They played great, we played mediocre at best.
The bed doesn’t crap itself.
The bed doesn’t crap itself.
Spot on. We struggle against length.IMO, we have trouble with Maryland due to their athletic players, on both ends. For example, Ayo at 6'5" was switched on to whoever was hot. Wiggins, then Morsell. Why? They gave our smaller guards fits.
Who on offense do we have who can finish like Morsell did at the end? Ayo, period. Not Ace, Trent, Curbelo, DMW... No one but Ayo. They have Wiggins, Morsell, and Ayala. We struggle against taller athletes.
We play very small at times. Against some teams, it is an advantage. Historically, against Maryland, it just doesn't seem to be.
We stopped really taking it to them at the basket. There is no way we should've never been in the bonus in the second half. Especially considering how Kofi was dominating. there was a period where we were up 2 or 3 and got stops in 4 straight possessions and failed to go up by 2 possessions. That's what hurt us.
You seem to miss the point that Trent and DMFW can't get good lucks against teams with everyone over 6' 5". They are overmatched. They both play good defense but do not have the ability to get open. In the second half the same can be said about Adam Miller.Of course they do. But guess what happens when a team guards like Maryland did, and you have a ball dominant Ayo and an offense trying to feed the post? Not to mention a freshman pg driving to nowhere with no options but launching a prayer...at least 6-7 times....how many good looks are Trent and DMFW gonna get?
Also Trent was injured.
It’s one game, and right on cue, the hot takes want Tev Jones and Alan Griffin in “cause they can score”.
Oh yeah and BU can’t coach.
No, hold up. Belo had a bad game. Not a horrible game, but a very bad game.If you think Belo had a @#$% game what do you call DMFW missing both clutch free throws when we really needed them. Also what drives was DMFW making where he was trying to make them as he had ZERO points on the night. However, let's blame the freshman.
Giving much credit to the Terps who played almost the entire game on the right side of their bell curve. Our guys actually played OK most of the game, slightly below avg., but with three Illini frosh being depended upon so much, the team was due for a fold in the clutch when pressured, and the Terps did just that. No Illini fan expected them to hit shots consistently, but they did. No Illini fan expected them to disrupt shooters and scorers as the game wound to :0:00, but they did. Their quality of play and coaching was better tonight....period. I am as disappointed as anyone....but no one stuffed the ballot box...we got beat and that fact is not disputable.They played great, we played mediocre at best.
The bed doesn’t crap itself.
You are spot on. If the opposition guards the three point line well and we refuse to feed our big man, our offense becomes one dimensional. Ayo.Morsell outplayed Ayo tonight on both ends. Maryland might not be quite as talented as the last few years, but they still have more guys who can create their own shot on the floor than the Illini do. In a close game, that usually spells trouble.
Agree with everything you said. Spot on!Giving much credit to the Terps who played almost the entire game on the right side of their bell curve. Our guys actually played OK most of the game, slightly below avg., but with three Illini frosh being depended upon so much, the team was due for a fold in the clutch when pressured, and the Terps did just that. No Illini fan expected them to hit shots consistently, but they did. No Illini fan expected them to disrupt shooters and scorers as the game wound to :0:00, but they did. Their quality of play and coaching was better tonight....period. I am as disappointed as anyone....but no one stuffed the ballot box...we got beat and that fact is not disputable.
Ayo was mind-boggling at times. Kofi proved again he needs a lot of work on the concept of catching and passing. Georgi started to hurry and throw his shot again for some reason after shooting so well recently. Miller hit some shots, but as someone mentioned, a floater would be great for his game. Hate to see Trent injured, we need him. And DMFW disappointed for the first time by missing two big free throws in the final minute...I felt he was automatic. His cape must have been at the cleaners. This team is a long way from good enough to win 6 games in April but it would sure be nice to see them beat somebody good on the road like Michigan or Wisconsin or even Iowa at home. Don't see it happening with this starting lineup.
Curbelo has talents that are much needed but also has growing up that is much needed. He will...maybe not soon enough.
Unacceptable.Belo with 12 FG attempts. Kofi with 10. Take a moment to process that.
I think you are spot on...my memory was under 5 min. up 3, went down 3 times and didn't score, 2 of those times didn't get a shot off. Game on the line and didn't value the basketball. Might have been a good time for Brad to call a T.O. That said, when Brad did call a T.O. late (minute or so to go), Curbelo took the shot coming out of the T.O, which couldn't have been the play call I would assume. I like Curbelo, but my eye test is telling me he needs to be sat down after he pulls some of his crazy stuff. I mean, he made that fall away on the baseline, but it was a terrible shot that happens to go in. Despite his highlight caliber passes, he has too much high school in his game and good teams will continue to take advantage of that fact. Of course, the calculus changes if Trent is hurt.To me the key to the game was the final 3 minutes....I believe we were up 2 and needed a couple of stops defensively, which we got, but then we went down and either turned the ball over or didn't get a good shot....as a team you need to realize that at that point in the game you need to value the ball a little more...especially after you've made a defensive stand and have the opportunity to extend your lead and put the game out of reach....but we didn't value the ball our last 5-6 possessions....didn't get good looks....we're a good team....a great team would have nailed the coffin shut during those 5-6 possessions and found a way to win by 6-8 points
We got outscored 10-4 going down the stretch (last 7:28 of game). The knock on Curbelo coming out of Long Island Lutheran is he could not shoot. His 3 point shot is flat out ugly. Finally, teams have figured out Ayo can't go left and play him accordingly. Hands down the most and best talented team in the BIG, but clearly not the best team.I think you are spot on...my memory was under 5 min. up 3, went down 3 times and didn't score, 2 of those times didn't get a shot off. Game on the line and didn't value the basketball. Might have been a good time for Brad to call a T.O. That said, when Brad did call a T.O. late (minute or so to go), Curbelo took the shot coming out of the T.O, which couldn't have been the play call I would assume. I like Curbelo, but my eye test is telling me he needs to be sat down after he pulls some of his crazy stuff. I mean, he made that fall away on the baseline, but it was a terrible shot that happens to go in. Despite his highlight caliber passes, he has too much high school in his game and good teams will continue to take advantage of that fact. Of course, the calculus changes if Trent is hurt.
I'm with Ray Mears Tennessee Basketball Coach 1960's " I've won and I've lost. I like winning better!"