And their running shoes on.
Illinois at Texas Tech, Tuesday, November 10th, 7:00pm CT, Peacock
Are all basketball shoes running shoes? But not all running shoes are basketball shoes? Hmmm
What’s the word on Lincoln Williams?
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Considering a lot of basketball shoes seems to be more low-top or mid-top, you might be onto something……
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Very different! Do not do serious running training in basketball shoes! PSA
Anyways, this game should be exciting.
What, is he injured again? As for Andrej shooting triples, I've said all along it's simply a lack of confidence. He's got that shot.
sacraig
- The desert
Or play basketball in a running shoe. Unless you want to destroy them (or your ankles) with lateral movements.
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JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Maybe it's already been said, but it just occurred to me this morning that Tyler has found a really interesting formula that intentionally leverages a huge advantage that we have going into this season: If we're prioritizing players that score high as processors and we throw a fast-paced offense with no set plays at our opponents (and go deep on our bench), then our players remain comfortable while our opponents get overwhelmed.
Over the course of an entire game, that discrepancy can yield huge advantages in our favor. We don't need to play the pure athleticism game, if we can play the processing game instead (with some plus athletes mixed in).
Opponents will have a hard time figuring out what to focus on. And if they can't focus on a few things, then they have to tackle the much harder task of trying to deal with everything all at the same time (while players and roles are constantly changing). Good luck with that.
Over the course of an entire game, that discrepancy can yield huge advantages in our favor. We don't need to play the pure athleticism game, if we can play the processing game instead (with some plus athletes mixed in).
Opponents will have a hard time figuring out what to focus on. And if they can't focus on a few things, then they have to tackle the much harder task of trying to deal with everything all at the same time (while players and roles are constantly changing). Good luck with that.
We thought Illini had a 9th man problem...
Good. His hot head
will implode. Lights too bright.
I just read this morning that we found Ethan Brown on a New Balance shoe circuit. There's a joke there about "old man game" or something.
Just turned 47 a couple months ago and got my first pair.
I've been staking all of my ball-knower credibility (what little I have) on Illinois absolutely smoking TTU. I simply think there's no physical way they'll be able to hang with us, even if they go nuclear from 3.
We've been playing a decent amount of small ball (especially with Mirk out), and through two games, our average lineups still outsize theirs by 2.6" per player. Against Jackson St, TTU was +4 on the boards. Jackson St. is ranked 306th in the country in average height. TTU outrebounded Bethune-Cookman by 7.
Through 2 games, we're +37 on the boards (+45 against FDU and +29 against Penn). I don't see a world where we're less than +20 rebounding against TTU, which is 20 fewer opportunities for them to get second-chance points and/or 20 more opportunities for us to get second-chance points.
Give me Illinois winning 106-73.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
If I were a Tech fan, beyond just this individual game, I would be concerned about 8 guys averaging 10+ minutes a game against Torvik 272 and 188 teams. For comparison, we have 10 guys averaging 10+ minutes a game and that doesn’t include Mirk or Jake.
Ivicic's game ready, v/, frosh, QC,LW, Z,EB, game ready, v/, Vaaks, Stoya physically dominant v/ JJ 9th man v/ Lucas Morillo ready for 5 man hockey substitution v/, Fagbemi 11th man v/. All loyalty boxes checked. Gonna be a good'un. I...L...L
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I think if they shoot poorly, or even say they're average, from three point range... our chances increase immensely because of what you're saying.
If they shoot a high percentage, and there are less rebounds, then there's less area for us to grow a large rebounding margin / possession advantage.
Totally with you though, if they don't burn up the nets they are going to be in trouble with our size advantage.
I'll go 96-85 Illinois. The way we lose this game is if they shoot 14-22 from three and we're average in the areas we excel at (offense, rebounding).
It's also worth noting that last year we didn't have Tomi.
His stats through two games this year aren't pretty but I think he's done a really good job at taking opposing big men out of the equation rebounding, to open up the floor for the vacuums (jumbo guards) to come in and scoop up boards.
It seems like he's been really good so far at making others on the floor better, but that's just based on the eye test.
Part of that is pace, but yeah. The freshman have impressed me. But, they're freshman so I'm expecting growing pains as they face different opposing schemes and talent. QC is 110% baller and the other guys aren't that far behind.
Last season, I felt like the biggest issues we had (and frankly ANY team would struggle with)
was really good defensive bigs which put more pressure on our outside shooting
and fast attacking guards
Brad has said in the past he likes having different tools in the tool box, and when I look at the variety of talent he's brought in, I give him an A+ on roster construction. So many different looks available to him.
Gonna be tested in these upcoming games.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I miss him. I don't miss his mother.
Sounds like Houston.
I thought he looked really good last night especially defensively!
7 assists too
Reason for optimism against Texas Tech:
1) Illinois is the tallest team in the country.
