Michigan 79, Illinois 69 POSTGAME

illinitiger · Jan 7, 2018

EllderIlliniFan said:
With what looks like a 10 man rotation now, it will be interesting when Illinois plays teams that only go 7 or 8 deep and their key players are over 35 minutes. It would seem to give us the advantage if we keep the aggressive defense and avoid too many fouls. It seems that most of the teams played so far are going almost as deep as Illinois. I do not recall anyone that played 35 minutes against us.

The short bench you reference is Minnesota. Murphy and Mason of Minnesota played over 35. coffey and mcbrayer were 34 min and lynch at 30 minutes. I think thats why we got back in....they were probably gassed. I know Mason was. I do believe our depth (and pace) should be applied aggressively based on scouting reports. I really think if we came out against Minnesota the way we did at ann arbor we get that game. Michigan is fairly deep.

Michigan has depth.... Simpson and Rahkman were the only players over 30 min for Michigan. We had 10 players over 15 min which is good but didnt work to our advantage. MS is on fire from left 3p corner....I think we need to set him up more from there...and figure out the best spot for AJ to get his mojo from 3p back. If we can get the spicy G lob or 3p option play working consistently(ref gregs postgame interview) our offense will be formidable. If we cannot hit 3s....that play wont work consistently over time.

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GortTheRobot · Jan 7, 2018

Verified Insider said:
Eh......this place has been pretty gloomy since the Wake Forest, NW, and Maryland losses. Only the Mizzou win changed the mood -- but only temporarily.

Most people, I think, understand what this season is -- and what it isn't. Sure, some came out guns blazing demanding an NCAA tournament and rapid improvement and yada yada yada. For them, this has been nothing short of catastrophic. But for many others (myself included), this has been the painful start to the BU era that we sort of expected.

I had us going 10-3 in the non-conf, and 9-9 in Big Ten play. That latter prediction doesn't look like it's in great shape, but I didn't think an 0-4 start was at all unlikely.

Smith and Alstork haven't really panned out the way I expected thus far, but on the flip side, Frazier and Leron Black look better than expected. On the whole, the defense is a bit better than I expected; the offense worse. But the general trajectory is where I figured it would be. And when you consider we haven't lost a game by more than 10 points yet, there's really no reason to panic.

Yep. I would much rather have these issues now than the Fool's Gold that was Goce's Tourney appearance in year one. Not trying to keep harping on the Groce era, which can be tiresome, I just think we are in much better place regardless of our final record this year.

Love the Illini · Jan 7, 2018

This season is about improvement by our young players and basically finding out what they are capable of doing down the road. We need at least one of the freshman to develop into a top 15 player in the Big 10 and two others to be solid starters if we want to progress to the next level. IMO improved decision making will be the number one thing to watch going forward to get some Big 10 wins.

yeahyeahyeah · Jan 9, 2018

helppitch said:
Jordan had some really nice assists. 11 turnovers & one assist by the starting guards is not a formula for winning. Lucas, was better than either, he had 6 assists & 3 TO's.

it seems to me that when a player misses shots, he is bad, and every part of his game gets scrutinized.... when he makes shots, "omg look at him tie his shoe, that's the mindset of a winner"

Illiniguy13 · Jan 9, 2018

yeahyeahyeah said:
it seems to me that when a player misses shots, he is bad, and every part of his game gets scrutinized.... when he makes shots, "omg look at him tie his shoe, that's the mindset of a winner"

Depends on the player. Alstork and Damonte aren't hitting shots and they're being praised for their defense, rebounding and motor (deservedly so). Some of our players just aren't bringing a ton to the table when they're not hitting shots.

blmillini · Jan 9, 2018

yeahyeahyeah said:
it seems to me that when a player misses shots, he is bad, and every part of his game gets scrutinized.... when he makes shots, "omg look at him tie his shoe, that's the mindset of a winner"

+1. Isn't that what most basketball fans do with any player on any team?

