Offensively, aside from 3 point shooting we played we played a pretty strong game
Still trying to figure out what happenedd on thee defeensivee - obviously Picket was unconsious, which was likely pretty demoalizing.
Penn State 93, Illinois 81 Postgame
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Still trying to figure out what happenedd on thee defeensivee - obviously Picket was unconsious, which was likely pretty demoalizing.
We had Goode in the game the last two minutes and Epps never looked to pass to anyone shot every time he touched it. Selfish Freshman ball hog.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois unable to contain Jalen Pickett in loss to Penn State
Penn State's Jalen Pickett's 41 points and eight assists were too much for Illinois to overcome in State College on Tuesday.
BY ANDERSON KIMBALL Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
Illinois had trouble containing Penn State’s offense when the Nittany Lions visited Champaign in December.
When Penn State hosted Illinois on Tuesday, its offense wreaked even more havoc. Jalen Pickett had 41 points, which went a long way in Penn State handing Illinois a 93-81 loss in State College, Pennsylvania.
Terrence Shannon Jr. led Illinois (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) with 20 points, 12 coming after the break. He started an early second half run to get Illinois within seven with 18:01 left, but the Nittany Lions offense kept scoring.
Penn State (15-11, 6-9) shot 57.9% from the field and had 1.38 points per possession on offense. It made 12-of-28 3s, and even with Illinois coming into the game as one of the best defenses in the country at defending 2-point field goals, Penn State shot 21-for-29 from inside the arc.
Didn’t, haven’t and don’t plan to venture into game thread. Enough negativity in this thread like you said. I don’t need to read the real-time takes. Though I have to admit I am curious how many “Jess Settles sucks as an announcer’ posts there are in there.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
zero....................too much wraith for the Illini to waste on a 10 year former player like grandpa settles......
I read ya. The issue for me: We've seen the movie where we don't double or dig TJD and it didn't end well.
I slept on it. Not really too mad. Pickett's never even shot that well in his driveway before. How many contested mid range twos did he make? And I'm not sure how you really double him when every time a player hedged away from their man in the first half, PSU would find the open man and bury a three.
That said, this game certainly didn't give me any confidence that we're primed to turn some kind of magic corner in late February. We are who we are.
We have some interesting players who won't be in an Illini uniform next year so, I'm just going to watch them and enjoy the ride with small expectations.
That said, this game certainly didn't give me any confidence that we're primed to turn some kind of magic corner in late February. We are who we are.
We have some interesting players who won't be in an Illini uniform next year so, I'm just going to watch them and enjoy the ride with small expectations.
Captain 14
- The Last Best Place
That guy who channels Joe Buck's voice was on the call again. What's he doing on the "U?"
NASchamp
- Atlanta
After sulking for the night I’ve realized this was a good game to get in before the tournament IF we can make the adjustments necessary. Seems like this scenario plays out in tons of March Madness games: lesser team gets red hot and rains 3s with their one star player going off all night. If we can learn how to stop this, we should hopefully avoid being a victim to this in the tournament.
Ok, slept on it. While sleeping I assume Pickett dropped another dozen. Penn State's coach should do well, that's a fun offense to play in, should be able to recruit talent into that.
Let's have a better showing against Indiana this time.
Let's have a better showing against Indiana this time.
Last game vs Indiana, they just played TJD by himself on a side of the court while the other 4 players spread out from top of the key to the opposite corner. TJD just back us down in the low block or got to middle. If he was stopped , guys cut to the basket. We can not allow this one on one approach or we will get run out of the gym again. We will have to release someone to help take away the middle of the paint and force TJD to only go one way. Then 3 will need to guard 4 on the perimeter. The guy in the middle can cover the cutters into the paint.
Just clocking in so this might have been noted by others. Very first offensive set by psu, Pickett, three times, backing down the defender, pushed him back with his arm, including a final shove to provide separation. Nowhere close to suggesting officiating cost us this game, but an offensive foul or two on Pickett might have slowed him down way better than we could.
Sounds painful
X2.
I would say the same thing about the IU game. You have to try something else after a single player torches you over and over. Double team, hard hedges or something
As well as Penn St shot the ball, I also see we were again well under 30% from 3pt range with near 30 attempts. Imagine if we could just shoot an average percentage? Going all the way back to the Texas game, we have been unable to beat teams unless we hold them to ~30% shooting. I think the home win vs Wisc they shot 43% (which is still not good,) but every other win has required the opponent to shoot horrendously. If a team comes out and shoots at an above-average percentage, we get cooked and lose by 12+ points.
And I do realize we are extremely solid defensively, so this isn't to take away from that. But it is tough if you can't put the ball in the basket yourself. And that is also what is so weird about this season. I do not think some of the bolder predictions that folks made prior the season were too out of whack. RJ is much better shooter than 25% and I think Shannon had raised his 3-pt % each year (38.5% last season) up until this year. Epps is now in his own shooting slump. Hawkins could shoot a better percentage if he didn't need the 1-2 heat checks every game. Goode is one of our best 3 pt shooters and hasn't hardly played at all. And Clark's shot certainly passed the eye test in his short time here. This team is kind of messed up in the head a little for some reason and it shows in the form of focus-related errors (shooting, decision-making, communication, etcetera).
