Chester leaving, I'm pretty sure, changed the options, by a lot. The assistant coach flip flops haven't been good and I'm assuming it's money/playing time for "their guys" related?
Rutgers 82, Illinois 73 Postgame
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Big Jack
- Decatur
I get that you have more knowledge about the inner makings of this team, but last night was a !!!! show. Was it the guards or was it the bigs who could not get a rebound or position to do some damage in the paint.. (prior to Tomi's injury?) Considering we really only have 2 bigs I for one think having Dain would be a huge bonus. I would have taken him any day over Ben and Booth. That was a bad bad trade off.
I said so many times last year that Ty made so many “winning basketball plays” for us. I would take Ty over tre all day for next year. We don’t need more scoring options. We need a dog who is gonna make winning plate and have that killer mentality.
I never thought I would say this, but:
Is it football season yet?
Is it football season yet?
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
I've said it before but there was a crap ton of ego that went into thinking Brad could take a team this young, this unconnected and comprised of D3 players and international guys who had never played here and think they could be elite.
Wow, This was hard to watch. For the first several minutes we had more turnovers than points! KJ has lost his confidence and his game. Our star goes 7-2-3 vs a 500 team!
Why all the secrecy about his arm? He’s obviously not not healthy. We are now playing for March IF we get in?
Why all the secrecy about his arm? He’s obviously not not healthy. We are now playing for March IF we get in?
It's not all about his arm clearly. Some of his turnovers are completely mental mistakes. Same goes for free throws. It's in his head at this point, which is odd for someone who's competed against pros in Europe for a while now.
This team is playing AWEFUL.
Here's my prediction for rest of the season.
- KJ mails in next 3 to 4 games, by end of Feb quits team and leaves school to focus on NBA prep. Doesn't get drafted at all and heads back to Europe to play Euro league
- Tomi out hurt for 4 games then takes 5 more games to get in playing shape. Follows KJ to euro league next year
- Will sleeps thru 1st half of every game, wakes up after halftime and ends up with 8 to 22 pts per game
- Morez plays hard, gets lots of rebounds but is out 1/2 of each game with foul trouble
- Kylan plays hard. Makes 3 more layups this year but misses 45
- Ben goes in and out of conciseness each game and ends up with 2 to 8 pts per game
- Dre plays hard and is only bright spot on team
- Tre and Carey ride bench for a few more games then do a sky clark and quit the team by end of Feb to focus on transfer portal
- Jake does whatever Jake does
- Ty relishes the fact he sat out this year and prepares for transfer portal
- Underwood is confused after playing a horrendously tough schedule why his young team has lost its confidence and fire
- Team wins 1 more game, barely makes big 10 tournament & loses 1st game, doesn't get in NCAA tournament, gets in NIT and loses 1st game. Shoot 15% from 3 for rest of year but take 40+ 3s a game. Average 16 turnovers per game.
I don't listen to or watch any more games to not waste my time on this team
Here's my prediction for rest of the season.
- KJ mails in next 3 to 4 games, by end of Feb quits team and leaves school to focus on NBA prep. Doesn't get drafted at all and heads back to Europe to play Euro league
- Tomi out hurt for 4 games then takes 5 more games to get in playing shape. Follows KJ to euro league next year
- Will sleeps thru 1st half of every game, wakes up after halftime and ends up with 8 to 22 pts per game
- Morez plays hard, gets lots of rebounds but is out 1/2 of each game with foul trouble
- Kylan plays hard. Makes 3 more layups this year but misses 45
- Ben goes in and out of conciseness each game and ends up with 2 to 8 pts per game
- Dre plays hard and is only bright spot on team
- Tre and Carey ride bench for a few more games then do a sky clark and quit the team by end of Feb to focus on transfer portal
- Jake does whatever Jake does
- Ty relishes the fact he sat out this year and prepares for transfer portal
- Underwood is confused after playing a horrendously tough schedule why his young team has lost its confidence and fire
- Team wins 1 more game, barely makes big 10 tournament & loses 1st game, doesn't get in NCAA tournament, gets in NIT and loses 1st game. Shoot 15% from 3 for rest of year but take 40+ 3s a game. Average 16 turnovers per game.
I don't listen to or watch any more games to not waste my time on this team
Yeah, it's not so much about "firing" him as it is helping him get a job elsewhere. Brad is very well connected in the coaching world. I'm sure he could help Tyler get a spot as an assistant coach on someone else's staff. In the long run, it would greatly benefit Tyler to prove himself on a different staff anyways.
I completely agree with this, our gaurds making turnovers at really bad times like when we are starting to catch up, bad 3 point shots early in the shot clock and poor defense is killing us.
No, I'm with you. There are certainly other nits to pick in many of our losses, especially sloppy turnovers, defensive intensity, etc. But the awful outside shooting has been the most consistent factor. Shooting fewer 3's and going inside more would help, but if you're passing up wide open 3's consistently, it's going to harder to get quality looks inside the paint. Also, I don't have the numbers, but it feels like our mid-range shooting has been terrible, too. KJ gets a lot of good looks from 12-15 ft that he just isn't making like he was earlier in the season.
