Pregame: Illinois vs Penn State, Tuesday, January 19th, 7:30pm CT, BTN

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#26      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
We are 9-5(5-3). We were a pre-season consensus top 10, picked by many to win the B10. For the Duke, Minnesota, NW 2nd half we can also point to Ohio, Mizzou, NW 1st half. All teams have played under the same circumstances with the same challenges. By the coach's and team's own words they came into the season expecting to win the B10 and go far in the tournament. While they still CAN do those things, the trend has not been positive. It is not ridiculous for supporters of the program to question the results so far. It's a results, win/loss business and we are not passing the eye test as we approach the toughest part of the schedule.

That said, I hope we pummel Penn St and get things going in the right direction!

Of course not! It's the manner and substance of said questions/comments that I'm referencing. I question it as well, as are the coaches and players.

I'm just advocating for the middle ground. I get that "fanatics" are going to overreact, so I'm just injecting some reason into the discussion.

Normally I'm here for the .gifs and snark....I'm not sure what my problem is today. I'm all reflective and peaceful.
Maybe it's my new soap? It has cucumber. It smells nice. Very moisturizing.

I'll go do some push ups now.
 
#27      
We have a ton of talent and capability to compete with the best. We just need to be locked in..
.have swagger with tenaciousness on the court (i.e talking continuously, slapping the court, diving for balls, etc).

Hopefully the player and coach meetings today were productive....and maybe we need to outfit the team with Skyldub's Cucumber soap.

Let's turn this thing around starting Tuesday!
 
#28      
So we "drastically underperformed" when we played even up with arguably #1 Baylor for all but 8 minutes? Beat Duke in Cameron? Destroyed what looks to be a pretty good Minnesota team that just obliterated the best team in the B1G? Absolutely stomped a mudhole in (and then stomped it dry) the Purple Kitties for 20 minutes?
How do you explain these games? Luck? Happenstance?

No doubt we are struggling right now...but every good/great team hits a wall of some sort during every season.
I hear you, but I did say almost. We have had about 8-10 good halves of basketball out of 28. As a pre season top 10 team I just expected more out of this group of guys. Losses to Missouri (again), Maryland (again), OSU without its point guards...not games we should have lost and look lifeless at times in.
Yes we’ve looked great at time and that clearly isn’t luck. I know we can still have a great season, but my opinion is we have been disappointing so far.
 
#29      
Well, didn't get to watch the OSU game live so I avoided IL until I had seen it. Now avoiding reading the game thread and postgame thread.
When I think of this team I think of my two kids in middle school. Both are exceptional students. With this pandemic and online school, one is doing great, the other is struggling greatly. He was always an A student but he may not pass 8th grade at this pace. His stellar work ethic is now completely gone, and I have so far been unable to get him back on track. At this point I am hoping that getting back to regular school next fall will get him back to his regular self, but I am worried.
These players are young, away from home, and not nearly as resilient as us older folks. Emotion is a big part of the game. I see these close losses as a symptom of our guys not quite excelling under these circumstances. I don't think we have a talent problem, and I think BU is a heck of a coach. But this year 1 and 1 aren't necessarily going to add up to 2. They have high expectations and a lot of pressure to play well, and it may be weighing on them in addition to the stresses of the pandemic. This year is going to be odd and the results are going to be odd, and I am not going to be too upset with anyone about how things work out however they do. I just hope they can have some fun playing the game and entertain the rest of us, so we all don't have to think about how $hitty a year this has been.
 
#30      
Remember that team that we watched slapping the floor and determined to get things back on track? I want to see THAT team for both halves in our remaining games. They all had huge smiles and were so proud of themselves after that game. Not too many teams they couldn't have beaten with that attitude and determination.
 
