Appreciate your post but there is zero chance anyone here feels better about this year than last year. Last year we looked invincible and then got punked in the second round.
Indiana 65, Illinois 63 Postgame
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Alan Griffin showing love again. Strange situation with him all around.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
That pass was utterly sublime. I loved how they showed the replay ~ four times from different angles. Just sick. Also enjoyed his no-look lob to a wide-open CoHawk in the corner for the splash.
What is this common sense you speak??? It is a foreign concept in these parts! I like it!
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Pardon me: are you lost? Do you not understand that this is an extremely dangerous part of town for you, and hostile toward your kind? You're a conspicuous target here. I don't want want you to see you get assaulted, maimed or worse.
well - we get to test the theory that we spent too much energy in the BTT last year and it cost us in the NCAA - Brad has commented on that a bunch recently
I do hope this loss gets their attention for a tournament run - that would be the silver lining
I do hope this loss gets their attention for a tournament run - that would be the silver lining
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
A bit later (7:54), he faked that same motion toward Trent in corner, but instead dropped a dime into Kofi down low for an easy drive/lay in. Dude’s a savant.
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Not good meaning compared to other conferences very likely, and not good compared to the last few years in the B1G. If you look at last years B1G, any of the below teams win it outright and beat the snot out of Wisconsin’s team this year:
Illinois
Michigan
Ohio State
Iowa
I think last year’s Rutgers team would also give Wisconsin a pretty tough time.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Well, mark me down as the outlying idiot, then. I feel better this evening than I did a year ago.
You're absolutely correct: last year on the BTT Friday we looked invincible. But we were a young, immature team. We had incredible talent but that talent shrunk and deferred to a closer when things got tight. Only at the very end of the season, when forced to play without Ayo for a spell, did others step up. None of them had ever played an NCAA tourney game, and (IIRC) our coach had never won one. It was electrifying, and complete vindication, to win that epic BTT title game v. OSU. The euphoria I felt throughout Feb and early March, however, was largely seeing our program return to where it had been 15 years earlier, and having fun again for the first time in all those years. That's a long time in the desert given the history of this program.
This year we have greater maturity and seasoning among Kofi, Trent, DMW, and Jake. We don't have a closer. We have different guys who step forward when it's crunch time. We have young guys who have come along during the season and can step in and contribute valuable minutes. I'm never anxious before we play this season. I know that we'll wax and wane but that likely, if we're trailing late, we'll have the capacity to win and we will win. I love watching this team, as maddening as it has been. It's only been five days and I'm still kinda stunned that, despite the injuries, illnesses and adversity, it won a share of the BT title. That's just a magnificent achievement, which is why few of us could get to sleep at a decent hour early Monday morning. I'm still riding on those fumes tonight.
I recall a trashy novella from the early '90s called Damage. A guilty pleasure of a film starring Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. There's a great line in that book, containing wisdom for the young people among us concerning choosing friends and mates: "Damaged people are dangerous because they know how to survive."
The Illini will be dangerous this month, because they know how to survive and win, even when all else has gone sideways. They've done it repeatedly. Indiana only began to learn to do it yesterday, and I'd bet the lesson won't stick. Toss out our two early losses when the team was severely disabled and we would be a 24-6 team losing only to Arizona [EDIT: in non-con play] in a one-possession game under a minute. Think of everything they overcame to win the title.
I can't wait for next weekend.
Oh, one more thing: I'm waaaaay long Belo. Sell him short at your peril.
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Well, mark me down as the outlying idiot, then. I feel better this evening than I did a year ago.
You're absolutely correct: last year on the BTT Friday we looked invincible. But we were a young, immature team. We had incredible talent but that talent shrunk and deferred to a closer when things got tight. Only at the very end of the season, when forced to play without Ayo for a spell, did others step up. None of them had ever played an NCAA tourney game, and (IIRC) our coach had never won one. It was electrifying, and complete vindication, to win that epic BTT title game v. OSU. The euphoria I felt throughout Feb and early March, however, was largely seeing our program return to where it had been 15 years earlier, and having fun again for the first time in all those years. That's a long time in the desert given the history of this program.