Last year we were able to succeed because we had an All American in Terrence Shannon that couldn't be stopped driving to the basket. I looked at game by game contributions last year and Shannon carried the team, especially in the post season. He was like 30% of our scoring in the post season.
When you had a guy that instilled fear in opponents, that opened up clean looks on kickouts. We had 4 guys shooting better from 3 than our best shooter this year. And I keep looking at the significant drop in shooting from Boswell and say, it's the offense. When you have an AA, any offense can work. When you don't have the talent advantage, you need your coach to put you in a position to succeed.
What we're seeing now is no one with the ability to get to the basket. Well not get there and also make the damn layup. No one commands that fear from the defense, so the open looks from 3 aren't there. Our 3pt shooting is terrible, so people are saying take 2s instead. How? We don't run any plays. We don't set screens to get people free. We don't have great athletes that can beat their man one on one. So it's a little more difficult than just saying stop taking 3s. I mean hey, we're down from 40 a game to 30. Still not making any though.
I also don't like the youth complaint. That was by design. We could have Jr Rodgers, Sr Goode, Soph Hansberry, Sr Dainja, heck even Melendez is playing fairly well. With them at least you have a core, you have leadership. You have someone to teach the new guys the program. Then you bring in guys like Morez, KJ, Riley, supplement with a transfer or 2 like Boswell, and now you've got yourself a team.
This team will be much better next year, IF, and it's a very big if, they all return. With such youth hurdles are expected. As Al McGuire said, the best thing about fr is they become soph, but will they?
When you had a guy that instilled fear in opponents, that opened up clean looks on kickouts. We had 4 guys shooting better from 3 than our best shooter this year. And I keep looking at the significant drop in shooting from Boswell and say, it's the offense. When you have an AA, any offense can work. When you don't have the talent advantage, you need your coach to put you in a position to succeed.
What we're seeing now is no one with the ability to get to the basket. Well not get there and also make the damn layup. No one commands that fear from the defense, so the open looks from 3 aren't there. Our 3pt shooting is terrible, so people are saying take 2s instead. How? We don't run any plays. We don't set screens to get people free. We don't have great athletes that can beat their man one on one. So it's a little more difficult than just saying stop taking 3s. I mean hey, we're down from 40 a game to 30. Still not making any though.
I also don't like the youth complaint. That was by design. We could have Jr Rodgers, Sr Goode, Soph Hansberry, Sr Dainja, heck even Melendez is playing fairly well. With them at least you have a core, you have leadership. You have someone to teach the new guys the program. Then you bring in guys like Morez, KJ, Riley, supplement with a transfer or 2 like Boswell, and now you've got yourself a team.
This team will be much better next year, IF, and it's a very big if, they all return. With such youth hurdles are expected. As Al McGuire said, the best thing about fr is they become soph, but will they?
Ugly basketball; hard to watch. More turnovers in the first several minutes than points!
KJ goes 7-2-3 vs a .500 team. He’s obviously not healthy. Tommy goes down again. What else could go wrong?
KJ goes 7-2-3 vs a .500 team. He’s obviously not healthy. Tommy goes down again. What else could go wrong?I do agree this team is playing awful as of late but lets take a deep breath here.This team is playing AWEFUL.
Here's my prediction for rest of the season.
- KJ mails in next 3 to 4 games, by end of Feb quits team and leaves school to focus on NBA prep. Doesn't get drafted at all and heads back to Europe to play Euro league
- Tomi out hurt for 4 games then takes 5 more games to get in playing shape. Follows KJ to euro league next year
- Will sleeps thru 1st half of every game, wakes up after halftime and ends up with 8 to 22 pts per game
- Morez plays hard, gets lots of rebounds but is out 1/2 of each game with foul trouble
- Kylan plays hard. Makes 3 more layups this year but misses 45
- Ben goes in and out of conciseness each game and ends up with 2 to 8 pts per game
- Dre plays hard and is only bright spot on team
- Tre and Carey ride bench for a few more games then do a sky clark and quit the team by end of Feb to focus on transfer portal
- Jake does whatever Jake does
- Ty relishes the fact he sat out this year and prepares for transfer portal
- Underwood is confused after playing a horrendously tough schedule why his young team has lost its confidence and fire
- Team wins 1 more game, barely makes big 10 tournament & loses 1st game, doesn't get in NCAA tournament, gets in NIT and loses 1st game. Shoot 15% from 3 for rest of year but take 40+ 3s a game. Average 16 turnovers per game.
I don't listen to or watch any more games to not waste my time on this team
MadtownIllin
- Madison, WI
Couple of random observations:
Offensively-it appears to me that too often the guards do not use the high screen to rub off their men making it easier to defend. Also, wondering if running more motion and back picks would help to get KJ and others more open for better looks?
Defensively:
Can someone explain to me why our guards continuously try to go over the pick when they are 30 feet out and we're still playing drop coverage? I understand trying to go over when the pick is at the 3 point arc, but it seems we are consistently allowing their guards to get going downhill and then we are trying to defend them from behind--more often than not drawing a foul...
