A lot of comments about not taking a time out to set up a shot. Underwood said in the radio interview that he believes that the time out helps the defense more than the offense. So you will probably see more of this. He seems to believe that the team would have been coached on end of game strategy and it is better to execute the preplanned plays rather than take a time out and help the defense. You can argue with whether this is correct but it is his approach and his team. Criticize the philosophy but not that he blew it for the game.
Northwestern 72, Illinois 68 OT POSTGAME
You must be watching too many Hawks games, this is not the NBA in that after a timeout you get to advance the ball to half court.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
+ 1
TJL had his best Illini game so far, even considering the missed FTs
Smith played his way to the bench with poor defense
Alstork played great D
We should have won the game but interior play determined this game ...we need a more physical presence in the paint and will suffer till then
BU has my vote as best coaching hire we could have hoped for...his sideline demeanor will get us to the next level....he is handcuffed by the roster he inherited...will be interesting to see after a couple of years how high we have risen in the national spotlight....
Lets beat Maryland Sunday and right the ship
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JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Man, this was a disappointing loss. The win was right there for the taking.
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
Or was this the close game that makes the team really good for the next game.
Here's to a sellout game. Here's to turtle soup.
Well now, that took the wind out of the sails a bit. Do not fear, it's like really early in the season, and we will see a few wins this year that we'll look back on and say, "Didn't see that happening." Good news from the stats: we had a better game FG%, more rebounds, fewer PFs, tied for steals, and nobody fouled out. Unfortunately, we lost. Bring on MD.
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2017/12/1/Northwestern_72_Illinois_68_OT_.pdf
http://www.fightingillini.com/documents/2017/12/1/Northwestern_72_Illinois_68_OT_.pdf
agree on pruman notes here...
Unfortunately we dont have speed at end of game on offense....defense was awesome (4 NW TOs in a row!). we are tentative on offense ending games. kudos to TJL for making plays towards end to keep us in it....but that is not really his role as offensive penetrator.
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Disappointing loss in that it was a game that was winnable..... coulda woulda shoulda Encouraged overall in what I am seeing. Have to get a few things figured out but can certainly see that there is a higher ceiling for this team. Let's hope the season is not totally squandered before things get on track.
Encouraged overall in what I am seeing. Have to get a few things figured out but can certainly see that there is a higher ceiling for this team. Let's hope the season is not totally squandered before things get on track.mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I’m disappointed but still probably exactly where many figured we’d be. Beat Maryland and this weekend is a success.
Deleted member 631370
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Yeah, there's no reason to be upset over this. NW isn't living up to the hype, but losing in OT on a neutral(ish) floor this early in the season isn't anything to lose heart over.
Even in this losses, the fact that the games are competitive is important. Let's see how the team responds against Maryland. Keep this one tight until the very end, and I think we're establishing a trend that we can play with good competition. It's just really early in the season for a new coach and his new system to be winning these games with regularity.
Yeah, I'm going to say again that Smith is not our best player right now. And I never said TJL or DW are going to put this team on their back through conference play. However, there is a reason they're getting more tick. As of today Smith is shooting under 40% from the floor, is 4-24 from 3, averaging under 2 rebounds a game(!), and has managed to get himself in foul trouble early as he hasn't adjusted defensively quite yet. Right now Smith isn't even our best freshman. And that's ok. He's going to be awesome and part of that is learning the hard way. One day soon he will be our best player, but not right now.
I didn't think it was a mistake then nor looking back do I think it was mistake.
As forcasted. It's year one. We will grow.
I feel real good about the intensity of this team and how the players have bought into BU's system. We are seriously undermanned particularly in the front court. I believe Underwood is getting the best he can from the front line, but outside of Black as a 4 , the talent just doesn't match well with the rest of the league. Nichols should be playing the 3 spot. That being said , Alstork is coming around well and the young guards will keep improving.
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I get the philosophy, but I don't agree. With this young a team you need to make sure you get a clean shot at the end. Since this team doesn't have a go to guy yet it's Underwoods job to get that for them. TJL taking that contested shot was not what we were looking for. If we have a more experienced team with a more offensively adept pg bringing the ball down I get it.