This year we have greater maturity and seasoning among Kofi, Trent, DMW, and Jake. We don't have a closer. We have different guys who step forward when it's crunch time. We have young guys who have come along during the season and can step in and contribute valuable minutes. I'm never anxious before we play this season. I know that we'll wax and wane but that likely, if we're trailing late, we'll have the capacity to win and we will win. I love watching this team, as maddening as it has been. It's only been five days and I'm still kinda stunned that, despite the injuries, illnesses and adversity, it won a share of the BT title. That's just a magnificent achievement, which is why few of us could get to sleep at a decent hour early Monday morning. I'm still riding on those fumes tonight.
I recall a trashy novella from the early '90s called Damage. A guilty pleasure of a film starring Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. There's a great line in that book, containing wisdom for the young people among us concerning choosing friends and mates: "Damaged people are dangerous because they know how to survive."
The Illini will be dangerous this month, because they know how to survive and win, even when all else has gone sideways. They've done it repeatedly. Indiana only began to learn to do it yesterday, and I'd bet the lesson won't stick. Toss out our two early losses when the team was severely disabled and we would be a 24-6 team losing only to Arizona in a one-possession game under a minute. Think of everything they overcame to win the title.
I can't wait for next weekend.
Oh, one more thing, I'm waaaaay long Belo. Sell him short at your peril.
View attachment 16167
Any word on when/if Granderson will be back? We win this game if he plays even with all our self-inflicted wounds today. Doesn't seem like many are factoring in the fact we have not played with our 2nd best 3-point shooter and starter all year the last 2 games. It is kinda a big deal.
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Belo ‘hodling’ Brad = Bullish!
Losses in the conference tournaments happen. We're seeing plenty of other teams losing games they "shouldn't" lose, and I don't think we've seen the last of it.
You really can't predict when and how a team might go on a run in the big tournament. Basketball is a funny game like that, especially at the college level in March. I'll remain hopeful and just enjoy the ride as far as it goes. I know we're capable of making a run. I hope it happens, mostly because I'm not ready to no longer have Illini basketball to watch and this team is full of guys I enjoy seeing play ball.
You really can't predict when and how a team might go on a run in the big tournament. Basketball is a funny game like that, especially at the college level in March. I'll remain hopeful and just enjoy the ride as far as it goes. I know we're capable of making a run. I hope it happens, mostly because I'm not ready to no longer have Illini basketball to watch and this team is full of guys I enjoy seeing play ball.
Love it!!!Well, mark me down as the outlying idiot, then. I feel better this evening than I did a year ago.
You're absolutely correct: last year on the BTT Friday we looked invincible. But we were a young, immature team. We had incredible talent but that talent shrunk and deferred to a closer when things got tight. Only at the very end of the season, when forced to play without Ayo for a spell, did others step up. None of them had ever played an NCAA tourney game, and (IIRC) our coach had never won one. It was electrifying, and complete vindication, to win that epic BTT title game v. OSU. The euphoria I felt throughout Feb and early March, however, was largely seeing our program return to where it had been 15 years earlier, and having fun again for the first time in all those years. That's a long time in the desert given the history of this program.
This year we have greater maturity and seasoning among Kofi, Trent, DMW, and Jake. We don't have a closer. We have different guys who step forward when it's crunch time. We have young guys who have come along during the season and can step in and contribute valuable minutes. I'm never anxious before we play this season. I know that we'll wax and wane but that likely, if we're trailing late, we'll have the capacity to win and we will win. I love watching this team, as maddening as it has been. It's only been five days and I'm still kinda stunned that, despite the injuries, illnesses and adversity, it won a share of the BT title. That's just a magnificent achievement, which is why few of us could get to sleep at a decent hour early Monday morning. I'm still riding on those fumes tonight.
I recall a trashy novella from the early '90s called Damage. A guilty pleasure of a film starring Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. There's a great line in that book, containing wisdom for the young people among us concerning choosing friends and mates: "Damaged people are dangerous because they know how to survive."
