Illinois 94, Minnesota 63 Postgame

#201      
Went into the season just wanting to enjoy each game, and wow has it been enjoyable!

DMW moving around well. Looks healthy now.

great bench energy, rooting for each other.

Curbelo looked like he got hot/ emotional after letting JMash get a bucket. Let it get to him, ended up falling off the floor. Gotta keep a level head.

for Ayo, I remember last year nba scouts saying a late first round team May draft him because if he stayed in school, might not have the opportunity next year to get him. Looks true.
Great player, awesome to watch, so enjoyable.
 
#202      
Great win!

Arguably the best all round game of the year!
I say that only because the Duke game was extra special as well. On the road, never trailed, and beat them handily. Not by 30, but come on. Anytime you can beat Duke (at home and by double digits) that’s special as well.

Ok, that being said. Here is what I loved about yesterday’s victory.

no specific order:

they needed to win!
They never trailed (I don’t believe)!
They kept their foot on the gas!
Great game from the entire team!
Loved Trent’s defense, scoring, and half court make right before the buzzer at halftime!
Ayo-getting another triple double
Underwood keeping him in to get that one last rebound realizing the moment and what it will do for Ayo.
Also props for explaining to Pitino why he left him in and props to Pitino.
Great game by the supporting cast: GB, AD, CG, DM, TF, AC! Well done!!!!
Good to see all the unsung practice bodies getting some time and a few buckets.

Really one of the most complete games they have had all year. Fun to watch. Great energy. They made FREE THEOWS TOO!!!
Really couldn’t be happier for the entire program.
Let’s not forget all they have had to endure.
All the players in the league so us fans have some to watch. And they put on a show!!
I know not every game can match yesterday’s. But it is fun to watch when it all comes together and it’s not a nail biter! Oh, the anxiety watching those games.

Games like this go a long way. A long way for stopping kids from transferring out. A long way for confidence moving forward. A long way on the recruiting trail.

Really no complaints from me. Just proud of those young men and what they accomplished on a very difficult court on the road against a good team.
Great job EVERYONE!!!
Niw let’s get Ayo and company that Title, a 1st Round seed, and a National Championship!

Go Illini!!!!!!!!
 
#204      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
Great win!

Arguably the best all round game of the year!
I say that only because the Duke game was extra special as well. On the road, never trailed, and beat them handily. Not by 30, but come on. Anytime you can beat Duke (at home and by double digits) that’s special as well.

Ok, that being said. Here is what I loved about yesterday’s victory.

no specific order:

they needed to win!
They never trailed (I don’t believe)!
They kept their foot on the gas!
Great game from the entire team!
Loved Trent’s defense, scoring, and half court make right before the buzzer at halftime!
Ayo-getting another triple double
Underwood keeping him in to get that one last rebound realizing the moment and what it will do for Ayo.
Also props for explaining to Pitino why he left him in and props to Pitino.
Great game by the supporting cast: GB, AD, CG, DM, TF, AC! Well done!!!!
Good to see all the unsung practice bodies getting some time and a few buckets.

Really one of the most complete games they have had all year. Fun to watch. Great energy. They made FREE THEOWS TOO!!!
Really couldn’t be happier for the entire program.
Let’s not forget all they have had to endure.
All the players in the league so us fans have some to watch. And they put on a show!!
I know not every game can match yesterday’s. But it is fun to watch when it all comes together and it’s not a nail biter! Oh, the anxiety watching those games.

Games like this go a long way. A long way for stopping kids from transferring out. A long way for confidence moving forward. A long way on the recruiting trail.

Really no complaints from me. Just proud of those young men and what they accomplished on a very difficult court on the road against a good team.
Great job EVERYONE!!!
Niw let’s get Ayo and company that Title, a 1st Round seed, and a National Championship!

Go Illini!!!!!!!!
I agree with almost everything , but we DID trail mid first half by score of 16-11....therefore we finished out the game on a 83-47 advantage......
 
#205      
well, this isn't entirely unfair. I think Dee was the only player of the year and that was Sporting News which is probably the least glamorous of the awards. Did anyone else grab one for us?
Ray Woods, Chuck Carney, and Andy Phillip In addition to Dee Brown were all NPOY.
 
#207      

blackdog

Champaign
Obviously yesterday was just a heck of a showing in all facets of the game, but my favorite part by far was how pumped everybody was whenever we had a dunk or made an awesome play. You see a guy jamming it and in the background the other guys (on the court in particular) are hopping in exuberance, fist pumping, etc. We are playing for each other right now and it's a beautiful thing to behold.

Contrast that with the Texas teammates almost getting to fisticuffs...😬 yikes!

That Texas situation really pops out to me. If a player got lost that bad on D and then didn't really hustle here he wouldn't see the court for the next 2 months and everybody from coach on down to the ballboys would be giving it to him. I understand why Ramey was pissed about it. Really points to a culture of accountability and we are lucky to be seeing a great one here
 
#208      
Yesterday's margin of victory was the largest margin of victory for the Illini at the Barn. The previous largest margin of victory for the Illini in Minneapolis was February 12, 2008, when the Illini won 84-60. Here was the starting five for the Illini in that game:

-Trent Meacham
-Chester Frazier
-Shaun Pruitt
-Brian Randle
-Rodney Alexander

Meacham led the Illini with 19 points in the game. Shaun Pruitt had 13 and Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale had 10 apiece off the bench. That Illini team was the team that made the run in the BTT later that season where they lost to Wisconsin in the final.
 
