Indiana 65, Illinois 63 Postgame

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#376      

ILLINI83

I
ILLINI83
Don't get me wrong, winning is always preferred. But I don't see today's loss as a bad thing. Coach Underwood accomplished things he felt were important. 1. Freshmen received tournament minutes. Invaluable experience for guys taking a big step next season. 2. Good performances by Curbelo & Hawkins. These two will play important roles in NCAAs & next season. 3. No injuries. 4. A week's rest to prepare for NCAAs. I've felt for a while that the team looked worn out at times.

I'm very bullish on this team making a deep run. I have a better feeling about it than I did last year. Seems as if Brad's coaching decisions have been geared towards two goals this year: Regular season title and Final 4. Goal one already accomplished. Now on to goal 2.
 
#379      

Birdus

B
Birdus
ILLINI83 said:
Don't get me wrong, winning is always preferred. But I don't see today's loss as a bad thing. Coach Underwood accomplished things he felt were important. 1. Freshmen received tournament minutes. Invaluable experience for guys taking a big step next season. 2. Good performances by Curbelo & Hawkins. These two will play important roles in NCAAs & next season. 3. No injuries. 4. A week's rest to prepare for NCAAs. I've felt for a while that the team looked worn out at times.

I'm very bullish on this team making a deep run. I have a better feeling about it than I did last year. Seems as if Brad's coaching decisions have been geared towards two goals this year: Regular season title and Final 4. Goal one already accomplished. Now on to goal 2.
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Great Post!
 
#380      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
mikeyo said:
This team will underachieve. Way too inconsistent to make a run in March. Sad, because they’re so talented. The grandi, Trent, Plummer slumps and the non-offense from damonte will result in a short post season.
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You can’t play this game tense or afraid.

You can’t be scared to take your shots. The worst that can happen is you miss. Like you already have a million times already in your life. But you’ve also made a million shots. So what’s to fear?

You can’t play this game tense. You tense up your leg and arm and hand muscles even slightly and you’re sunk. You can’t throw it in the ocean that way.

You can’t be afraid to fail. You have to BELIEVE you will succeed. If you let any doubt into your thinking... you’ve lost already.

Coach has got to get these guys to find their inner mojo and play fast and loose. That’s the only way to play this game.

You can’t ‘practice’ being loose. No amount of drills will rid you of fear. You have to find it INSIDE and the Coaches can’t give this to you.

Remember what it’s like to have fun playing. Believe you’re better than your opponent and then SHOW THEM.

And find a way to enjoy playing Tournament ball and have fun with it. It IS the best time of the year.
 
#382      

I-L-L

I
I-L-L
Birdus said:
Great post. I don't know about Kofi staying though. He could make a boat load of money in Italy or elsewhere if he doesn't go NBA.
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Thanks! I could definitely see that. A little wishful thinking on my part ;).
Even if we lose Kofi we'll be super deep with long athletes, shooters, guys that play hard D, and toughness. That's the best kind of basketball team. Even in the new NIL and portal world, I feel like the culture Brad is building is one where almost all players will want to stay/return. Love that for experience and chemistry. Went to school at U of I from 2000-2004. Was fortunate enough to have good basketball and football teams to buy season tickets to watch. Thinking we might be getting closer to those days! Go Illini!
 
#383      

greyghost70

G
greyghost70
Ga65 said:
Some did. Obviously he wasn’t where he should have been.
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So, if that was the case a fifth year senior might pick up his dribble, look for someone to pass to instead of making a blind pass. Kind of like the end of the Ohio State game. It seems like he also got picked at the end of the Marquette game. I am not knocking Frazier as I am a big fan. However he screws up as much as the rest of them. Why is it always Hawkins or Curbelo's fault.
 
#385      

hoopsfan47

H
hoopsfan47
Just MHO, but I do not see this team getting a 4 seed. They play like a six too often. Would like to see the B1G co-champ get a 3 seed, but that is likely to be Wisconsin. The Illini have not been given much respect this season from the pollsters, and in their defense, it has been difficult for many reasons to put a finger on their potential or their competence. Regardless, it certainly does not mean they can't win them all. Maybe some time to reflect and coach is exactly what they need. Never underestimate resolve.

Every scholarship player, other than Lieb, has made a contribution to an important win or shown they can compete in the B1G. But consistency and knowing what to do and when to do it needs much improvement. This group has been special and a gift to watch. Their growth and hard work has been a thrill to see over a long season full of strife and challenge. We all hope there is something special to come, but regardless, a great bunch of guys.
 
#386      

TGB

T
TGB
I feel the reason we play scared to miss a shot is Brad will yank you and scream at you. Teaching is one thing but guys like Hawkins, Goode and even Melendez are not free to show their talents. That’s why we tense up at the end of games. He would let Ayo play his game, and we see the results at the end of games last year. To bad the players are scared.
 
#387      

Champaign88

C
Champaign88
greyghost70 said:
I would remind you they beat Purdue at home and lost to them by 2 points in the last Big Ten game for them. They're not that bad.
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I’m starting to think no B1G team is actually that good. Wisconsin most years has no chance at going 15-5 in the B1G. Against last years B1G they probably go 12-8 or 10-10.
 