Offensively-it appears to me that too often the guards do not use the high screen to rub off their men making it easier to defend. Also, wondering if running more motion and back picks would help to get KJ and others more open for better looks?
Defensively:
Can someone explain to me why our guards continuously try to go over the pick when they are 30 feet out and we're still playing drop coverage? I understand trying to go over when the pick is at the 3 point arc, but it seems we are consistently allowing their guards to get going downhill and then we are trying to defend them from behind--more often than not drawing a foul...
All the more vexing after watching some dominating early season performances. Where did that team go?
Guys have been affected by injuries, the shooting comes and goes, and the roster is young. Even allowing for that, things seem off.
I'll keep watching --I could see things coming together by March, even though the regular season is looking mediocre.
How can I tell when Ben is being concise or not ?This team is playing AWEFUL.
Here's my prediction for rest of the season.
- KJ mails in next 3 to 4 games, by end of Feb quits team and leaves school to focus on NBA prep. Doesn't get drafted at all and heads back to Europe to play Euro league
- Tomi out hurt for 4 games then takes 5 more games to get in playing shape. Follows KJ to euro league next year
- Will sleeps thru 1st half of every game, wakes up after halftime and ends up with 8 to 22 pts per game
- Morez plays hard, gets lots of rebounds but is out 1/2 of each game with foul trouble
- Kylan plays hard. Makes 3 more layups this year but misses 45
- Ben goes in and out of conciseness each game and ends up with 2 to 8 pts per game
- Dre plays hard and is only bright spot on team
- Tre and Carey ride bench for a few more games then do a sky clark and quit the team by end of Feb to focus on transfer portal
- Jake does whatever Jake does
- Ty relishes the fact he sat out this year and prepares for transfer portal
- Underwood is confused after playing a horrendously tough schedule why his young team has lost its confidence and fire
- Team wins 1 more game, barely makes big 10 tournament & loses 1st game, doesn't get in NCAA tournament, gets in NIT and loses 1st game. Shoot 15% from 3 for rest of year but take 40+ 3s a game. Average 16 turnovers per game.
I don't listen to or watch any more games to not waste my time on this team
Oh dear lord...that is just insane. Chester was an all big ten defensive player...dude knows defense and he was an absolute dawg. That just makes zero sense. That would have been enough to make me leave town as well if I were Chester.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Ok. See you on Saturday night.This team is playing AWEFUL.
Here's my prediction for rest of the season.
- KJ mails in next 3 to 4 games, by end of Feb quits team and leaves school to focus on NBA prep. Doesn't get drafted at all and heads back to Europe to play Euro league
- Tomi out hurt for 4 games then takes 5 more games to get in playing shape. Follows KJ to euro league next year
- Will sleeps thru 1st half of every game, wakes up after halftime and ends up with 8 to 22 pts per game
- Morez plays hard, gets lots of rebounds but is out 1/2 of each game with foul trouble
- Kylan plays hard. Makes 3 more layups this year but misses 45
- Ben goes in and out of conciseness each game and ends up with 2 to 8 pts per game
- Dre plays hard and is only bright spot on team
- Tre and Carey ride bench for a few more games then do a sky clark and quit the team by end of Feb to focus on transfer portal
- Jake does whatever Jake does
- Ty relishes the fact he sat out this year and prepares for transfer portal
- Underwood is confused after playing a horrendously tough schedule why his young team has lost its confidence and fire
- Team wins 1 more game, barely makes big 10 tournament & loses 1st game, doesn't get in NCAA tournament, gets in NIT and loses 1st game. Shoot 15% from 3 for rest of year but take 40+ 3s a game. Average 16 turnovers per game.
I don't listen to or watch any more games to not waste my time on this team
Harper was gassed. Did the team run anything for his man? Cuts, back screens, movement, whatever? Boswell went in the corner and Harper got off easy.
Passing the ball up the court after a def rebound? Making Rutgers players work more. Move it around on offense, hold it longer in offense, make them work. Illini have the depth vs every team, yet don’t use it to their advantage. Basic things.
Passing the ball up the court after a def rebound? Making Rutgers players work more. Move it around on offense, hold it longer in offense, make them work. Illini have the depth vs every team, yet don’t use it to their advantage. Basic things.
We all know that the defense has evolved since coach Underwood arrived on the scene. Why not change up a possession or so a half with the oldtime denial of the first pass? Give the opponent a different man look every so often.
Fact of the matter is this … I come into dang near every game thread and thread on this board to express my thoughts and opinions … That is what a message board is for … There is nothing on here I wouldn’t discuss with Brad … There is no personal beef between me and Brad … Never has been … I sometimes question his decisions and that’s just the way it is when you’re a coach …
I am not a booster … I am not Josh Whitman … I am simply someone who cares about Illinois athletics and wants to see sustained success and when we aren’t doing that, I call it out …
If you don’t agree or simply don’t like me which you have shown to be the case … Find the ignore button and use it … That way you don’t have to listen to me just like you say Brad shouldn’t …
Have a great day …
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