Maryland 92, Illinois 91 OT POSTGAME

#276      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
BananaShampoo said:
The future is bright. A year from now we win each of the last three games, probably easily. But as I said before, freshmen gonna freshmen. It's fun to watch their progression, though.

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agreed......last three losses have been hard to stomach at the time, but seeing how the team is playing defense and coming back gives me a sense of hope that we will see a return to elite play soon....

could have been 3-0 last week....we will learn from the mistakes and bad refs aside start to win these games again..
 
#277      

GortTheRobot

G
North Bethesda, Maryland
GortTheRobot
You gotta feel bad for Alstork, he worked his a** off the whole game, and he was knocking himself upside the head as he went off court. I really want to see him succeed and be the one who hits a few game winners. He's giving it everything he's got on the court, even while his shooting was/is off.
 
#278      

ILL in IA

ILL in IA
Iowa City
ILL in IA
GortTheRobot said:
You gotta feel bad for Alstork, he worked his a** off the whole game, and he was knocking himself upside the head as he went off court. I really want to see him succeed and be the one who hits a few game winners. He's giving it everything he's got on the court, even while his shooting was/is off.
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I thought his shot looked a lot better last night. And not just because he made a few. Didn't look as flat as it had been.
 
#279      

GortTheRobot

G
North Bethesda, Maryland
GortTheRobot
ILL in IA said:
I thought his shot looked a lot better last night. And not just because he made a few. Didn't look as flat as it had been.
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I agree, a lot more arc and rotation on his shot. I think he will start to penetrate a lot more effectively once his outside shot is falling as well. He can get by defenders if they are drawn out to cover him, and if he can't create a shot, we all know he can find an open man.
 
#280      

TylerK311

TylerK311
TylerK311
Given what we’ve seen over a good sample size of the season, what are your guys realistic expectations for this team now? In my personal opinion, they look like a legitimate NIT championship caliber team. What are your guys thoughts? I wasn’t sure where to post this, but this thread seems like the best option. Thanks.
 
#282      

FiveStar

F
FiveStar
Lots of talk about that last OB play in regulation.

1) BU is on record that Damonte is our best passer. Seems like exactly the guy to take the ball out.

2) The play we ran is a very common play to get the ball to 1 of your 2 best FT shooters. I've seen it in at least 3 different coaching newsletters I subscribe to. It was designed to go to Alstork/AJ. Maryland defended really well (kudos to them). You take the timeout when BU took it to make sure you have the 5 guys you want on the floor, and everyone knows their jobs. Damonte also made the right play when AJ/Alstork weren't open. Throw it deep, where it will most likely be caught/tipped/intercepted but still 70+ feet away from the basket. Works like a punt/kickoff at the end of a football game with time expiring. Problem is it looked like Kipper stopped moving while trying to gage the flight of the ball.

3) The goaltending thing hurts.

4) We went a considerable amount of time in the second half without having a foul called on us (its not that there weren't opportunities to call some).

5) Alstork fouled Cowan. If you're looking to argue, argue that it was a jump ball before the body contact was made. You will at least sound like less of a crybaby.

We're trending in the right direction. Its tough to have B1G games so early when we're so young. Need to be UNLV/Mizzou to make up for these schedule strength wise.
 
#283      

JFGsCoffeeMug

JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
JFGsCoffeeMug
FiveStar said:
5) Alstork fouled Cowan. If you're looking to argue, argue that it was a jump ball before the body contact was made. You will at least sound like less of a crybaby.
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If there's any debate about the foul, you can simply refer to how Alstork responded after the call. He was smacking his temples while grimacing. He knew he had made a costly mistake at the end there.

I don't hold it against him. He tried to make up for letting Cowan get by him. Shouldn't have even gotten to that point. We had earlier opportunities to put the game away.
 
#284      

Ga65

G
Ga65
oolongmonkey said:
I kinda blame Kipper on that. He was standing there and didn't move a damn inch from the time that ball left Damonte's hands. If Kipper actually moves to make a play on the damn ball it's 50/50 and if it's Maryland ball, they are inbounding it form their side.
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Looked like the defensive man locked him up from getting around him. Didn't understand why everyone was not moving. These errors will happen with a young team playing with a new playbook.

