Pregame: Illinois vs Monmouth, Monday, November 14th, 8:00pm CT, BTN

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#51      
When was RJ ever on fire?

3.8 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast - last season stats?
I don't know if he was ever "on fire" but he showed great potential in games where he got more than spot minutes. In the five conference/post-season games where he played 10 or more minutes (@Northwestern, @Purdue, Northwestern, @Rutgers, vs. Houston), he had the following stats while averaging 14.8 minutes:

71% 2P (9/14), 67% 3P (4/6), 100% FT (15/15), 1.2 assists, 0.4 turnovers, 3 rebounds, and 9.4 points.
 
#52      
This here tidbit is the very definition of Insider to me.
It won’t get even a fraction of the “likes” as a speculative recruiting post, but it is the kind of true inside info that makes my brain tick.
Love to hear about the random behind the scenes stuff.
Thanks Tyler! 😝:illinois:
That's coach Tyler, if you please...
 
#53      
Not seeing this. RJ seems calm by nature. He is playing hard but not getting the results he wants (yet)

Mayer on the other hand. Something is off with him. It may be his back injury, but he doesn't seem to be going all out when he is playing. Was it ever addressed why he barely played the second half of game two? ILL!!

Out of our 9 rotation players, 6 of them had 20 something min in both games. Dain had 1 game with 20+ min. Sencire and Mayer are the only 2 who didn't get 20+ min in either game.

So something is definitely off with Mayer. Is he banged up? Maybe BU knows his injury history and is being cautious? Or BU just doesn't like what he's seeing from him?

It is an interesting storyline to follow. IMO, we have the depth to still compete for the conference even if Mayer doesn't give us much this season. But his length and shooting is needed for us to be a top 10 caliber team.
 
#54      

lstewart53x3

Scottsdale, Arizona
Out of our 9 rotation players, 6 of them had 20 something min in both games. Dain had 1 game with 20+ min. Sencire and Mayer are the only 2 who didn't get 20+ min in either game.

So something is definitely off with Mayer. Is he banged up? Maybe BU knows his injury history and is being cautious? Or BU just doesn't like what he's seeing from him?

It is an interesting storyline to follow. IMO, we have the depth to still compete for the conference even if Mayer doesn't give us much this season. But his length and shooting is needed for us to be a top 10 caliber team.
Mayer took a hard fall on his back early on in the last game. So nagging injury is my guess.
 
#56      
As others have said, I would love to see Mayer and RJ take big steps forward tonight and gain some more confidence before Friday. Games with the big boys start REALLY soon after this one, and taking at 1 out of 2 this next weekend could be huge for our NCAAT resume. Hoping to see another easy win tonight (with a faster start!) and polishing some of our rough spots before Vegas.
 
#59      
Monmouth was only down by 2 in the MAAC Championship Game to Saint Peter's (who made a surprising run to the Elite Eight) with under two minutes left last season. This season they've been blown out @ Seton Hall and @ Virginia to start the year.
 
#60      

GallopingGhost

Denver, CO
So we could give a little info on Monmouth:

Monmouth Mountain Hawks (0-2)
CAA team, projected to finish near last in the conference. Finished 21-13 and 4th in the MAAC.

They play 4 out 1 in, but have the prices to mix up their lineups. Foster is no Kofi but will be a more measurable post player than EIU or UMKC had. All of their starters left after last year- graduated or transferred. And they were 313th in Kenpom in bench minutes and had no transfers come in- translation: none of the guys we will see tonight will have much experience, minutes, or proven scoring. (Hmmm sounds like another team I know!)

King Rice is an experienced coach but coaching a young and inexperienced team with not a lot of notable talent.

I project Illinois pulls some pieces together and makes more of a 30-40 point win, maybe even cracking 90.

92-56 Illinois is my prediction.
 
#61      
Well I feel good shooters try to get their feet, hips, and shoulders relatively square to the basket whenever possible. They especailly do this at the FT line. Dains are far from square. I do not for one buy into this notion to let them shoot it however they want when it comes to basic fundamentals that work best. Even more so when what the player in question is doing it is shooting very sub par at the FT line.
You clearly know nothing about shooting.
 
#62      
You clearly know nothing about shooting.
Lmao, I justed watched Steve Kerr teach a video to verify nothing changed. He must not either! He says and does exactly what I am referring to! I'll roll with his foundation on shooting and you can with what Dain does at the FT line! We can disagree. That's fine.

I hope Dain shoots it better than he has been from the line tonight. If he can without changing anything great
 
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#63      

sacraig

The desert
Lmao, I watched Steve Kerr teach a video. He must not either!
I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

rob riggle GIF by Holiday Inn Express
 
#64      
You clearly know nothing about shooting.
Well, I do ...and I think the poster does also. Getting square with the shoulders and having the eyes and ball stationery prior to the lift are three of the most important and basic fundamentals of shooting, especially FTs. All of our poor FT shooters do not do any of those consistently. It is an excellent and easy fix on the way to improvement. If you look at the style of each player, they never get set, are always moving and especially the ball, and their lift starts at or below the waist. If you could get them to start square and stationery while shortening the lift to a point where it can be much easier to repeat, they would all improve quickly in both distance and direction which results in more makes.

From seeing the first FT of a player's career, you make a pretty good guess what he will do from the line. When you see kids moving all over the place with the ball and their eyes, and positioning to release at an angle, you can pretty much bet our life they will struggle. Guys who are square, still, and have a short, quick, and consistent lift/release are the ones the coach wants shooting technicals.

There are a few exceptions for players with extreme skill and touch, but even those few tend to miss at the end of a game when tired and under pressure. The whole process does not guarantee anyone of success in those situations, but by following FT fundamentals it allows the shooter a better chance to perform successfully when under pressure and fatigued just as well as they do when fresh.

Now, if you want to get into the 85-95% category, length, angle, and speed of lift, along with release, become the areas that need to be consistent over and over. They require a lot of reps and concentration.
 
#65      
Well, I do ...and I think the poster does also. Getting square with the shoulders and having the eyes and ball stationery prior to the lift are three of the most important and basic fundamentals of shooting, especially FTs. All of our poor FT shooters do not do any of those consistently. It is an excellent and easy fix on the way to improvement. If you look at the style of each player, they never get set, are always moving and especially the ball, and their lift starts at or below the waist. If you could get them to start square and stationery while shortening the lift to a point where it can be much easier to repeat, they would all improve quickly in both distance and direction which results in more makes.

From seeing the first FT of a player's career, you make a pretty good guess what he will do from the line. When you see kids moving all over the place with the ball and their eyes, and positioning to release at an angle, you can pretty much bet our life they will struggle. Guys who are square, still, and have a short, quick, and consistent lift/release are the ones the coach wants shooting technicals.

There are a few exceptions for players with extreme skill and touch, but even those few tend to miss at the end of a game when tired and under pressure. The whole process does not guarantee anyone of success in those situations, but by following FT fundamentals it allows the shooter a better chance to perform successfully when under pressure and fatigued just as well as they do when fresh.

Now, if you want to get into the 85-95% category, length, angle, and speed of lift, along with release, become the areas that need to be consistent over and over. They require a lot of reps and concentration.
It was Loudo's first post I see.

Agree with you Hoopsfan47. There are several things going I think could be addressed that you mentioned. I simply felt that out being relatively square, aligned and balanced is a good place to start and should be a simple fix to start with getting better at the line. Most great shooters do this like you said I am pulling for Dain to improve as much as anyone. I'll see him in person on Friday and Sunday. ILL!
 
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#66      
So we could give a little info on Monmouth:

Monmouth Mountain Hawks (0-2)
CAA team, projected to finish near last in the conference. Finished 21-13 and 4th in the MAAC.

They play 4 out 1 in, but have the prices to mix up their lineups. Foster is no Kofi but will be a more measurable post player than EIU or UMKC had. All of their starters left after last year- graduated or transferred. And they were 313th in Kenpom in bench minutes and had no transfers come in- translation: none of the guys we will see tonight will have much experience, minutes, or proven scoring. (Hmmm sounds like another team I know!)

King Rice is an experienced coach but coaching a young and inexperienced team with not a lot of notable talent.

I project Illinois pulls some pieces together and makes more of a 30-40 point win, maybe even cracking 90.

92-56 Illinois is my prediction.
Have a kid on their team from Rockford — Jack Holmstrom. His dad Ben played at Illinois State when Rice was a coach there. Only averaged 2 mpg, so the son has surpassed the father.
 
#67      

theNewGuy

Dallas, TX
101-56
I think RJ and TSJ have 20+ points
Dain and Hawk have 15 each.
Skyy with 7+ apples
Mayer has close 10 points this game in limited minutes.
 
#68      
Out of our 9 rotation players, 6 of them had 20 something min in both games. Dain had 1 game with 20+ min. Sencire and Mayer are the only 2 who didn't get 20+ min in either game.

So something is definitely off with Mayer. Is he banged up? Maybe BU knows his injury history and is being cautious? Or BU just doesn't like what he's seeing from him?

It is an interesting storyline to follow. IMO, we have the depth to still compete for the conference even if Mayer doesn't give us much this season. But his length and shooting is needed for us to be a top 10 caliber team.
Believe coach said in post game press that Mayer “needs to guard somebody”
 
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