Missouri 93, Illinois 71 Postgame
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Murf
- Chattanooga, TN
Any insight on what happened to get us off track? They were all described as "everyday guys". Or did we misjudge them during recruiting?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Skyy is both culprit and victim of this team having no rhythm together on the floor.
After sleeping on it I have one word for BU: simplify.
We’ve got a tremendously talented team. We’ve shown that. And I admire his ambition installing brand new offensive and defensive systems, but I think it’s been too much to digest and guys are thinking too much vs reacting.
On defense, we are clearly not communicating enough, particularly off ball and are busting switches and leaving open shooters or are getting back cut to death. Or if we manage to switch correctly, the other team just switched until they get a matchup they like, usually a bigger older guard to bully our freshmen. Let’s get back to a more straight man to man and keep our bigs down low to offer help and rim protection. We blocked 12 shots against Texas but hard for Coleman or Dain to protect the rim if they are switched out on a shooter at the 3 pt line
On offense, the structured randomness is probably too much with so many new pieces and in particular 2 frosh point guards. Brad is an offensive guru. We should be able to install some simple sets to get open shots in rhythm or get our athletes going down hill. But it looks to me like no one knows what to do out there which is resulting in hero ball or Coleman trying to force a pass/create when nothings there.
As far as attitude/body language I agree it’s been bad overall. Skyy had a bad gsme tonight but I think he’s generally played within himself and though he got burned tonight is stronger and a better defender than Jaden, particularly defending the post. And he’s been better than Epps in some games. I actually think Brad has handled that situation okay. Each gets a shot then he generally leans on who is playing better in the second half.
For Mayer I agree I think he’s a bit of a selfish player. But I feel like he’s cleaned up a lot of the laziness I saw on defense early in the year and right now is playing as hard as anyone. On the hero ball it’s a bit of chicken and egg for me. Are people standing because Mayer is playing hero ball, or is Mayer resorting to hero ball because everyone is standing around?
Lots to figure out, but after 1 more buy game we’ve got a true road game against NW who will muck it up on D and Home against Wisconsin who is light years ahead of us right now on offensive execution, Need to get better and tougher quick or we are going to be 0-4.
We’ve got a tremendously talented team. We’ve shown that. And I admire his ambition installing brand new offensive and defensive systems, but I think it’s been too much to digest and guys are thinking too much vs reacting.
On defense, we are clearly not communicating enough, particularly off ball and are busting switches and leaving open shooters or are getting back cut to death. Or if we manage to switch correctly, the other team just switched until they get a matchup they like, usually a bigger older guard to bully our freshmen. Let’s get back to a more straight man to man and keep our bigs down low to offer help and rim protection. We blocked 12 shots against Texas but hard for Coleman or Dain to protect the rim if they are switched out on a shooter at the 3 pt line
On offense, the structured randomness is probably too much with so many new pieces and in particular 2 frosh point guards. Brad is an offensive guru. We should be able to install some simple sets to get open shots in rhythm or get our athletes going down hill. But it looks to me like no one knows what to do out there which is resulting in hero ball or Coleman trying to force a pass/create when nothings there.
As far as attitude/body language I agree it’s been bad overall. Skyy had a bad gsme tonight but I think he’s generally played within himself and though he got burned tonight is stronger and a better defender than Jaden, particularly defending the post. And he’s been better than Epps in some games. I actually think Brad has handled that situation okay. Each gets a shot then he generally leans on who is playing better in the second half.
For Mayer I agree I think he’s a bit of a selfish player. But I feel like he’s cleaned up a lot of the laziness I saw on defense early in the year and right now is playing as hard as anyone. On the hero ball it’s a bit of chicken and egg for me. Are people standing because Mayer is playing hero ball, or is Mayer resorting to hero ball because everyone is standing around?
Lots to figure out, but after 1 more buy game we’ve got a true road game against NW who will muck it up on D and Home against Wisconsin who is light years ahead of us right now on offensive execution, Need to get better and tougher quick or we are going to be 0-4.
Related to this, it seems to be a different guy letting us down every night or in different portions of the season.
Early, Mayer was pissing me off because he wouldn’t kick the ball ahead in transition and he was a ball stopper in the half court. I think he’s fixed that some. (As an Austin area HS school coach, Mayer is clearly an Austin area player)
Skyy looks like he has no interest in defense and Missouri hunted him at times last night.
Shannon thinks he’s curry because he got on a hot steak vs UCLA. He sells 4-5 possessions per game with a stupid 3. He finally went back into attack mode last night in the second half and had success. What a crazy idea.
I actually don’t have much of a problem with Coleman. I think he’s trying to do it the way they practice, but he gets frustrated when others don’t, and he loses his head. That obviously affects other parts of his game.
RJ and me are producing at about the same level right now.
Epps has been okay but he’s gonna make some freshman mistakes.
Sencire has been our most consistent player IMO.
If I’m Brad, I’m starting the 5 who played with heart in that late second half. The 5 the announcers talked about. Interestingly that lineup had Mayer and Shannon, but no Hawkins. So kinda counters what my observations are, but they were at least playing hard.
Ultimately...Coaching, Coaching, Coaching is the issue imo....
