Nebraska 78, Illinois 67 POSTGAME

#51      

Illini70math

I
Illini70math
1. We were just outplayed in this one. Nebraska seemed to have a better plan, better adjustments, and better execution. We lost by 11, and to be honest that was representative of the game. The Huskers started pulling away with about 7 minutes to go in the first half, and we could never get it close after that.

2. Morrow was a miss.

3. Watson was a miss.

4. We are simply not a good defensive team against a team that can handle the ball. Nebraska did not play a big line-up for the most part, but they beat us on the inside. The Huskers really didn't have to make a lot of trick shots because our defense just broke down way too often.

5. Offensively we were relegated to shooting from the outside, which is OK if our shots are falling. We were a little off today (11 of 36 for 30%), and with Nebraska shooting from the paint we couldn't match their offense.

6. Malcolm and Kendrick weren't at all bad today, but when that pair doesn't excel we are in trouble. Nebraska had us well scouted, and when our dynamic duo couldn't dominate, there wasn't a lot of help.

7. We did get some contributions from JCL and Finke, so there is some hope for the future. Beyond those four there wasn't a lot of help, though Tate and Mav did some nice things at times.

8. We got massively out-rebounded, and not by a monster line-up. It is somewhat ironic that this Nebraska team did more of what we feared from Purdue. The B1G is a tough place to play.

9. Obviously this was one we needed to win. All we can do is to keep fighting, but this one really hurts as far as any postseason play. I will go out on a limb and say that Indiana looked beatable today. Maybe we can go steal one.

Go Illini!
 
#55      

Ulysses Everett McGill

Ulysses Everett McGill
Ulysses Everett McGill
Very poor blocking out on defense in the 1st set the tone, gave Nebby spark. Too much watching, allowing off ball cornholers freedom to break to boards.

Hate to say it but Mav's defense, particularly in the 1st, was just poor. We have to play him, but why not use him on offense, especially when he's been playing well on that side of the ball. By my recall, he took one shot the first half. We noticed he was there in the second, lobbing over the top for a few buckets, but no posting up at all.

JCL treys in the flow from the right wing are a good thing. JCL shooting from behind the arc off the dribble with a guy in his grill is not. Needs to get productive driving it. I think it'll come.

AJ's shot is hurried. He shoots from out in front rather than over the head, and is now aware how much better college players can contest that than in HS (or AAU where no one plays defense). Needs to adjust to the length and speed they close to better juDge wh
En he can get it off aNd when not. Right now , looks like he's just in too much of a hurry to get it off. Like JCL, needs to get productive driving around guys and making things happen when the shot isn't there.

Another five minutes we might have overcome Nebby's lead. Wasted the first half. Stop thinking about women and glasses of beer; leave that to me.

Anyone know why KN had the wrap? His shot looked unaffected.

Watson blew by Tate a couple times and worked himself behind picks against him several times for made mid-ranges. He looked pretty good to me. Not having any offense at the PG position to make him play some honest D against us hurt us, as it will all season.

Not sure I wouldn't have had DJW in there more than he was. Nebby not strong inside, so when Mav was hurting us on D, and not being used on O, in the 1st thought we might've tried going small for awhile with DJ in there instead. What do I know.

Disappointing loss for sure, but I'll keep watchin' and rootin'. Go Ilini.
 
#56      

Gunner23

G
Panama City, Florida
Gunner23
Prior to the B1G season, many on here stated that we were they type of team that would win some games that we weren't expected to win and that we would lose some games that we were expected to win. I guess the PU and UNL fit that bill exactly. Anyone that expects this season, with all of the circumstances, to be any different...well...I just don't know what to say. This season is a complete clusterf*#k, for multiple reasons. I just hope to see continued improvement and intensity from this team, NO MORE INJURIES, and for the players to continue to play with the heart that they have shown for most of the season.

This is a season of survival. The glass is not half-empty...

:chief:
 
#57      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
Gunner23 said:
Prior to the B1G season, many on here stated that we were they type of team that would win some games that we weren't expected to win and that we would lose some games that we were expected to win. I guess the PU and UNL fit that bill exactly. Anyone that expects this season, with all of the circumstances, to be any different...well...I just don't know what to say. This season is a complete clusterf*#k, for multiple reasons. I just hope to see continued improvement and intensity from this team, NO MORE INJURIES, and for the players to continue to play with the heart that they have shown for most of the season.

This is a season of survival. The glass is not half-empty...

:chief:
Click to expand...

Pretty much. Well put.
 
