Illinois 95, Minnesota 74 Postgame

Status
Not open for further replies.
#226      
Chillinini
Great sign to see them bounce back on the road....even if it's Minny. I for one was desolute, but this dominant win inspired some hope for me.

A healthy Rock Me Jakucionis, a healthy Tomi, a confident Will, a stay-within-yourself Boswell makes a big difference.

Just need Morez to keep that high motor going, need a healthy DGL and Tre, need Pony-Boy to keep being collecting the garbage, and maybe just maybe Ben H accepts his role.
 
#227      
Brosky
And all three of them international players. And all three freshmen (I still count Tomi as a freshman. It's still his first year of college basketball.)
 
#230      
Illini in OC
sacraig said:
I've been surprised at how effective he is at sneaking in the back door and getting a quick putback bucket.
Click to expand...
Glue.
Knows his role.
Does his job.
Eventual fan favorite.

almost like KR31
1739100333157.png
 
#233      
rbse
I've always felt that the team dealing with the flu, strep and injuries contributed to the sluggish and poor playing. I think they are starting to get healthy again! Love the game plan
 
#234      
Vinegarben
Last night we saw what Will, KJ and Tomi can do but I still don't think they are NBA ready. They need another year to mature, refine their games and to strengthen the bodies. I think there will be NIL money to keep them 1 more year.
Now I said if the Illini were without Tomi, Dra and Tre [according to pre-game reports by Brad] the Gophers would beat them. Dra and Tre were ineffective and contributed nothing, but Tomi, Will and KJ came to play but I thought after the Gophers hit 4 quick 3's it was going to be another long night.
This team is capable of playing like this every night but again they are capable of laying an egg. I think this version of the Illini going to the basket and letting the 3's come in the natural flow is the best version and makes it more difficult for any opponent to guard them. Just wondering of Rez is ok, I noticed he never came back after getting his 3rd foul. Hope he isn't coming down with flu.
This week will tell us what these guys are really made of.
 
#235      
Geno33
TheodoreRex said:
Of course Brad would kill my optimism with this terrible take- basically saying we went inside because that's what Minnesota gave them... I want to hear specifically that we went inside for post looks and attacked the rim because THAT IS OUR TEAM'S STRENGTH.
View attachment 39531
Click to expand...
We seen how well continually attacking the rim when a team is packing the paint worked out against U Con in the Elite 8. During and after that game fans were screaming for the team to shoot the 3. You have to take what the D is giving you. Draining outside shots will definitely help open the paint.
 
#236      
Germanboxers
WyattEarp said:
Nah, not so fast. You can’t put all of our lack of effort/focus/execution on not having Ivisic for a few games. You just can’t blame all of our woes on that. All of our unpredictability and lack of give a damn. Nope. I ain’t buying.

Remember the slump Tomi was in earlier on? I don’t remember anyone being laser focused on us needing Tomi to compete then…

Tomi’s absence didn’t: suddenly make us quit getting on the floor less for loose balls, inconsistently crashing the boards, lackadaisically go through the motions, or laying on the floor and pouting after getting beat. (You can always have effort and focus.)

It didnt directly make the other guys not play with intensity, in general. It didn’t make Kylan and KJ throw errant pass after errant pass. Tomi’s absence was not directly to blame for the other guys not bearing down on free throws or layups. Etc.

This team had a tendency to “be soft” with and without Tomi. This team had a tendency to “take its foot off the gas with and without Tomi”

Tomi’s absence did not change the premium/emphasis that our staff put on 3-balls within our scheme. That battle cry was consistent from Underwood all season…

I’ll admit that Tomi has a calming presence that is HUGE. (Having a mobile seven footer covers up tons of mistakes on D as you would expect.) I agree that the offense that we run through Tomi is some of our best stuff…and his interior passing is criminally unrated. I’ve said that a number of times.

But to blame it ALL on not having Tomi is just a little too convenient IMHO.
Click to expand...

All of this. Perfectly stated.
 
#237      
Frank
WyattEarp said:
Nah, not so fast. You can’t put all of our lack of effort/focus/execution on not having Ivisic for a few games. You just can’t blame all of our woes on that. All of our unpredictability and lack of give a damn. Nope. I ain’t buying.

Remember the slump Tomi was in earlier on? I don’t remember anyone being laser focused on us needing Tomi to compete then…

Tomi’s absence didn’t: suddenly make us quit getting on the floor less for loose balls, inconsistently crashing the boards, lackadaisically go through the motions, or laying on the floor and pouting after getting beat. (You can always have effort and focus.)

It didnt directly make the other guys not play with intensity, in general. It didn’t make Kylan and KJ throw errant pass after errant pass. Tomi’s absence was not directly to blame for the other guys not bearing down on free throws or layups. Etc.

This team had a tendency to “be soft” with and without Tomi. This team had a tendency to “take its foot off the gas with and without Tomi”

Tomi’s absence did not change the premium/emphasis that our staff put on 3-balls within our scheme. That battle cry was consistent from Underwood all season…

I’ll admit that Tomi has a calming presence that is HUGE. (Having a mobile seven footer covers up tons of mistakes on D as you would expect.) I agree that the offense that we run through Tomi is some of our best stuff…and his interior passing is criminally unrated. I’ve said that a number of times.