#31      

Retro62

North Bethesda, Maryland
Well, didn't get to watch the OSU game live so I avoided IL until I had seen it. Now avoiding reading the game thread and postgame thread.
When I think of this team I think of my two kids in middle school. Both are exceptional students. With this pandemic and online school, one is doing great, the other is struggling greatly. He was always an A student but he may not pass 8th grade at this pace. His stellar work ethic is now completely gone, and I have so far been unable to get him back on track. At this point I am hoping that getting back to regular school next fall will get him back to his regular self, but I am worried.
These players are young, away from home, and not nearly as resilient as us older folks. Emotion is a big part of the game. I see these close losses as a symptom of our guys not quite excelling under these circumstances. I don't think we have a talent problem, and I think BU is a heck of a coach. But this year 1 and 1 aren't necessarily going to add up to 2. They have high expectations and a lot of pressure to play well, and it may be weighing on them in addition to the stresses of the pandemic. This year is going to be odd and the results are going to be odd, and I am not going to be too upset with anyone about how things work out however they do. I just hope they can have some fun playing the game and entertain the rest of us, so we all don't have to think about how $hitty a year this has been.
Just wanted to let you know that your kid is definitely not alone and NOT a bad student. I know you know this as his Dad, just reinforcing that these circumstances can very easily throw a good, or even great student. I’m a high school teacher and I’ve been experiencing it with many kids. Keep the faith, he will rebound.

Hopefully, this game helps us rebound and get it going for a big push. We’re good...we can come back.
 
#34      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Well, didn't get to watch the OSU game live so I avoided IL until I had seen it. Now avoiding reading the game thread and postgame thread.
When I think of this team I think of my two kids in middle school. Both are exceptional students. With this pandemic and online school, one is doing great, the other is struggling greatly. He was always an A student but he may not pass 8th grade at this pace. His stellar work ethic is now completely gone, and I have so far been unable to get him back on track. At this point I am hoping that getting back to regular school next fall will get him back to his regular self, but I am worried.
These players are young, away from home, and not nearly as resilient as us older folks. Emotion is a big part of the game. I see these close losses as a symptom of our guys not quite excelling under these circumstances. I don't think we have a talent problem, and I think BU is a heck of a coach. But this year 1 and 1 aren't necessarily going to add up to 2. They have high expectations and a lot of pressure to play well, and it may be weighing on them in addition to the stresses of the pandemic. This year is going to be odd and the results are going to be odd, and I am not going to be too upset with anyone about how things work out however they do. I just hope they can have some fun playing the game and entertain the rest of us, so we all don't have to think about how $hitty a year this has been.

Hang in there alaskaillini! He'll get it. The social aspect of school is really important. My kid was a very social kid...always talking and trying to help the other kids, sometimes at the expense of his own work. I hope they all get back soon.
 
#39      
I’m a bit surprised we fell that much but I’m also not sure being unranked isn’t the best thing to get these guys a little pissed. I don’t suppose we will ever know but I wonder how the team meeting went yesterday.
I would agree with your "being unranked" take. I would say, at our current level of play, we are not one of the 25 best teams in the country.
 
#40      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
When we fall behind early in a game, we significantly reduce the margin for error we can overcome to still pull out a win. If everything goes perfectly, we still have a chance to complete the comeback. But if we miss a few free throws, have a few calls go against us, or turn it over a few more times, the rally falls apart and the game is lost.

We have fallen behind early in our season. The margin for error is quickly disappearing. We can still complete a comeback, but it will take a Herculean effort and also some luck in our favor. If we don't turn it around soon, we may "lose" this season like we've already lost so many games.
 
#41      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
For some perspective, on Pomeroy we are ranked #11, even after underwhelming games at home against MD and OSU. #7 in offense; #31 in defense (which is, of course, our main problem.) Oh, and #296 out of 357 in Pomeroy's "Luck" measure.

They're sputtering lately, obviously. It happens in college basketball. They're kids. They're currently (thanks ALASKAILLINI for noting this, and Retro62 for buttressing him/her) playing, studying and living under completely bizarre, unhealthy, unprecedentedly FUBAR circumstances. Have any of you had regularly to motivate a talented teenager not performing to full potential lately? I have and I can tell you its freaking exhausting in these times.

Losing two games at home they way they did? Not ideal. The end of the season, however? Of course not. It's mid-January, not mid-February. Maybe they just squandered a chance at the regular season title. Oh, well. Water under the bridge. Rafting through whitewater while staring at the stern usually doesn't end well. Leadership, tenacious D... they need both badly right now. Maybe they'll get these; maybe they won't. Either way, April will come and go.

