Heaven or Las Vegas?
Loyola Chicago 71, Illinois 58 Postgame
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He said Kofi started sticking on Krutwig instead of helping.
They remind me alot of Brad Stevens Butler teams. Of course he had a couple NBA guys on those teams. If Loyola gets back to the Final Four, then you gotta think Moser will be in that elite company of coaches. 2 Final 4s at a school like Loyola is insane. And without an NBA player on the roster. Shocking an Illinois State washout can resurrect his career like this.
I think Loyola will be favored vs either Oregon State or Oklahoma State. Probably a toss up vs West Virginia/Houston
Cook
- Richmond, VA
I'd like Deon to enumerate said adjustments. And while we're at it, where are all these counters that BU talks about so much in his offense, where no matter what the defense does all you have to do is go to the counter. Really haven't seen that be the case.
I'm a big fan of BU, but he has opportunities I hope he works on. Other than a his Shaka-lite SFA year, what has he done in the tourney? Every team should have some wrinkles installed to utilize in games like these and show something the opponent doesn't expect, both on O and D. Scheme can tremendously help impose your will and style of play on a game. Many games this year we seemed to come out and just see what happens rather than being absolutely deliberate about how we wanted to take the game to that particular opponent. Today another example of that.
That's the spirit!
Deleted member 747903
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Adjustments weren't going to help us today. Loyola simply outplayed us. At halftime I knew we were going to lose and I'm sure many folks felt the same way. Furthermore when they punched us in the mouth at the start and we didn't punch back that was concerning.
They made tough shots and we missed some easy ones. Against a top 20 kenpom team that's a recipe for losing.
Ayo deserves to be one of the best illini in history for what he has done in his 3 years but he arguably had the worst game of his career.
Two more thoughts.
1. Brad Underwood had a bad day, but has shown a propensity to grasp the obvious and change his thoughts on how he should plan and operate. I am hoping he can continue demanding great effort, recognition, and execution on the defensive end while realizing how to counteract strong game plans by opponents and adjust quickly. He has grown and learned at Illinois, and I hope continues to do so. Rebuilding culture and togetherness with his charges has been fun for all Illini Nation and was a must....but he must continue to grow, learn, and adapt as we have seen. He has worked hard and been successful in rebuilding the culture and in recruiting. The nuances of in game coaching and adjustments, I trust, will continue to be learned and perfected over time.
2. Early in the season, especially after the Maryland game, I doubted this team had any chance to win either the B1G title or NCAA title. Too much to learn on both ends. But they kept chopping wood and moved the curve to the point that I became a believer. Yet, the step back at the wrong time was heartbreaking for us all, especially the team and coaches I am certain. Nevertheless, we saw a Jekyll and Hyde team much of the season that would thrill us and disappoint almost as often. This was not the 05 team that simply ran past everyone...this team turned it over and missed free throws too often in every game. We knew that would cost them sometime. Both are signs of not understanding the game or being too reckless or careless. I blame no one for this loss, other than a very good basketball team from Loyola University of Chicago. Porter Moser took a group of kids with high understanding of the game, got them to believe, came up with a great plan, and they put on a clinic. The Illini needed an exceptional defensive effort and all players contributing on the other end...and that did not happen. But that is why we watch the games...and coaches watch them over and over. Gotta learn and get better...and deal with the frustration with some class.
1. Brad Underwood had a bad day, but has shown a propensity to grasp the obvious and change his thoughts on how he should plan and operate. I am hoping he can continue demanding great effort, recognition, and execution on the defensive end while realizing how to counteract strong game plans by opponents and adjust quickly. He has grown and learned at Illinois, and I hope continues to do so. Rebuilding culture and togetherness with his charges has been fun for all Illini Nation and was a must....but he must continue to grow, learn, and adapt as we have seen. He has worked hard and been successful in rebuilding the culture and in recruiting. The nuances of in game coaching and adjustments, I trust, will continue to be learned and perfected over time.
