Pretty much agree with everything
Ole Miss 91, Illinois 74 (Exhibition) Postgame
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Agreed
Recorded the game
Through one half so far: What a mess. No flow/rhythm at all offensively. Giving up 50+ points in a half, no cohesion at all. A very rough watch. The two bright spots in that 1st half were Ivisic and DGL We need Tomi fom Game 1. He is a calming presence for the rest of the younger guys and is very good fundamentally with his feet. If he doesn't get cleared to play, our post presence is going to be a hot mess. Liked seeing DGL, Boswell, and KJ making 3's. DGL played more defense than anyone else I saw and I think he's going to get more PT than we all expected based on today and it has to do with the experience being behind all the seniors last season. Steal+block to end the 1st half for him. Ivisic had a couple blocks at the end of the 1st half too. But, really glad that DGL seemed to make an impact so we can stop hyping up some of the others and actually give DGL more respect for the strides he's made
I have to say it's going to take some time to get used to watching this new look team. I really felt like I was watching a summer league scrimmage/exhibition. Aside from DGL and Rodgers, I will have to learn to get used to watching the rest of this team gel. It just feels like a bunch of random guys right now. Hopefully, KJ, Ivisic, and some of the others will grow on me as I see them more and more
Through one half so far: What a mess. No flow/rhythm at all offensively. Giving up 50+ points in a half, no cohesion at all. A very rough watch. The two bright spots in that 1st half were Ivisic and DGL We need Tomi fom Game 1. He is a calming presence for the rest of the younger guys and is very good fundamentally with his feet. If he doesn't get cleared to play, our post presence is going to be a hot mess. Liked seeing DGL, Boswell, and KJ making 3's. DGL played more defense than anyone else I saw and I think he's going to get more PT than we all expected based on today and it has to do with the experience being behind all the seniors last season. Steal+block to end the 1st half for him. Ivisic had a couple blocks at the end of the 1st half too. But, really glad that DGL seemed to make an impact so we can stop hyping up some of the others and actually give DGL more respect for the strides he's made
I have to say it's going to take some time to get used to watching this new look team. I really felt like I was watching a summer league scrimmage/exhibition. Aside from DGL and Rodgers, I will have to learn to get used to watching the rest of this team gel. It just feels like a bunch of random guys right now. Hopefully, KJ, Ivisic, and some of the others will grow on me as I see them more and more
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Just finished watching the replay and it's probably a bit premature to read into a scrimmage but had a few thoughts.
Kasparis had a few struggles and turnover but he looked like the real deal to me. He's also bigger than I thought(he might be a top 5 pick).
Morez and Tomislav will combine to be a good center platoon though Tomislav looks like he will struggle if opposing 5s can shoot.
Riley might be in for a tougher transition than we thought. He looked good in catch and shoot situations but he's skinny and didn't look very quick. I think he will struggle to create his own shot efficiently early.
Offensively, they were obviously too sloppy but also just spent too much time going east/west instead of downhill(we were spoiled by TJ) and there was way too much dribbling without purpose. Ole Miss was really just a tougher team.
Ty needs to play more. One of him or Morez should probably be on the floor at all times but I don't think they can play together. DGL looks like he can be a sparkplug off the bench and his shot looks good when he doesnt fade.
Kylan looked better when he pushed the pace but was too passive for the most part(wonder if he's trying to figure out his role next to Kasparis). Tre White looked like he was just doing cardio for the most part.
Kasparis had a few struggles and turnover but he looked like the real deal to me. He's also bigger than I thought(he might be a top 5 pick).
Morez and Tomislav will combine to be a good center platoon though Tomislav looks like he will struggle if opposing 5s can shoot.
Riley might be in for a tougher transition than we thought. He looked good in catch and shoot situations but he's skinny and didn't look very quick. I think he will struggle to create his own shot efficiently early.
Offensively, they were obviously too sloppy but also just spent too much time going east/west instead of downhill(we were spoiled by TJ) and there was way too much dribbling without purpose. Ole Miss was really just a tougher team.
Ty needs to play more. One of him or Morez should probably be on the floor at all times but I don't think they can play together. DGL looks like he can be a sparkplug off the bench and his shot looks good when he doesnt fade.
Kylan looked better when he pushed the pace but was too passive for the most part(wonder if he's trying to figure out his role next to Kasparis). Tre White looked like he was just doing cardio for the most part.
After watching the 2nd half: Like Morez's motor. As he said in Illini media day interviews, he's going to have to do the dirty work(rebounding+shotblocking) to get playing time but he may be on the positive receiving end of assists to him or offensive rebounds for put backs. Will Riley sighting with a couple of 3's. It looks like he will likely have to be more of a catch and shoot guy. Ivisic with a couple 3's at the end of the game showing his range. Humrichous was largely absent. Really surprising given what we've been hearing about Humrichous.
