Illinois 84, Purdue 70 POSTGAME

FeelYourPaign · Jan 11, 2016

Konnie said:
Is BTN going to replay this game? If yes, what is the date and time? Thanks

I was wanting to know the same thing. I could only listen to radio and it sounded like the Illini played a somewhat different style of ball. Since many have complained that JG doesn't adapt enough to fit the pieces that he has, I wanted to see if that was indeed the case. I'll look through the late hours again and see if I can find it.

FeelYourPaign · Jan 11, 2016

I probably missed the replay.
I went to the BTN website and clicked on Illinois as a filter and was told that there is no programming for the school I chose for any of today, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. I sure do feel the love. In 4 1/2 days, in every sport, Illinois gets 0 minutes. That is surprising.

illini8507 · Jan 11, 2016

I would imagine the game is on btn2go

BillyBob1 · Jan 11, 2016

FeelYourPaign said:
I probably missed the replay.
I went to the BTN website and clicked on Illinois as a filter and was told that there is no programming for the school I chose for any of today, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. I sure do feel the love. In 4 1/2 days, in every sport, Illinois gets 0 minutes. That is surprising.

It was replayed at 3:30 this morning.

Illinijose · Jan 11, 2016

Funny how the board goes to "Fire Groce" and the "team has no talent" to now being optimistic. I've stated before this team has talent we just have had injuries to starters and key players.

From what I have seen of Kipper Nichols he might be the surprise next year. He is DJW with a constant motor and more developed body. He is use to being the man and will go toe to toe against the competition. His jump shot is closer to AJordan than DJW. Really hope Black gets healthy and returns next year improved.

FeelYourPaign · Jan 11, 2016

illini8507 said:
I would imagine the game is on btn2go

Thanks, caught it on BTN2go. Great fun, of course !
Wow, was that a whistle happy event.

Cubby Blue · Jan 11, 2016

Illinijose said:
Funny how the board goes to "Fire Groce" and the "team has no talent" to now being optimistic. I've stated before this team has talent we just have had injuries to starters and key players.

From what I have seen of Kipper Nichols he might be the surprise next year. He is DJW with a constant motor and more developed body. He is use to being the man and will go toe to toe against the competition. His jump shot is closer to AJordan than DJW. Really hope Black gets healthy and returns next year improved.

I actually prefer DJ's jumpshot to AJ's. Aj's is a set shot. Dj's actually has better form.

Now touch is a different matter. And both Finke and JCL are much better.

alexander58 · Jan 11, 2016

Cubby Blue said:
I actually prefer DJ's jumpshot to AJ's. Aj's is a set shot. Dj's actually has better form. Now touch is a different matter. And both Fink and JCL are much better.

Jordan has a very quick release which is hard to defend. His release is like a pros.

illinitiger · Jan 11, 2016

alexander58 said:
Jordan has a very quick release which is hard to defend. His release is like a pros.

I've noticed him shuffling his feet s little before shooting....Didn't see that earlier in year.

Ryllini · Jan 11, 2016

illinitiger said:
I've noticed him shuffling his feet s little before shooting....Didn't see that earlier in year.

My opinion, but I think the staff has told AJ and JCL to let it fly when they are open, because that is the one sure fire thing they can do, shoot the basketball. I think while it may sound simple to them and us, has made them think too much. Especially AJ, as he hasn't logged as many minutes as JCL. I think AJ should lift the reigns a bit and start decking the basketball to the hoop. AJ went to the hoop a few times earlier this season and got himself to the line. JCL seems a little lost when he drives the hoop, but I think AJ would serve himself well by going to the hole.

Obelix · Jan 11, 2016

combes said:
I didn't say that we would have won all those games. But a healthy Thorne with a healthy Nunn would make us much more dangerous. Thorne is not a star but he is a good low post player. Teams have to respect that, and the defense would have to collapse some. Even if it was another foot or two, it would open up the outside shooters more. Thorne in the middle with Hill, Nunn, JCL and even Finke on the perimeter is a much better offense.