I really hope they can pull it together, because that potential is still there imo.
And I do realize we are extremely solid defensively, so this isn't to take away from that. But it is tough if you can't put the ball in the basket yourself. And that is also what is so weird about this season. I do not think some of the bolder predictions that folks made prior the season were too out of whack. RJ is much better shooter than 25% and I think Shannon had raised his 3-pt % each year (38.5% last season) up until this year. Epps is now in his own shooting slump. Hawkins could shoot a better percentage if he didn't need the 1-2 heat checks every game. Goode is one of our best 3 pt shooters and hasn't hardly played at all. And Clark's shot certainly passed the eye test in his short time here. This team is kind of messed up in the head a little for some reason and it shows in the form of focus-related errors (shooting, decision-making, communication, etcetera).
I really hope they can pull it together, because that potential is still there imo.
The funny thing is that no 1 seed would be happy to see us in the second round. We'd be a popular upset pick IMO
I'm not so sure --I've downgraded my expectations, personally. It's a head-shaker to me that defending the 3 is such a known issue, and yet they continue to miss a lot of close-outs. It's almost like they dare each other to hit 3s in practice because we're poor at 3 point shooting, and then are surprised when real opponents have those shots go in. This team has some strengths, but I don't feel they play to them like they need to. The offensive shot selection leaves a lot to be desired too. Not a ton of season left to get better, and at this pace, I'd say it's looking like a 6-8 seed.
Only way we get an 8 or 9 is if we only win 19 games, which is highly unlikely. Think we can get to 21 wins and then hopefully win some games in the btt
I’m not happy about this post. I don’t like to feel this way, but I was mad as hell last night. After sleeping on it, I’m still mad as hell. We are a very average team. I don’t care what net-or Kenpom say. Not to high of expectations from here on out.
I don't think this one hurts too much in regards to NCAA seeding. If we lose one of the 4 in-between IU and Purdue and then drop the first game of BTT, then I think we slip to a 7 or an 8.
BU mentioned NBA 5 second rule in presser, which he also did in the first PSU presser. I've heard Izzo mention it too. Don't follow the other coach's post-game pressers but I be if asked I bet the majority of conference coaches would say it's a problem. I think it affects our conference the most and really don't see it happen too much in other conferences, so I don't see a change coming. NBA did it because it's boring basketball and they want an up tempo game.
In regards to the game and our play, I was far more upset with whenever we seemed to get close to getting the lead under 10 and maybe putting some more pressure on them, we consistently took bad or quick shots or had a TO.
Play tough against IU, win 4 in a row, play tough against Purdue, win first round in BTT and we are a solid 6 if not 5 seed (Wisc moving up in net rankings would help also).
BU mentioned NBA 5 second rule in presser, which he also did in the first PSU presser. I've heard Izzo mention it too. Don't follow the other coach's post-game pressers but I be if asked I bet the majority of conference coaches would say it's a problem. I think it affects our conference the most and really don't see it happen too much in other conferences, so I don't see a change coming. NBA did it because it's boring basketball and they want an up tempo game.
In regards to the game and our play, I was far more upset with whenever we seemed to get close to getting the lead under 10 and maybe putting some more pressure on them, we consistently took bad or quick shots or had a TO.
Play tough against IU, win 4 in a row, play tough against Purdue, win first round in BTT and we are a solid 6 if not 5 seed (Wisc moving up in net rankings would help also).
‘We didn’t show up’ (?!)
This is the most concerning thing. You miss a shot.. OK, you’re going to miss a lot of shots.
A guy just has ‘One Of Those Nights’ and goes OFF on you? That’s also part of the game and going to happen from time to time.
But NOT showing up? Especially at this critical point of the Season? This is just flat-out not acceptable.
With Coach being as intense as he is... it’s probably not the lack of leadership and framing the importance of these games as he is most likely right on this.
But what is it about his message that is not getting through? Or, how can a player all on his own not understand what is at stake for himself and the program in general at this point of the Season? How are the veterans on this team not stepping up and applying some Michael Jordan-style Tough Love on his teammates?
This team has been a puzzler all Season long. There is just no carry-over of consistency from one game to the next. There is no consistency to how well a guy is shooting from one game to the next.
This must a ‘personality’ thing. No one wants to be an Alpha on this team and there is a lack of pulling together and purposeful play.
This team just can’t seem to get in high gear and stay there. There is still time... but time is getting short.
If only Illini Nation could infuse some of our own passion and enthusiasm in to the on-court product...
i would not bee all that depressed to play a team that on more than one occassion has missed 20 three point shots.
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