Rutgers 82, Illinois 73 Postgame
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DevILLDawg
- Meredosia, Illinois
Too much "Do you want Groce back?!?!?" On here instead of holding people accountable who are being paid and backed as well as any team in the sport.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 …
I appreciate you speaking your truth. This program didn't get back on track by making excuses although many are happy to do so.
Nobody is whole for the entire season. FIND A WAY TO WIN.
Shooters aren't making 3s? Adjust your game plan.
Brad has stuck to NepoTy's offensive game plan for too long. Our adjustments have been "make more threes" the whole year.
Brad has looked apoplectic on the sideline all year...But we can't question whether the fire is gone without scrutiny..
That's not elite game planning....that's a cop out
NBA scouts in abundance came to the RAC last night primarily to check on and grade four surefire NBA picks, Harper, Bailey, Riley, and KJ. The first three played impressively and helped cement their NBA futures. KJ will almost certainly still get drafted based on prior performances and potential, but his prolonged slump marked by mindless turnovers and abysmal shooting are pushing him down the draft boards. For his own sake and the good of the team, he needs to return to his earlier season form. Soon.
I have also wondered about defensive effort/physicality taking its toll, but I think Kylan undermines that theory. He played 2 years in a highly rated P5 team where he had more or less the same role (secondary ball handler, defensive stopper). I realize every league is a little different but his adjustment to the BIG should have been the easiest of the bunch. Yet he’s had the biggest drop off.
Even with KJs struggles (I still firmly believe he’s playing hurt) we still win Nebraska and Rutgers easily if we manage to shoot a totally pedestrian 33% from 3 on a team full of shooters. As others have said it’s baffling.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
It seems self perpetuating that we get lots of offensive rebounds because we miss 75 to 80% of 50% of our shots. In other words 50% of our shots are 3 pt and we miss 75% of them. Result, lots of offensive rebound opportunities
I know this doesn't make sense, but the Illinois basketball I've watched recently is the least enjoyable that I can remember. Not the worst ball by any means, but the least enjoyable. At least the teams in the John Groce-past were running offensive sets, and working on defense. They just weren't always all that talented. This team is definitely talented. But to watch them go out and chuck up 3's, trail every guy coming off a ball screen at the logo, and run next to no offense is just not fun to watch. Throw in very little attachment to a team of new players and it's actually kind of depressing. NIL is to blame for a lot of this, but the coaches shoulder most of the blame. I think the players are doing what they have been coached to do. They clearly haven't been taught an offense. Their defensive strategy has been shown to be ineffective. They are simply relying on their talent. That works sometimes(and we have looked great when it clicks) but you get a lot of down games.
We need to reset our whole strategy going forward. Get 2 new assistant coaches who know how to coach. Focus on bringing back DGL, Morez, Riley, and Ivicic. See if Ty is open to returning. Get back to developing a program as much as NIL will allow. I think some of this is going to happen. I worry that Brad is too stubborn to commit to overhauling it all.
We need to reset our whole strategy going forward. Get 2 new assistant coaches who know how to coach. Focus on bringing back DGL, Morez, Riley, and Ivicic. See if Ty is open to returning. Get back to developing a program as much as NIL will allow. I think some of this is going to happen. I worry that Brad is too stubborn to commit to overhauling it all.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
I know that the halftime tv analysts were as mystified as we are.
Funny thing is the players said that strategy was the scout against OSU. And what I take from that is our staff then changes our offensive plan against EVERY team. And while I understand why that's useful, it tells me we are more worried about changing what we do according to other teams than sticking to what we are actually good at and making them adjust...
Aka, be who you are, don't let other teams dictate what you are...
I feel like it's been the same drum since Underwood has been here. An undisciplined, turnover prone team compounded by poor shot selection (ie falling in love with the 3) that disappears defensively. Often highlighted by head scratching personnel moves and questionable in game decisions along with a lack of player development as evidenced by players making the same mistakes over and over and over again. It's just that some years this has been masked by having an All-American in the line up. Good recruiter, but the rest of his work is mediocre at best.
In large part, IMO, due to how the B10 manages its games. He was called for more than one touch foul last night, and IMO that has taken away his aggressiveness on D and that has had a huge impact on that end of the floor for us. At the other end, he was fouled more than once with no call. It is a problem that this league will need to address if it desires another national champion. From all appearances over the last 25 years, they do not have that desire. They manage the games like they want to always have maximum number of teams make the field, not a smaller group of quality teams with higher seeds.
I'm not blaming the officiating for our play, but only trying to address Rockford's point about defensive effort and Kylan's regression - especially defensively. Officiating doesn't explain his dropoff in three point shooting percentage from 38% to 23%. Our lack of overall effort and piss poor shooting is squarely on our staff and players.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
good word. disagree with its use here though.. wouldn’t describe him as “obviously furious”. if anything i think people wish he was showing more emotion right now
As always, I appreciate the insight you share. I often find myself scrolling quickly looking for you, @LvilleILL1 @illini0440 and @DB11Headband only to find some inside info! lol. So, thanks to all of you! Myself, family and friends appreciate it because they often text me to ask things and I seem like an insider to them! lolFact 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 …
Totally fair. The BIG officiating is atrocious, particularly in its lack of consistency in what is/is not a foul not only game to game but play to play. I don’t watch a ton of other conference games but I don’t think the BIG is noticeably worse than any other league. In fairness it is a very hard job but I do think there have got to be ways to improve.
