Maryland 66, Illinois 63 Postgame

#201      
Maryland knocked down threes. They had a kid averaging 7 a game coming in go off for 20, which seems to happen only against us. Sure they were down their leading scorer but someone else stepped up in his absence. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

Chalk this up as one of those ‘you-know-what’ happens games. It sucks but they do happen to every team at some point.
 
#202      
Jordan Goodwin would look really good on this team and his 11.1 rebounds per game plus 3.8 assists and bulldog mentality. Of all the recruits that went elsewhere, this is the one I would want back.
 
#204      
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.
That's partially because they had slapped about half a dozen of those shots back in our face. They were too tall for us to get clean layups.
 
#205      

We really did not have such a off night
Watching the game I felt Maryland was beaeting up from the 3 point line, that was not the case
Shooting percentages, turnovers and assists about even. We beat them from the free throw line.
We cut down on turnovers, increased FT percentage and got beat
Looks like there 40-33 rebounding edge and 6 more total shots was the difference.
They are long, played good defense, not very many open looks.
 
#208      
Spot on. We struggle against length.
That's what Illinois has been needing and lacking since seems like Brian Randle. A long athletic player and players who can attack the rim relentlessly. Slashers. Curbelo puts pressure on the rim, but he small and we don't have players that cut to the rim when he does that can finish over taller players and draw fouls. Trent is a good player but he's very limited and really can only shoot off the spot up mostly. He really can't create his own shot very often. Or attack the rim. DaMonte is the same way. Adam Miller hasn't shown the ability yet but he can but he's got to learn how to against the talented taller players in this level. We need length and athleticism and slashing rim attacking ability!
 
Last edited:
#209      

We really did not have such a off night
Watching the game I felt Maryland was beaeting up from the 3 point line, that was not the case
Shooting percentages, turnovers and assists about even. We beat them from the free throw line.
We cut down on turnovers, increased FT percentage and got beat
Looks like there 40-33 rebounding edge and 6 more total shots was the difference.
They are long, played good defense, not very many open looks.
They were hitting seemingly everything up until they went cold in the last 5 minutes or so. We just couldn’t finish them off when we had the chance.
 
#210      
Giorgi missed his first hook shot, looked confused and betrayed by the rim, and then seemed frustrated the rest of the game.
There was something going on with him. Got called for a foul early and looked like he had a fit. Carried it to the bench when BU had to calm him down (or yell at him...wasn't sure). You can then see and hear him yelling stuff at the refs during a time out 5 minutes later. Surprised he wasn't T'ed up.
 
#211      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
There was something going on with him. Got called for a foul early and looked like he had a fit. Carried it to the bench when BU had to calm him down (or yell at him...wasn't sure). You can the see and hear him yelling stuff at the refs during a time out 5 minutes later. Surprised he wasn't T'ed up.
In the postgame, Underwood said the ref came by at halftime and apologized for messing up the call against Giorgi. So Giorgi had a legitimate beef, but he probably still shouldn't have lost it.
 
#212      
That's what Illinois has been needing and lacking since seems like Brian Randle. A long athletic player and players who can attack the rim relentlessly. Slashers. Curbelo puts pressure on the rim, but he small and we don't have players that cut to the rim when he does that can finish over taller players and draw fouls. Trent is a good player but he's very limited and really can only shoot off the spot up mostly. He really can't create his own shot very often. Or attack the rim. DaMonte is the same way. Adam Miller hasn't shown the ability yet but he can buy he's got to learn how to against the talented taller players in this level. We need length and athleticism and slashing rim attacking ability!
We need this for sure... Miller has shown some slashing, but we don't have enough off the ball slashing in my opinion. When Kofi is collapsed on that would be an easier pass... also works for Curbelo when he gets stuck in the lane.

BU has to get some slashers to cut hard to the rack for easy finishes.... but who is that? Maybe Coleman? Miller? I don't think Monte has enough skills to finish in there and Trent's gonna get swatted.
 
#213      
Curbelo got creamed by running into a couple of picks while defending his man coming down the court. Are his team mates not calling those out?
 
#215      
Can’t have two starters getting that many minutes and no points. Been saying it since last year Underwood doesn’t know how to use his bench. Should of been getting more minutes. Sure could use there scoring this year. Hawkins and Grandison should be getting more minutes. I know Trent and Damonte play good defense. If there not creating any offense sub them out. Look like guys were tired last night. Sad to see Giorgi relegated to 7 min that can’t happen either.
 
#216      

Cook

Richmond, VA
A few things I wonder, what is our coach's response to silly turnovers, out of control drives, and bad shots? Defensive mistakes seem to get benched quickly. Poor offensive play gets to carry on.

Why are our drives almost always taken too deep without drawing fouls? If you're going to go that far into the lane, then go hard at the rim for a bucket or foul (not some weird double-pumped or reach back reverse finger roll). Of course before over-driving there's also options to kick out, pull up, or a floater (and not get way underneath the basket, jump in the air toward out of bounds, and throw a bad pass back toward the top or into the corner that's usually intercepted and has been a staple of BU offense).

Why can't the bench get more minutes and give some different line-up looks? Giorgi should get way more time, with some of that at the same time Kofi is on the floor. We don't have to run the same offense with every line-up. Just because we're trying to feed Kofi deep in the post doesn't mean that's exactly what we have to keep doing when Giorgi subs for him.

These are all coachable/correctable, but we keep seeing the same problems over and over.
 
Last edited:
#217      
A few things I wonder, what is our coach's response to silly turnovers, out of control drives, and bad shots? Defensive mistakes seem to get benched quickly. Poor offensive play gets to carry on.

