Pregame: Illinois vs Maryland, Wednesday, January 21st, 6:00pm CT, BTN

Status
Not open for further replies.
#153      
PasadenaIllini
David Mirkovic cannot guard B1G level 3s. WAY too slow footed. He would get absolutely torched on the defensive end repeatedly if we tried this.
 
#154      
I-L-L 1318
Next man up, feel like Brad typically has the guys playing inspired basketball when down a man.....unless you count last year against Maryland at home....
 
#155      
RIP_Chief_2003
hoopsfan47 said:
Will add my two cents. I do not expect Petrovic to become a big factor. His recent play on offense is encouraging, but watching him closely on defense I saw a guy who could be easily beaten and was always a minus. Lee provides a bigger contribution on both ends. Also BL's recent scout team role of playing the other team's star and doing well gives him some confidence. As far as being a contributor at both ends, Lee is the better option.

But the biggest step up IMHO could be Jake. If he could develop some way to take the ball to the rim, he could be a huge contributor. I have no idea if he can do that as he has never tried. But an effective finish, ala a quick flip (the Ty Rogers specialty), a jump hook, or a fade-away could all be used to make him a threat...as well as his vision to get the ball to cutters and open spot up shooters beyond the arc. He is an extremely smart guy who may be able to do any of those things over and over....and yet never have we seen him try. Sure does not mean he can't as he is a reasonably good athlete and just needs to be coached and encouraged. He will never be able to finish like AS, but he does not have to do that as those suggested finishing touches are not difficult...he just needs to be encouraged and trained a little. I hope we get the chance to find out if he can play the Marcus Domask role in the paint.
Click to expand...
There has been a handful of times this season where Jake has tried to do things inside the 3-point line (i.e., drive, dribble, pass) and he looks like a 4th grader who has never played basketball.

Keep him in his comfort zone: on the perimeter. We don’t want him to lose his confidence.
 
#156      
illinibbcz
We come out on fire, building a quick 8-10 point lead. Then we have a lull where it gets closer for a 5 point half time lead. Second half we begin to get our footing again and finish with a 14 point win, 78-64.
 
#157      
Bigtex
Scoregasm said:
Will Brad shift Andej to the 2 and start Jake on the wing? Mihailo and Brandon get minutes but off the bench?
Click to expand...
That is my opinion. Davis starts and go big with Wagler and Andrej as the guards.
 
#158      
sulli
I hope they are working on some more zone defense in practice. Missing Boswell's on-ball defense is gonna hurt and mixing in a 3-2 (double Ivisic?) would help. Not to mention they've struggled against the zone this year so it might be good to work more into practice anyway. Their over-reliance on the pick-and-roll and lack of movement away from the ball hurts them against the zone.
 
#160      
DewLou
Losing Boswell is a real a loss for the team. However, this is a very deep team, with very talented players. Sure, there are going to be a couple losses which may have been wins but this team will be ready come March. The Illini will be just fine and I have a feeling some players who were getting limited minutes will step it up and hold it down.
 
#163      
Hessel Blvd
Zvonimir
Zvonimir
Zvonimir
I know the narrative all year has been Boswell as the "elite defensive stopper", but Ill's best defensive runs this year have been when Z's presence shifts the way opponents' can attack on offense. He can help make up for some of the defensive dropoff that Mihailo minutes will entail, and gives Lee/Andre/Wagler some security when they have tough on-ball assignments.
It sure is nice to have 7 or 8 guys who are all capable of offensive impact, that side will be fine, but Z is the key defensively.
 
#165      
altgeld88
I'm looking for the pony in this pile of manure. Here's what I've got: I'm a great deal happier that we have (1) one game; (2) against a weak Maryland team; (3) at home to get a bit used to playing without BAM than I would be if we were heading into Mackey tonight.

Thank goodness we're deep this season. The boys will sort it out and we'll be stronger for it.
 
#166      
westcoastillini
We need to contain their PG Coit. Last game against PSU he scored 43 pts. Normally that probably would have been Boz guarding him 👀
 
#167      
Vinegarben
I have to say I haven't been the least impressed with Petrovic. He seems to be a sloppy passer, no defense. I would prefer to give Brandon Lee a shot. He showed some potential in some of the early games but hasn't been given much PT since. Perhaps you could move Staj. out and play Ben more or use both Ivisic's into lineup.
 
#168      
Vinegarben
Does anyone know if there is a chance Ty will be back this year or ios hegone for the year?
 
#170      
illiniguy24
I’m gonna lose a lot of internal excitement if we replace Boz in the lineup with Ben

Just my opinion, but I’m done with that experiment, as far as getting starters minutes goes
 
#171      
RockfordIllini
altgeld88 said:
I'm looking for the pony in this pile of manure. Here's what I've got: I'm a great deal happier that we have (1) one game; (2) against a weak Maryland team; (3) at home to get a bit used to playing without BAM than I would be if we were heading into Mackey tonight.

Thank goodness we're deep this season. The boys will sort it out and we'll be stronger for it.
Click to expand...
Yes I’m with you. I’m done wallowing, going glass half full. We were trending towards an elite defense with Bam, but we now have the number one offense on KenPom so let’s lean into that. Slide Andrej to the 2, have Jake start as a floor spacing 3. Bring in Mahailo to handle the ball when Keaton needs a break. Mix and match Ben, Mahailo and Brandon off the bench depending on whether we need size and shooting (Ben though his shooting is hypothetical at this point), offense Mahailo), or defense (B. Lee just go guard your a** for 4-5 minute stretches). Will probably turn it over more but if we increase our tempo/total possessions we can mitigate that somewhat. Let’s just outscore people like it’s 2024.

Think we can still be a top 5ish offense and tread good enough defensively to be a top 25ish team without Bam. Let’s tread water as best we can until we get Bam back and then let’s go on a run. I L L.
 
#172      
aaeismacgychel
abchew2 said:
Defensive efficiency numbers going to totally tank. Why can’t we ever get a healthy season?

he was already the poster guy on a recent game, they are really pushing it now it seems
Click to expand...
Hmmmm, Mihailo had his best game if the season by far, next game is his scheduled poster night, and Kylan suddenly and mysteriously breaks his wrist before the competition on Tonya Harding's bodyguard. And Mihailo just inked an NIL movie deal for I, Mihailo. All the pieces are now falling into place.
 
#173      
HensonHall71
RockfordIllini said:
Yes I’m with you. I’m done wallowing, going glass half full. We were trending towards an elite defense with Bam, but we now have the number one offense on KenPom so let’s lean into that. Slide Andrej to the 2, have Jake start as a floor spacing 3. Bring in Mahailo to handle the ball when Keaton needs a break. Mix and match Ben, Mahailo and Brandon off the bench depending on whether we need size and shooting (Ben though his shooting is hypothetical at this point), offense Mahailo), or defense (B. Lee just go guard your a** for 4-5 minute stretches). Will probably turn it over more but if we increase our tempo/total possessions we can mitigate that somewhat. Let’s just outscore people like it’s 2024.

Think we can still be a top 5ish offense and tread good enough defensively to be a top 25ish team without Bam. Let’s tread water as best we can until we get Bam back and then let’s go on a run. I L L.
Click to expand...
Agree - I think there is a world where the offense is just as good with Davis starting as a floor spacer and Andrej stepping up to be the penetrator to go get a bucket when we need it that Kylan provided. If it means more open threes for Davis, that is a good offensive possession for us. Petrovic can be a set up man and get his own shot when he's in the game as well. It will take an adjustment period, but I feel like we can adjust offensively, it will just take guys like Andrej and Jake to step up and Petro to give us good minutes off the bench

Defensively it's another story. Crocker will have to get creative in how we defend, likely mixing up coverages within a game to adjust to his personnel on the floor.
We won't have an on ball defender the level of BAM, so we'll have to adjust pick and roll coverage and maybe hedge (which we rarely do) or play more match-up zone concepts to hide our ability to stop the ball as well as we do now. I do like the idea of not worrying about dribble drives and just guard the three point line and funnel drivers into Big Z when he's in the game. Whatever it is, Crocker will earn his money in this stretch to slow teams down.
 
#174      
Illini in Italy
I’m still pissed.

Angry Loki GIF


But the men will take care of bidness . . .

Illinois 82
Twerps 65
 
#175      
Uihoop2
People are going to be excited with Petrovic's offensive game..it's on defense that I have concerns
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back