Ohio State 87, Illinois 81 Postgame

#151      

DICKnaggie

Champaign
I wonder what changes. Not sarcasm. Really would like to see some shakeup but no idea what. Can’t bench Kofi. More GB minutes? Start grandison over DMFW? Maybe. Start Curbelo? I think we can shelve that idea. Truly a perplexing team.
Why would you play GB more? He is an offensive liability when not playing the 5. When he and Curbelo are in together we are severely hampered outside of the lane as far as scoring goes. GB's defense is also not great right now. Much rather see Grandison get his minutes unless Giorgi is spelling Kofi.
 
#152      

Deleted member 747277

D
Guest
Guys, I am an optimist to my CORE. I will be right back on Tuesday talking about how a win vs. Penn State could get us on a nice little winning streak. With that said... How could there even be ONE poster left making excuses?! Losing like we lost today is infinitely more frustrating than just losing by 10. Someone in the game thread said that last year's team was better than this year's, and it wasn't close; I am going to have to agree. While I knew that last year's squad was unlikely to blow out Minnesota or Nebraska or Northwestern at home, I also knew that they were rock solid and tough - it would be rare that they didn't come out with pride and effort. To let these huge leads grow on us is M-E-N-T-A-L. I am sick of hearing about some guy having a career day and how BU can't make FTs for our guys or whatever other excuse there is. You can explain away anything in a relatively close loss if you want to, but it takes someone in denial to not see the trends. If we lose to Penn State, any hope of a top four seed and a serious Tournament run just might be over. And ~making the Tournament~ or ~being ranked~ or any other "achievement" that might have seen elusive last year is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH for this year's team. Period. Such a disappointing game.
How many disappointing games does it take to make a disappointing team/season?

outside of Minnesota, I’m having trouble finding any games as evidence of this being a top 15 team. That NU second half was fun, but being down 15 at the half is a disappointment. Beating “Duke at Cameron” is a nice headline, but even at the time that didn’t really feel like Duke despite the fan base acting like we had just taken down the ‘15 Duke team.

This has been such a disappointing season, and we aren’t even to the hard stretch.
 
#153      
Realistically the schedule is about to get hard. If they miss the dance. What happens? Recruiting momentum is already going the wrong way. If Underwood doesn’t get this back where we want it, does it ever happen?
 
#154      
Realistically the schedule is about to get hard. If they miss the dance. What happens? Recruiting momentum is already going the wrong way. If Underwood doesn’t get this back where we want it, does it ever happen?
Still don't think we miss the tourney and still don't think the program is headed in a bad direction. Next year's team still competes to make the tourney (though probably thats the extent of reasonable aspirations), and hopefully by then recruiting is back on track.

That being said, if we tack on a bad recruiting cycle with the 2022 class, then I think it'd be time to worry.
 
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#155      
I wonder what changes. Not sarcasm. Really would like to see some shakeup b,ut no idea what. Can’t bench Kofi. More GB minutes? Start grandison over DMFW? Maybe. Start Curbelo? I think we can shelve that idea. Truly a perplexing team.
We can not really get around the fact we have two freshmen in the lineup. Both have pretty scary growth potential, but they are going to have some turnovers, ill-advised shots, and defensive lapses, perhaps enough to make a difference in a close game. I think we will see more consistency as the season progresses. Someone suggested narrowing playing time to 7 players, perhaps, but as you suggest that would be a difficult call.
 
#156      
Not ready to play at start of game. Not ready for game plans by good opposing coaches. General lack of defensive intensity. Not able to close on tough recruitments. The phenomenal talent of 2 players has covered up some warts that have been there for several years. letting a key piece transfer last year. It all points to one thing.
 
#159      
As my niece used to say when she was very young, that was yucky poo poo.

They need to figure out how to start the game. I really think Ayo has to get in players’ faces early in game to raise the energy level. He’s the only one in starting 5 who can do it, and he needs to take it upon himself. Can’t have a quiet leader right now.

Grandison played very well today. He just gets team D. I believe he and Trent were the only ones with a positive +/- for the game (Kofi was at 0). And his offense is coming along.

I hope I’m wrong, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we might be saying the same thing about Curbelo’s floor play and penchant for getting into trouble next year. He has a lot of talent, but can’t seem to realize he’s not playing against high schoolers any more. Hopefully the light bulb goes on soon.
 
#160      
Kofi needs to go pro if only for he’s so big opposing teams hammer the crap out of him with nothing called because he’s so big. Totally frustrating
 
#161      

Deleted member 747903

D
Guest
Kofi needs to go pro if only for he’s so big opposing teams hammer the crap out of him with nothing called because he’s so big. Totally frustrating
Kofi's not going pro next year..mark my words. Maybe Europe but definitely not the NBA. Hopefully he gets feedback about his lack of a perimeter game and makes a conscious effort in year 3 to work on that.
 
