Illinois 91, Ohio State 88 OT Postgame
- Status
BillyBob1
- Champaign
Saw that. What a stupid comment to make! He probably hasn’t watched any other Illinois games this year.
Also, about a week ago, the guy sitting across from Wally pronounced Kofi’s last name the way it looks and then said this Illinois team has a chance to advance like the 2005 team did under Bill Self! They do their homework on that show.
Actually, this was the second time he made that statement. The first was not long after the game. He suggested BU take the ball away from Ayo late and give it to Curbelo. Love Curbelo, but the choice is not a close one. Obviously Szczerbiak has never seen the best closer in basketball video. The only chemistry issue is that everyone else on the team trusts Ayo to close it out and stands back and watches.
Deleted member 747903
D
Guest
I can personally guarantee you the B10 tournament was the first time Wally watched us play so whatever hot takes he has are irrelevant.
Not only do our players know that Ayo will take the last shot, but now any team with a decent coach knows it as well. I still think we need to win or lose with one of the best clutch players ever at Illinois. Hope we don’t have any close games in the tourney.
LarryGotFouled
- Plano, TX
That's the problem - the other teams know it too and just load up on him, preventing the drive or the mid-range where he has won games in the past. I have to believe that BU is saving some 'end of game' plays for the tournament. It will be good because they will be completely unscouted. In the OSU endgame situation, it's not acceptable to not get something going to the rim with either Ayo or in to Kofi or something similar. Even Jordan passed to an open Kerr to win a title. I hope they have something special, because we're likely going to need it in at least one game in the tournament.
haasi
- New York
Wally ncaa player >>>>> nba player > nba analyst >>>>........>>> ncaa analyst.
actually glad to have idiots like him making comments. Means we’re relevant. A breath of fresh air. Plus, hope the team hears him and wants to put him right on Freezing Cold Takes
haasi
- New York
Yes I’m hoping Ayo gets back to realizing he can create for teammates in late game situations. Will open up looks for him too. He went thru this freshman year I believe when he took a bad shot in final possession and had Trent open in corner. He’s a great teammate. Needs to remember that he’s not our only option late game, even if he’s absolutely superior as a closer.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
He does it splendidly during the rest of the game. Many of his assists are poetry in motion. IMO the event that propelled this team from having merely strong potential in March to its #1 seed and FF talk was the three-game stretch when the guys had to grind and win w/o Ayo. When he came back they just looked different, and more balanced. To me, anyway.
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
He actually watched at least one other game. I believe, and I may be wrong here, that he picked Minnesota over us when we wrecked them up in the Barn in what I believe was the beginning of our late season surge. I may be wrong on the exact game, but I do remember him picking against us and he could have not been any more wrong because we definitely won whichever game it was. I remembered thinking he did not know much about us then, and he obviously didn't learn anything about us since then. Just another extremely lazy commentator who keeps cashing paychecks while doing zero analysis or investigation of the sport they are paid to "analyze."
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
And, yes, after watching the post game celebration vids, the post game press conferences, and seeing the guys on the floor constantly running to help each other up, Ayo grabbing DMW after a made bucket, and the guys locking arms during free throws.....real serious chemistry issues there
. What a totally moronic comment to make about the #2 team in the nation. We may lose during the tournament (hope to God we do not) but it sure as heck will not be because the team lacks chemistry. LMAODeleted member 747903
D
Guest
This was the game Ayo had a triple double so he clearly didn't actually watch it.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
All I know is he made the pick against us and was made to look foolish. Anyway, Ayo continuing to call out the disrespect in numerous interviews he has done since the B10 tournament is music to Illini fans' ears. He is putting people on notice that IL is done being an afterthought. The team has gone out and backed up the pre-season hype. Now, if they can make a deep run here in the NCAA like we all think they can, this team will have backed up what they have been saying all along and emphatically put this program back where it belongs-in the national spotlight. Even if they do not go all the way, they have built a foundation that should be able to be taken advantage of by the competent AD and coaching staff we currently have in place. It has been a long time coming, but it is time to put these long tournament droughts and multiple unsuccessful season stretches in the past for good! And if we can, we can look back at this team as the start of it.I was thinking the same thing. In the OSU game, my recollection is that they were defending him tight starting five feet beyond the arc, and had TWO defenders coming up to double or triple him once he got to the three-point line, Ayo taking an undefended thee from five feet beyond the arc is a good bet, but I would like to see a better option than him taking a contested three from five feet beyond the arc, or trying to drive through a double or triple team.
Flame me. I love Ayo either way.
Last edited:
If he hits that shot his legend would only be that much greater. He’s already our ONLY first team All American. His career highlight reel is too much to believe. Could you imagine him hitting that shot with the entire country watching it?!!!!
- Status