Illinois 91, Penn State 52 Postgame

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#276      
RollChief
To give a couple stats that stuck out to me after the PSU game...

This is the highest KP ranking (7) since the 2021 tournament (2), where the Illini squad was at 118.0 and 88.9 Adj. Off and Def Efficiency, respectively. Today, we're at 119.3 and 92.0.

Since KP started tracking stats in 97, every team that has won the NCAA championship has been ranked in the top 10 for Adj. Off efficiency except for 4 teams: 97 Zona, 03 Syracuse, 11 UConn, and 15 UConn.

Right now the Illini are ranked 19th in Adj. Offensive Efficiency. If we can do a combination of bringing down turnover rate by a few points, bringing up 3P% by a few points, and/or getting to the line more (which are things we tend to do as players settle into the season), we should be well within top 10 offense status.

Obviously having a top-10 offensive isn't a requirement to win it all going into the tournament, but having the prerequisites certainly helps when you're applying for the PhD program...
 
#277      
Big Jack
Nuke Dukem said:
While I agree it is a distinct possibly Ty transfers, he is 6’6”
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You know my original thought / comment was that Ty was leaving thus the redshirt, however seeing as how he is still at the U of I on the bench after the semester finished makes me think he is really just redshirting and not going to transfer.. If he was seriously going to leave think his bags would have already been packed.

If there was a new school trying to get him to leave and move on he would have been gone... Be interested to see @illini0440 or @Indy Illini Fan thoughts. I for one am hoping he decided to sit back and watch KJ and learn what he needed to make his game NBA worthy
 
#278      
NarrowJ
Deacon05 said:
Of course nobody can be sure other than them. But he said he was injured, his team said he was injured, and it was reported he had back tightness/stiffness after that play. Kind of have to go with that instead of just assuming he is lying to everybody to save his ego.
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He played another 15 minutes after the fall. Maybe it tightened up? Admittedly, I'm not one to give hated opponents the benefit of doubt.

Regardless of injury or no injury, Boswell had him locked in a cage.
 
#279      
Bucktown
OrangeBlue98 said:
Completely with you. Just because he sold the contact doesn't mean there was no contact. That's one of the misconceptions about officiating (which I know you know given your experience). You can call the foul, but tell the fouled party "hey, you don't need to sell it - I'll call it". Happens a lot in the soccer games I officiate. Sometimes my message resonates and players stop play-acting, sometimes they don't.
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This was a blocking foul. Boswell's small push was more reactive...'I'm going to get hit I better protect myself'. The defender ran in front of Boswell, and then over- reacted. However, Karma corrected the call with the injury to Ace Bailey on the flop.
 
#280      
illini55
rbse said:
this was the finest basketball played by any team that I've watched this year, unbelievable ! This team is going to make us all giddy, what an outstanding performance, disciplined, unselfish, great defense, deep bench, Brad keeping it together. My head is still spinning, what a show.
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Well, I'll agree that they played great. The game against Oregon, however, was even better. To take a rated team down on their floor with great shooting and a determination that I have been waiting for my entire Illini life, was awe inspiring. In the last 55 years I have watched the boys, I have often said: "Why don't they take it to the hole?; why don't they play harder? why don't they shoot free throws better? I'm not saying ANY of those things with this team. A true JOY to watch!! Thank you, Illini. I'm having so much fun.
 
#282      
AirNeazy
Morez is a stone cold killer. Love his mental toughness as well.....he never seems to get too high or too low. Whatever needs to be done ($$$, starting spot) to retain him for the next 3 years....needs to be done full stop. He's 1st Team All B1G caliber as an upperclassmen...easily and perhaps even more.
 
#283      
Rammer34
New Creation said:
Celebration Win GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics


So who is the MVP of the game?
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Kylen Boswell.
 
#284      
Battle89
Oranges said:
Podz transferred because he couldn’t get on the court here, Will started tonight. Kid just needs some time to add weight and develop
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So the Adam Miller trajectory then? Not agreeing with the original poster, just saying that minutes or starting do not equate to an automatic staying.

Totally agree on the weight and dev needs.
 
#285      
Ga65
At this point which starter is not among the top three (in the conference) at his position? Which among the trio of Rez, Will, and DGL would not be starting for any other BIG team? (Rez at Mich would be one). Certainly an argumentative question but think it is realistic argument.
 
#286      
TheDukeUIUC
Big Jack said:
You know my original thought / comment was that Ty was leaving thus the redshirt, however seeing as how he is still at the U of I on the bench after the semester finished makes me think he is really just redshirting and not going to transfer.. If he was seriously going to leave think his bags would have already been packed.

If there was a new school trying to get him to leave and move on he would have been gone... Be interested to see @illini0440 or @Indy Illini Fan thoughts. I for one am hoping he decided to sit back and watch KJ and learn what he needed to make his game NBA worthy
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Harris stuck around all year without leaving at the semester and transferred after the season. I dont think you can really make this conclusion at this point.
 
