The lack of communication on switches on defense just has to end. It just has to, or we can’t play this style successfully. We’ve gotten away with poor communication in past games, but Penn State buried us. Easy for them to shoot that good when they get lay-ups and wide open 3s. Letting Funk get a wide open 3 with 1 second on the shot clock, then allowing 2 more right after that was the dagger. Plus the inability to figure out the Pickett mismatch killed. Brutal.
Penn State 74, Illinois 59 Postgame
Another hard lesson for our young guys. No one cares if you just beat the number two team in the country...you must bring it EVERY GAME. Guys just out of high school don't realize that the Big 10 is TOUGH from top to bottom. And that goes for the other new comers too. Only two scorers in double figures? 14 and 11 points? Too much reading of press clippings maybe? BUT...what doesn't kill us makes us tougher. I'm sure Dr. underwood will turn this into a teaching opportunity...
This game put as at a crossroads.
TSJ: are you the go-to leader of this team or not? That isn’t a part time gig for great teams and Brad can’t be our team leader from the bench.
Hawkins: we’re at our best when he’s getting boards/ making amazing athletic hustle plays- we’re at our worst when he’s trying to play point guard and force things
Dainja: we will definitely need him. shoot 1000 FTs day and find way to get open more consistently in the post
Freshmen: all talented and getting better/learning. Their ups/downs are predictable/ understandable early in season.
This team is deep and extremely talented but obviously still trying to find a true identity. Oppty to become great, but time alone won’t guarantee they actually will.
Need to commit to more disciplined/ defined roles, clear game plans, and find their leader(s)
TSJ: are you the go-to leader of this team or not? That isn’t a part time gig for great teams and Brad can’t be our team leader from the bench.
Hawkins: we’re at our best when he’s getting boards/ making amazing athletic hustle plays- we’re at our worst when he’s trying to play point guard and force things
Dainja: we will definitely need him. shoot 1000 FTs day and find way to get open more consistently in the post
Freshmen: all talented and getting better/learning. Their ups/downs are predictable/ understandable early in season.
This team is deep and extremely talented but obviously still trying to find a true identity. Oppty to become great, but time alone won’t guarantee they actually will.
Need to commit to more disciplined/ defined roles, clear game plans, and find their leader(s)
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I do not like Tobias Fünke. That is all.
It was not just the players. Underwood should also note that he was also mentally tuned out. Instead of knowing he has his use it or lose it time out with PSU ball, 30.x seconds to play and 26 on the shot clock and being ready to call a time out… PSU scores with 5.x and the ball rolls around and clock basically expires right after we inbounds. How about some awareness and calling a time out to try to draw up a play?
And the only adjustment I saw was to sub out 5 players when the results weren’t working. We let Pickett hunt for mismatches all day and then either let him get layups by backing down from the three point line or kick out to shooters after we finally doubled him way too late.
And the only adjustment I saw was to sub out 5 players when the results weren’t working. We let Pickett hunt for mismatches all day and then either let him get layups by backing down from the three point line or kick out to shooters after we finally doubled him way too late.
Penn State's keys to winning:
Bully ball
Hack-a-Dain
Shoot and make 3's
Random frustrating thought:
The amount of times we bobbled dribble-drives in the second half was maddening. It even looked like Ty almost lost the handle on the breakaway dunk.
Bully ball
Hack-a-Dain
Shoot and make 3's
Random frustrating thought:
The amount of times we bobbled dribble-drives in the second half was maddening. It even looked like Ty almost lost the handle on the breakaway dunk.
Do we always get whomped when the opponent has travel woes?
I think Goode will help in that regard in a few weeks. Also, forgot to mention TSJ. He has not been the same player since the head injury, especially from outside. Obviously, he had a good OT against Texas, but something seems off with him.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Hawkins + Shannon + Melendez = 15 points ???
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
There's your big win hangover. Let's get back to business. I predict lots of wind sprints in their future.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
We should have had the walk-ons in for the last two minutes.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
Mayer and Shannon are simply inconsistent. You never know what you will get from them game to game. If that doesn’t change the ceiling for this team is limited. Book might be out on Dainja…go small and make him shoot FTs. Dainja has to be on the bench in close end of game situations. Hawkins is a very good all-a-rounder, he can score but he is not a scorer. Currently, Hawkins is not a AA alpha type. The guard play on this team has great potential but it is inexperienced and erratic. Typically, you will go as far as your guards can take you in the tournament. 100s of players in the NCAA can be great on a given night. Only a few are great every night. Underwood will be fighting inconsistency and trying to find the right lineups each night in the B10. This is a good team that might develop into a great team. There will be highs and lows, but this is a fun team to watch.
PizzaHutParkingLot
- McPherson, KS
Luke Goode’s return can’t come soon enough.
Tired of all the miscommunications on switches, guys have to bring more focus on that end
Shannon and Hawkins went a combined 5/15 for 10 points. The guys who are supposed to lead didn't come through and it trickled down to the rest of the guys.
Yep. Big win on a grand stage like MSG got to their heads. This was my concern leading up to this one. We apparently thought we could show up and have a good practice and we thought we could beat Penn St by simply showing up. We got a healthy serving of well deserved humble pie today. Now let's see how we respond the rest of the way. I'm sure coach is gonna run these guys into the ground.
It seemed as though Pickett was a mismatch against everyone that we had on the floor. Dain seemed to be the one who could hold him off.
I thought MM shot a couple. Kind of in a fog at this point.
Wow! He’s pissed off. Can’t imagine what practice is going to be like this week. Whoa! If this doesn’t wake them up, don’t know what will.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
I see BU in his post game presser lament and lambast the lack of leadership.
No disrespect intended, but doesn’t leadership start at the apex of an organization.
BU says he saw the problem since they landed from NYC. Doesn‘t he own a part of this vacuum ?
No disrespect intended, but doesn’t leadership start at the apex of an organization.
BU says he saw the problem since they landed from NYC. Doesn‘t he own a part of this vacuum ?
To be honest, that’s a pretty immature response from BU while he is calling out his team for being immature.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
Pretty embarassing.