The blatant trip trip turned out to be a big play. I just don't see how they didn't see that. It was obvious to everyone but high stepper and his buddies.
Michigan State 85, Illinois 82 OT Postgame
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Mirk had Z wide open on a dump off. Brutal time to just jump and throw one over your shoulder. He usually makes that pass there.
A poorly played game by the Illini with sub-avg. shooting while Sparty elevated theirs and won a squeaker. Playing at Breslin was the difference and Sparty mucked things up and got the breaks to pull it out.
What is not surprising is that the Illini, who knowingly work to not foul, had a couple more called on them than Sparty, a team who plays physical defense while historically fouling much more. Not blaming it on the crew exactly, but the league has allowed that kind of bias for decades. That is a sad statement on the efforts for consistent officiating.
But there is a lesson to be learned by our guys. Too many times we lost focus, lost assignments, and ultimately lost the game.
But I am not spouting sour grapes. We committed enough blunders that if playing at an avg. level, a 10 pt.+ win could have been had. Playing at Breslin when Sparty is going all out to avoid a 3 game skid, they did what they had to do and edged out a win. Lots of good plays by our guys, enough to win against an avg. Sparty home effort, but not tonight.
Things might be a little different in the B1G tournament when we have the crowd. But no one knows for certain.
What is not surprising is that the Illini, who knowingly work to not foul, had a couple more called on them than Sparty, a team who plays physical defense while historically fouling much more. Not blaming it on the crew exactly, but the league has allowed that kind of bias for decades. That is a sad statement on the efforts for consistent officiating.
But there is a lesson to be learned by our guys. Too many times we lost focus, lost assignments, and ultimately lost the game.
But I am not spouting sour grapes. We committed enough blunders that if playing at an avg. level, a 10 pt.+ win could have been had. Playing at Breslin when Sparty is going all out to avoid a 3 game skid, they did what they had to do and edged out a win. Lots of good plays by our guys, enough to win against an avg. Sparty home effort, but not tonight.
Things might be a little different in the B1G tournament when we have the crowd. But no one knows for certain.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I kinda can't believe our only other option for initiating offense was Mirkovic.
Did that seem like a game for Petrovic? Absolutely not, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Yes and no on Wagler, he was getting bodied all the way to the hoop and those were called every game except today. We got no calls on contact at he basket like they did.
Until he retires, it’s still Izzo’s league, especially at Breslin.
Yes, when we don’t rebound and extend our offensive possessions, we can’t wear them down on D. Instead they wore us down. More conditioning needed.
I don't even mind the loss. It happens.
What really chafes me is losing to "Mr. I Guess"
If the Illini could have pulled this one out, I'm guessing Izzo is in ICU right now losing his mind.
What really chafes me is losing to "Mr. I Guess"
If the Illini could have pulled this one out, I'm guessing Izzo is in ICU right now losing his mind.
This very well could just be a lethal dose of copeium. But I was nervous about going into the tournament with a 23 game winning streak. I admit it's not totally rational and kinda defeatist, but I kind of liked getting a loss out of the way now.
If we had to lose a game, this or @UCLA would've been the game. With Duke and UConn losing, it really doesn't penalize us in anyway. Can still get a 1. Can still win the B1G.
If we had to lose a game, this or @UCLA would've been the game. With Duke and UConn losing, it really doesn't penalize us in anyway. Can still get a 1. Can still win the B1G.
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Kilgore Trout
- Driftless Region
I think of this as a game that we won against MSU and lost against the refs
It’s okay, this was MSU’s Super Bowl. Just another road game for us.
Wagler played poorly
10/36 from three which lead to some fast breaks from them
Outrebounded by 10
No Kylan - would have been big against the punk
Refs screwed us most of the game but especially in the second half and OT
A few things…
Mirk FT violation
Shouldn’t have gone away from letting Mirk cook when he came back in after the rest
Z has to be smarter. Don’t swat the ball out of bounds, keep it inbounds. Love the rim protection but we’ve seen a few things from Z where I wish he would play a little smarter instead of just going for the emphatic play
All in all this just reminds me how easy it is to root against MSU for the rest of the year.
Wagler played poorly
10/36 from three which lead to some fast breaks from them
Outrebounded by 10
No Kylan - would have been big against the punk
Refs screwed us most of the game but especially in the second half and OT
A few things…
Mirk FT violation
Shouldn’t have gone away from letting Mirk cook when he came back in after the rest
Z has to be smarter. Don’t swat the ball out of bounds, keep it inbounds. Love the rim protection but we’ve seen a few things from Z where I wish he would play a little smarter instead of just going for the emphatic play
All in all this just reminds me how easy it is to root against MSU for the rest of the year.
This was the worst officiated game that I've seen in at least the last 5 years, maybe more. It was clear from the tip that they were in the tank for MSU and they gave MSU every advantage throughout the whole game. Fairly done, we win by 15+. That's how lopsided it was.
I hope Whitman and Underwood are both on the phone to the Big Ten and are demanding an investigation and for these officials to be removed from all games. Illinois and Michigan are the top teams in the Big Ten this year and the officials handed a victory to an undeserving middle-tier team with a thug on their roster. Games like this affect the seed lines for the top Big Ten teams, dragging them down a notch or 2 and making their road harder in the tournament. MSU isn't going to survive in the NCAA tournament with their style of play, so why would the officials prop them up and hand them the game? Lots of $$$ in the refs' pockets to throw the game and/or bets they placed on the game?
I hope Whitman and Underwood are both on the phone to the Big Ten and are demanding an investigation and for these officials to be removed from all games. Illinois and Michigan are the top teams in the Big Ten this year and the officials handed a victory to an undeserving middle-tier team with a thug on their roster. Games like this affect the seed lines for the top Big Ten teams, dragging them down a notch or 2 and making their road harder in the tournament. MSU isn't going to survive in the NCAA tournament with their style of play, so why would the officials prop them up and hand them the game? Lots of $$$ in the refs' pockets to throw the game and/or bets they placed on the game?
The fears trip was terrible. It was not natural for him to step that wide when his momentum was going forward. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Yes, there were some questionable calls in this game, but we lost it because of transition points and getting out rebounded. Would love to see them again in the BTT
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
When the clock strikes march, everyone will be saying, “go B1G!”.
No, f’ that. I want Illinois to win, and I want the rest of them to lose, especially MSU. I hope they embarrass themselves in the first round.
No, f’ that. I want Illinois to win, and I want the rest of them to lose, especially MSU. I hope they embarrass themselves in the first round.
It's always nice to see level-headed posts like this. We still control our own destiny to a #1 seed. Some of these hot takes...
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