Can't understand lack of consistency with TJL, MF, MS, etc. Have had great games and disappeared in others. Is it the defense against them or just good days and bad? :confused:
 
#286      

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Whitmans Sampler said:
Cowan was legitimately fouled by Alstork both at the end of regulation and at the end of OT. Refs missed the first one (in our favor) and called the last one.
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Absolutely wrong. On the one at the end of regulation, if you watched it again, Cowan actually used his arm to lock Alstork's arm against his body. Refs did a good job on that one not calling it. The one at the end of the game was suspect at best, as no body contact happened until after the block had been made. Talk about misses, Finke was body fouled on his dunk and no call.
 
#287      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
Monte Carlo said:
Absolutely wrong. On the one at the end of regulation, if you watched it again, Cowan actually used his arm to lock Alstork's arm against his body. Refs did a good job on that one not calling it. The one at the end of the game was suspect at best, as no body contact happened until after the block had been made. Talk about misses, Finke was body fouled on his dunk and no call.
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agree on both points....Alstork had a jump ball tieup then came the body contact...Finke got bumped on the dunk , no call...
refs have been especially bad this year in Illini games ...wonder if it just us or a problem for everyone...
 
#288      

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
imjustsooffended said:
Did you watch the Northwestern game? Te'Jon was the best player on the court. If anything, AJ might need to take Smith's spot
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Except for the fact he missed free throws that would have iced the game and then went one on five at the end of the game rather than setting a teammate up for a good shot. I love Te'jon, but he has not been clutch since he has been here. He missed lots of free throws last year in late game situations, and he one of our worst shooting regulars at the foul line this year. Late in the game, I want Mark Smith in there since he can knock them down. I would like to know Te'jon's FT% in late-game situations in his Illinois career.
 
#289      

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
winthiscentury said:
Some people do unfortunately, which leads to unreasonable expectations. A team this young is going to mess up, they're going to be maddening....but they're also going to be exciting and fun to watch mature.

An NIT birth would be a GREAT accomplishment. If they can get better each and every game.....it's not out of the question.
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Underwood himself said this team has NCAA tourney-worthy talent, so if they fail to make it, I would consider that a failure by him as a coach. If the coach says it, then fans don't have unrealistic expectations.
 
#290      

TheGMan

TheGMan
TheGMan
Monte Carlo said:
Except for the fact he missed free throws that would have iced the game and then went one on five at the end of the game rather than setting a teammate up for a good shot. I love Te'jon, but he has not been clutch since he has been here. He missed lots of free throws last year in late game situations, and he one of our worst shooting regulars at the foul line this year. Late in the game, I want Mark Smith in there since he can knock them down. I would like to know Te'jon's FT% in late-game situations in his Illinois career.
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Mark has to get to the line first before he can make any FTs
 
#291      

JFGsCoffeeMug

JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
JFGsCoffeeMug
Monte Carlo said:
Late in the game, I want Mark Smith in there since he can knock them down.
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I want Mark Smith shooting FTs late in games too. But late in close games you can't have your worst defender, who also happens to be one of your worst rebounders, on the floor.

The potential is there, and I am excited to see Smith's development. But he isn't ready yet.
 
#292      

EJ33

E
San Francisco
EJ33
FiveStar said:
Lots of talk about that last OB play in regulation.

1) BU is on record that Damonte is our best passer. Seems like exactly the guy to take the ball out.

2) The play we ran is a very common play to get the ball to 1 of your 2 best FT shooters. I've seen it in at least 3 different coaching newsletters I subscribe to. It was designed to go to Alstork/AJ. Maryland defended really well (kudos to them). You take the timeout when BU took it to make sure you have the 5 guys you want on the floor, and everyone knows their jobs. Damonte also made the right play when AJ/Alstork weren't open. Throw it deep, where it will most likely be caught/tipped/intercepted but still 70+ feet away from the basket. Works like a punt/kickoff at the end of a football game with time expiring. Problem is it looked like Kipper stopped moving while trying to gage the flight of the ball.

3) The goaltending thing hurts.

4) We went a considerable amount of time in the second half without having a foul called on us (its not that there weren't opportunities to call some).