I think TJL has more become more comfortable creating in the flow of the game, and was good yesterday. But with time running out and needing a score, and all eyes on you, I am not sure he is the right person in that situation. So the question becomes, who is? We do not have a consistent creator, but if I had a choice, I would have gone with Kipper in that situation.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Smith isn't playing more because he isn't earning it....His defense is a major liability and his FG % is poor....He has all the ability in the world but is learning college BB means playing at a higher level..
We are seeing a team in transition from previous years and with that comes losses that could have been wins except for turnovers and poor decision making on offense...the Illini will be much better in January and February than they are now...hopefully we will still have a chance to advance to the dance...It all comes down to progress and learning to do it within the system that BU is implementing....\
Illini will win Sunday....mark it down...
We are seeing a team in transition from previous years and with that comes losses that could have been wins except for turnovers and poor decision making on offense...the Illini will be much better in January and February than they are now...hopefully we will still have a chance to advance to the dance...It all comes down to progress and learning to do it within the system that BU is implementing....\
Illini will win Sunday....mark it down...
The stated goal is to WIN TITLES
This team has a couple pieces that could be part of that type of team in 2-3 years. We need more pieces. I am not concerned with squeaking into the tourney this year, although I'd have loved to win these last two games. It is about the future. I am watching and looking for growth, and players we will be adding. The rest is gravy.
Just my .02
And I agree, we will win some we shouldnt, and lose games that these that will make us shake our heads, but we cant lose focus on the ultimate goal. Building a winner, not a bubble team this year
anyway, lets get Maryland, at least play well and improve...
This team has a couple pieces that could be part of that type of team in 2-3 years. We need more pieces. I am not concerned with squeaking into the tourney this year, although I'd have loved to win these last two games. It is about the future. I am watching and looking for growth, and players we will be adding. The rest is gravy.
Just my .02
And I agree, we will win some we shouldnt, and lose games that these that will make us shake our heads, but we cant lose focus on the ultimate goal. Building a winner, not a bubble team this year
anyway, lets get Maryland, at least play well and improve...
The problem with "building for the future" is that it becomes nothing more than an excuse for not winning. We have certainly played that game for many years.
I dont disagree with that, but we hired a guy for $$$$$$ and he's on game #8
I'll give it a bit longer.
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I Bomb
Stylin' and Profilin'
RE: the zone offense - last night, there was one trip against zone where (basically) pass goes to the high right post, other player comes curling around the right post towards FT line and gets the handoff. As his defender is picked by the handoff-er at the high post, the defender in the paint scoots up to cover and bounce pass to a cutter on the baseline = layup.
It looked effortless that one time, and the very next time down it didn't look like they even tried the same set, nor did I see it maybe the rest of the game.
Maybe coaches on here can explain why you wouldn't exploit that every time down, if it worked. Maybe the scenario was never quite right... ?
It looked effortless that one time, and the very next time down it didn't look like they even tried the same set, nor did I see it maybe the rest of the game.
Maybe coaches on here can explain why you wouldn't exploit that every time down, if it worked. Maybe the scenario was never quite right... ?
Deleted member 4333
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Allstate Arena was barely two-thirds full, if even that. More than half were Illini fans. The Mildcats are going to be playing in front of a lot of empty seats this season.
I'm far from giving up or anything, but I've gotta be honest: this is a bad basketball team right now, and looks set for a very long season.
We generate nothing easy in half court offense, and have no one who can get a good look on their own. Transition is tough in the Big Ten. Defensively we are terrible in transition and our lack of size makes us super vulnerable on the back end in the half court. We're super small, and oh by the way, looking on the horizon our frontcourt situation only projects to get worse. We're terribly mistake-prone. The body language is terrible, there not much in the way of vocal leadership on the team.
We're eight games in to a whole new era. This is no time for sweeping declarations. But it's never a bad time to be clear-eyed about what's happening. It was a "yikes" performance last night against a mediocre team that was there for the taking.
We generate nothing easy in half court offense, and have no one who can get a good look on their own. Transition is tough in the Big Ten. Defensively we are terrible in transition and our lack of size makes us super vulnerable on the back end in the half court. We're super small, and oh by the way, looking on the horizon our frontcourt situation only projects to get worse. We're terribly mistake-prone. The body language is terrible, there not much in the way of vocal leadership on the team.
We're eight games in to a whole new era. This is no time for sweeping declarations. But it's never a bad time to be clear-eyed about what's happening. It was a "yikes" performance last night against a mediocre team that was there for the taking.