Correct. Actually that has been my point on inside play, and the reason that it does not work as well with Finke. You need a good low post player to open up the perimeter and Finke is not it, although he will become IMO a fantastic stretch PF. Thorne, while not all world, is certainly the best low post player we've had in the Groce era. And it is not even close.

But all of that would have been correct even if we had lost that game. With the sample size of 1 you can't make any inferences. One game could go either way for multiple reasons.

Ulysses Everett McGill · Jan 11, 2016

Ryllini said:
My opinion, but I think the staff has told AJ and JCL to let it fly when they are open, because that is the one sure fire thing they can do, shoot the basketball. I think while it may sound simple to them and us, has made them think too much. Especially AJ, as he hasn't logged as many minutes as JCL. I think AJ should lift the reigns a bit and start decking the basketball to the hoop. AJ went to the hoop a few times earlier this season and got himself to the line. JCL seems a little lost when he drives the hoop, but I think AJ would serve himself well by going to the hole.

AJ did have one pull-up jumper off a dribble-drive vs PU. Missed it, but he looked good taking it. Agree, need both he and JCL to develop as drivers as they move along.

TCTORNADO · Jan 12, 2016

Looking at the box score, Nunn and Hill combined for 52 points against Purdue. Against MSU the whole team only scored 54.

491illinois · Jan 12, 2016

TCTORNADO said:
Looking at the box score, Nunn and Hill combined for 52 points against Purdue. Against MSU the whole team only scored 54.

What do you think that means?

TCTORNADO · Jan 12, 2016

491illinois said:
What do you think that means?

Haha, it means that Groce can recruit....Hill/Nunn are the best combination backcourt in the B1G.

Greensboro · Jan 12, 2016

combes said:
I didn't say that we would have won all those games. But a healthy Thorne with a healthy Nunn would make us much more dangerous. Thorne is not a star but he is a good low post player. Teams have to respect that, and the defense would have to collapse some. Even if it was another foot or two, it would open up the outside shooters more. Thorne in the middle with Hill, Nunn, JCL and even Finke on the perimeter is a much better offense.

I know you didn't, but because of the sample size don't see the significance of pointing out we didn't lose the only game we had both. Thorne would help a ton by opening up the outside, but for everyone. He and/or Black would be huge help on the glass & guarding the post. We need Nunn for his toughness/defense/offense, we just look a lot better when he is in the lineup. Injuries have killed us & we will be a bunch better if we can get Thorne & Black back...I think just getting Black back to help would be huge, Thorne even better.

eMitch · Jan 12, 2016

TCTORNADO said:
Haha, it means that Groce can recruit....Hill/Nunn are the best combination backcourt in the B1G.

Also, when one of them is missing, the other becomes the entire focus of the opponents defense. When that focus has to be split among both of them, they can really score. There is quite a drop off in offensive talent from those 2 to their replacements.

Obelix · Jan 12, 2016

TCTORNADO said:
Haha, it means that Groce can recruit....Hill/Nunn are the best combination backcourt in the B1G.

Not sure about backcourt as it usually implies a PG, and Hill has also played a fair amount in the frontcourt. But Hill/Nunn/JCL are definitely one of the best combination of perimeter/wings in the B1G, although not necessarily the best.

The combination of Valentine, Forbes, Harris and McQuaid is probably the best in the B1G right now.

Cubby Blue · Jan 12, 2016

Obelix said:
Not sure about backcourt as it usually implies a PG, and Hill has also played a fair amount in the frontcourt. But Hill/Nunn/JCL are definitely one of the best combination of perimeter/wings in the B1G, although not necessarily the best.

The combination of Valentine, Forbes, Harris and McQuaid is probably the best in the B1G right now.

After watching Mello this past weekend single handidly beat Wisconsin (or maybe it just seemed that way), I think him and two stiffs might be the best backcourt in the league right now.

Obelix · Jan 12, 2016

Cubby Blue said:
After watching Mello this past weekend single handidly beat Wisconsin (or maybe it just seemed that way), I think him and two stiffs might be the best backcourt in the league right now.

Yes, as far as pure backcourt PG/SG, Trimble/Sulaimon is probably the best.