sacraig
- The desert
This literally never happens.
Illinois 88, Southern 60 Postgame
I resemble that remark
Dain beats up on small school bigs. He doesn't look nearly as good against power conference opponents.
Not saying it's not an issue but southern also turned over Arizona 23 times.
I didn’t see any of the B1G+ games, so this is the first time I’ve seen a blowout and the end of rotation guys get some real minutes. Came away impressed with AH. He’s a big boy. Seems to play within himself. Moretti was also impressive. Hope he can get over the injury quickly.
In other postgame threads I’ve seen plenty of people post that PG hasn’t been the issue when criticism of Ty in that role comes up. Well PG might not be the issue now, but I’m still very skeptical that Ty as the “primary” PG is a good thing. And yes I know our options are limited. Feels like BU not getting one this summer is gonna bite this team in the a$$ come tourney time if not before. Such a shame as I really like Ty’s versatility and overall game. Having him as another ball handler would be great. Just not so sure him as primary PG is close to great.
And how about Shannon. He is fun to watch and really seems dialed in.
In other postgame threads I’ve seen plenty of people post that PG hasn’t been the issue when criticism of Ty in that role comes up. Well PG might not be the issue now, but I’m still very skeptical that Ty as the “primary” PG is a good thing. And yes I know our options are limited. Feels like BU not getting one this summer is gonna bite this team in the a$$ come tourney time if not before. Such a shame as I really like Ty’s versatility and overall game. Having him as another ball handler would be great. Just not so sure him as primary PG is close to great.
And how about Shannon. He is fun to watch and really seems dialed in.
Just something that dawned on me tonight… The TEAM is looking for the right play and HOW to make it. Do we always execute, no. However, this team would destroy lasts years team imo. We have consistency. We’ve got who we got. At the end of the day, the ceiling is higher, great job by the staff. It’s November basketball. Oosah.
In the last two games , opponents have a point of ratcheting up the pressure on Domask and he’s made poor decisions. The silly turnovers really need to be cleaned up by the whole team.
I know the insiders said he wouldn’t play but to me he is the only true point guard. DGL is a shooting guard trying to play the point. He can shoot but isn’t the passer that Nico is. Not a bad athletic and seems bb savvy. Liked him coaching player for not coming back for the pass. Also took the ball to the basket when open but not forcing anything.
Finally came out with some energy tonight. Dancing Bear showed Hawkins how a big man is suppose to play. I guess it's hard for Hawkins to score under the basket when you're 30 feet away from it. Saw some surprising things tonight. Moretti showed some good things getting the ball out on fast breaks to our scorers. Hansberry had few good moments, Guerrier played with some energy tonight.
I guess the downsides continue. Lack of consistent shooting from 3. You're not going to put up 62 points in the paint against Big teams. Domask looked awkward shooting and on defense tonight. We need him and Luke to make those 3's to balance the offense. Shannon is Shannon and when he gets going there is no stopping him. He just needs some help.
I think Dain needs to be in the starting lineup night after night with Coleman coming off the bench. Hawkins is not strong enough or aggressive enough to play in the middle. He can't shoot the 3 and I have never understood when he gets in the middle why he continually refuses to take that 10 footer and passes it off or throws it away.
There were way too many turnovers tonight. Maybe that was due to various lineups playing together but it needs to improve. Over all this was probably the Illini's best game thus far. Maybe they are starting to put things together. I hope Morreti and Dra are both ok. We need them moving forward.
I guess the downsides continue. Lack of consistent shooting from 3. You're not going to put up 62 points in the paint against Big teams. Domask looked awkward shooting and on defense tonight. We need him and Luke to make those 3's to balance the offense. Shannon is Shannon and when he gets going there is no stopping him. He just needs some help.
I think Dain needs to be in the starting lineup night after night with Coleman coming off the bench. Hawkins is not strong enough or aggressive enough to play in the middle. He can't shoot the 3 and I have never understood when he gets in the middle why he continually refuses to take that 10 footer and passes it off or throws it away.
There were way too many turnovers tonight. Maybe that was due to various lineups playing together but it needs to improve. Over all this was probably the Illini's best game thus far. Maybe they are starting to put things together. I hope Morreti and Dra are both ok. We need them moving forward.
blackdog
- Champaign
Harmon is starting to give me some reminders of Feliz as he gets more comfortable. Gets rebounds he has no business getting, decent but not great shooter, can drive and finish, solid passing, can be disruptive with quick hands on defense. He's not quite the on ball defender or finisher that Feliz was but brings a lot of the same energy.
Last year:
UCLA - 13 pts
MSU - 20 pts
Iowa - 17 pts
Rutgers - 15 pts
Minnesota- 11 & 12 pts
Indiana - 11 pts
PSU - 13 pts
sacraig
- The desert
Don't let facts get in the way of his narrative.
Central IL Illini
- Springfield, IL
Yah this is exactly what he did last year, so I'm not really sure why people are clamoring for him to start all the sudden. When he starts going against people as big as him he struggles. We saw it in the Marquette game just like we saw it all last year during B10 play. I don't think a starting lineup with Ty and Dain will be successful against good teams.
He played FOUR mins vs Marquette. FOUR.
After Sprain... who knows
We should also add that DD went for 10 & 5 last year in ~20mpg in his first real year of college hoops. Presumably, coach thinks "let's roll with this guy who showed lots of promise to see if, at this early juncture a mere ~28% into his tenure as a CBB player, he can grow and do even more to help the team."