Why are our drives almost always taken too deep without drawing fouls? If you're going to go that far into the lane, then go hard at the rim for a bucket or foul (not some weird double-pumped or reach back reverse finger roll). Of course before over-driving there's also options to kick out, pull up, or a floater (and not get way underneath the basket, jump in the air toward out of bounds, and throw a bad pass back toward the top or into the corner that's usually intercepted and has been a staple of BU offense).

Why can't the bench get more minutes and give some different line-up looks? Giorgi should get way more time, with some of that at the same time Kofi is on the floor. We don't have to run the same offense with every line-up. Just because we're trying to feed Kofi deep in the post doesn't mean that's exactly what we have to keep doing when Giorgi subs for him.

These are all coachable/correctable, but we keep seeing the same problems over and over.
Didn't we determine doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results was the definition of insanity during Weber's last year's?
 
#218      
Jordan Goodwin would look really good on this team and his 11.1 rebounds per game plus 3.8 assists and bulldog mentality. Of all the recruits that went elsewhere, this is the one I would want back.

Terrence Shannon Jr. for me. Bouncy, lengthy wing that can defend the 1-4 and is shooting nearly 40% from 3 this year. We should have closed on him.
 
#219      
In our 4 losses, a player has chucked up 20+ shots. We have lost every game he has done this. When the ball is shared and it's team ball we look like a freight train. This is not the NBA and we cannot have 20+ shots coming from 1 player. Don't even get me started on the free throws.
 
#220      

Ubermensch

BOOM! Feed my ego.
In our 4 losses, a player has chucked up 20+ shots. We have lost every game he has done this. When the ball is shared and it's team ball we look like a freight train. This is not the NBA and we cannot have 20+ shots coming from 1 player. Don't even get me started on the free throws.
I agree, but there's also some blame to spread around. The top 3 point shooter in the country is passing up wide open shots behind the arc. When another player sees that, he's probably thinking he has to do it himself or no one else will.
 
#221      
During our re-ascendance, I have really enjoyed gaining back ground in the all-time series' with our conference rivals. We are currently on a winning streak vs. 10 out of 14 Big Ten teams:

W5 - Northwestern
W3 - Purdue
W2 - Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State
W1 - Wisconsin

This includes bigger streaks like a 5-game winning streak vs. Rutgers in Champaign and multi-game road winning streaks. However, for whatever reason, Maryland has OWNED us:

- Since 2000, we are 5-10 vs. Maryland
- Since Maryland joined the conference for the 2015 season, we are 2-7 against them.
- As said earlier, Underwood has only beaten them once - the upset in NYC.
- We have lost three in a row to them, including 3 in a row in College Park and 4 in a row in Champaign :(
- Even before UMD joined the Big Ten and REALLY started owning us, we were still 3-3 against them since 2000, including zero wins in Champaign.
- So, since 2000, we are 1-5 vs. the Terps at home, 1-5 in College Park and 3-0 at neutral sites (twice at MSG, once at Maui).

The moral of this story is that we must demand to play Maryland strictly at neutral sites from now on. It is imperative that we arrange something with the Big Ten that our conference matchups vs. Maryland are always on Saturdays, and we can play our home games vs. them at the United Center in Chicago and they can host us at Capitol One Arena or whatever in DC. If either of us want to switch it up, we can host them in St. Louis, and they can host us in Baltimore. I demand that our leadership agrees to nothing less, for the sake of the program!
 
#222      
Curbelo, what happened tonight?
He doesn't see the floor well although, he has improved. He missed A Miller about 5 or 6 times in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the 2nd half. He wants to drive to the basket and jump up and find someone to pass the ball to. MD stayed home and didn't give him anyone to pass the ball to. He has got to realize that he is NOT even a top 4 option in the last five minutes of games. He got the ball to DW a dribble or two very late for DW to get an open shot. He does not always have to create something for a guy to be open. Sometimes a guy is just open. Pass him the ball! Currently, Ayo is the only person that he will pass the ball ahead to.
 
#224      

illini80

Forgottonia
He doesn't see the floor well although, he has improved. He missed A Miller about 5 or 6 times in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the 2nd half. He wants to drive to the basket and jump up and find someone to pass the ball to. MD stayed home and didn't give him anyone to pass the ball to. He has got to realize that he is NOT even a top 4 option in the last five minutes of games. He got the ball to DW a dribble or two very late for DW to get an open shot. He does not always have to create something for a guy to be open. Sometimes a guy is just open. Pass him the ball! Currently, Ayo is the only person that he will pass the ball ahead to.
I think B10 scouting has already figured out some tendencies. It’s fairly shocking (to me) how well he has done so far, but it doesn’t take long for coaches in this league to figure you out. A bit of the same with DMW the other night. He’s done a great job of hitting open 3’s but put a hand in his face and he likely won’t take the shot.

I think Curbelo will improve as the season goes on, but the adjustment is seldom easy for freshman. Only 3 assists is probably his season low.
 
Last edited:
#225      

Deleted member 747903

D
Guest
He doesn't see the floor well although, he has improved. He missed A Miller about 5 or 6 times in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the 2nd half. He wants to drive to the basket and jump up and find someone to pass the ball to. MD stayed home and didn't give him anyone to pass the ball to. He has got to realize that he is NOT even a top 4 option in the last five minutes of games. He got the ball to DW a dribble or two very late for DW to get an open shot. He does not always have to create something for a guy to be open. Sometimes a guy is just open. Pass him the ball! Currently, Ayo is the only person that he will pass the ball ahead to.

Totally agree. I've noticed this time and time again with Curbelo. He always seems to want to make the spectacular pass when a good pass will do just fine. It felt like he tried to do this vs Maryland a couple times, got stuck and then proceeded to throw up a questionable shot.

He's just a freshman so no doubt he will work this out. I think he just wants to help this team so bad that sometimes he puts himself in a bad spot.