Just got home from the game. Thumbed through the comments. Nothing novel to add, really. We came out very soft on D and that put us in a hole. Props to Willard and the Terps. They were jacked from the beginning, active and intense on D, moved the ball well, and penetrated. We didn't, until around the 30-minute mark. That said, it was our game to win down the stretch and, still, we didn't. The delta IMO was someone like Young who wanted the ball and has some seasoning, and our freshmen learning to play in an environment like this. BTW, I think this Maryland team played to its ceiling tonight. We're a long way from ours.
Also, Coleman Hawkins: man. The difference between seeing him in person here last January and tonight is incredible. He carried us for 30 minutes tonight and kept us in it. Someone noted he has become our facilitator. He has, and he does everything. He needed help, and needed it earlier, tonight. Skyy and Epps will be great but they're doing freshman things. Dain settled down and was a force down the stretch.
Finally, the environment The arena was probably 75% full. But the student section was packed and they were loud. The arena was very loud. It was no doubt very intimidating to our guys but they looked unfazed to me by and large. I'm glad they had to open the BT in this environment. For the frosh, it's a well-needed bucket of cold water. Got it over with against a good team.
As for the foul-mouthed rants, throwing debris at our bench (while their team was ahead, no less), the PA announcer weakly asking that they not do so, etc... I was unsurprised. I've seen it before. (lol, the late-20-ish rubes behind us were screaming at that point re the debris that BU was stalling to freeze the Maryland player at the FT line. Oh... also, quote of the night from them during the halftime salsa-dancing entertainment: "Now, you see, this shows that Maryland has culture. Illinois doesn't have culture like this."
)
Also, rubes sitting behind us when Coleman had a steal and did a reverse layup, quieting the crowd: "That guy's rrrrrealllly good."
On our way into the arena my Illini compadre and I were walking the concourse to get to our seats when some male students passed him, saw his ILLINOIS sweatshirt, and said "F--k Illinois" as he passed. Terrapin hospitality. Then again, on our way out, as we were swept along in the student crowd, we got into conversation with a couple female students who were kind, happy they won but really amazed they beat us, and invited us to the bar with them. I told them that we're old men and need to go home to bed. "Nooooo. You gotta come with us!", they protested. "What's your mascot? Do you guys still have the otter?"
How can a 56-year-old man be angry be angry with a fan base including two such friendly, disarming, 20-year-old blondes? Well, I can, of course, and am.
In conclusion: meh. We lost a game we easily could have won, against a team that played lights out. It's now December 3rd. I can't remember the last time I felt this good about our team on December 3rd. Play for 40. Clean it up. Don't be soft on D. Now go to Manhattan and beat Texas.