Michigan State 81, Illinois 72 Postgame

Status
Not open for further replies.
#79      
terrible officiating, but we also played terrible. lack of effort in the first half.
 
#80      
Damonte's only shot 6 three pointer in his last 8 games. Almost feels like he's trying to protect his percentage or something. He's passing up shots that he should be firing.
 
#83      
We were clearly out toughed, especially in the first half. Did not take advantage of the foul advantage they gave us missing 16 free throws. We are not consistently mentally tough. They punched us in the mouth, we did not respond in time.
I see what you did there.
 
#84      
Yep, Big Ten title hopes are gone. Honestly, they probably died with the Maryland game, because you can’t leave yourself zero margin for error.

With that said, we’ll have plenty of opportunities (three) for truly great wins to catapult us right back into top seed conversations. Will we show up? We have to figure something out as far as being mentally prepared. I’m honestly most worried about Nebraska at home. If we can survive that one (am I SERIOUSLY saying that for a top 10 team?!), I think we can snag one of the other three.

If we beat Nebraska and only also beat Wisconsin, we are likely in 3-seed territory. Snag one of the other two, as well, and we are still comfortably a 2. If we got the stink out of our game tonight and can win out, we’ll be a 1.

Needless to say ... practice our damn FTs, remember (AGAIN) what happens when you don’t come to play and then MOVE ON. I’ll be really disappointed if we don’t come out and take our frustration out on what should be a clearly inferior Nebraska squad.
The opportunity is definitely still there, and this team remains capable of achieving their goals. But they cannot afford to lack focus and intensity from here on out.
 
#87      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
we didn’t have it tonight. the first half possession where ayo missed two layups is this game in a nutshell. why isn’t damonte shooting anymore? passed up multiple open threes tonight
Yep. We needed more 3-pt shooting tonight and our most accurate shooter passed up multiple opportunities to put points on the board. Asking DMW for 6-7 pts a game is not unreasonable. Need more from him than literally nothing on offense.
 
#89      

Deleted member 747277

D
Guest
I swear sometimes I think we're the worst top 10/5 team ever. No matter who we play I'm nervous because I know we could lose in an embarrassing fashion like tonight.

i honestly don’t think it’s crazy to say that maybe this isn’t a top 5/10 team in a normal year. It feels like (and is) Baylor/Gonzaga and everyone else. Top 5-10 teams get upset every year. But this team is so inconsistent, can’t hit free throws, struggles against long athletic wings, has big white can’t pass out of a double team etc etc. top 5 teams don’t have that many Achilles heels.

This team could lose out and it wouldn’t be that big of a shocker to those of us who have been watching every game. That’s not a top 5.
 
#91      

Deleted member 747802

D
Guest
This was an effort issue in the first half. That can be harshly corrected. The free throw shooting is a completely different animal. We're 22 games in now and it's cost us multiple games. That's scary.
Unfortunately, 22 games in the effort issue has yet to be corrected. We have seen it numerous times; sometimes it cost us the game, others not. But it is inexcusable for a team that says they want to win it all. Should not be happening.
 
#92      

illini80

Forgottonia
This was an effort issue in the first half. That can be harshly corrected. The free throw shooting is a completely different animal. We're 22 games in now and it's cost us multiple games. That's scary.
I wonder how our defensive efficiency compares on our poor ft shooting nights vs our good. Point being when we have focus and play well it seems to me we tend to shoot ft well.
 
#93      
That double armed punch to Ayo's face could have very easily cost him the rest of the season with facial surgery. Worst thug play I have seen all season. At least we can recover and regroup with our best player still on the roster.
 
#98      
MSU was stronger, more athletic, quicker to loose balls. Great game plan by them. Crowded Kofi, fouled him to not let him get any rhythm. Didn't give up anything in transition to Ayo.

This was another opponent of the ilk of Mizzou, Rutgers, Ohio State, Maryland where Illinois just gets outmuscled/outathleted. Our bad matchups are teams that are strong/athletic and play half court.
Good observation...We get little from the "4", and are undersized there. Kofi would be such a better player if he would pass out of the double/triple teams instead of forcing it...and when he does get fouled he goes what 3-11 from the line? Can't win that way. When you play Giorgi, Damonte, and Curbelo you are limited offensively. Michigan has MIchigan State twice this week and I think MIchigan runs them off the floor. We make MSU look better than they are. As badly as we played, we hit free throws and it's a win. I think Mich beats MSU by double digits both times.
 
#99      

Deleted member 11228

D
Guest
I would start Curbelo over Miller
Possibly. Miller is giving us pretty much nothing. I know Belo is hit and miss but at least he tries to make something happen. Miller is scared to shoot at times and if he's not completely wide open he will look to pass.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.