ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
Judging from every game Kofi has played this year, I think it’s a given to expect teams to be physical against him.
Pregame: Illinois vs Houston, Sunday, March 20th, 11:10am CT, CBS
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Did anybody make a shot outside the paint last night besides Plummer?
We’re gonna have to hit our shots to win this one. We also have to be ready to adjust away from Kofi-ball quickly if it’s not working. Kofi tends to struggle against post doubles from guys who have length and that’s what Houston has. The guards have to step up tomorrow and Hawkins needs to keep up his good play.
I think you can save your prayers. I don’t think there’s a chance in hell he picks us.
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
From far outside the paint? It took 27 mins for the Illini to hit its first trey. I believe we were 0-9 @ that point, as I looked at my phone after that first splash. Fonso hit all three of ours (we finished 3-17 as a team from > arc.)
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I mean, call it ridiculous all you want, but both Plummer and Kofi admitted the team had low energy in the postgame press conference. Eye test matched the players' self-assessment. We were out-rebounded, particularly on the offensive glass, and the several I noticed were due to simply not boxing out. Pretty basic stuff. I'm not saying it was low energy the whole game, but we did not come out of either gate (start of game or half time) playing like it was do or die time. We took several uppercuts, buckled down, and scraped one out -- that is massive. Plummer was the difference during that last 10 min. But nobody who watched that game can tell me the team walked out on that floor ready to be the ones dishing out the uppercuts and stepping on the other teams' throats, so to speak.
FWIW: I thought Grandy played great when he was out there. Really hurts not having him fully healthy.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
Well, no one said we were an underdog that game. But we sure played like one
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
That's different because reasons.
It's a fine line but completely agree that we as fans do this. When you're getting good shots and they just aren't going in you can't really give the opposing defense credit (imo the BTT Indiana game) but in situations like yesterday where our shot selection wasn't great overall it can be hard to tell if the defense is taking us out of our rhythm or if we're just not doing things like spacing the floor well, dribble driving enough, etc.
To be factual...
Kofi actually said they had great energy and is not sure what lead to the slow start.
Plummer said his energy wasn't right at the beginning, but picked it up.
Shot chart available https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=401408600
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Over the course of the "modern day NCAA Tourney" (since 1979 expansion).......we're 33-26 overall, up through yesterday's WIN:
28-6 Playing as the prohibitive favorite (defined as more than 1 slot higher than our opponent)
5-10 Playing against a comparable opponent (defined as a seed within 1 of our own seeding - i.e. #4 vs #5)
0-10 Playing against a prohibitive favorite
Interestingly, we've never really had an upset victory in the past 40+ years!!
28-6 Playing as the prohibitive favorite (defined as more than 1 slot higher than our opponent)
5-10 Playing against a comparable opponent (defined as a seed within 1 of our own seeding - i.e. #4 vs #5)
0-10 Playing against a prohibitive favorite
Interestingly, we've never really had an upset victory in the past 40+ years!!
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
I think I missed the issue with Trent's eye - what's up with that? Pink eye?
Looked bad on the FT close up last nite
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
+ Brad said postgame that the team was uncharacteristically emotional early and needed to settle down.
We just never looked in rhythm. Other than Phonz, no one looked like they wanted to shoot.
Combine that with our continued buzzard’s luck at the rim & it just shocking we get to play again.
Maybe squeaking out that win will take a little pressure off of the guys & they can play loose & let it flow. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve really looked in sync for more than a few consecutive possessions.
We get loose, they call a timeout & we get tight again. They need to find that swagger or it’s over.
The goose egg is mildly interesting, but I'd guess that there are a lot of power 5 teams with records like that. Most chances at upsets by these criteria will be against 3 seeds or better.
March 16, 1989 RCA Dome Indianapolis, Midwest First round - Illinois 77, McNeese State 71. That was a too close game. The Illini were a #1 seed against 16th seed McNeese State. We all know how that Tourney turned out. (And no, I'm not comparing the talent on that team with the current.) I'd love to see a repeat of that run.
Yup. This team is unselfish, but in a bad way as much as a good way. From Trent on down, they want to see other guys take the ball and do something. They have ALL (seriously, even Omar in his limited minutes) shown that they can get going and be the guy. But that killer instinct only shows up AFTER things start rolling.
Oh my, i wonder if thats ever happened in an NCAA tourney win.
Correct. The team seems to do much better when he hits a few, makes the defense come out, opens up things for others.
But he has to shoot, has to find the confidence early. No reason to hold back any offense when unguarded closely. Otherwise its kinda 4 on 5 offensively when he is in.
Might as well go out after taking some shots in what could be his last game.
"A chance to make an impact" is different than "more consistent". I think a few of minutes of spreading the floor and forcing DMW's defender to defend a frosh instead of hanging on Kofi's arm is worth a try. Also, Curbelo's stat line and +/- rating against Chat show that "consistency" can be over rated.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
An opposing coach is going to not double an All-American because a less-used frosh is in the game? Not seeing it.
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