You don't remember the teams with Egwu?
Maryland 84, Illinois 59 POSTGAME
You don't remember the teams with Egwu?
No argument here
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
This is a little extreme. They've lacked the proper talent, IMO. PG & C (after Edgwu) have been abysmal.
I would never include Egwu in that group. I was referring to really tenacious team defense, like you see with teams like Michigan State and Kansas.
Wasn't Tisdale a bit of a shot blocker? He was a better defender than both Mav and Thorne, maybe due to defensive system and maybe due to blocks but either way, better.
Tisdale was second in school history in blocks when his eligibility ran out. He was one behind Deon Thomas for first. He was then passed by egwu, who finished first, a couple years later. 176 career blocks.
Weber ran defenses far and away better than what we have this year with the likes of McCamey, Tisdale, and Meacham. If he could make that work, then a decent coach should be able to get at least as good of defense out of this team.
As it pertains to the Maryland game, Turgeon's team repeatedly got to the basket for uncontested layups in the first 15 minutes of the game. Turgeon must have seen Illinois' approach to defense on film and found a way to exploit it, repeatedly. Groce countered with a zone, but the layup line never stopped until Maryland started taking (dumb) outside shots.
I'm in the camp that Groce's teams have not developed any sort of identity at either end of the court. Pointing to individuals that play defense (Egwu) is fine; give credit where credit is due. However, the Illini have struggled to get stops over the last five seasons. The team has no identity on offense other than let a guard create off the dribble (Paul/Rice/Hill) or let someone do post moves one-on-one (Morgan/Thorne). No concepts that I can see, no pattern has emerged.
No identity.
I'm in the camp that Groce's teams have not developed any sort of identity at either end of the court. Pointing to individuals that play defense (Egwu) is fine; give credit where credit is due. However, the Illini have struggled to get stops over the last five seasons. The team has no identity on offense other than let a guard create off the dribble (Paul/Rice/Hill) or let someone do post moves one-on-one (Morgan/Thorne). No concepts that I can see, no pattern has emerged.
No identity.
piso mojado
One of those CAUTION: WET FLOOR signs would provide more rim protection than Morgan and Thorne combined.
As long as you have Thorne, Morgan, and Tate sopping up 60 minutes a game, you're not going to be competitive in the Big Ten. This team reminds me of an old Penn State team where you had Talor Battle, a couple of serviceable role players, and beyond that just a bunch of dudes who were wearing basketball uniforms for some reason.
You need five guys who belong out there, and I'm not sure we have that.
One of those CAUTION: WET FLOOR signs would provide more rim protection than Morgan and Thorne combined.
As long as you have Thorne, Morgan, and Tate sopping up 60 minutes a game, you're not going to be competitive in the Big Ten. This team reminds me of an old Penn State team where you had Talor Battle, a couple of serviceable role players, and beyond that just a bunch of dudes who were wearing basketball uniforms for some reason.
You need five guys who belong out there, and I'm not sure we have that.
ChazzReinhold
Mom! The Meatloaf!
After viewing the board I'm pretty sure it's just you.