That being said, to your point I do think the officiating has contributed to Kylans defense being a little bit more uneven. And I think it’s also impacted how aggressively he drives. But, also to your point, should not be a reason he’s had an almost 50% drop off in his 3 pt production.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
It worked better last year cause TSJ was a transformational player & Domask was pretty darn good (& a veteran) but TBH we are close to becoming a imitation version of Kentucky under Calipari. Lots of talent not coached up worth a crap & therefore the final product doesn't add up to as much as it should. Our offense has all the urgency of an AAU team just jacking up 3's. Very much a "I'll get mine, you get yours" mentality. Frankly sucks to watch.
As you said NIL is part to blame. Frankly college ball has turned into a 1 month sport in terms of national relevance. I barely know any players outside the Illini. Entirely due to a lack of interest from the minor league baseball feel of the whole thing.
And just for reference, that 2023 team that never saw a 3 they didn't like and had abysmal shot quality, shot 29.1% from 3 in B10 play that year. We're shooting 27.6% this year 
In the past 10 years of B10 play, only 2019 Indiana and 2018 Rutgers have shot worse, both at 27.5%. And if we go back 20 years, our 27.6% shooting is still a Top 5 worst 3pt shooting percentage team. So what we're seeing is just a wild aberration from what should be expected especially as our shot quality really wouldn't predict this.
In the past 10 years of B10 play, only 2019 Indiana and 2018 Rutgers have shot worse, both at 27.5%. And if we go back 20 years, our 27.6% shooting is still a Top 5 worst 3pt shooting percentage team. So what we're seeing is just a wild aberration from what should be expected especially as our shot quality really wouldn't predict this.
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 …
Reminds me of when attacking UCONN's monster of a man failed in the first half only to double down and attack it in the second half.
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Brad loves having his son around every day, especially after missing so much time coaching while Tyler was growing up. The father in me completely understands wanting to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, it also illustrates why mixing family and business can be risky nine times out of ten.
In the NIL era, it’s relatively easy to build a good program quickly, but just as easy to run it into the ground. We need to decide whether we’re satisfied with “good,” or if we want to aim for a year-after-year powerhouse, which is what we should be striving for.
In the NIL era, it’s relatively easy to build a good program quickly, but just as easy to run it into the ground. We need to decide whether we’re satisfied with “good,” or if we want to aim for a year-after-year powerhouse, which is what we should be striving for.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
I was wondering when high knees-low skills ref Jeff would end up getting involved in a live ball action play and viola , last night he was the lead blocker for a RU drive to the rim for a layup..........he is always way to close to the action and he does it anywhere he is on the court.....his prancing around the court like he stepping on hot coals is tiresome and boring....Not a good ref at all , JMHO.............
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
i think the issue isn’t having him around but promoting him to a position that he was grossly underqualified for, likely passing over more deserving candidates in the process.
i want TU to be a successful college coach, if that’s what he wants to do. but he needs to build a name for himself elsewhere. his success (or failure) cannot be evaluated objectively here. JW, BU, and even TU should know better.
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First referee to be awarded an assist in live action.
Lol I almost 100% agree with your post but you have some rose-tinted glasses here. Groce not being able to competently put together any semblance of an offensive system was one of the main grips with him. Literally just pick and roll and exploiting 1-1 matchups with either Malcolm or Leron.
We aren't playing well, in fact we are playing real bad a large portion of the game, & it is definitely fair to question game prep and in game decisions; but seat warm is overstating it to me.
I think much of the disappointment this year is we forgot where we put ourselves with last year's push to maximize getting old & literaally going all in TJ's senior year. We went hard in with guys we knew wouldn't be back this year. Then we did a great job rebuilding with Freshman and transfers to the roster & expectations jumped, probably a bit too high. Some early signs of talent & showing the high ceiling pushed expectations sky high.
But Calipari is at Arkansas now because turning a team over every year isn't a path to consistent success. KJ/Riley/Morez/Ivisic are all Freshman (1st year college players). DGL is the only returnee, everyone else are transfers. Besides freshman looking like freshman, we have had a recent string of bad luck with KJ/Ivisic, then Ivisic turning his ankle just when he was starting to roll didn't help.
We added some talent and raised our ceiling above where most thought it should be last March, but by reloading so much this year and particularly with so many freshman a low floor was always in the picture. Hopefully, that reloading strategy pays off next year with a much higher floor; but in the meantime we still have a high ceiling & what now looks like bad luck may turn out to be a blessing yet this year...Ivisic is back, Morez has found a solid place on the floor, & the 2 bigs are playing well together to give us great paint presence to avoid the long 3 pt shooting droughts that are killing us, Riley is again showing signs of his potential, KJ is too good to keep playing this bad, DGL is emerging.
We aren't consistent, much of that is on coach, some of that is age/turnover which was a conscious decision for last season. But some of this talk is the higher expectations coach has given this program. Seat is warm is too much, IMO
I think the reason Indy is saying seat is at least warm now is that for 2/3 last seasons, we've put together a whole new team with a philosophy of "positional size + shooting" and while its expected that new guys on a new team will experience their lumps, the teams are actually getting "worse" as the season progresses. Brad needs to identify what is wrong in his evaluation/culture building process, or change his roster construction philosophy.
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