Guys, we were a one seed last year. It’s been a decade. It’s time to let the Bruce hate go. That said, let’s beat his !!! tonight.
My worry is that BU wants a POY and will do everything to make sure we get it instead of a NATTY, or right now, just a tourney team.I say this with some trepidation, but we have the makings of a very good team. The problem is the team stinks right now...not the players. I do believe they will gel and find their roles, but it is very painful to watch right now. It seems like the plan is go to Kofi and see if he can do anything with it, and if you can't get it to him...improvise.
Back spasms...not sure if he'll play today thoughWhy no Goode ?
You want the Super Senior to step up but, not step on Belo's confidence? Belo controls the ball. For TF to step up, either TF steps on his confidence or BU does.So far I’ve seen two good defensive teams get in our face and smack us around. Our response last night was pitiful.
With two Super Seniors, and two AA candidates, that is 100% on the players.
We’ll find out how tough they are tonight. Championship teams respond when they get punched, even during a loss. Last nights response was tepid bath water.
Trent has to step up without stepping on Curbelos confidence. Belo going through some growing pains.
The egos have to be long gone after last night.
We love no other….
Timely passing would have helped them.Not sure why Curbelo is the only whipping boy after that game last night. You can point to how great of defenders Trent, Coleman, and Damonte are. But, if they combine for under 6 points we can’t win. No one can defend that well.
Watching the game last night, there point guard was way better than Curbelo or Trent. He made shots, drove under control and pretty much shut us down.Okay, how about a little cathartic therapy for Illini fans here? Lol.
1) Last night was the most gut-wrenchingly disappointing performance by an Illini basketball team since...?
For me, this is the probably the most unexpectedly deflating performance for a game that we should have been ready for since the 2011-12 season when we came out ranked #19 and got absolutely worked by UNLV in front of 15,000+ at the United Center.
2) Something you are really hoping to specifically see tonight that would get you feeling a bit better about this team being able to move forward and right the ship?
I really will feel better about this team if I see Trent respond. This is JMO, but I feel like this team will live and die with Trent's ability to pick up some of Ayo's leadership. If he can play with the same energy he did vs. Marquette, I am hoping Andre can settle into a similar groove he was in last season, Plummer can just worry about shooting, some pressure is taken off Kofi, etc. I really think Trent is the key to everyone else getting back to "playing their games."
This is what I saw as well. I know this is a terribly depressing thought, but is it possible that Curbelo isn't a great point guard?Watching the game last night, there point guard was way better than Curbelo or Trent. He made shots, drove under control and pretty much shut us down.
My (non-basketball-expert) opinion is that Curbelo is a great PG when he has offensive weapons all around him. When you have Kofi, Ayo and a plethora of passable third-fourth options, you can thrive playing like Curbelo does. That is why I think it's absolutely essential for Trent to get it going offensively. If Frazier is our "leading scoring guard," Kofi is Kofi and we can surround all of that with an occasional Plummer 3, Grandison putback or other secondary scoring options, Curbelo will once again shine. He cannot take on this team's offensive demand load, period.This is what I saw as well. I know this is a terribly depressing thought, but is it possible that Curbelo isn't a great point guard?
Not everyone. I know at least one coach who says he didn’t watch it.Yep. Clearly everyone studied up on the Loyola tape.
Never.Guys, we were a one seed last year. It’s been a decade. It’s time to let the Bruce hate go. That said, let’s beat his !!! tonight.
You want the Super Senior to step up but, not step on Belo's confidence? Belo controls the ball. For TF to step up, either TF steps on his confidence or BU does.
If this is an attempted slam at Underwood, he said before the season that he has now watched that game. It is true he said for quite awhile that he couldn't stomach it.Not everyone. I know at least one coach who says he didn’t watch it.
I miss that, as well. What is depressing now is that I have had tickets to the Arizona game for my birthday for a while now, and I got SO much more hyped for it after Arizona entered the top 25, thinking that could even be a top 10 matchup. Now I am just depressed that we might be unranked and get smoked.I’m going back to re-read the pre season threads, they were way more fun. You know, when we were a lock for the FF, point guard U, best starting rotation and bench in the B10, better than last years 1 seed, et al.
Back spasmsWhy no Goode ?