I can recall, oh, among other seasons, 1988-89. We absolutely destroyed Michigan at home in January (I vividly recall watching that glorious beat-down in a St. Louis bar) and then, even more impressively, in Ann Arbor on their senior day. Michigan finished 12-6, in third place, managed to right its ship and navigated the postseason fairly well IIRC, even after their coach got canned on the eve of the tournament for accepting another job. The potential was there, realized a bit later than its fans might have liked.

Save the THIS IS FINE gif for a real crisis. It's not fine. But it is what it is, and it's not as if this team doesn't have true, explosive upside. Think how boring it would be for us if they won every single game by double digits. I mean, the Illini were completely insufferable in 2004-05. ;)
 
#43      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
I’ll never get bored of dominating opponents. I do, however, get aggravated about underachievement. So give me the former everyday of the week, and twice on sundays.

I'd guess that underachievement aggravates everyone who cares enough to post on the board. But it happens inevitably as young people (and old ones) grow and we just hope they push through it.

I recall BU noting that at halftime in Evanston that he didn't have to say anything because the players were so angry with themselves. I'm all about that kind of potential energy that, compared with the great talent the team has, at least has the prospect of becoming kinetic (as it did in the second half of that game.) Without it to begin with you've got a steeper hill to climb.
 
#45      
@altgeld, the thing is each loss just pushes our ceiling down, which is obviously hard to take as a fan. We are fine, and we will be fine (I hope). But losing to Maryland really shot ourselves in the foot if we wanted a prayer at a conference title, and losing to OSU squandered a chance at a VERY obtainable quality win that could have righted the ship. Losing to PSU would officially rip away the reputation of this at LEAST being a top 25 team that is going to be playing for a favorable seed, rather than a Tournament berth. Frankly, it's nerve wracking to watch it all unfold like this.

With that said, as you noted, there is so much upside ... and that means hope cannot be given up! If we beat PSU and the boys can gain a little confidence and edge back, I highly doubt they'll have trouble getting up for that Friday showdown with Iowa. Give them our best shot, see what happens and go from there. But we HAVE to beat PSU at home to keep this thing together at all. So, people are naturally kind of preemptively panicking. I mean, if we can lose to Maryland at home, we can definitely lose to PSU at home. :(
 
#46      

GallopingGhost

Denver, CO
Losing 3 in a row would piss me off
AT HOME. That would be unconscionable. Btw the AP poll shook out exactly like I predicted, essentially switching spots with Ohio State.

Im more perplexed how we can be underperforming so much, but I think it starts with defense. If we tighten defensive screws, we can see how easily this team turns stops into buckets. We have the best fast break guy in the country for Gods sake.

A couple of good podcasts explore this. First off: The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter takes a whole episode (1/18) to look at what could be done to turn things around. A more national podcast: CBS Sports Eye on College Basketball podcast on Sunday took a segment (starting around 11:45) to debate whether Illini could still be a Final Four team but why it doesn’t add up and why we can’t be trusted day to day. Good listens.
 
#47      

Deleted member 747916

D
Guest
I’m a bit surprised we fell that much but I’m also not sure being unranked isn’t the best thing to get these guys a little pissed. I don’t suppose we will ever know but I wonder how the team meeting went yesterday.
we are the only 5-loss team in the top 25. Someone is giving the team a lot of credit they haven't yet earned.
 
#49      

illini80

Forgottonia
Anyone know why Benjamin Bosman Verdonk is not playing ?
Specifically, no but if he was ready and practicing well he would be in the game in a heartbeat. Underwood seems desperate for guys willing to play tough. He looks the part but we really have no idea.
 
#50      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
When we fall behind early in a game, we significantly reduce the margin for error we can overcome to still pull out a win. If everything goes perfectly, we still have a chance to complete the comeback. But if we miss a few free throws, have a few calls go against us, or turn it over a few more times, the rally falls apart and the game is lost.

We have fallen behind early in our season. The margin for error is quickly disappearing. We can still complete a comeback, but it will take a Herculean effort and also some luck in our favor. If we don't turn it around soon, we may "lose" this season like we've already lost so many games.
I have a theory that some players enjoy that comeback scenario and perhaps subconsciously play down early in the game. Hitting last second shots and being the hero can kind of be like a drug. Its also leads you to believe (see Northwestern game) that you can turn it on at will. I am concerned Ayo is a bit bored during the early part fo the game and then is looking for that bball "high".
 
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