This team consistently underachieves. They are a ho-hum bunch, just another group lost in the shuffle. The 3 pt. shooting was abysmal. Again. Couple months back, we thought shooting from distance would be a strength. But it hasn't turned out that way, and won't, here on out. NIT here we come?
Rutgers 82, Illinois 73 Postgame
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It's not that he can't build the culture. He's picked the wrong players and sometimes run off the culture guys.
Doom and Gloom, you're damn right. I said it would be hard for this team to find wins the rest of the season. Harper shredded the defense; Bailey simply outplayed us. All the Illini could do was foul, foul, foul! Rutgers stood toe to toe with statistically one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Once again, the Illini mishandled the ball time and time again. KJ hasn't been the same since his injury. These guys got off to their typical slow start getting buried by 17 then spent all their energy just to get back even then never had anything left to pull it out. They have lived and died [mostly died] by the 3's, now Brad tries to change up the offense 2/3 thru the season. They look lifeless, confused, they have no leader right now [maybe Will]
They have shown the ability to play with the best at times, but they have also demonstrated the same ability to not show up for long periods of time and lose to ANYBODY! Something has happened to this team over the last 8-9 games. Instead of improving they have regressed, maybe it is because they are underclassmen, and it is rearing its inexperience. I have said it before, and I will say it again there is no one on this team that is even close to being ready to play in the NBA here or overseas.
The schedule really gets tough the rest of the way. Where will they find wins, will they even make the BIG tourney? Will their name be called to play in the NCAA tourney. Something has to change beginning on Saturday and the rest of the season. Brad needs to light a FIRE under their !!! or it won't be pretty.
They have shown the ability to play with the best at times, but they have also demonstrated the same ability to not show up for long periods of time and lose to ANYBODY! Something has happened to this team over the last 8-9 games. Instead of improving they have regressed, maybe it is because they are underclassmen, and it is rearing its inexperience. I have said it before, and I will say it again there is no one on this team that is even close to being ready to play in the NBA here or overseas.
The schedule really gets tough the rest of the way. Where will they find wins, will they even make the BIG tourney? Will their name be called to play in the NCAA tourney. Something has to change beginning on Saturday and the rest of the season. Brad needs to light a FIRE under their !!! or it won't be pretty.
Illinois basketball has sadly gone from must see tv to do something else and record the game. Watch later and skip through commercials and bad play. Entire bad game watched in 15 minutes. KJ is no lottery pick, really wonder about coaching 
or lack of. Will we smoke Minnesota? Or come out flat allowing them to gain confidence? Court storming warning issued!!!
or lack of. Will we smoke Minnesota? Or come out flat allowing them to gain confidence? Court storming warning issued!!!
Continuing the trend, we got 1.14 points per 2 point shots taken, and .64 points per 3 points shots taken. It isn't hard to see why the losses are mounting. It IS hard to see why the coaches don't get it. I guess I should be glad to have a long history of being disappointed by the Illini. But, better or worse, they're my team - all I can do is hope for better days.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
We are the most underachieving and overrated team in college basketball.
We’re either Iowa with more Europeans or Indiana’s evil, bizarro world twin. Take your pick.
We’re either Iowa with more Europeans or Indiana’s evil, bizarro world twin. Take your pick.
LouHenson
- Naples Florida
Maybe he leaves because someone else leaves? I think we really need to address the coaching issues? BU is really stinking it up right now, does he want to be here coaching at 63? DO WE WANT him here as the program circles the drain and will require an overhaul?
Good thing in 2025 is the players, the coaches, the fans everything is bought or rented through the wonders of NIL. We can just rebuild our entire team again lol
Good thing in 2025 is the players, the coaches, the fans everything is bought or rented through the wonders of NIL. We can just rebuild our entire team again lol
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Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Well if we live and die with the 3, there is some basis for this
Players are shooting and missing them
Coach says keep chucking them
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Geez, this early in the morning, I would rather watch puppies and kittens than this
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
I’m worried, are you?
**1979 vibes**
As with the Nebby game, I was scratching my head why we weren't even close to getting offensive rebounds during the first four or five minutes of the game. In the Nebraska game, it seemed to me that Nebby was doing an exceptional job of boxing out. This time, it looked to me like Tomi was the only one going to the offensive glass during those opening possessions.
I mean, they missed three shooting fouls right in front of them (Hummel said) and set a screen on Humrichous in transition. That's +8 with the refs on the floor, lol.
You know you're playing poorly when even run of the mill B10 officiating incompetence is overshadowed by your own inept play. Losing confidence in the staff's ability. This is a program - changing stretch of poor play we are witnessing this season.
Yikes, that’s pretty rough…no chance you could offer a third option?
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I tried to think of a third, more moderate option. Nothing came to mind. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m far off on either of these.
We don’t defend well and are way too dependent offensively on something that we don’t do well.
Nope… probably not.
Who is that? Is it Hamer?
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I’m so sick of the YMCA noon ball “offense”. Running around the arc aimlessly before chucking 3s is not what well-paid coaches should encourage.
I can find five guys from the lunchtime games at my local gym to execute what we are doing right now.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Our warts are becoming more visible to us as fans and more importantly to our competition........we have lost numerous games that we shouldn't have , even with the injuries we had........
where has the team gone that smoked psu by 39 points and went into loosierland and won by 25........we look anemic on the court now and nobody seems to want to lead us back to our earlier dominating pace of play.......
we have become hesitant to play aggressive and attack the rim.........
we make plays now that results in turnover after turnover that we didn't make when we were a fine tuned machine......
KJ would benefit greatly by another 1-2 more years with the Illini just as Ayo did.......
we need to take back the offense and defensive responsibilities from novice immature AC's that have those responsibilities now......
BU needs to cut the chord with Tyler and let him succeed or fail on his own somewhere else.......
it's abundantly clear that Hamer is not qualified for the position he is in......
so many other reason's why we are where we are right now is so disappointing to witness almost every game...........
our player's talent is not at a bubble team level , but we are performing like a bubble team right now........
if we stumble on at the level we are playing now and miss the Dance , then I would classify that result as the most disappointing season in a long long long time........I really really would.........
it's so sad to see the Illini not live up to the FIGHTING moniker in our name............
JMHO................
where has the team gone that smoked psu by 39 points and went into loosierland and won by 25........we look anemic on the court now and nobody seems to want to lead us back to our earlier dominating pace of play.......
we have become hesitant to play aggressive and attack the rim.........
we make plays now that results in turnover after turnover that we didn't make when we were a fine tuned machine......
KJ would benefit greatly by another 1-2 more years with the Illini just as Ayo did.......
we need to take back the offense and defensive responsibilities from novice immature AC's that have those responsibilities now......
BU needs to cut the chord with Tyler and let him succeed or fail on his own somewhere else.......
it's abundantly clear that Hamer is not qualified for the position he is in......
so many other reason's why we are where we are right now is so disappointing to witness almost every game...........
our player's talent is not at a bubble team level , but we are performing like a bubble team right now........
if we stumble on at the level we are playing now and miss the Dance , then I would classify that result as the most disappointing season in a long long long time........I really really would.........
it's so sad to see the Illini not live up to the FIGHTING moniker in our name............
JMHO................
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LouHenson
- Naples Florida
So no one will say it but when does his seat start to get warm? Everything in basketball is much “shorter” now. I don’t see how a coach who has one “relatively successful” run in the NCAA tournament over his entire career is a savant? In this age of rapid turn over, you can’t wait the normal time you would of with decisions such as coaching.
Now I say all this knowing full well he will be here next year, and should be, but we need to really start thinking about what we do 2-3 years from now. Our insiders are hinting at this now, suggesting change is needed.
He is almost 62, and is in the middle of what is shaping up to be his 2nd of 3 years in which we have been a total dumpster fire as far as actual execution. That falls on coaching, and right now we are not at the top of the league in that department.
The first half last night was brutal. When national tv people are calling your coach out for his desire to continue the insane practice of just chucking up 3 point shots, something is really wrong?
Now I say all this knowing full well he will be here next year, and should be, but we need to really start thinking about what we do 2-3 years from now. Our insiders are hinting at this now, suggesting change is needed.
He is almost 62, and is in the middle of what is shaping up to be his 2nd of 3 years in which we have been a total dumpster fire as far as actual execution. That falls on coaching, and right now we are not at the top of the league in that department.
The first half last night was brutal. When national tv people are calling your coach out for his desire to continue the insane practice of just chucking up 3 point shots, something is really wrong?
KJ is simply not the same player after the arm injury. The 2 man with Tomi was our ticket to good shots and easier baskets and we don't have that right now. Taking a lot of out of rhythm 3's and missing most of them is killing us. That and all the careless turnovers.
At this point dual hotel reservations in Dayton for the first four and Champaign for the first round of the NIT seems like the best strategy at least until we get healthy, assuming that ever happens.
At this point dual hotel reservations in Dayton for the first four and Champaign for the first round of the NIT seems like the best strategy at least until we get healthy, assuming that ever happens.
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