#287      
SuperintendentChalmers
In the “Play me immediately or I’m outta here” world of modern college basketball, DGL’s emergence these last five or six games has been amazing to watch. He’s been creating havoc on both ends of the floor. I would love to see him graduate with a Coleman Hawkins-type legacy of improving every year and becoming a beloved favorite among Illini fans.
 
#289      
Bigtex
Big Jack said:
You know my original thought / comment was that Ty was leaving thus the redshirt, however seeing as how he is still at the U of I on the bench after the semester finished makes me think he is really just redshirting and not going to transfer.. If he was seriously going to leave think his bags would have already been packed.

If there was a new school trying to get him to leave and move on he would have been gone... Be interested to see @illini0440 or @Indy Illini Fan thoughts. I for one am hoping he decided to sit back and watch KJ and learn what he needed to make his game NBA worthy
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Dont think you can make any determinations on being active on the bench. Harris got a T last year.
 
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#290      
hoopsfan47
In the last three games,, two blowouts and one close road win we all know was lucky to go for us, we have seen the difference between this team and past (somewhat successful) Illini teams. This team has more perimeter shooters than an Illini team I can remember since the Flyin' Illini, and my "seen" dates back to the mid-50s. With the introduction of the three point arc, three pointers have become maybe the biggest weapon the game has ever seen. BU has loaded his roster with not only three point shooters....but three point makers!!!! We certainly have seen those makers face a lid on the basket at times, but that lid is beginning to crack as collectively those shooters impose their will on it. And maybe, just maybe, it will have to be removed as it becomes ineffective.

Secondly, the game in between the two elite shooting games of our past three, also demonstrated a new aspect this team has that has been missing far too long. Though every one of us loved watching the elite talents of Ty, Sencire, and DD, they could not be on the floor at crunch time when, with the game on the line, they were required to make free throws, and none could meet that requirement. Then we saw Kaspar and Kylan stand on that line and knock down four freebies that sealed and Illini victory. Only Morez is lacking in that area, and his mechanics are not nearly as bad as the three mentioned from last season's team. He has the potential to become a dependable FT shooter and I hope he does.

Finally, slow starts and low energy starts have plagued recent teams, especially in 2023-24. That is becoming a thing of the past, even when considering last night's start, it did not last long. Now, scoring droughts do not figure big due to having a wealth of options.

Yes, we all saw the potential of this team on paper in Sept., but a jigsaw puzzle is not finished in a day, and this puzzle, developing their potential, was a huge one. It is not complete, and may never be, but it is far enough along that we can all see the beauty it promises. And it is something special to behold for Illini hoops fans. Go Illini!!!
 
#291      
Illinigirl
Not sure how much they showed on TV, but loved how invested KJ was the entire game. He was standing between the coaches on the sidelines, on the floor coaching/encouraging teammates constantly, had to be pulled off the court by coaches at least once that I saw, definitely could not stand not being in the game. Enjoyed watching him and hope he's back soon!
 
#292      
St Michel
Rammer34 said:
Kylen Boswell.
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I was just going to post about him. He's not a lights-out 3-point shooter and he's probably too short for the NBA but he's just a very impressive player. Always seems to have a plan when he's got the ball.
 
#293      
SuperintendentChalmers
Illinigirl said:
Not sure how much they showed on TV, but loved how invested KJ was the entire game. He was standing between the coaches on the sidelines, on the floor coaching/encouraging teammates constantly, had to be pulled off the court by coaches at least once that I saw, definitely could not stand not being in the game. Enjoyed watching him and hope he's back soon!
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I noticed that too and it was great to see. Let’s hope it never happens again. :)
 
#296      
IllGuardU
RockfordIllini said:
Watched the game on replay. Not much to add but just a couple of points:

1. As much of a beat down as that was, we easily could have hung 110+ on them if we make a few more layups and a couple more widen open 3’s go down.

2. I think Will is very close to breaking out. I think he’s still a little sped up and pressing a bit offensively, but he rebounded and had good assist numbers tonight. So he’s finding other ways to contribute. He must have had 3-4 spin out tonight. I think a breakout is coming like Ben had 3-4 games ago. And then hopefully he relaxes and stops pressing.

If we can get KJ back healthy and get anything resembling November Will Riley, I’m not sure we will lose another game. Really exciting times
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I also liked that he made his last shot. Maybe that helps him next game.
 
#297      
Troop44
Great game very fun to watch. I agree with many who said we could've won by a lot more. It's hard to be upset with a 39 point win but we left A LOT of easy points out there.
Does anybody else still just fume about the Northwestern loss! I realize we've made huge strides since then, but if we don't absolutely blow that game we are 13-2 and undefeated in conference. It still pisses me off we lost to those guys.
 
#299      
1970 John
PSU coach Mike Rhoades was miserable in the post-game press conference. He wasn't expecting anything like this. His team had been doing well and man, did this ever take the wind out of his sails. That said, the press didn't help any. The truth is that there wasn't much to ask him about the game other than why was your team so lousy. Just out of mercy's sake they could have asked him something about the next game out. Dang, I could have done better than that.
 
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