Ohio State 87, Illinois 81 Postgame

#176      
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.
The thing that I noticed about DW today was that in one of our first possessions of the game DW made a bad pass that OSU intercepted and went on a break to the other end....what I noticed was the relaxed way in which DW got back on defense after the TO.....very next play DW was on the bench....I mean TO's are going to happen occasionally , but not hustling back after the mistake just didn't seem like DW. Just wondered if anyone else noticed that sequence??
 
#177      
BU after the Maryland game: "We will get it fixed."
BU after the tOSU game: "We will get it fixed."
Uh, we're still waiting...

If Underwood can't coach this talent, what kind of record do we think the Illini will have when Ayo is gone?
I know BU can't shoot free throws for them. But many of the failures on this team are on him. The team hasn't been ready to play in half of the games this season...even some they've won. That's on him. I suspect he'll be gone a lot sooner than we thought.
 
#178      

Cook

Richmond, VA
This team has been ultra careless with the ball all season, which is really frustrating. Possessions need to be more valued. On defense, it would be nice to see BU mix in his ball pressure style from his first years with this style he went to last year. Why not have both in your arsenal and utilize them accordingly? On offense, our half court game just feels awful. There has to be something we could do differently and I'd like to at least see them try some things.
 
#179      

billybaroo

Pebble Beach, CA
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.
And passing.
 
#180      
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.
I agree about DMW. He has lost his defensive mojo and has made several mistakes and has had mental lapses he didn't make last year.

Ayo has had key mental mistakes on D as well. On the soft press today, leaving Ahrens open for 3 was inexplicable, that's his ONLY shot, catch and shoot.

I'm very curious on what changes we will see Underwood make next game as referenced in his post game presser.
 
#182      
The thing that I noticed about DW today was that in one of our first possessions of the game DW made a bad pass that OSU intercepted and went on a break to the other end....what I noticed was the relaxed way in which DW got back on defense after the TO.....very next play DW was on the bench....I mean TO's are going to happen occasionally , but not hustling back after the mistake just didn't seem like DW. Just wondered if anyone else noticed that sequence??
Announcers pointed out same thing with Giorgi...little later in half but almost identical to the description. TO and no urgency to get back.
 
#183      
I agree about DMW. He has lost his defensive mojo and has made several mistakes and has had mental lapses he didn't make last year.

Ayo has had key mental mistakes on D as well. On the soft press today, leaving Ahrens open for 3 was inexplicable, that's his ONLY shot, catch and shoot.

I'm very curious on what changes we will see Underwood make next game as referenced in his post game presser.
My guess is Grandison is getting a few more minutes from someone. DMW is also working through ankle issues, minutes could come from multiple positions though.
 
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#184      
Since many poster are going to be in full meltdown mode again, I'm going to say there were some things I liked:
1) Grandison gave some good minutes and hit some big shots.
2) Kofi made a few quick passes to open guys when the double team came. (Still wish he would stop putting the ball on the floor when he's under the basket.)
3) Giorgi contributed after being more frustrated in the UMD game than I had ever seen him.
4) Miller made some shots.

There's a lot to like with our team. I still think I would take our roster over any in the B1G in the NCAA tournament, other than Michigan if I get them with how they're playing right now. If we don't win the B1G I honestly don't care if we finished second in the B1G or 6th, as long as we get a decent seed in the tourney.

I see progress from our guys. Against UMD Kofi backed away from a few double teams and today he made quick passes out. He did neither of those things even earlier this year. Curbelo has like a 3:1 assist to TO ratio in B1G play after nearly a 1:1 ratio in non-con. Miller is hitting shots more after a slump to start B1G play. Sometimes the progress is hard to see, especially after losses, but I think it is there. If we could just hit free throws, we missed 2 front ends of one and ones in the first half, our record would look much better and we could keep momentum - Looking at Kofi after that fragrant.
Michigan lost big to Minnesota today! We need to quit thinking we can just show up and win! Guys are reading their own press clippings as we used to say! You're gonna get everyone's best shot, so you gotta play the same way! Play each possession like it's the last possession of the game!
 
#186      
The thing that I noticed about DW today was that in one of our first possessions of the game DW made a bad pass that OSU intercepted and went on a break to the other end....what I noticed was the relaxed way in which DW got back on defense after the TO.....very next play DW was on the bench....I mean TO's are going to happen occasionally , but not hustling back after the mistake just didn't seem like DW. Just wondered if anyone else noticed that sequence??
They showed a replay showing DW and Giorgi jogging back! It basically was like playing 3 on 5 all game. And that was the energy from everyone.
 
#187      
I can't disagree with the doomsdayers today. How we keep coming out flat time and time again is beyond frustrating. How many times do we have to get punched in the mouth for us to finally put together a complete 40 minutes? It really feels like every game there's a point where we get blitzed and look totally inept at playing the game of basketball.