PlayAZ · Jan 10, 2018

TALKTOCHUCK said:
No I disagree, this season is about going to the tournament. Underwood's Okla State team was 10-8 (0-6) in Jan of last season and made the tournament. We are 10-7 (0-4). We will Win.

Sorry but what league is Okla State in again....what league is he currently coaching in? Even in a down year, as much as I or you want it to, simply will not happen for us. :chief:

blmillini · Jan 10, 2018

PlayAZ said:
Sorry but what league is Okla State in again....what league is he currently coaching in? Even in a down year, as much as I or you want it to, simply will not happen for us.

I'm not sure what your point is with respect to league. The Big 12 last year was better than the Big 10 is this year. The Big 10 is not good this year.

MakesNoSense · Jan 10, 2018

blmillini said:
I'm not sure what your point is with respect to league. The Big 12 last year was better than the Big 10 is this year. The Big 10 is not good this year.

Poster is spot on. Big 12 was not good last year. Big Ten is better this year. This team isn't going to the Dance and that is ok.

PlayAZ · Jan 10, 2018

blmillini said:
I'm not sure what your point is with respect to league. The Big 12 last year was better than the Big 10 is this year. The Big 10 is not good this year.

Point is the Big 12 is owned usually...the Big Ten is historically far more competitive top to bottom. Mind you our history is trending towards the bottom, but there is a chance!

Easier for Okla State to rebound to those ### than it ever will be for the ILLINI.

FeelYourPaign · Jan 11, 2018

PlayAZ said:
Point is the Big 12 is owned usually...the Big Ten is historically far more competitive top to bottom. Mind you our history is trending towards the bottom, but there is a chance!

Easier for Okla State to rebound to those ### than it ever will be for the ILLINI.

I strongly disagree with this logic.
Last year's Big 12 was the most competitive conference in the country and the most evenly competitive. Went from KenPom ranking 6 & 7 (Kansas / WV) to #65 & #70 (Oklahoma and Texas). By the end of the season, OK State was #22 and right in the middle of the conference.

In contrast, the B1G's best were #19 & #21 (Purdue & Wiscy) and the worst were #107 and #135 (Nebbie and Rutgers). The B1G's BEST were about the same as the Big 12 middle. There is simply no way that the Big Ten was more competitive from top to bottom at the time that Ok State made their amazing recovery.

And this year, the story is much the same.
Big 12 has 4 teams ranked 15 or better. B1G has 2
Big 12 has 1 team ranked 80 or worse. B1G has 5.
That conference eats our lunch.
Better rankings, more tightly packed. Definitely more competitive top to bottom in the Big 12.

MakesNoSense · Jan 11, 2018

FeelYourPaign said:
I strongly disagree with this logic.
Last year's Big 12 was the most competitive conference in the country and the most evenly competitive. Went from KenPom ranking 6 & 7 (Kansas / WV) to #65 & #70 (Oklahoma and Texas). By the end of the season, OK State was #22 and right in the middle of the conference.

In contrast, the B1G's best were #19 & #21 (Purdue & Wiscy) and the worst were #107 and #135 (Nebbie and Rutgers). The B1G's BEST were about the same as the Big 12 middle. There is simply no way that the Big Ten was more competitive from top to bottom at the time that Ok State made their amazing recovery.

And this year, the story is much the same.
Big 12 has 4 teams ranked 15 or better. B1G has 2
Big 12 has 1 team ranked 80 or worse. B1G has 5.
That conference eats our lunch.
Better rankings, more tightly packed. Definitely more competitive top to bottom in the Big 12.

I not a big believer in the Kenpom rankings. I watched a lot of games in both conferences. Ok St doesn't finish in the top 6 of the Big Ten last year and doesn't make the tourney. The Big 12 while it may have been more competitive it wasn't better top to bottom.

yeahyeahyeah · Jan 11, 2018

the cylinder rule??? :frustrated:... what the felonious

is this? :rant: and of course, the Illini get called for it :doh:... one of these days, one of these days :smash: