Pregame: Illinois vs Houston, Sunday, March 20th, 11:10am CT, CBS
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Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I have noticed that a lot of teams have had trouble holding onto the ball. I was wondering if they were slicker than normal.
Think the OP is saying we give our defense credit when the other team struggles, but when we struggle it’s our offense not hitting shots, rather than the other team played well.
But I do agree that anyone saying Damonte should sit for a freshman may want to take a deep breath and realize this is as far as we have made it in an NCAA tournament since 2005 (a tie but still). BU is not a coach that I think plays players without truly considering all options. I am sure he has CONSIDERED playing the freshmen, but there’s a reason they didn’t play much in the regular season. Let’s all sit back on our armchairs and enjoy what BU has created and cheer our team and coach on. Melendez is a popular name thrown out there, but the kid did have a significant surgery less than a month ago and might not be 100%. He hasn’t played a lot of minutes since then and he might be playing different in practice - something none of us see.
When our shots fall, we can beat anyone in the country. Here’s hoping they fall on Sunday and we move on to the sweet 16.
In case you were wondering, UNC is below us in Kenpom. Baylor is above Houston. For some reason they went ahead and played that game. Haven’t checked the score, but I’m sure Baylor won by at least 50.
I speak to confidence regarding DMW because he stopped shooting and doesn’t look for his shot much. That’s a sign of lack of confidence.
I agree that missing shots is not a sign of lost confidence - if this was meant in regards to a different player, I apologize.
@DMWSuperFan My post was not directed at you. I was speaking to comments i've seen in the thread in general. Yours was not one of them
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
tomorrow on pre-game meal
all 3 NL's are fully satisfied and napping today........They really really are....................
Then I 100% agree with your take
#Illini coach said Frazier told him that while dribbling with his right hand, he would look down and could barely see the ball.
Bball 101: don’t look at the ball while dribbling.
Bball 101: don’t look at the ball while dribbling.
Their offensive glass strategy is what worries me.
1) We play small.
2) Offensive boards lead to open 3's
3) Teams can be susceptible to foul on put-backs. (Kofi can't swipe or reach)
Other than that, on the few games I've seen them play, they are physical, but sloppy.
Illini 66
Houston 64
1) We play small.
2) Offensive boards lead to open 3's
3) Teams can be susceptible to foul on put-backs. (Kofi can't swipe or reach)
Other than that, on the few games I've seen them play, they are physical, but sloppy.
Illini 66
Houston 64
This weekend is the time to exorcise some demons…
Loyola playing at same site
Avenge loss to Chattanooga in the 90s.
Face Sampson after Eric Gordon fiasco.
And hopefully win Sunday early afternoon game in 2nd round.
Loyola playing at same site
Avenge loss to Chattanooga in the 90s.
Face Sampson after Eric Gordon fiasco.
And hopefully win Sunday early afternoon game in 2nd round.
I don t understand why Mocs repeated virtual bear hugs on Kofi aren't fouls....apparently bear hugs ar ok in NCAA?
I would like for us to consider putting verdonk in early tomorrow and have him play "extremely" aggressive D...probably get some fouls, but get refs in mode to call fouls down low... and then bring Kofi in to collect fouls after the refs get in the groove to start calling fouls.....effectively shaping ref mindset.
sacraig
- The desert
Last year we were a terrible matchup for Loyola, who played awful defense down low. Then, well...
My emotions from yesterdays game:
First half
Halftime
Second half
Final 30 seconds
Moments later
Two hours later
First half
Halftime
Second half
Final 30 seconds
Moments later
Two hours later
Curbelo is the epitome of this. When he’s turning the ball over it’s usually because he is overconfident and taking a huge risk.
Or our shooters going 0-6 from 3 pt range. If they lost their confidence they wouldn’t have taken half those shots.
Houston will feel every right to take the Illini lightly after watching the Mocs tape. Good. Let them be over confident if they should want to.
The Illini will have to rain down righteous Threes to prevail. Kofi will be boxed in again and that will take a portion of his offense away. Maybe foul trouble.
The Illini three-point shooters will either have it or they wont. If they do... then Sweet Sixteen here we come. The ball will have to keep moving swiftly and our guys will have to find their floor spots and let it fly. And if Houston keys on Plummer... the other guys have to step up with wild abandon and ice in their veins and the courage of a lion in their hearts.
Regardless, it’s a blessing that Trent has another game in the Orange colors. Friday would have been an awful way for him to end his Illini career. May Trent have the kind of ‘Trent’ game he has proudly displayed for many years now and either close out a fine college career with a great performance or help lead the Illini closer to the Promised Land.
And Curbelo? Just be Curbelo. The Wild Card. The ballhandling savant. The artist. And go to the hole a couple times and lay it sweetly off the glass to a mesmerized and confused Houston defense made dizzy by his wizardry.
And Illini. Hit your FREE THROWS.
The Illini will have to rain down righteous Threes to prevail. Kofi will be boxed in again and that will take a portion of his offense away. Maybe foul trouble.
The Illini three-point shooters will either have it or they wont. If they do... then Sweet Sixteen here we come. The ball will have to keep moving swiftly and our guys will have to find their floor spots and let it fly. And if Houston keys on Plummer... the other guys have to step up with wild abandon and ice in their veins and the courage of a lion in their hearts.
Regardless, it’s a blessing that Trent has another game in the Orange colors. Friday would have been an awful way for him to end his Illini career. May Trent have the kind of ‘Trent’ game he has proudly displayed for many years now and either close out a fine college career with a great performance or help lead the Illini closer to the Promised Land.
And Curbelo? Just be Curbelo. The Wild Card. The ballhandling savant. The artist. And go to the hole a couple times and lay it sweetly off the glass to a mesmerized and confused Houston defense made dizzy by his wizardry.
And Illini. Hit your FREE THROWS.
We really need to start Curbelo and bring Plummer off the bench, for a few reasons
1) Get Kofi some easy looks early to get him going, nobody is better at doing that than Belo
2) Playing lose at the start
3) take the pressure of Trent to have to run the offense from the get go- he’s been playing tight lately, particularly with his eye
4) shake things up a bit- it’s more psychologically than anything but it does force Houston to change their assignments and hopefully fires us up a bit
Then Plummer comes in for instant offense of the bench
I just feel we need to do something different - just going with the same approach hoping it works this time doesn’t feel like a successful strategy
1) Get Kofi some easy looks early to get him going, nobody is better at doing that than Belo
2) Playing lose at the start
3) take the pressure of Trent to have to run the offense from the get go- he’s been playing tight lately, particularly with his eye
4) shake things up a bit- it’s more psychologically than anything but it does force Houston to change their assignments and hopefully fires us up a bit
Then Plummer comes in for instant offense of the bench
I just feel we need to do something different - just going with the same approach hoping it works this time doesn’t feel like a successful strategy
1) They have been
2) Playing 'loose' would be good
3) Who else is going to run the offense from our starting 5. Trent has to be the guy.
4) I don't know what shake things up a bit means.
Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to…
1) not at the start of the game
3) Curbelo would run the offense
4) playing our best 5 man lineup from the start would shake things up
Houston is a top 10 team based on a few different metrics. Size wise we match up pretty well with them. The most important thing is to take and make open shots. And I'd love to see a bit of high low with Kofi on the high post and Hawkins on the low post. If Kofi faces up slowly from the high post it causes the defense so many problems. The first of which is doubling the high post makes passing easier. I could see him develop a game similar to Embids with a little less range.
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
Your prose is not lacking flair, my Illini friend.
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