuff' for when the games ratchet up. We should see more against Arizona.</p><p></p><p>* It's weird to see the defense this year. Yeah - it has done wonders to reduce the fouling, increase the free throw ratio and rebounding stats, but after three years of building the identity of making guys like Cassius Winston miserable, we're now allowing the the GCUs and Nicholls St's of the world to run their sets in comfort. Despite being less aggressive, our guards (except Trent) get beat constantly off head fakes on the dribble. I'm curious to see it vs AZ, but I don't know what our identity is supposed to be anymore with that vanilla D.</p><p></p><p>* I love where Alan Griffin is headed. That guy is a demon on offensive rebounds and I love his movement with a purpose on offense. He sprints to his spots and is ready to let it fly when he's open. He needs more minutes ASAP and...</p><p></p><p>* Kipper and DMW's minutes need to evaporate. I am convinced we are seeing the 'Ghost of Kipper' because this *cannot* be the guy who has scored 30+ multiple times against top tier Big Ten teams and frankly looked like our most consistent 3 point shooter 2 years ago. He *looks* like a basketball player and goes through basketball motions out there, but his heart is not in it. DMW is just going through the motions on offense and his body language is not good on that end. Part of our offensive flow issues is we *rarely* have 5 guys on the floor all looking to score and take advantage of seams that the movement is supposed to create. Reminds me of early vintage Chet Frazier and just makes it easier for the defender to 'cheat' into spaces that should be more open.</p><p></p><p>* I really hope Tev has been going to class, because this team desperately needs another fearless shooter and aggressive athlete on the floor. If Tev has taken the same kind of leap that Alan has, he will play *a lot* and the team will look a lot more fluid.</p><p></p><p>* Giorgi hasn't lost his skill set but I think he hasn't quite figured out his spots in the new lineups. He's forcing things that he didn't last year and seems to 'rush'. I like his post passing though and he hit Kofi with a couple beautiful ones. I think it would be better for Giorgi if they ran some stuff to get Kofi a couple free throw looks to draw his man up the lane and give Giorgi his post move opportunities against a 4 man. Not every time, just as a switch up.</p><p></p><p>* Too early to worry about Ayo. Let's see him when the lights really come on.</p><p></p><p></p><p>All will be forgotten if they somehow step up their game and pull a real surprise on Sunday.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="LarryGotFouled, post: 1494735, member: 229656"] [B]It's early, I guess.[/B] Easy to go overboard on hot takes, but I agree with posters on the 'it's early, we're 2-0' train and also with the concept that we'll know a lot more Sunday night. A couple things stand out though: * The entire team seems...confused...on the offensive end. I actually think they've been better this year with ball reversal and not letting the ball 'stick'. However, 90% of the cuts have no purpose whatsoever. It is infuriating to see a repeated sequence of guys passing and then casually moving through the lane area with not even a thought of looking for a pass or positioning themselves - or looking to back pick someone else's man for a lob. It's like going through the motions and they make it easy for their trailing man to cover them. It winds up being a lot of 'activity' with no 'productivity'. I have to think that BU is hiding some of his 'stuff' for when the games ratchet up. We should see more against Arizona. * It's weird to see the defense this year. Yeah - it has done wonders to reduce the fouling, increase the free throw ratio and rebounding stats, but after three years of building the identity of making guys like Cassius Winston miserable, we're now allowing the the GCUs and Nicholls St's of the world to run their sets in comfort. Despite being less aggressive, our guards (except Trent) get beat constantly off head fakes on the dribble. I'm curious to see it vs AZ, but I don't know what our identity is supposed to be anymore with that vanilla D. * I love where Alan Griffin is headed. That guy is a demon on offensive rebounds and I love his movement with a purpose on offense. He sprints to his spots and is ready to let it fly when he's open. He needs more minutes ASAP and... * Kipper and DMW's minutes need to evaporate. I am convinced we are seeing the 'Ghost of Kipper' because this *cannot* be the guy who has scored 30+ multiple times against top tier Big Ten teams and frankly looked like our most consistent 3 point shooter 2 years ago. He *looks* like a basketball player and goes through basketball motions out there, but his heart is not in it. DMW is just going through the motions on offense and his body language is not good on that end. Part of our offensive flow issues is we *rarely* have 5 guys on the floor all looking to score and take advantage of seams that the movement is supposed to create. Reminds me of early vintage Chet Frazier and just makes it easier for the defender to 'cheat' into spaces that should be more open. * I really hope Tev has been going to class, because this team desperately needs another fearless shooter and aggressive athlete on the floor. If Tev has taken the same kind of leap that Alan has, he will play *a lot* and the team will look a lot more fluid. * Giorgi hasn't lost his skill set but I think he hasn't quite figured out his spots in the new lineups. He's forcing things that he didn't last year and seems to 'rush'. I like his post passing though and he hit Kofi with a couple beautiful ones. I think it would be better for Giorgi if they ran some stuff to get Kofi a couple free throw looks to draw his man up the lane and give Giorgi his post move opportunities against a 4 man. Not every time, just as a switch up. * Too early to worry about Ayo. Let's see him when the lights really come on. All will be forgotten if they somehow step up their game and pull a real surprise on Sunday. [/QUOTE]
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Illinois 83, Grand Canyon 71 POSTGAME
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