#61      

CaptainHindsight

C
Champaign
CaptainHindsight
I went to the game today. You could tell after watching the first 10 min we weren't playing at the level it takes to win. No intensity on both sides of the court. Offense was hard to come by, and we let them get to the rim too easily. Simple as that.
 
#62      

brosox

B
brosox
Gunner23 said:
Prior to the B1G season, many on here stated that we were they type of team that would win some games that we weren't expected to win and that we would lose some games that we were expected to win. I guess the PU and UNL fit that bill exactly. Anyone that expects this season, with all of the circumstances, to be any different...well...I just don't know what to say. This season is a complete clusterf*#k, for multiple reasons. I just hope to see continued improvement and intensity from this team, NO MORE INJURIES, and for the players to continue to play with the heart that they have shown for most of the season.

This is a season of survival. The glass is not half-empty...

:chief:
Click to expand...

You are spot on. The result in this game should not have been that much of a surprise in that it highlighted our two biggest weaknesses: Outside of possibly Nunn, we don't have a single player on the team who is capable of slashing to the basket and finishing. On the other hand, we totally lack the ability to stop teams with good slashers from penetrating and scoring, or dishing off for wide open threes. And, yes, if we are hitting our outside shots, we will have surprise wins against teams like Purdue. However, if we are not hitting our outside shots like today, we can also lose to the Rutgers, Minnesotas, Nebraskas and Penn States of the world. Without an inside force like Thorne, we just are extremely limited in what we can do offensively. I wish I knew the easy solution to our constant inability to stop other teams from penetrating against us.
 
#64      

zpfled

Z
Logan Square, Chicago
zpfled
I thought we would bring the same intensity on D that we did against Purdue.

I thought we would shoot something 40% from 3.

This is the back breaker game IMO. We can't drop games-we-should-win at home, and this was one.

Oh well.
 
#66      

Jabber Jabber

Jabber Jabber
Champaign, IL
Jabber Jabber
jbutts718 said:
Defensively......injuries to Thorne and Black killed this team's ability to rebound. Morgan can't and Finke not ready.

Offensively, we are playing 4 on 5.......teams don't even guard our PGs. Put a good PG on this team and we would be good offensively.

I never have to see Tate or Lewis on the court. Go ahead and play Hill at PG........need 5 threats on the floor.
Click to expand...

Yes, but we held our own against Purdue so why couldn't we do the same against a small Nebraska team? Consistency has been a huge problem.

If Illinois had gotten crushed by Purdue like most of us expected, I can see using the "we just can't match up with Big Ten teams with all the injuries" excuse. But that game showed that Illinois is capable of playing really well against a good opponent with the current roster. To not even come close to matching that effort against Nebraska after a week of prep is a failure.
 
#67      

IlliniFoLife

I
IlliniFoLife
Gunner23 said:
I hear that Northwestern is looking to expand their fanbase. ;)

Maybe, just maybe, they will make their first ever NCAA tourney trip someday...
Click to expand...

I am rooting for Northwestern myself. I dislike NU football but I don't mind seeing NU have success on the bball court. Except for when they play Illinois, I will be rooting for them because they are the best chance that an Illinois team has to make the tourney. Them and maybe NIU and SIU although SIU is unlikely w/Wichita St. in that league.
 
#68      

Ulysses Everett McGill

Ulysses Everett McGill
Ulysses Everett McGill
brosox said:
You are spot on. The result in this game should not have been that much of a surprise in that it highlighted our two biggest weaknesses: Outside of possibly Nunn, we don't have a single player on the team who is capable of slashing to the basket and finishing. On the other hand, we totally lack the ability to stop teams with good slashers from penetrating and scoring, or dishing off for wide open threes[/B][/B][/B]. And, yes, if we are hitting our outside shots, we will have surprise wins against teams like Purdue. However, if we are not hitting our outside shots like today, we can also lose to the Rutgers, Minnesotas, Nebraskas and Penn States of the world. Without an inside force like Thorne, we just are extremely limited in what we can do offensively. I wish I knew the easy solution to our constant inability to stop other teams from penetrating against us.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#69      

thenoodler

thenoodler
thenoodler
Jreed322 said:
Learn from it and move on.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I don't think we will learn from it. The thing that strikes me over the last few years is how frequently our opponent's shot quality is better than our own. Groce recognizes it (and even mentioned it in the postgame), but hasn't shown the ability to correct it.

Also, for as much as our interior deficiencies hurt us, the perimeter defense may have been even worse today. Just inexcusable how easily Nebraska drove right around us
 
#70      

IlliniFoLife

I
IlliniFoLife
thenoodler said:
Unfortunately, I don't think we will learn from it. The thing that strikes me over the last few years is how frequently our opponent's shot quality is better than our own. Groce recognizes it (and even mentioned it in the postgame), but hasn't shown the ability to correct it.