2. Early in the season, especially after the Maryland game, I doubted this team had any chance to win either the B1G title or NCAA title. Too much to learn on both ends. But they kept chopping wood and moved the curve to the point that I became a believer. Yet, the step back at the wrong time was heartbreaking for us all, especially the team and coaches I am certain. Nevertheless, we saw a Jekyll and Hyde team much of the season that would thrill us and disappoint almost as often. This was not the 05 team that simply ran past everyone...this team turned it over and missed free throws too often in every game. We knew that would cost them sometime. Both are signs of not understanding the game or being too reckless or careless. I blame no one for this loss, other than a very good basketball team from Loyola University of Chicago. Porter Moser took a group of kids with high understanding of the game, got them to believe, came up with a great plan, and they put on a clinic. The Illini needed an exceptional defensive effort and all players contributing on the other end...and that did not happen. But that is why we watch the games...and coaches watch them over and over. Gotta learn and get better...and deal with the frustration with some class.
orange100
time to hop on the wife
this is what bugs me. My son can see basketball plays better than I can because he has been coached pretty well. But even I could see the same damn 3 offensive plays they ran today over and over. And we defended them the same damn way every time and EVERY TIME we could not stop it. That's where it started to feel to me that we were being out-coached. I did not see adjustments to it. And their defense trapped Ayo and tripled Kofi and we had no adjustment to it. It's like no one could pass the ball today. I am still in a WTF mindset.
I know a few of you remember the game in 1963 when Loyola knocked us out of the tournament. Similar game. We went into that one after having won the B10 with a record of 20-6 (11-3 in conference). They dominated us in every facet of the game and came away with a wire to wire 79-64 victory.
www.sports-reference.com
Loyola went on to win the championship by beating Cincinnati in OT.
Loyola (IL) vs. Illinois Box Score (Men), March 16, 1963 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Loyola (IL) vs. Illinois Box Score (Men), March 16, 1963
www.sports-reference.com
What bugged me was that every time they doubled or tripled teamed,... we seemed to have a wide open Illini 3p shooter in a corner. Seemed we were continuously forcing heavily defended shots instead of passing to weak side open shots.. On D, I felt we could have benefitted with a zone mix.
Deleted member 747903
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It's tough because teams in the big ten do not run that type of offense. The team I can think of that runs stuff similar to Loyola is northwestern.
On a short turnaround it becomes tough to scout and adjust for. I think we messed up by not putting enough ball pressure. Felt like their passing lanes were wide open
Ayo hasn't been the same since he was popped in the nose, though today was particularly bad. Having said that, the kid carried us for three years and I tip my cap to him.
Deleted member 747903
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I've been saying for multiple games that Ayo is getting completely blocked on his right hand and he needs to take one dribble and pull up for a shot. His pull-up this year was deadly and he didn't go to it enough IMO
No.I feel really sad and depressed after this game. New fan and hence still adjusting to experiencing heartbreaks. Anyone knows how to mentally bounce back from this ?
Just feel deflated as I would guess that’s how a lot of people feel. Really thought this was the year. Anyway, this program is trending the right way. We have a good coach who will learn from this and I’m really looking forward to see what type of team we have in 2021-22
Thanks, BRucks.I know a few of you remember the game in 1963 when Loyola knocked us out of the tournament. Similar game. We went into that one after having won the B10 with a record of 20-6 (11-3 in conference). They dominated us in every facet of the game and came away with a wire to wire 79-64 victory.
Loyola went on to win the championship by beating Cincinnati in OT.Loyola (IL) vs. Illinois Box Score (Men), March 16, 1963 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Loyola (IL) vs. Illinois Box Score (Men), March 16, 1963
I'm trying hard to put this loss in perspective (rationalizing maybe's a better word).
I watched delayed telecast of Loyola-Cincy in glorious black and white in 1963. Loyola beat Illini, as you said, in Elite Eight game.
But the fact remains that Illini are 12-4 (check this) against Loyola all time. Unfortunately, two of the losses came in the tournament.
I will be rooting for Loyola from here on out.
But I feel real bad for THE FIGHTING ILLINI right now. If I feel so rotten, how must the players feel? No disgrace. Just come back next season even sronger.