The Illini will be dangerous this month, because they know how to survive and win, even when all else has gone sideways. They've done it repeatedly. Indiana only began to learn to do it yesterday, and I'd bet the lesson won't stick. Toss out our two early losses when the team was severely disabled and we would be a 24-6 team losing only to Arizona [EDIT: in non-con play] in a one-possession game under a minute. Think of everything they overcame to win the title.
I can't wait for next weekend.
Oh, one more thing: I'm waaaaay long Belo. Sell him short at your peril.
View attachment 16167
Belo will be the difference in us making a run in the tournament. A player like him gets freed up playing outside of conference.
I'm ready!!! I hate losing but this could be ok for us......
LFG
My assessment: We only lost by 2 points, keep that in mind when realizing;
1) Indiana's halfcourt defense was very disruptive and we never established a good rhythm, and our guards did not get consistent good looks and when we did we did not capitalize on them.
2) Indiana shot 11% better from the floor and 11% better from the free throw line.
3) We as a team shot 65% from the free throw line.
In reality as poorly as we executed and as disjointed as it was to watch we still had a great chance to win. If we just correct a few things that are easily corrected we will have success in the tourney!
Positives:
1) Kofi hit free throws under pressure when we needed him to.
2) Hawkins is getting a better feel for the game and more times than not is effectual around the basket, when before we didn't have another body battling for rebounds or defending.
3) Curbelo is defending well and getting rebounds and is not afraid of the big stage. He also is the only one on the roster than can get to the rack on a consistent basis and get up a shot. More will fall in his favor eventually.
1) Indiana's halfcourt defense was very disruptive and we never established a good rhythm, and our guards did not get consistent good looks and when we did we did not capitalize on them.
2) Indiana shot 11% better from the floor and 11% better from the free throw line.
3) We as a team shot 65% from the free throw line.
In reality as poorly as we executed and as disjointed as it was to watch we still had a great chance to win. If we just correct a few things that are easily corrected we will have success in the tourney!
Positives:
1) Kofi hit free throws under pressure when we needed him to.
2) Hawkins is getting a better feel for the game and more times than not is effectual around the basket, when before we didn't have another body battling for rebounds or defending.
3) Curbelo is defending well and getting rebounds and is not afraid of the big stage. He also is the only one on the roster than can get to the rack on a consistent basis and get up a shot. More will fall in his favor eventually.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Well said.
Set aside the FTs. Kofi makes two more layups (out of 10 he missed??) and we hit two more mid-rangers and this game isn't even close under 5.
Frazier got in his face the game before and Andre hit all his foul shots -I wish Frazier would continue getting on him .
So close- I thought the last layup was going down.
Go ILLINI
Illinois has hit 71% from the line as a team this season. If we had been consistent with that accuracy today, we would expect to score 16.72 points at the line, which still would have brought us up short, by a few tenths of a point. Sorry--inconsistent shooting at the line didn't it lose for us today.
Five one-and-one opportunities:
On three we made both ends, 6 for 6: expected = ( .71 + .504) * 3 = 3.64 points
On two we missed the front end, 0 for 2: expected = (.71 + .504) * 2 = 2.43 points
Other free-throw opportunities:
9 for 15: expected .71 * 15 = 10.65 points
Five one-and-one opportunities:
On three we made both ends, 6 for 6: expected = ( .71 + .504) * 3 = 3.64 points
On two we missed the front end, 0 for 2: expected = (.71 + .504) * 2 = 2.43 points
Other free-throw opportunities:
9 for 15: expected .71 * 15 = 10.65 points
make dam layups and drunks and we win
He needs to learn that the spectacular still just results in 2 points. No extra points for style or flair. Gets comments by the announcers but doesn't get us any more points. The one-handed ball out in front high off the glass layup that only goes down about 50% of the time from him is a waste of style effort. Just make the dam layup and forget the pointless style
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
I had the outcome spoiled at the 10:00 mark of the first half, and that pass alone makes me glad I watched the whole thing closely anyway.
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