Also, for as much as our interior deficiencies hurt us, the perimeter defense may have been even worse today. Just inexcusable how easily Nebraska drove right around us
Click to expand...

True----how many times have I seen people saying that the Illini have to learn from it. They don't learn. They repeat their mistakes. History has a way of repeating itself with this group and coaching staff. Maybe not the next game, but maybe 2 games later or 3 games later. This is Groce's legacy.
 
#71      

thenoodler

thenoodler
thenoodler
brosox said:
You are spot on. The result in this game should not have been that much of a surprise in that it highlighted our two biggest weaknesses: Outside of possibly Nunn, we don't have a single player on the team who is capable of slashing to the basket and finishing. On the other hand, we totally lack the ability to stop teams with good slashers from penetrating and scoring, or dishing off for wide open threes. And, yes, if we are hitting our outside shots, we will have surprise wins against teams like Purdue. However, if we are not hitting our outside shots like today, we can also lose to the Rutgers, Minnesotas, Nebraskas and Penn States of the world. Without an inside force like Thorne, we just are extremely limited in what we can do offensively. I wish I knew the easy solution to our constant inability to stop other teams from penetrating against us.
Click to expand...

Amen. The zone slowed down Nebraskas penetration for a while. At least part of our success against Purdue was due to the fact that Purdue doesn't look to penetrate but instead tries to get the ball inside via the post entry pass. We were effective at taking that away. We were not effective at stopping penetration today
 
#72      

Gunner23

G
Panama City, Florida
Gunner23
Jabber Jabber said:
Yes, but we held our own against Purdue so why couldn't we do the same against a small Nebraska team? Consistency has been a huge problem.

If Illinois had gotten crushed by Purdue like most of us expected, I can see using the "we just can't match up with Big Ten teams with all the injuries" excuse. But that game showed that Illinois is capable of playing really well against a good opponent with the current roster. To not even come close to matching that effort against Nebraska after a week of prep is a failure.
Click to expand...

If the only stat that you switch from the PU and UNL games is FG%, we are still 1-1 in the last 2 games. I will take a win over a ranked PU team all day long, and (reluctantly) accept the loss to UNL...THIS (and only this) YEAR... Next year, this UNL type loss will be completely unacceptable. This year, it all comes down to making shots. When we shoot a high %, we probably win. If we don't shoot a high %, well... Doesn't matter who the opponent is for that particular game...

This year is really pretty simple. Our D and our rebounding are going to be what they are... FG% will probably be the x-factor to the W or the L...

:chief:
 
#73      

LurkLongandProsper

L
C-U
LurkLongandProsper
Here's the difference between Purdue and Nebraska, and why we lost to Neb and beat PU.

Purdue is completely incapable of putting the ball on the floor. Their guard play is bad, we knew that, and took advantage of that by taking their bigs out of the game on the defensive end. It made us look good defensively for probably the first time all season.

We are downright BAD defending guys off the dribble. Shavon Shields continues to show us that every time we play against him - he is not fast and his handle really isn't that great. While we won the assists column tonight, I suspect that is largely because of how many free runs to the hoop they got, not because of any sort of good defense. We will continue to drop games to teams that can create off the dribble because they get into the paint too easily, we over-rotate, and they either get an easy bucket off the initial action, off a kickout, or on the boards (and this point really hurt us tonight). MSU killed us for the same reason.

I could understand if we were to lose games on ISOs on the block with our lack of depth at the 5 (because really, Malcolm or DJW plays every available minute at the 4 for the most part), but we are losing because our guards can't stop getting beat defensively on the perimeter.

Offensively against Purdue was the best we've played in ANY B10 game under Groce. Regression to the mean was inevitable.

Not a lot to be inspired by today.
 
#75      

ILHoff

I
ILHoff
Gunner23 said:
If the only stat that you switch from the PU and UNL games is FG%, we are still 1-1 in the last 2 games. I will take a win over a ranked PU team all day long, and (reluctantly) accept the loss to UNL...THIS (and only this) YEAR... Next year, this UNL type loss will be completely unacceptable. This year, it all comes down to making shots. When we shoot a high %, we probably win. If we don't shoot a high %, well... Doesn't matter who the opponent is for that particular game...

This year is really pretty simple. Our D and our rebounding are going to be what they are... FG% will probably be the x-factor to the W or the L...

:chief:
Click to expand...

It's not as easy as switching the FG %. It's about shot selection. Purdue is a better defensive team than Nebraska, which makes this more of a head scratcher.