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They seemed to run the same two plays over and over again.
I didn’t see the drives to the bucket In the first half that I wanted we normally see. If curbello and guards purposed to get fouled going to the bucket, and Kofi and georgie had built that picket fence down low, we would have had 5 or 6 more fouls on them. It would have given us 6 to 8 more points from free throws and put Krusty the Clown and Loyola in a foul trouble position. Hard to do much different on offense when we couldn’t make shots.
We had one fast break basket. One.
Deleted member 747903
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Because they didn't care for rebounding and just got everyone back on D. Multiple times the announcers pointed out how quickly they got back and set
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t even watched the second half. So, that being said what I observed:
Right from the start I could see this was going to be a hard game to win. Personally, I thought the officiating was horrific. At one point Kofi was swooned by three defenders under the basket goes up and gets mauled-no foul. Frasier and Miller got hit so hard both were holding their wrists. No fouls. I think Loyola had 3 the first half. THREE! That being said Loyola fans didn’t get a few calls either! Just a poorly officiated game, in my opinion. When Kofi isn’t getting calls it stops the inside game and couple that with our guards laying one egg after the other it wasn’t going to end up good and it didn’t.
From the only half I watched (and I will watch the second half) we got outplayed in EVERY single facet of the game and outcoached.
I had a feeling to many people were looking down the road for Illinois and I think our guys were as well. You can’t believe all the hype until it’s over. We had won so many games 15/16 I believe, that I just had a feeling one of these games was going to show up and it did. Loyola was too good defensively to have a poor game all around. It happens! But to be a number 1 seed and not get to the sweet 16 is beyond disappointing.
couldn’t capitalize on the only 1st All American we have had on the roster! I would think at this point it would be more beneficial for Kofi to stay one more year. Ayo is gone. And will be a first rounder however this will not help his draft stock in the same way a deep run would have but he will still be a top 20 pick in my opinion.
This team had a great season. No taking away from that, would just love as a fan to get one banner that says National Champions!!!
All my respect to these young men and all they endured just for us to be able to cheer and watch their great season.
On to next year. Get a couple more pieces, convince Kofi that he will make more headway staying than going, and let’s fight another day.
Disappointed is an understatement. I was livid watching the first half. But, extremely proud of these guys. Only one fan base will not be disappointed, just was praying it was our time!!!
Go Illini!!!
Right from the start I could see this was going to be a hard game to win. Personally, I thought the officiating was horrific. At one point Kofi was swooned by three defenders under the basket goes up and gets mauled-no foul. Frasier and Miller got hit so hard both were holding their wrists. No fouls. I think Loyola had 3 the first half. THREE! That being said Loyola fans didn’t get a few calls either! Just a poorly officiated game, in my opinion. When Kofi isn’t getting calls it stops the inside game and couple that with our guards laying one egg after the other it wasn’t going to end up good and it didn’t.
From the only half I watched (and I will watch the second half) we got outplayed in EVERY single facet of the game and outcoached.
I had a feeling to many people were looking down the road for Illinois and I think our guys were as well. You can’t believe all the hype until it’s over. We had won so many games 15/16 I believe, that I just had a feeling one of these games was going to show up and it did. Loyola was too good defensively to have a poor game all around. It happens! But to be a number 1 seed and not get to the sweet 16 is beyond disappointing.
couldn’t capitalize on the only 1st All American we have had on the roster! I would think at this point it would be more beneficial for Kofi to stay one more year. Ayo is gone. And will be a first rounder however this will not help his draft stock in the same way a deep run would have but he will still be a top 20 pick in my opinion.
This team had a great season. No taking away from that, would just love as a fan to get one banner that says National Champions!!!
All my respect to these young men and all they endured just for us to be able to cheer and watch their great season.
On to next year. Get a couple more pieces, convince Kofi that he will make more headway staying than going, and let’s fight another day.
Disappointed is an understatement. I was livid watching the first half. But, extremely proud of these guys. Only one fan base will not be disappointed, just was praying it was our time!!!
Go Illini!!!
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