Forget winning the conference. We might be in a fight just to make the tournament if we don't shape up. I think we still get in, but right now we look like a 8-9 seed at best.

Assuming we don't suddenly get decimated by injuries, in the event we do miss the tourney, that has to be the end of Underwood ASAP.
 
#188      

illini80

Forgottonia
They showed a replay showing DW and Giorgi jogging back! It basically was like playing 3 on 5 all game. And that was the energy from everyone.
Giorgi has been an enigma. He talks with great enthusiasm, but he is not playing that way. He gets more upset during the game than he used to when a call goes against him. Zero rebounds from him today. We just can't have that from him. He should be the opposite, flying around getting loose balls, etc.
 
#189      
Giorgi has been an enigma. He talks with great enthusiasm, but he is not playing that way. He gets more upset during the game than he used to when a call goes against him. Zero rebounds from him today. We just can't have that from him. He should be the opposite, flying around getting loose balls, etc.
He did get some key shots in first half. Giorgi has potential to be an emotional motivator and leader,...been that in past.
 
#190      
BU after the Maryland game: "We will get it fixed."
BU after the tOSU game: "We will get it fixed."
Uh, we're still waiting...

If Underwood can't coach this talent, what kind of record do we think the Illini will have when Ayo is gone?
I know BU can't shoot free throws for them. But many of the failures on this team are on him. The team hasn't been ready to play in half of the games this season...even some they've won. That's on him. I suspect he'll be gone a lot sooner than we thought.
BU sounded desperate at press conference.

what I can't figure out is how BU was so giddy in pregame press conf yesterday if they have had horrible practices all week..he referred to multiple bad practices at post game.
The team needs to prepare and play with sense of urgency. The urgency cry by BU needs to be BEFORE games and can't be AFTER every unexpected loss.
 
#191      

Deleted member 747903

D
Guest
BU sounded desperate at press conference.

what I can't figure out is how BU was so giddy in pregame press conf yesterday if they have had horrible practices all week..he referred to multiple bad practices at post game.
The team needs to prepare and play with sense of urgency. The urgency cry by BU needs to be BEFORE games and can't be AFTER every unexpected loss.

It starts with the players. From the opening tip, everyone looks SLOW. You would think that a nice opening touch and basket for Kofi would get them going in terms of energy but it didn't.

It all starts defensively. Closeouts need to be hard and crisp and you can't give up an offensive rebound on the first possession. I'd almost like to see us go back to our full ball-denial defense for the first 2-3 minutes of a game just to force them to get energetic from the jump.
 
#193      
Time to change the starting lineup. Demonte should go to the bench and help the second unit. Grandison or BBV should start. We need length not the four small guards.
BBV.....he hasn’t even played and he should start over Damonte? Seriously?
 
#194      
It starts with the players. From the opening tip, everyone looks SLOW. You would think that a nice opening touch and basket for Kofi would get them going in terms of energy but it didn't.

It all starts defensively. Closeouts need to be hard and crisp and you can't give up an offensive rebound on the first possession. I'd almost like to see us go back to our full ball-denial defense for the first 2-3 minutes of a game just to force them to get energetic from the jump.
I agree - if we have enough gas in the tank in these games to pull off the perpetual 2nd half rallies, we've got enough in the tank to be way more aggressive on D from the get-go.
 
#196      
Disclaimer: I didn't read all 8 pages and I just now watched the dissapointment of a game.

1. Do we not have a set play that we can isolate Ayo or Kofi when we really need a bucket (coaching)
2. Where is the pissed offenders of our veterans when we get in these horrible droughts (veterans)
3. The flow seems to coincide with Curbelo and his out of control lately. He should never ever shoot a 3 from what we have seen so far(coaches)
4. 5 minutes to go, Liddell and Ahrens each have 4 fouls. At what point did we make aggressive attempts to get a 5th on either? (Coaches and players)
5. Officiating, whenever Bo Borowski has a whistle, it won't go well for us. He seemed to be pretty chummy with Liddell though.

On Monday, we will no longer be ranked. Maybe that will put a little blister on our !!! and try to show something in tourney if we have one.

Otherwise we are back to complete rebuild next year with 4 starters gone and not much build on.
 
#198      
My biggest concern is after Kofi missed those 2 flagrant free throws, he hung his head and not one of his teammates came to pick him up. Could be nothing, but to me it is alarming.
 
#199      
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.

Prior to writing a post-mortem on this season and casting evil omens for next season, perhaps we should wait and see how this season actually plays out.

Last season, we were riding high enterting the tournament, depite the fact we finsihed and season at 5 and 5, with a 4 game losing streak sandwiched between those 5 wins
 
#200      
My biggest concern is after Kofi missed those 2 flagrant free throws, he hung his head and not one of his teammates came to pick him up. Could be nothing, but to me it is alarming.

Can you really pick someoine up who has missed two cruical free-thows to kill a rally. Personally, I would rather not here "shake it off," "get em next time," "hang in there." and so forth.