#389      

greyghost70

G
greyghost70
IMPE Legend said:
I agree. The move that needs to happen is Jake in for Damonte...but I don't see Underwood doing it. I love all the little things Damonte does...but having an offensive liability on the floor contributes in part to our long scoring droughts. We are not a defense first team. We just aren't. We are an offensive team that can play some defense. Trent does both which is why he is so important. When we have looked dominant it is when we are scoring. If we aren't scoring the rest doesn't matter much. Damonte will obviously be needed in certain situations and against certain opponents. I just don't think we can keep him out there for long stretches...especially those long stretches where we are struggling to score. Its hard to sit a 5th year senior, especially one who does so many little things, but when you don't do one of the big things it hurts. Having him off the bench, though, would be a great weapon to deploy when needed.
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It doesn't show but I hit the like button 5 times on this post. Might have broken my mouse.
 
#391      

BackThatPassUp

B
BackThatPassUp
i would've liked to see a little more Melendez in the second half. That's my biggest gripe. I wouldn't mind seeing one of those late season freshman coming out parties in the ncaa tournament by him where other teams are shocked but we're not if he averages 10 ppg in the tourney.
 
#392      

Hopingfor500

H
Hopingfor500
TGB said:
I feel the reason we play scared to miss a shot is Brad will yank you and scream at you. Teaching is one thing but guys like Hawkins, Goode and even Melendez are not free to show their talents. That’s why we tense up at the end of games. He would let Ayo play his game, and we see the results at the end of games last year. To bad the players are scared.
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If the players, at this level, are intimidated or scared of their coach....it's not a player you want. These are 18-22(and older) year old men.

BU's guys would run through a wall for him. He has seniors out there that he absolutely trusts.....they need to knock down shots. There's nothing more to the story than that.
 
#393      

jumpingjack

J
jumpingjack
greyghost70 said:
I would remind you they beat Purdue at home and lost to them by 2 points in the last Big Ten game for them. They're not that bad.
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Yep, they're a dangerous, if generally underperforming, team. Beyond that, every B1G team has the potential to play lights out and win any given game... Exhibit A - our favorite bottom-dwellers going into Madison and beating Wiscy less than a week ago. I don't like this loss but some of these takes are just godawful Chicken Little 💩.
Even the 05 team dropped a game in the regular season that they shouldn't have.
 
#394      

InDaAZ

InDaAZ
Eugene, Oregon
InDaAZ
You are my gif hero if you can post a clip of that forward bounce-pass from Belo to Coleman at about the 5:30 mark of the second half. I think they had a replay from a different angle that showed how crazy the window was. A foul ‘fouled up’ the perfect finish, but the pass was a masterpiece of artistic beauty…
 
#395      

westcoastillini

W
westcoastillini
ILLINI83 said:
Don't get me wrong, winning is always preferred. But I don't see today's loss as a bad thing. Coach Underwood accomplished things he felt were important. 1. Freshmen received tournament minutes. Invaluable experience for guys taking a big step next season. 2. Good performances by Curbelo & Hawkins. These two will play important roles in NCAAs & next season. 3. No injuries. 4. A week's rest to prepare for NCAAs. I've felt for a while that the team looked worn out at times.

I'm very bullish on this team making a deep run. I have a better feeling about it than I did last year. Seems as if Brad's coaching decisions have been geared towards two goals this year: Regular season title and Final 4. Goal one already accomplished. Now on to goal 2.
Click to expand...
Yes… And now..
1. one game at a time.
2. Play fundamental b-ball (low TO, make free throws)
3. Get Grandy back.
 
#396      

jumpingjack

J
jumpingjack
Champaign88 said:
I’m starting to think no B1G team is actually that good. Wisconsin most years has no chance at going 15-5 in the B1G. Against last years B1G they probably go 12-8 or 10-10.
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"Not good" meaning not exceptional compared to other conferences? Or "not good" meaning not exceptional compared to the rest of the B1G?
 
#398      

GBIllini

G
GBIllini
greyghost70 said:
So, if that was the case a fifth year senior might pick up his dribble, look for someone to pass to instead of making a blind pass. Kind of like the end of the Ohio State game. It seems like he also got picked at the end of the Marquette game. I am not knocking Frazier as I am a big fan. However he screws up as much as the rest of them. Why is it always Hawkins or Curbelo's fault.
Click to expand...
Ya that wasn't the best time for a no look pass.
 
#399      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
Hopingfor500 said:
If the players, at this level, are intimidated or scared of their coach....it's not a player you want. These are 18-22(and older) year old men.

BU's guys would run through a wall for him. He has seniors out there that he absolutely trusts.....they need to knock down shots. There's nothing more to the story than that.
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Yep...play loose, confident and with swagger

Game takeways...

Good...
Kofi 7/8 fts...23/10
CH...18p, 4/7 3p
AC...10 reb
TF&AC...10 assists

Not Good
AP&AC...3/19 fgs
CH&AC...7/14 Fts

Renew swagger and rest up...I think we will be ready for next week.
 
#400      

blife

B
blife
This game, to me, was eerily similar to last year's Loyola game. Hope we got our tournament clunker out of our system. It is mental with this bunch. Shooting is mental, attention to detail is mental. Somehow it just seems to have never developed into that full swag confidence with this group. That's what you need to go deep and win, well that and a boat load of talent. I think we have the talent, just got to find the mental swag.
 
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