Yeah, I don't see why anyone would criticize him for looking to his past successes. He's highly invested in this team and his future here.
Pregame: Illinois at Wisconsin, Friday, January 19th, 8:00pm CT, FS1
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Yeah, I don't see why anyone would criticize him for looking to his past successes. He's highly invested in this team and his future here.
You've got to believe that TJL will have a ton of family/friends in Madison since MKE is only 75 miles away.
BU also used these same resume' highlight successes when interviewing with Whitman to get hired at UI and uses them with each new potential recruit that comes on campus. If he doesn't bring forth his previous strengths and achievements at the appropriate time, you can kiss goodbye any top recruits from signing up.
The Dave
- CA
So, I work with a Badger fan out here in Kalifornia....
He insists that Wiscy sucks this year with all the injuries. I explained to him that Illinois is plunging the depths of ways to lose games in heartbreaking fashion. I've tried to explain to him that there are only two plausible outcomes to this game....
1) Happ throws up a 3/4 court length shot as time expires and he banks it in to win the game by 1 for the Badgers.
2) Illinois will be down by 1 and throw up a 3 as time expires. We'll miss (obviously) but get fouled. Whoever is shooting will be a >75% free throw shooter, but will miss all 3 to lose by 1.
Put your wagers down now on which new stroke-inducing scenario will play out on Friday!
He insists that Wiscy sucks this year with all the injuries. I explained to him that Illinois is plunging the depths of ways to lose games in heartbreaking fashion. I've tried to explain to him that there are only two plausible outcomes to this game....
1) Happ throws up a 3/4 court length shot as time expires and he banks it in to win the game by 1 for the Badgers.
2) Illinois will be down by 1 and throw up a 3 as time expires. We'll miss (obviously) but get fouled. Whoever is shooting will be a >75% free throw shooter, but will miss all 3 to lose by 1.
Put your wagers down now on which new stroke-inducing scenario will play out on Friday!
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
I think you are the one being harsh.
What else is he going to refer to? He has no previous history at UI. Give it time my friend! :thumb:
Maybe mark smith too. I thought he ran point pretty well in limited minutes vs nebby
We've gone a couple games in a row without the zebras missing a goaltending call. Maybe that works in somehow.
But I think (God knows why) the men finally pull one out.
AEX
- Danger Zone
I could be wrong, but I seem to remember Groce referring to players from his last Ohio team pretty often his first year here. I think it's just a matter of speaking from what you know, or providing historical context, and not having any historical context at UI (as another poster mentioned).
Mark Smith needs to ball to create...lead guard, but I think it is safe to say he is on learning curve and also is finding his physical attributes don't get him as far as they did in HS against inferior players.
He will get there for sure, just a long road yet being he is really only been committed for what 24 months now?
Well Weber did almost immediately get the reins handed to the Cadillac, and took them further than he had ever gone...so, no reason there.
And Groce, well his past was O...HI....oooooo, enough of a reason and he was so over valued at the time, hell he even knew it.
Toot the horn BU, get those recruits who will but the sell and get better once here!
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I agree that his physical attributes alone will not get him as far, but I think that, because he hasn't combined them with control and experience yet. He will get even stronger, and when he learns not to charge, and really use his strength to his advantage, we will see that they do make a difference.
IllFanInMi
I
Guest
Mark Smith obviously not only going through a learning curve of being a freshman at the highest level, but it’s compounded by his overall b-ball inexperience. What’s not mentioned much here’s is that he is also going through a curve of playing “out of position” in relation to his HS experience. So, he now has the challenge of figuring out how to work off the ball, which can be more difficult than with the ball in hand. Often times he looks lost without the ball, and I feel a bit bad for the young man.
He’s must accept his role on this team, now, and going forward is mainly a shooting guard. He must study that position, learn how to set your man up, make the right cuts and fades, move without the ball, shoot spot up threes. I would love to see him work on his mid range and pull up game, I.e. a Josh Langford style game with a better athlete able to take it to the rack when the defense allows for it. IMO, he’s so used to getting to the rack that it’s muscle memory, get the pull up in the toolbox and I think he will get to a nothet level.
Work In Progress, I for one believe he can and will be a great player here, probably not realistic to expect it this and perhaps next year.
Hey, can someone please move this post to the Louisville Scandal thread?
My feeling as well. He's contributing, but he has a long way to go to get to his ceiling.
A lot of times being an athlete means taking 2 steps back to integrate new skills and knowledge. It's worth it, though to get the steps forward.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
...on a serious note...
We rank ahead of Wisconsin in conference-only offensive efficiency (we're 9th) and defensive efficiency (11th) on KenPom. But it's at the Kohl Center, so my confidence isn't high.
Illinois doesn’t win at the Kohl Center. Gard needs this one to keep the number of disgruntled fans from accelerating.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
And I believe that 3 of the 4 points is the home court, so generically this is supposed to be a very close game. Hope to get off the zero in this one.
Tonight's the night!
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