TTU is one of the smallest teams in the P5. They only have 1 player over 6”8 that’s set to play significant minutes.
.....
2) That difference in height could show up on the glass. TTU was an average defensive rebounding team last year (184th). Illinois had the 3rd highest OREB% in the country.
.....
3) TTU wasn’t great at putting pressure on the rim. They were 345th in % of FGA at the rim, 348th in % of FGA in the paint, 364th in % of FGA as layups or dunks.
They also didn’t get to the foul line. They were 345th in FT attempt rate. Only 15.0% of their points came from free throws, which was 360th.
When you take Toppin out of the equation, they become a jump-shooting team almost entirely.
.....
4) they will look to shoot 3s. Last year, they were 4th in the country in 3pt percentage, and 29th in 3pt attempt rate.
Williams: 40.4% from 3
Atwell: 45.8% from 3 (on 8.4 attempts, which is crazy)
Cruz Davis: 40.0% from 3
DGL: 41.4% from 3
You just have to hope they aren’t firing on all cylinders, because if they aren’t making 3s, Illinois chances go up dramatically.
I’m interested to see whether our pace wears them down from a shooting standpoint.
(granted these are all stats from last year, so they might be a more different team than I thought, but the roster looks pretty similar)
1) Illinois is the tallest team in the country.
TTU is one of the smallest teams in the P5. They only have 1 player over 6”8 that’s set to play significant minutes.
.....
2) That difference in height could show up on the glass. TTU was an average defensive rebounding team last year (184th). Illinois had the 3rd highest OREB% in the country.
.....
3) TTU wasn’t great at putting pressure on the rim. They were 345th in % of FGA at the rim, 348th in % of FGA in the paint, 364th in % of FGA as layups or dunks.
They also didn’t get to the foul line. They were 345th in FT attempt rate. Only 15.0% of their points came from free throws, which was 360th.
When you take Toppin out of the equation, they become a jump-shooting team almost entirely.
.....
4) they will look to shoot 3s. Last year, they were 4th in the country in 3pt percentage, and 29th in 3pt attempt rate.
Williams: 40.4% from 3
Atwell: 45.8% from 3 (on 8.4 attempts, which is crazy)
Cruz Davis: 40.0% from 3
DGL: 41.4% from 3
You just have to hope they aren’t firing on all cylinders, because if they aren’t making 3s, Illinois chances go up dramatically.
I’m interested to see whether our pace wears them down from a shooting standpoint.
(granted these are all stats from last year, so they might be a more different team than I thought, but the roster looks pretty similar)
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With the emergence of ZZ, solid play by JJ, great performances by the three starting frosh, and upside on Morillo, that issue has been terminated.
We now have a twelfth man problem which likely will not get solved and almost certainly cost us a NC. (The good news is the Illini are now even more a favorite to win the B1G)
More good news is that or 13th man is one who Brad has stated he would not hesitate to play against anyone, is the team's best athlete, and has improved his offensive game tremendously. That a player like that is considered the 13th man on any squad should put a sequoia size wood chip on Fagbemi's shoulder.
So how likely is BU to narrow the field to 8 when the nitty gets gritty? This cowboy is far from certain that there will ever be the same eight, but it is his modus operandi in all past seasons. We may see 8, but those names may change somewhat from game to game.
I have to say I am impressed from what I saw in the first 2 games but I also am a little concerned about a few.
1. Turnovers/ sloppy ball handling-trying to remember they are freshman
2. Rebounding especially against the better teams without Mirk/Jake.
3. Toll this type of offense [up and down floor] will have over the entire season.
4. Vaaks is still getting his feet on the ground-passing, free throw shooting, defense
5. Why hasn't Big Z getting more playing time. They will need him against Duke/UConn
6. Did Mirk reinjure his foot- Even when he is ready, worry about conditioning, sharpness around-passing, shooting/ mental block about re-injuring his foot.
As I said I love what I have seen so far. They will get better as season rolls on barring more injuries.
With Mirk back this team can win it all. We need the experience of Jake but from what I have read and heard it may be March or not this season. I hope the Illini can make a statement on the at TT.
1. Turnovers/ sloppy ball handling-trying to remember they are freshman
2. Rebounding especially against the better teams without Mirk/Jake.
3. Toll this type of offense [up and down floor] will have over the entire season.
4. Vaaks is still getting his feet on the ground-passing, free throw shooting, defense
5. Why hasn't Big Z getting more playing time. They will need him against Duke/UConn
6. Did Mirk reinjure his foot- Even when he is ready, worry about conditioning, sharpness around-passing, shooting/ mental block about re-injuring his foot.
As I said I love what I have seen so far. They will get better as season rolls on barring more injuries.
With Mirk back this team can win it all. We need the experience of Jake but from what I have read and heard it may be March or not this season. I hope the Illini can make a statement on the at TT.