Nice observation. TSJ, Coleman, and Guerrier all look like they are asking for the ball. I would say Harmon had a cut going that would have been a gimme, but well... you know how we shot when at the rim last night.
Northwestern 96, Illinois 91 OT Postgame
He was one of the 7. I could see playing him more down stretch in the 2nd half, but they put they probably would have put the center on him again and we would have been 4 on 5 on offense
blackdog
- Champaign
The only thing I didn't like about that play was they started it too late so Domask didn't have time to play his booty ball game. If he had more time on the clock he wouldn't have needed to rush his decision but as it was its really hard when you start attacking with only 5 seconds left.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Oh, I'm certainly not trying to suggest that it was a bad final play. Given the same opportunity again, it's quite possible we wouldn't have done anything different. I just don't think it matters much that anyone else was open at the time. I think Domask was going to take that match-up/shot every time under those circumstances.
I’d say this was a typical game in terms of officiating. There were a few bad calls, just like any game. The officials have to make calls in real time. I will vent about bad calls like anyone else, but ultimately YOU DECIDE YOUR FATE WITH HOW YOU PLAY.
It adds to the excitement when you have absolutely no idea what they are going to call on any given play!
I agree with that, I agree he started the play too late, they had plenty of time with the ball to start the possession. I wonder if they were worried about a double if he started too early that could have resulted in a turnover and runout.
I'm not one to blame officials. I will say thought hat there seemed to be a large number of moving screens in this game.
The old sports wisdom adage offers counsel here: Never let the game come to down to an official’s call (or calls) making the difference.
And how do you do that? Play better (than you did) for the bulk of the game. Get a lead that is unassailable. Then clamp down on the opposition.
When you allow the game to be close you are letting the officials be involved too much. I know close games are all you can muster sometimes. But when that happens it’s more productive to examine your own failures as to why you could not assert control of the game yourself.
It’s more fun to blame officials and not look at your own areas that need improvement. But until and unless your team gets to bring it’s own officials to the court you are stuck with what the fates give you. And the fates are often cruel.
Quincy was open but Marcus already had his back turned by that point. Could have passed it out to TSJ sure but he's still trying to find his long range stroke again. Harmon was certainly a viable option as he did get our last clutch bucket.
My issue is that we waited too long to get it going. I understand not wanting the Cats getting the last shot to win it but maybe if we get it rolling a little earlier we can get something going to the basket and draw a foul or crash the glass for an offensive putback.
In small doses, sure. You gonna try and defend Boo with a 6'10" guy for 35 minutes?
What about helmet to chest?
I agree.
This ref crew really seemed focused if a player went out of bounds rather than watching the play
The one call where we got lucky was in the first half TSJ didn’t get called for goaltending the ball hit backboard and then he blocked it
If the refs are going to let them set screens like they did last night we have to adjust. Those screens set up Boo drives into the lane. I haven’t watched enough NW basketball to know what percentage of those floaters Boo normally hits. It seem like we forced so high degree of difficulty shots that got to go in. Not sure if thought he would cool off or not
The Boo travel that got overturned really hurt because it turned into a three instead of a turnover
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
I totally agree for many reasons, but not bc Coleman couldn't defend him (which is what I think you mean?).
I still can’t get over the final play call of regulation. I really wish Brad had a couple go to plays that got good looks. If you are going to go iso though, just feels like you have to go TSJ with how often he was getting to the rim and the line. Domask, Coleman and cast ready for the kick out.
Domask did a good job of drawing bodies to him and then forced a shot with 3 guys on him. Reminded me of the Ayo game winner at Michigan, except he isn’t Ayo. It was a really frustrating end to a really frustrating but competitive game.
Domask did a good job of drawing bodies to him and then forced a shot with 3 guys on him. Reminded me of the Ayo game winner at Michigan, except he isn’t Ayo. It was a really frustrating end to a really frustrating but competitive game.
I agree. Odds are high that Shannon gets fouled.
No, but in the context of what I was replying to, for the final shot in regulation, I would put Hawkins on Boo.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Minor nitpick, but did you mean we didn’t have an awesome FAN presence from the TV?? Because our fans got very loud on multiple occasions, and pregame Tweets said that non-student section fans were majority Illini.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yep, I loudly complained to my wife and baby that if you don’t have a set play there, you give TJ the shot to prove he’s “back” and silence that student section.
You could handpick 2-year spans of a ton of great coaches and create a statistic like this. I prefer to look at Big Daddy's entire record at Illinois and also compare that to how the Illinois basketball program was before he got here. Last year's team was hard to watch and not good, yet we still made the tournament. If that is now considered a bad year for Ilinois basketball, the program has come a long long way under BU.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed in principle, but I never judge a coach by a 2-year rebuild. Underwood is rightly judged by 2020 and beyond.
If we won the B1G, the B1G tourney and the national championship every year, pretty soon people would be complaining if we didn't go undefeated every season.
Illinois basketball is in a great place right now. No one is perfect. We should just enjoy it.
But we better win the next 8 of 9 or I am done.
/s
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
They doubled him. Wouldn’t you? He rarely passes out of an iso.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Agree. Love Hummel but he’s wrong here. The ball was on the opposite side of the body and Berry boneheadedly swung the arm towards a ball that he can’t get to and rightfully got penalized for a direct blow to the head and didn’t get the arm with the ball.
Coleman can make him uncomfortable. That's defending him. Boo is fast, talented, and experienced - he would adjust. And Coleman, as excellent and versatile on defense as he is, will tire faster than Buie. He wouldn't stay in front of him every play. Even in a well-officiated game, steals and blocks would turn into fouls. You could limit that by Coleman being less aggressive, but then he's not much different than anybody else. Meanwhile, who is guarding the post against 7' Nicholson?
It's complimentary of Coleman, but an unrealistic thought.