I really think DGL needs to be given more consideration for a starting spot, especially if he is one of our better defenders. Forget about being a spark off the bench. I think you bring two of Riley, Humrichous, or Tre White off the bench and make it a 3 guard lineup with KJ. Boswell, and DGL along with Ivisic and either Humrichous or Tre White
I really think DGL needs to be given more consideration for a starting spot, especially if he is one of our better defenders. Forget about being a spark off the bench. I think you bring two of Riley, Humrichous, or Tre White off the bench and make it a 3 guard lineup with KJ. Boswell, and DGL along with Ivisic and either Humrichous or Tre White
When your PG is a freshman, it's going to take time for leadership to develop. When you turn over 90% of your roster, it will take a bit of time for a leader or leaders to be determined. They're obviously still figuring things out. Did you actually expect everything to be in sync already?
More of the latter. This is a completely new roster. Going to take time for things to develop and roles to be determined. I think today's game(outcome aside) can go a long way to help figure out roles and figure out which combos play well with one another
I think the win/loss outcome didn't matter here. I think Underwood knew they would most likely lose this game given Ole Miss' more experienced team with several returning players. It's clear one team was more cohesive than the other b/c of returning experience. Now, they've got tape against a top 1/2 of an SEC caliber opponent and don't have to compare themselves against each other or against a Butler team that may or may not be good
There's a difference between that game and this one. Kansas was preseason #1 last year if I remember or top 3. We were returning an experienced group. Beating KU was huge b/c it showed we could play with almost anyone in the country...which turned out to be true...other than UCONN
This year is completely different. Underwood intentionally set up a game with a much more experienced and physical team to help figure out what this group needs to work on. It is a good reality check on where they stand right now and what they need to improve on
Practice this week
To be effective on offense Ty needs a teammate (or two) that can draw a double team or disrupt the defense so that Ty can find his openings.
There were no such openings for Ty against Ole Miss and he was ineffective as a result.
You know far more about the behind the scenes leaning of the staff than I do, but it'd definitely surprise me if that was the rotation. It was just an exhibition, but I'm uncertain White's offense will translate to the high efficiency offense Brad wants to run, and his decision making on both sides of the floor was more questionable than I would have expected. As for Humrichous, his offense is really going to have to make up for the defense. While yes, exhibition, based on what he showed today combined with his previous advanced stats, he's going to struggle defensively and in some matchups straight up abused.
I'd also be utterly shocked if Ty is our 9th man unless Brad is actually considering hockey line changes and those next 5 off the bench are basically a platoon type swap. I guess we'll see, but I think if that is indeed our lineup and rotation, and it's a typical 8 man rotation, Brad will lose his mind by our 3rd game.
Nah just play him in the dunker spot and use him to set screens(especially off ball screens). I don't think you can play him and Morez together but I don't see any other issues.
This team is going to need his toughness.
I think the key cog is going to end up being DGL... He may be undersized but that dude gets what he needs to do to get PT and I think the seniors from last year's team rubbed off well on him.
BU also said Tomi wouldn’t play in this one initially I believe. Then, like you said, few days ago it was reported that he would. Evidently got clarification that he could play without it being an issue to eligibility down the line.
For those thinking the change in Tomi’s status for the exhibition bodes well for Tomi’s clearance being imminent, might not be the case. Oregon St had exhibition on Saturday and overseas player who is waiting like Tomi also played. I guess that could mean both are on the verge of being cleared, but I think it is just as likely NCAA just provided clarification on whether they could play with no issue.
Reality check for sure!! Ole Miss D was a model for us to strive for....unrelenting tenacity!!!
I dont feel the same hope out of this game that I had out of last years Kansas game.
On ole miss...Beard will not go 2 seasons without a tournament appearance with this team he has this year. He will win a lot with "D and 3s"
Apologies for quoting myself, but according to post by Indy in EIU pregame thread, Tomi clearance is imminent. Hope that’s the case, but not going to feel good until it is official. Hopefully that means Oregon State player’s clearance is close too. But he is far less important to that team than Tomi is to Illini.
Oh for sure, Ole Miss is going to the tournament. They'll probably be in that 5-8 seed range if I had to take a guess
Ole Miss was 12-23 on 3's. It's funny, I don't remember them ever missing one.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
morning after thoughts
DGL was the best player on the floor yesterday, but that's not who we want to be!
We have a lot of talent, and I am glad we have a few bunnies to start the year because we need to gel. We could be a mid B10 team if we optimized our team around who played well yesterday. Getting our butt kicked was good for our freshmen, and let them know they can no longer take over a game and win it by themself. DGL (who I love) needs to be our spark off the bench for defense and offense.
I still feel good about this team, but it will take a while to come together. I hope so, because I have a few bets with Indiana fans on who will finish higher in the B10.
DGL was the best player on the floor yesterday, but that's not who we want to be!
We have a lot of talent, and I am glad we have a few bunnies to start the year because we need to gel. We could be a mid B10 team if we optimized our team around who played well yesterday. Getting our butt kicked was good for our freshmen, and let them know they can no longer take over a game and win it by themself. DGL (who I love) needs to be our spark off the bench for defense and offense.
I still feel good about this team, but it will take a while to come together. I hope so, because I have a few bets with Indiana fans on who will finish higher in the B10.
I was really disappointed in Tre White. He had too much dribble, I didn't think his shot looked particularly good and his defense was average. Last thing that kept getting under my skin, (I am older) was after every mistake his first motion was to adjust his headband. Now get off my yard!
sacraig
- The desert
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