Illinois 87, UT Rio Grande Valley 73 Postgame
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Classic sleepy spot. We survived. I agree with Brad's sentiments on the defense. That kind of effort isn't gonna cut it against the better teams on our schedule.
I hope coach doesn't destroy their legs on treadmill in practice. We'll need them on Friday. He's in lockeroom throwing and breaking crap.
Ok. To begin... yes I am happy that they won, and I believe we can be a really good team...
But man... they have some things to clean up.
- The defense...was really bad. Our bigs cannot move their feet, and I don't know how you fix that. The twins are still not right in my eyes. Tomi looks tired, tentative and slow. And YES I understand he is coming back from injury and needs time. I hope that's all it is, because he does not look right. If you looked at Z's numbers you would prolly think, good game. He got beat a ton off the dribble, constantly biting on pump fakes. You're 7 f*cking 2. Stand straight up first. He is maddening to me. And this isn't even mentioning Mirk is also a turnstile on defense...slooooooow footed.
- I have been banging the Petro drum since he signed. He is your best point guard. No its no offense to Kylan. KB is obviously a better defender and better overall player...but I want to ball in Petro's hands waaaaaaaaaaay more. And if Brad can't see that, then I dont know what to say. His pick and roll game is terrific and Kylan is...below average in the pick and roll. Its 25+ Minutes for Petro for me...take a few minutes from anyone you want. The guy will help you win.
- I thought Ben was fine...played hard, got a few rebounds. He just missed his shots. But they were the correct shots to take. He can and will make them, I'm confident in that.
- This is all with the eye on being a championship level team. If you want 4th or 5th in the conference, then you just take this win with a smile and move on...
But if we are talking final 4 team? You got alot of improving to do. And it starts on the defensive side. You cant get out worked, out hustled and expect to outscored everyone after passing the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds only to get a tough iso shot or a long 3.
Better get better quick or Uconn will throw us to the curb.
But man... they have some things to clean up.
- The defense...was really bad. Our bigs cannot move their feet, and I don't know how you fix that. The twins are still not right in my eyes. Tomi looks tired, tentative and slow. And YES I understand he is coming back from injury and needs time. I hope that's all it is, because he does not look right. If you looked at Z's numbers you would prolly think, good game. He got beat a ton off the dribble, constantly biting on pump fakes. You're 7 f*cking 2. Stand straight up first. He is maddening to me. And this isn't even mentioning Mirk is also a turnstile on defense...slooooooow footed.
- I have been banging the Petro drum since he signed. He is your best point guard. No its no offense to Kylan. KB is obviously a better defender and better overall player...but I want to ball in Petro's hands waaaaaaaaaaay more. And if Brad can't see that, then I dont know what to say. His pick and roll game is terrific and Kylan is...below average in the pick and roll. Its 25+ Minutes for Petro for me...take a few minutes from anyone you want. The guy will help you win.
- I thought Ben was fine...played hard, got a few rebounds. He just missed his shots. But they were the correct shots to take. He can and will make them, I'm confident in that.
- This is all with the eye on being a championship level team. If you want 4th or 5th in the conference, then you just take this win with a smile and move on...
But if we are talking final 4 team? You got alot of improving to do. And it starts on the defensive side. You cant get out worked, out hustled and expect to outscored everyone after passing the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds only to get a tough iso shot or a long 3.
Better get better quick or Uconn will throw us to the curb.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Went from 3 to 4 on Torvik. Purdon't now ahead of us.
Outside of AS continuing to be unstoppable at the rim and Petro looking like the clear point guard of this team, a poor showing and effort by the players and staff
Not coming away from this one feeling great.
Wins a win, need time to jell, etc, etc but we haven't looked crisp on either end since TTU.
Getting worried that we're just not a good shooting team...again. This team is at its best when it's moving the ball around and making open threes. We can be second weekend good without the three ball but I don't think we can be Final Four good without it.
Also...defense.
Wins a win, need time to jell, etc, etc but we haven't looked crisp on either end since TTU.
Getting worried that we're just not a good shooting team...again. This team is at its best when it's moving the ball around and making open threes. We can be second weekend good without the three ball but I don't think we can be Final Four good without it.
Also...defense.
I have. I know frustration and general anger is part of the deal. I also get dude just wants to play. However, Geoff clearly said something that set him off and made him snap at him. Dont love seeing that.
Going to need to be much better than that, Wagler and Kylan specifically.
Brad is right, there were guys who half ***** it in this game. They will be challenged, let's see how they respond against UConn.
Brad is right, there were guys who half ***** it in this game. They will be challenged, let's see how they respond against UConn.
Time for Cam Crocker to earn his paycheck and figure out how to hide 3 really poor interior defenders and make us look competent on that end of the floor. Either we mix in more zone defense or don’t switch 1 through 5, but multiple teams have found a way to switch their athletic guards / wings onto our 5s and matchup hunt to their hearts desire.
Oh, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Ben Humrichous’ effort on that end of the floor is one of the only things keeping the defense afloat. He is WAY more than just a shooter to this team this year.
Oh, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Ben Humrichous’ effort on that end of the floor is one of the only things keeping the defense afloat. He is WAY more than just a shooter to this team this year.
UConn didn't crack 40% fg against a like 325 Kenpom team just last night.
I think you're trying to make something out of nothing
These dudes scream at each other all day every day
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Stojakovic up to 18.5 points per game through 6 games. Long way to go, but IMO that's replicable a season's worth.
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
Yeah, no need to freak out. This one always had trap-ish game potential sandwiched in between Bama and UConn. They have a bunch of quick athletic dudes who our bigs didn’t match up very well with and they played hard for 40 minutes..
Petro’s arrival as a legit point guard is the main takeaway tonight.
All this.
And it's happening game after game after game. At some point they've got to review film and see this with the other 3 bigs.
I bagged on Ben as much as anyone last season as a starter (poor shooting....PLUS poor defending where he was targeted). Guy is moving his feet this season when forced outside on D....the same can't be said of the other 3 bigs. They are atrocious when they are forced to roam outside on D
We need a term for us when we miss a wide open 3 and the opponent comes right down and cashes an open 3.
I swear it’s clockwork.
I swear it’s clockwork.
Or like a team full of pros we elevate when required.
Let’s toss the ball up and see what happens.
Ben had the same number of rebounds as Wagler with more blocks. I like Waglers versatility but he has been playing too much me ball lately. We have a lot of options with this team he needs to learn not to force things.
Can they score in the lane against other bigs?
Our coaches want to winThats because he's same age as our coaches and snippy.
Yep. One of our bigs got beat baseline(again), which completely collapsed the zone. Lol. Well, nobody can say we didn't try it.
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