#162      

Steelyunk

Tobacco Road
Why would you play GB more? He is an offensive liability when not playing the 5. When he and Curbelo are in together we are severely hampered outside of the lane as far as scoring goes. GB's defense is also not great right now. Much rather see Grandison get his minutes unless Giorgi is spelling Kofi.
I was unclear. The post was about changes BU could make. Walking through them, there aren’t obvious good moves. That’s what’s perplexing. More Grandison seems like the best option for now. Apparently Hawkins isn’t earning more time and BBV isn’t breaking into the lineup. It’s a real drag.
 
#163      
Damn this team is frustrating to watch, they're very talented yet they're losing to teams the should be wiping the floor with. This team is only good on paper and lacks killer instinct.
 
#164      
DEFENSIVE GAMEPLAN TO BEAT ILLINI
Players are one-dimensional, outside of Ayo. Therefore….

Guards:
Trent: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
DMW: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Ace: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Curbelo: He’ll dribble lots and pass. Let him shoot the 3.
Ayo: Take away his right hand. Live with his 20 pts.

Forwards:
Grandison: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Hawkins: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.

Centers:
Kofi: Double team, triple team. Foul. He can’t make FTs.
Giorgi: Double team, triple team. Foul. He can’t make FTs.
 
#166      

BBIQ

Texas
I think Brad needs to shorten the bench. Gut tells me Giorgi and Curbelo need to sit more, and Granderson needs to play more. Not against all teams, but in general. Eye test tells me that this team is grinding to a halt with Curbelo at the point and Giorgi's head in Europe or somewhere else. Just my 2 cents.
Curbelo is so reckless with the ball. I know some people like him so much already because of how great he will be they can't admit he's a detriment at times. He wastes so many possessions even when they aren't turnovers and that is magnified in losses like this when you need good possessions consistently to get back into the game. Giorgi is so lazy with his crappy one arm passes that always lead to turnovers. I want to see Ayo get in these dudes grill about this sloppy play. They don't listen to BU evidently. I feel bad for Ayo, he had big plans this year and the freshman aren't doing nearly as much as we hoped and Kofi seems to have gone backwards. At least he made free throws last year once Big Ten Play started. Giorgi looked better earlier in the year but he is back to being nothing but turnovers and fouls. So hard to watch. Hopefuly we turn it around cause we all see what this team could be. Also Miller has to figure out a way to score that doesn't involve a wide open look from behind the arc.
 
#167      

Steelyunk

Tobacco Road
DEFENSIVE GAMEPLAN TO BEAT ILLINI
Players are one-dimensional, outside of Ayo. Therefore….

Guards:
Trent: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
DMW: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Ace: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Curbelo: He’ll dribble lots and pass. Let him shoot the 3.
Ayo: Take away his right hand. Live with his 20 pts.

Forwards:
Grandison: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.
Hawkins: Take away 3pt. He’ll hard dribble one or twice and then pass.

Centers:
Kofi: Double team, triple team. Foul. He can’t make FTs.
Giorgi: Double team, triple team. Foul. He can’t make FTs.
pam tough but fair GIF by Archer
 
#168      
Without a ready to play transfer or two before the start of next year, we won't be a .500 team. That assumes Ayo and Kofi are gone.
That’s hard to say. We don’t know what kind of leap yet that Ace and Andre will make. Plus I’m betting Kofi is back. He’s having a worse season this year, imo. Last year he impacted games on defense. He hasn’t at all this year.
 
#169      
Still don't think we miss the tourney and still don't think the program is headed in a bad direction. Next year's team still competes to make the tourney (though probably thats the extent of reasonable aspirations), and hopefully by then recruiting is back on track.

That being said, if we tack on a bad recruiting cycle with the 2022 class, then I think it'd be time to worry.

I think if this program returns to its identity as a hard-nosed, tough defensive team, it will continue to win. I just don’t think Brad Underwood coached teams should ever give up 80+ points. Last year’s squad almost never did. Good news is AM is proving to be (maybe) the best on-ball defender for this team. TF is very good on that end, but he can get bullied when he has a bigger assignment. Don’t know what’s been going on with DMFW. Seems to be in his head, and it’s a shame because he was the best player on that end of the floor last season.
 
#171      
All the elements of a classic Illini let down. Slow start, sloppy play, long scoring droughts, and a solid fake rally at the end. Just phenomenal. One of those games that makes you realize being a sports fan is probably a bad life choice.
Ha, ha couldn't have put it better myself. How many of these have we endured over the years...
 
#173      
Realistically the schedule is about to get hard. If they miss the dance. What happens? Recruiting momentum is already going the wrong way. If Underwood doesn’t get this back where we want it, does it ever happen?
Realistically, barring injury, there is no chance this team misses the tourney
 
#174      
Nothing better than the quintessential Illinois fake rally. Such a disappointing season. Underwood credibility = 0. He's been overhyping this team for a year. Good luck recruiting going forward after wasting probably the two most talented players we have had in decades. No one wants IL to win more than I do. I've been a fan for 40+ years, graduated from IL, sent my two kids there. Why do I continue to even bother with this program?
I honestly wish you wouldn’t!!!
 
#175      
Is Brad Underwood the Ron Zook of college basketball?

Clearly he can recruit players

Hopefully the players can figure this out by the tourney.....