#210      

iLL 89ers

Dallas,TX , Born and raised in Alton,Illinois
The 88’-89’ team vs Georgia Tech was “FUNNEST” game I’ve ever seen from Illini. Battle dunk then raising #1 in the air while Dukie V said Flyin’ Illini Baby!
This game coming back down big time (at home), forcing overtime and win (earlier that year they beat Georgia Tech also) if memory serves me well that was the game Kendall Gill broke his foot was the home game (could be very well wrong there though)...
The thrashing of Chris Paul and #1 Wake Forest at home , them two games just are painted in my brain .
 
#212      
BA17210E-821E-46CB-BF7F-E8DDC82EE6CE.jpeg

Minnesota player after Ayo made that dude fall in transition. Right when he turned around so his teammates and bench couldn’t see him.
 
#213      
No...absolutely not.....just saying that leaving your best player in a game that is over, is opening up the possibility of some criticism.....really glad BU left him in and he got the triple double....just wonder what the reaction on this board would be like if Ayo would had turned an ankle in those last few minutes....I think you, I and everyone else would be demanding some answers ......that is all
I cannot believe you're still on about this. Just let it go. It was a great game and Ayo getting another Triple-Double was worth it. If you can't trust the kid to play an extra 2/3 minutes without twisting his ankle then what's your justification for playing him 35+ minutes in games that go down to the wire? The way you're going on and on and on and on about this makes it sound like you think Ayo's a dellicate snowflake. The kid's not from Texas, he can handle a little bad weather.
 
#214      

illini80

Forgottonia
I cannot believe you're still on about this. Just let it go. It was a great game and Ayo getting another Triple-Double was worth it. If you can't trust the kid to play an extra 2/3 minutes without twisting his ankle then what's your justification for playing him 35+ minutes in games that go down to the wire? The way you're going on and on and on and on about this makes it sound like you think Ayo's a dellicate snowflake. The kid's not from Texas, he can handle a little bad weather.
That a little harsh. He made a comment and then defended it to a couple guys who challenged him on it. It’s a legit question no matter your opinion. Personally I like what Underwood did.
 
#215      
I am pretty sure doowink approved keeping Ayo in as well. But he makes a good point. Had Ayo been injured in garbage time, this board would have gone into full meltdown. Then again, melting down is one of the things we do best.
 
#216      
Am watching replay on FS1: fun city. There is really no substitute for speed (as in fast) in sports, except for curling. Illini were fast both ways on court and great passers against Minnesota. Keep it up, Illini. I like speed and accurate passing. Good things will happen.
I’ve met some pretty slow curlers that were still pretty damn good
 
#217      
The 88’-89’ team vs Georgia Tech was “FUNNEST” game I’ve ever seen from Illini. Battle dunk then raising #1 in the air while Dukie V said Flyin’ Illini Baby! Then the Elite 8 game vs Arizona

I was 3 years old for the late 80s teams, so can't speak to it. I was a freshman at Illinois for the Elite 8 Arizona game. I watched it in my girlfriend's (now wife's of 13+ years) basement on spring break and then we drove to Rosemont just to try to get a glimpse of the team (we didn't, but it was still fun to try).

Non-professional best moments of my life:

1) Marriage
2) Births of both kids
3) 2005 World Series Game 2 attendance in person
4) Watching the Illini in the Elite 8 in 2005 in my girlfriend's basement

I'm not sure if any professional moments would rank in those Top 4...interesting thought experiment.
 
#218      
That Texas situation really pops out to me. If a player got lost that bad on D and then didn't really hustle here he wouldn't see the court for the next 2 months and everybody from coach on down to the ballboys would be giving it to him. I understand why Ramey was pissed about it. Really points to a culture of accountability and we are lucky to be seeing a great one here
Also underscores an underrated part of Ayo's (and Trent/DMW) "game" -- great leaders that will get on you but do it the right way. Point out what you did wrong while building you up and making you believe you won't do it again, and wouldn't want to b/c you don't want to let them down (at least that's what it looks like through the TV haha). And I couldn't imagine a fight ever breaking out as long as Giorgi's around (unrelated: when Bardo and the other announcer talked about how he could be the mayor of Champaign...I would 100% move back to town just to vote for him 😅)
 
#219      

Deleted member 746826

D
Guest
Went into the season just wanting to enjoy each game, and wow has it been enjoyable!

DMW moving around well. Looks healthy now.

great bench energy, rooting for each other.

Curbelo looked like he got hot/ emotional after letting JMash get a bucket. Let it get to him, ended up falling off the floor. Gotta keep a level head.

for Ayo, I remember last year nba scouts saying a late first round team May draft him because if he stayed in school, might not have the opportunity next year to get him. Looks true.
Great player, awesome to watch, so enjoyable.
No idea what game you were watching.
Curbelo was on his back and slid of the court.
he doesnt have any brakes on his butt.
 
#220      

purcy51

Nappanee, IN
I'm probably one of the more pessimistic posters on here, but even in the pre-game thread I felt good about this one. Just an incredible full game performance from the lads. This team can be lethal when the role players step up. Grandison had a great game, Ace showed us something we haven't seen before, and of course Damonte did his thing. Let's dial this thing home and keep on working towards getting some championships, BIG AND NCAA
FIFY
 
#222      
I am pretty sure doowink approved keeping Ayo in as well. But he makes a good point. Had Ayo been injured in garbage time, this board would have gone into full meltdown. Then again, melting down is one of the things we do best.
A Minnesota player broke his finger in practice. Can't remember (was it football or basketball), but Illinois lost a player years ago when he stepped off a curb. I'm ok with keeping a player in for another minute. Not crazy about a coach keeping a player in with a severely sprained ankle, or whatever was going on with that Minnesota center.