Speaking of B1G+, unless you're devoted to other Illini sporting events with them, there appears to be no more Illini b-ball games scheduled with that stream. So, suggest canceling your monthly subscription before it comes due again. Start a petty cash fund for next year's parking at the United Ctr or whatever you choose.For BIG+ standards, I thought the broadcast was professional aside from the loose tie and the crazy hair of the analyst. Audio volume dropped at one point. For some reason my firestick would pause the game a couple of times mid-broadcast. First game it was almost every commercial break.
Wagler is amazing as a freshman. Absolutely smooth and crafty. That one play in the lane where he spun like three times and then stepped to the hoop!
Illinois 98, Long Island 58 Postgame
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chrisRunner7
- San Diego
The BIG+ production has gotten a lot better over the years. I still resent them for making us pay for it. It came through perfectly on my Roku, btw.For BIG+ standards, I thought the broadcast was professional aside from the loose tie and the crazy hair of the analyst. Audio volume dropped at one point. For some reason my firestick would pause the game a couple of times mid-broadcast. First game it was almost every commercial break.
Wagler is amazing as a freshman. Absolutely smooth and crafty. That one play in the lane where he spun like three times and then stepped to the hoop!
Agree on Wagler. I will say-- he does seem to be a bit lucky in that he has several "almost turnovers" each game, but we still manage to wind up with the ball for whatever reason. I also don't quite understand how he is so good at drawing fouls-- he's not seeking the contact like Boswell. But man, he is good at getting fouled.
Excellent points by several posters for this LIU postgame page on Petrovic's "loose handle" and "high dribbles". I noticed he does these, at times, in combination with crossover dribbles and occasionally with briefly touching under the balling (which technically is a traveling violation, but he hasn't been called on it yet in an Illinois game).
I'm guessing Petrovic didn't face long quick defenders in the Adriatic League, who could punish him by swiping at those loose dribbles, and had refs in that pro league who were never calling his possible carries. This likely went on for years in that pro league and previously in Serbia, as Petrovic got used to dribbling in this loose manner, with little or no strict officiating on what constitutes a travel.
If you have the recording or can find it on the web highlights (definitely in long highlight YT videos) check out his near TO at 10:33 left in the 1st half against Long Island University. After a scramble, Petrovic avoids the turnover (barely), but this one short clip shows a bunch of his ball handling weaknesses. Petrovic first briefly carries the ball (although it wasn't called), then is surprised by an LIU defender picking him up beyond the 3-pt line. Petrovic then crosses his dribble over directly in front of the defender (which is more dangerous than going through his legs or behind his back or turning and switch hands). The LIU defender logically reaches in and nearly gets a steal after Petrovic misses the next dribble entirely and has to jump down on the ball (after that missed dribble) to barely avoid a turnover.
This type of loose ball handling by Petrovic is going to result in regular turnovers unless Illinois coaches force him to clean it up and handle the ball more conservatively.
Our freshman just love to dominate cupcakes.
A bit more knee jerk analysis, imo, this time on Petro's 'loose dribble' after turning it over 2x in 20 minutes of gameplay.
A 22 year old, former Euro league MVP candidate who averaged 7.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per game with a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio.
And you can say whatever you want about the Euro (Adriatic) league, but the players in that league are much more physically advanced (and older, more experienced) and just way, way better than anything that Long Island University could ever hope to put on the floor. Tomi, Z, Mirk all came from this league and their production has increased after making the move to college basketball. There are future and former college stars as well as future and former NBA players in that league. Simply put, he's certainly faced much better defenses there than what we saw vs LIU.
I saw Braden Smith get blitzed by Akron guards and turn it over a couple of times... small sample size
Donovan Dent had a couple of really bad turnovers in a game vs Pepperdine that I had watched a couple weeks ago...small sample size
Same with Bruce Thornton vs Purdue Ft Wayne, got his pocket picked a couple times.... again, small sample size
Lastly, I won't forget the kid is working back in after significant time missed with a hamstring injury.
While I truly appreciate the fervor for instant overreaction to miniscule sample sizes, I think I am going to choose to remain calm here.
A 22 year old, former Euro league MVP candidate who averaged 7.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per game with a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio.
And you can say whatever you want about the Euro (Adriatic) league, but the players in that league are much more physically advanced (and older, more experienced) and just way, way better than anything that Long Island University could ever hope to put on the floor. Tomi, Z, Mirk all came from this league and their production has increased after making the move to college basketball. There are future and former college stars as well as future and former NBA players in that league. Simply put, he's certainly faced much better defenses there than what we saw vs LIU.
I saw Braden Smith get blitzed by Akron guards and turn it over a couple of times... small sample size
Donovan Dent had a couple of really bad turnovers in a game vs Pepperdine that I had watched a couple weeks ago...small sample size
Same with Bruce Thornton vs Purdue Ft Wayne, got his pocket picked a couple times.... again, small sample size
Lastly, I won't forget the kid is working back in after significant time missed with a hamstring injury.
While I truly appreciate the fervor for instant overreaction to miniscule sample sizes, I think I am going to choose to remain calm here.
Good points. And as one more example we can all relate to, the Adriatic League had a 23 year old Trent Frazier, fresh off back-to-back Big Ten All Defensive teams, playing for them. Pretty sure heās better than any defender on LIU.
Least he doesn't look down at the ball every 2 steps like Mirk does going down the court
They gotta break him of that...hard to believe he's made it this far in basketball while doing that
Grind, great, same thing
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