But to blame it ALL on not having Tomi is just a little too convenient IMHO.
Click to expand...
My response (to OP) was probably overly cheeky, but I never said all the blame was on Toni’s absence. We looked plenty bad before he got mono (see USC). And, to be fair, Tomi was out two weeks, not four.

But the OP suggested that running offense through Tomi was some newfound wrinkle that unlocked things in a way we had been failing to do all season. I was simply pointing out that we had been playing that way quite a bit prior to him going out. My cheekiness was directed towards those that bemoaned a lost season when we looked terrible, while those same people failed to consider that we were missing the fulcrum of our best offense. His absence doesn’t explain what you described (lack of effort, tenacity, etc), but it does explain some of our poor play, and it amazes me how quickly people were (are) willing to forgot those kinds of factors and go into ‘tear it down’ mode.

Now, we could look terrible the next two games, and I’ll wish I had never typed these two posts out. You never know with this team.
 
#238      
WyattEarp
Frank said:
My response (to OP) was probably overly cheeky, but I never said all the blame was on Toni’s absence. We looked plenty bad before he got mono (see USC). And, to be fair, Tomi was out two weeks, not four.

But the OP suggested that running offense through Tomi was some newfound wrinkle that unlocked things in a way we had been failing to do all season. I was simply pointing out that we had been playing that way quite a bit prior to him going out. My cheekiness was directed towards those that bemoaned a lost season when we looked terrible, while those same people failed to consider that we were missing the fulcrum of our best offense. His absence doesn’t explain what you described (lack of effort, tenacity, etc), but it does explain some of our poor play, and it amazes me how quickly people were (are) willing to forgot those kinds of factors and go into ‘tear it down’ mode.

Now, we could look terrible the next two games, and I’ll wish I had never typed these two posts out. You never know with this team.
Click to expand...
Okay, Frank.

Frankly, I think I can 98.91%, accept this Frank explanation…quite measured and well thought out. You make a lot of very good points.

You’re okay, Frank. It’s been a pleasure disagreeing with you on this.
 
Last edited:
#246      
Illiniguy13
Indy Illini Fan said:
Davis has bought into his role … Earlier in the year, I thought he was looking for his shot a little too much but he’s really settled in …

I am becoming a fan of Davis … Knows his role … Accepts his role … Doesn’t cost a fortune … Program guy …
Click to expand...
For our 8th/9th guy off the bench, Davis is a solid option. He hits the glass & can pop 3’s. Wouldn’t be heartbroken if he transfers, but would gladly run in back with him in this role.
 
#247      
rtbritt
Illiniguy13 said:
For our 8th/9th guy off the bench, Davis is a solid option. He hits the glass & can pop 3’s. Wouldn’t be heartbroken if he transfers, but would gladly run in back with him in this role.
Click to expand...
Don’t think anyone will be “heartbroken” if he transfers, BUT if he transfers, it likely means we brought someone “better” to fill his role, and we’ve seen that before…

We need to keep a talented team together.
 
#249      
DevILLDawg
WyattEarp said:
Nah, not so fast. You can’t put all of our lack of effort/focus/execution on not having Ivisic for a few games. You just can’t blame all of our woes on that. All of our unpredictability and lack of give a damn. Nope. I ain’t buying.

Remember the slump Tomi was in earlier on? I don’t remember anyone being laser focused on us needing Tomi to compete then…

Tomi’s absence didn’t: suddenly make us quit getting on the floor less for loose balls, inconsistently crashing the boards, lackadaisically go through the motions, or laying on the floor and pouting after getting beat. (You can always have effort and focus.)

It didnt directly make the other guys not play with intensity, in general. It didn’t make Kylan and KJ throw errant pass after errant pass. Tomi’s absence was not directly to blame for the other guys not bearing down on free throws or layups. Etc.

This team had a tendency to “be soft” with and without Tomi. This team had a tendency to “take its foot off the gas with and without Tomi”

Tomi’s absence did not change the premium/emphasis that our staff put on 3-balls within our scheme. That battle cry was consistent from Underwood all season…

I’ll admit that Tomi has a calming presence that is HUGE. (Having a mobile seven footer covers up tons of mistakes on D as you would expect.) I agree that the offense that we run through Tomi is some of our best stuff…and his interior passing is criminally unrated. I’ve said that a number of times.

But to blame it ALL on not having Tomi is just a little too convenient IMHO.
Click to expand...
I was nervous and thrilled to see Tomi go down to get that jump ball call in the 2nd half..
Winning play from a guy who is battling through it.

If he had hurt his ankle worse....my take would be different though 🤣
 
#250      
Old Farm Illini
rtbritt said:
Don’t think anyone will be “heartbroken” if he transfers, BUT if he transfers, it likely means we brought someone “better” to fill his role, and we’ve seen that before…

We need to keep a talented team together.
Click to expand...
Davis isn’t going to be a starter or 6th man, but I’d want to keep him for continuity sake as the 2nd or 3rd player off the bench. I’m not sure we can upgrade much for that role. I’d like a guy like Davis to buy into that role and graduate from here but perhaps that’s wishful thinking in this era.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back