5) Alstork fouled Cowan. If you're looking to argue, argue that it was a jump ball before the body contact was made. You will at least sound like less of a crybaby.

We're trending in the right direction. Its tough to have B1G games so early when we're so young. Need to be UNLV/Mizzou to make up for these schedule strength wise.
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This is the only thing that matters. I've already seen enough to know that Underwood was a fantastic choice and the program is in good hands. I am 100% convinced that we will resume our winning ways in basketball. Everything else is just noise and nitpicking.
 
#293      

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Here is how things I see to date:
1. Kipper and Black need to stop turning the ball over. They are both doing some nice things, but turnovers have ramped up the last three games and not necessarily because of increased pressure.
2. Te'jon, Frazier and Damonte have to back off the three-point shooting. None of the three has proven to be very proficient at it at this time, but Frazier has a ton of attempts for a guy with shooting as poorly from the perimeter as he is.
3. That being said, they need to figure out how to get more shots for Kipper and Jordan from beyond the arc. They are definitely our best threats from out there and don't get enough shots from deep.
4. I would like to see the guys who can make free throws in the game late when it matters. Te'jon has shown over the last 1 1/2 years that he isn't that guy, and Frazier and Damonte don't appear to be those guys yet, either. Smith, while he might struggle in other aspects right now, is a great free throw shooter.
 
#294      

Peoria Illini

P
Peoria, IL
Peoria Illini
EJ33 said:
This is the only thing that matters. I've already seen enough to know that Underwood was a fantastic choice and the program is in good hands. I am 100% convinced that we will resume our winning ways in basketball. Everything else is just noise and nitpicking.
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I look forward to any Underwood press conference. I love to listen to him break down the game or practice, etc. His insights and directness are refreshing to listen to.
 
#295      

Peoria Illini

P
Peoria, IL
Peoria Illini
Monte Carlo said:
Here is how things I see to date:
1. Kipper and Black need to stop turning the ball over. They are both doing some nice things, but turnovers have ramped up the last three games and not necessarily because of increased pressure.
2. Te'jon, Frazier and Damonte have to back off the three-point shooting. None of the three has proven to be very proficient at it at this time, but Frazier has a ton of attempts for a guy with shooting as poorly from the perimeter as he is.
3. That being said, they need to figure out how to get more shots for Kipper and Jordan from beyond the arc. They are definitely our best threats from out there and don't get enough shots from deep.
4. I would like to see the guys who can make free throws in the game late when it matters. Te'jon has shown over the last 1 1/2 years that he isn't that guy, and Frazier and Damonte don't appear to be those guys yet, either. Smith, while he might struggle in other aspects right now, is a great free throw shooter.
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I'm not sure Te'jon is the best decision maker at the end of games, either. The forced drive at the end of the NW game, and the incredibly stupid alley oop attempt with about 45+ seconds in regulation when he should of pulled it out and ran clock or got fouled are plays a floor leader can't make at the end of the game.
 
#298      

alaskaillini

A
alaskaillini
Monte Carlo said:
Underwood himself said this team has NCAA tourney-worthy talent, so if they fail to make it, I would consider that a failure by him as a coach. If the coach says it, then fans don't have unrealistic expectations.
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Not sure what you expect a coach to say - "Nope, don't get your hopes up fans, were not going to the tourney this year. Players we have can't get that done. Check back with me next fall."
 
#299      

GForce

GForce
GForce
To all the parsing about last plays and such, I say whatever.
It sucks to lose, but that was simply a fun game to watch, and way more fun to watch than those grinders we got used to over the last 10 years.
 
#300      

sbillini

sbillini
st petersburg, fl
sbillini
alaskaillini said:
Not sure what you expect a coach to say - "Nope, don't get your hopes up fans, were not going to the tourney this year. Players we have can't get that done. Check back with me next fall."
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I'm not sure exactly what he said. But if he wasn't confident, he should've at least said something along the lines of "we're not there yet, but I think we'll improve as the season gets going and the body of work by the end of season should show we're worthy" And then it's on us to read between the tea leaves.

If he said straight up that they're a tournament team, then you have to take that to mean he thinks they're a tournament team now.

It's managing expectations appropriately - you just have to do it.
 
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