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Nice analysis and solutions
Having heard BU say “This is 100% on me”, more than once now, I wish he would finish the sentence with something like:
“AND and I will do my part to fix it by _________________”
Tiresome to hear someone in control take the blame for things under his/her control without articulating how to ensure it won’t happen again.
Identify the problem, devise a set of solutions, implement them.
That’s what good managers do when things head south.
Having heard BU say “This is 100% on me”, more than once now, I wish he would finish the sentence with something like:
“AND and I will do my part to fix it by _________________”
Tiresome to hear someone in control take the blame for things under his/her control without articulating how to ensure it won’t happen again.
Identify the problem, devise a set of solutions, implement them.
That’s what good managers do when things head south.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
BU has stated many times in his pressers that cohawk was the trigger man on offense this year........listen to past pressers if you doubt he said it......
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
It's college sports so everything is ultimately the responsibility of the head coach, the buck stops there.
But every time anything happened last night all five heads turned to Brad. Any notion that he's lost the team is wrong, they're listening to him. They aren't listening to each other.
That's a coaching issue, but a different kind of one.
That annoys me, too, but I’m not sure he knows what the solution is to articulate.
One game in which they played OUT OF THEIR MIND. Relax.
sacraig
- The desert
Every player and collection of players is different.
Wrong, wrong and wrong
Seriously? Do you trust him to find out?
5 years? Can you please elaborate how one lose sends us back to this:
2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Check out the detailed 2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
www.sports-reference.com
I genuinely want you to state how this puts the Illini back to the point of irrelevance that we were 5 years ago? Remember how bad we were with Groce, are you going to forget what we have accomplished over the past 5 years that hadn’t been duplicated in more than a decade plus??
Team looked awful last night, not discounting that whatsoever, but to say that is the most dramatic thing I’ve ever read on this site. Either your comment was a performative art piece or you’re a rival fan in this forum to sow dissent.
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The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
There's a saying that if you run into an a-hole in the morning, you ran into an a-hole, but if you run into a-holes all day, you're the a-hole.
How many times have our opponents "played out of their minds" in games we've lost so far this year? Each of our losses aside from Virginia, by my count.
Seems like a pattern is developing...
How many uncontested 3's did Miznoz get? 12? 15? How many easy layups and dunks when someone lost their man or got back doored? How many rebounds did they get when only one of them was at the rim with 2 or 3 of our guys? How many loose balls ended up in their hands? That's all effort and focus.
One guy dribbling, one guy cutting, 3 guys standing and watching. Terrible execution. Why BU has a 6-10 guy that can't shoot, can't score inside, can't take anybody off the dribble to create a shot for a teammate initiating the offense is beyond me.
I would not be surprised if there are roster changes next week. Terrible team chemistry.
One guy dribbling, one guy cutting, 3 guys standing and watching. Terrible execution. Why BU has a 6-10 guy that can't shoot, can't score inside, can't take anybody off the dribble to create a shot for a teammate initiating the offense is beyond me.
I would not be surprised if there are roster changes next week. Terrible team chemistry.
Yes to both. You think his body language and pressers of late indicate he does?
We have many guys with redeeming basketball qualities.
Wokker
- "The Good Land", WI
Agreed. Defensive breakdowns/laziness lead to easy buckets and wide open shots, which build confidence for our opponents, which leads to nailing contested shots.
Both Penn State and MIZNOZ were hitting ridiculous shots late, but had built up tons of confidence early because we were practically handing away buckets.
Having said all that, I still think our biggest issues are fixable with time, team still jelling, and the return of Goode. Plus, we have 2-3 fringe NBA draft picks who have NO incentive to continue playing this poorly.
Underwood always gets the best out of teams come January-march. It just so happens that there’s almost no institutional knowledge left from last year on the roster and he had to intervene much more intensively to build culture with lack of Ayo, Trent, DMFW, etc. the valley this year just feels especially rough-because it is.
The sky is not falling. Let’s all enjoy the ride and re-asses in two months.
Correct Pru.....he's was just too careless with the ball last night.....6 TO's in 29 minutes of play I believe...that's got to change if he's triggering the offense
I love when people try to apply a business model to coaching 18-22 year olds in a game. Sure, you can draw some correlations but did you really expect him to have devised a plan between the end of the game and the press conference? He said he has to fix it and he needs to figure it out. I think we all agree on that. I personally don't need him to tell me "and I will do my part to fix it by ________." The results will speak for themselves so I am more of a show me, don't tell me kind of guy.
After watching last night's game and listening to Brad Underwood I also feel a large part of the blame falls on him. There comes a point when yelling isn't working and players are basically ignoring you then it's time to do something different. It may be time to bench those that aren't leading, hustling, making lazy passes, not focused, and doing thier own thing.
I have been more frustrated with RJ and Hawkins than anyone. The freshmen are new a no d adjusting but our returnees need to be step it up. TSJ, Mayer and the freshmen played hard and more focused in the second half when the returnees we're on the bench. I hope they can sit there and watch for a while until they can show some maturity, and apply what Underwood is asking of them.
I have been more frustrated with RJ and Hawkins than anyone. The freshmen are new a no d adjusting but our returnees need to be step it up. TSJ, Mayer and the freshmen played hard and more focused in the second half when the returnees we're on the bench. I hope they can sit there and watch for a while until they can show some maturity, and apply what Underwood is asking of them.
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