Sadly, I had to miss this game live as I was attending a wedding in apparently one if the few places in the US that doesn't have reception. That said, the Matt Loves Ball highlights looked pretty great as I'm waiting for the full game to become available. Dain did a great job being aggressive and imposing his will, TSJ did TSJ things, and the team played with a ton of energy. They looked good, caveat being of course that Southern isn't very good though they did take down UNLV.
With regards to Nico's play tonight, he looked great, but I'm less surprised than I think he was building towards it. It's fair to say that Nico was one of our best players in Spain, and it seemed like the offense flowed better whenever he was on the court. And in his early season play, Nico has played quite well in his games against low level competition. His defense does need improvement but it has definitely been better than advertised. While he looked a bit shell-shocked in the limited minutes against the P5 teams we've played, if he can start replicating performances like this against B10 competition, he's going to be getting more than his fair share of minutes. He's looked very good thus far, possible diamond in the rough for sure.
With regards to Nico's play tonight, he looked great, but I'm less surprised than I think he was building towards it. It's fair to say that Nico was one of our best players in Spain, and it seemed like the offense flowed better whenever he was on the court. And in his early season play, Nico has played quite well in his games against low level competition. His defense does need improvement but it has definitely been better than advertised. While he looked a bit shell-shocked in the limited minutes against the P5 teams we've played, if he can start replicating performances like this against B10 competition, he's going to be getting more than his fair share of minutes. He's looked very good thus far, possible diamond in the rough for sure.
I liked what Nico brought to the table last night, he did a great job of moving the ball and our offense looked more fluid. I wonder how much of that was due to Coleman not being on the floor. I always get discouraged when he hangs on to the ball so long that it allows the defense to rotate back into position instead of moving it quickly or rotating the ball to weak side.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I got to watch this whole one, and I liked what I saw! Obviously, the turnovers are an issue. However, I am still kind of hopeful this might improve and we are not doomed to suffer from last year's issues:
Total: 21 turnovers
3 for Gibbs-Lawhorn (Freshman)
3 for Domask (Transfer)
2 for Guerrier (Transfer)
2 for Rodgers (Sophomore)
2 for Shannon (Senior)
2 for Moretti (Freshman)
2 for Harmon (Transfer)
2 for Goode (Junior)
1 for Hansberry (Freshman)
1 for Williams (Senior)
1 for Dainja (Junior)
So strictly by class:
- 7 for Transfers
- 6 for Freshmen
- 3 for Juniors
- 3 for Seniors
- 2 for Sophomores
So nearly two thirds of our turnovers were from transfers or freshmen, and our starters only had 10 (not elite but not anywhere near as bad). Of our starters' 10 turnovers, 60% were from brand new transfers The garbage time turnover from Williams should hardly count as a "turnover from one of our seniors," haha. Ty only had 2, and Shannon only had 2 in 30 minutes of play.
The point is, I think there is serious and realistic hope for material improvement in this regard. I am very excited to see how we can respond to these upcoming difficult tests ... because this stretch will be huge. Let's assume we can get past Western Illinois at home, because if we cannot, we have way bigger issues.
--- Illini are 5-1 and likely ranked around #23 still ---
at Rutgers
vs. #10 FAU
at #7 Tennessee
Our season outlook fundamentally changes based on those three games, IMO. I mean, don't get me wrong - our season will not be defined in early December (if it were, last year would have been a smashing success!!). However, the Big Ten looks weak, and getting two of these three would be massive for our NCAAT resume. RU on the road has the chance to be a Quad 1 win, and the other two almost certainly would be. I think winning in Knoxville will be REALLY tough, but I think we can take the first two.
Total: 21 turnovers
3 for Gibbs-Lawhorn (Freshman)
3 for Domask (Transfer)
2 for Guerrier (Transfer)
2 for Rodgers (Sophomore)
2 for Shannon (Senior)
2 for Moretti (Freshman)
2 for Harmon (Transfer)
2 for Goode (Junior)
1 for Hansberry (Freshman)
1 for Williams (Senior)
1 for Dainja (Junior)
So strictly by class:
- 7 for Transfers
- 6 for Freshmen
- 3 for Juniors
- 3 for Seniors
- 2 for Sophomores
So nearly two thirds of our turnovers were from transfers or freshmen, and our starters only had 10 (not elite but not anywhere near as bad). Of our starters' 10 turnovers, 60% were from brand new transfers The garbage time turnover from Williams should hardly count as a "turnover from one of our seniors," haha. Ty only had 2, and Shannon only had 2 in 30 minutes of play.
The point is, I think there is serious and realistic hope for material improvement in this regard. I am very excited to see how we can respond to these upcoming difficult tests ... because this stretch will be huge. Let's assume we can get past Western Illinois at home, because if we cannot, we have way bigger issues.
--- Illini are 5-1 and likely ranked around #23 still ---
at Rutgers
vs. #10 FAU
at #7 Tennessee
Our season outlook fundamentally changes based on those three games, IMO. I mean, don't get me wrong - our season will not be defined in early December (if it were, last year would have been a smashing success!!). However, the Big Ten looks weak, and getting two of these three would be massive for our NCAAT resume. RU on the road has the chance to be a Quad 1 win, and the other two almost certainly would be. I think winning in Knoxville will be REALLY tough, but I think we can take the first two.
