Deleted member 4333
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Ohio State 75, Illinois 67 POSTGAME
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
Just saying- being able to beat anyone in the league does not mean you will beat anyone, just means we have the ability to, but we just keep making mistakes which kill us. We absolutely had the ability to beat OSU, we just shot ourselves in the foot
Deleted member 631370
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At least with Nebraska, Iowa, Maryland, etc., we were in a position to win and just blew it. So in that sense, we did play well enough to win -- they miss one FT, and we win. Or we avoid one turnover, and we win. Stuff like that.
But these are not top-tier teams. We haven't demonstrated the ability to put ourselves in a position to beat a team like Michigan State or Purdue or even Michigan yet.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
True but at the same time last year coaching was a huge part of the reason we lost so many games. This year, we have better coaching with significantly worse talent and it's keeping us in games.
That being said, absolutely agree, we won't see massive changes without significant changes in talent
Deleted member 631370
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Right, I agree with that. But there's a subtle difference between "have the ability to" and "playing well enough to".
I agree that we have the ability to beat anybody in the league, though the stars need to align. But I do not agree that we are playing well enough to beat Michigan State or Purdue.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
Fair, I agree with that. I do however think any of the other teams in the B1G are beatable currently
Deleted member 4333
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More than a subtle difference. A big difference.
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We are massively inexperienced. Four frosh, two sophs that on;y played about 1/2 year last season and AJ, whom played very little in two years. Look at OSU, Sr. Tate, 5th year Sr Dakich, 4th year Jr. KBD, normally 5th yr Sr. Williams....they have loads of experience. Inexperience generally = mistakes, especially at key moments.
It was actually more like 11:30 without scoring, but we were only down 4 at half after that incredibly bad streak.
Are we going to have to deal with KBD again next year? Or is he projected to go to the draft?
I would be shocked if he didnt declare, given how he will almost certainly be B1G POY and is already a 4th year junior.
Projection I saw had him going in the 1st round at No. 22. Not sure he can boost his draft stock higher than it is now.
The game was within reach before Kipper and Black fouled out. This team is making improvements but missing the horses to finish. Hopefully BU can get a couple to come in with Ayo. If that happens, the Illini will be just fine.
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
In the words of Al Sleet, “Inside every silver lining, there’s a dark cloud.” Hey, how many lead changes were there in the Ohio State game? Both teams had streaks. We had that one massive one, but we had that first half of the first half that made Ohio State look lost. In the second half we worked up a substantial lead. Ohio State came back from that. But over all, we played well enough to win.
Yeah, I drink the O&B Koolaid. But there are people on this forum who drink rhier
Yeah, I drink the O&B Koolaid. But there are people on this forum who drink rhier
on the Talent VS Coaching/system....always wondered:
If talent is the answer, why have guys like Holtman and BU had so much success in the Tourney with mid major talent...?
I remember. He said he was ok with it. It doesn’t appear he is too bright.
Enough talent can get them there to compete for titles,. The coach that can get his team to play with fire once they get there makes a huge difference.
I think they recruit underrated players to their system and "coach them up" pretty well. It works well if a solid system is in place with a good coach to run the system.
But it only takes you so far. Holtmann only made it out of the first weekend once. I don't think BU has yet to do it as a head coach. Gregg Marshall at Wichita State had an amazing final four run, but has made the sweet 16 once besides that. Archie Miller has also only made it out of the first weekend once. (an elite 8 run)
I think getting lesser players into a good system with a good coach can get you so far...but talent takes you the rest of the way. Hopefully BU can implement his system. It might take awhile...but it should work.
For reference, Tony Bennett at UVA started off slow but eventually got there. Here are his first 5 records:
15-16
16-15
22-10
23-12
30-7
Let's hope we can have an accelerated version of that.
SFA lost in 3rd round in 14 and 2d round in 15 and 16.
Talent can also be relative to a system. Hence the term “system player.”
However, the more talented you are, the more systems you will fit.
BU has won a total of 2 NCAA tourney games. Just for the record, Groce has won 3 at Ohio (one more at UI). You get a hot mid-major in the tourney, you can win a few games.
But when it comes to talent and conferences, it is all relative. You can win many conference games at SFA, you do not need HM talent, all you need is to out-talent much lesser talent level at those conferences. The same level of talent at SFA will not get you to the tournament in a P5 conference, no matter how well you coach. There, you have to have P5 level talent, because that is what the conference competition will have.
I meant make it out of the 1st weekend.