Rutgers 82, Illinois 73 Postgame
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Nor the quality of our shooters. Not to pick of either of them because I love them, but it’s not like we’ve got Ty or Morez jacking up a bunch of 3’s. Even “chucking”, our shooters should be able to hit a higher % than they are.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.
As a father, I also understand this. However, elevating your son to a position he hasn't earned or seems to be ready for is the real issue. I'm not saying he's not a good coach or doesn't have a good basketball mind, but he's not here at this level yet.
Having TJ, Domask, and Coleman covered up a lot of flaws if seemed. Even Quincy and Harmon were just high IQ guys that just made plays and knew where to be.
Bingo …
If no staff changes are made after the season … It’ll be a lot more than warm in my book … Some may agree with that, some may not …
I really think the floor/worst case scenario for this team is losing 7 of the next 8 … If that happens I am not sure we are even a tournament team …
I mean I think we have 2 with Minny and Iowa.
I wouldn't lay even odds on any of the others, though.
I still remember that UConn lost 6out of 8 towards the end of the year.They won the NCAA last year. Riley n KJ need another year in college.
I think their bigger guards gave our guys trouble getting into the lane early and they just settled for chucking 3s. But you KNOW you have an advantage down low so why not run some High/Low action or ISO Post Up with entry pass from the wing? They did that exactly ONE time in the 1s half to Tomi who scored an unbelievably easy basket. It was definitely there all nigh and they didn't take advantage of it which cost them the game. I get they wanted to get guys driving but there were other options. Then that opens stuff up outside and opens up driving lanes. This wasn't a complicated game to gameplan and our staff did a miserable job.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Unfortunately, this feels somewhat possible if the Illini lay an egg on Saturday. That would likely also mean one and done in the BTT (assuming the team still qualifies). That translates to 16-16 record. That would result in no NCAA Tournament berth, and I think they would possibly even drop below the College Basketball Crown (or whatever the Fox tournament is to be called). I could see a scenario where Illinois would actually decline the NIT bid. If this worst case scenario does end up happening, then a coaching shuffle will be required for Brad to keep his job IMO. If the Illini make the tourney and lose quickly, then Brad's seat will get warmer if he does not make any coaching changes.
Minnesota @ the Barn is no guarantee … Especially when I think we will be short handed …
I think we can beat Iowa … Especially at home but if we’re coming into that game on a 5 game losing streak or shoot even a 4 game losing streak … My confidence won’t be as high …
With NIL and the transfer portal roster turnover is going to be a part of any program from now on. If a coach is lucky and has several returning it will be a bonus but the following year you will be on the other side of it like we were. You can't have it both ways and hope to stay competitive in today's ncaa. You have to adapt and I think Brad has done fairly well at that. The key is finding the right players to fit and fill the needs of what you are looking for and as always the blue bloods and programs with big NIL will get the cream of the crop.
If we lose 7 of the last 8 that's a staggering 12 of the last 16 to end the season, and a 16-15 record.
Yeah I'm going to go out on a limb and say we'd miss the tournament if that happens.
A few thoughts....
- Illinois Loyalty has shown they are a rollercoaster. Not saying this will happen, but what if we go on a 4 game win streak (which would include a win over no. 9 and on the road at no. 21)? All of the disaster talk all of the sudden looks a little silly.
- We have an entirely new roster and a lot of youngsters, so there will be growing pains and we're in the middle of that time.
- We missed two of our better players for 6 games (not including White being sick a couple of games) if you count the screw job at Mich. St. where KJ played 8 minutes. We're literally several points away from being 19-4 (2 OT road losses and 2 2 pt. losses to no 9 on the road and no. 4 at home).
- KJ is definitely in a big slump, but it's possible one good game busts him out of it.
- Our biggest problem is we lack a true leader. KJ tries, doesn't fit. Boswell tries, doesn't fit. This might sound crazy, but I think Morez might be the leader of this team. Extremely impressed with his effort and the ultimate effort guy being the leader often lights that fire in the entire team.
- Most obvious we need to quit chucking threes. If open I'm good with Hummer, Riley, Davis, and at times Ivisic pulling the trigger (only to spread the offense out and pull the bigs out of the lane), but the others should only shoot if the clock is about to hit zero. We are way too talented to not get the opponent in foul trouble driving and cutting. That will open up wide open threes for the shooters later in the game.
- Brad is a good coach. I'm sure he's frustrated. He should be. Let's see if he can right the ship before we all call for his head. He's been pretty damn successful since jumping on board the dumpster fire we had going before his tenure.
- I agree those who like players who might not be ranked as high but will stick around. Unfortunately this new world of NIL/transfer portal has changed this and it's not as much of a reality to bring 70-90% of your team back. That being said, I'd love to see Morez, DGL, Ivisic, and Boswell return next year (assuming KJ, Riley, and Ty are gone for sure). Another year playing together and bring in some experienced transfers that can shoot and play D we'll be good again. Ideally a big boy to protect the paint when needed, and a couple of athletic wings that can shoot and handle it.
- However, I don't think it's time to give up on the season, but it's Illinois Loyalty so the rhetoric doesn't surprise me. Sure, I'm disappointed at the moment, but if we can finish 6-2 and go on a run in the BIG 10 tournament we could land a 6 or 7 seed and in March anything can happen. Even 5-3 w/a tournament run isn't the end of the world b/c we have a chunk of games left against ranked teams to boost our resume. That might land us closer to a 9-10 seed. We have the talent, we need to quit chucking 3s and need a leader to emerge to make that March run.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
So listen to you instead - you have been here less than a year with 57 posts.
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Not saying it’s right cause he didn’t deserve the spot, but saying I understand why he did it and where his stubbornness with it’s probably coming from. Not agreeing with the decision but understanding that a father’s intent although not a good choice, is relatable.
TU should be at some mid major or below, nowhere near the level he is at. BU knows it, everyone knows it, will anyone hold him accountable is the question.
blackdog
- Champaign
I've said this before it really looks like they are rushing shots even if open which is definitely a mental things. There's no reason otherwise for guys who can shoot as well as they can to be missing so many wide open shots.
Starting to seem that there is something going on in the locker room: player distrust, coaching distrust, etc... TJ is almost solely the reason we went on a run last year with Domask as his sidekick. NIL and Coach O gets us players but hard to see where we succeed past that. I can understand KJ not shooting well with his arm injury but where is the ELITE shooting for everyone else? Is it fatigue? Hard to believe all these guys shoot so far under their previous averages, some of this is taking bad shots not in the flow of the offense. I'm not entirely in the sky is falling realm, but its headed that way. I still believe if something changes and shots fall, these lessons could help in the tourney. Its definitely making the path there much harder.
Which is why getting elite Xs and Os assitant coaches during the offseason is crucial.
I understand that. However, if it is not working something else needs to be done.
They were losing to OSU then decided to eschew the three and take the ball inside. Amazingly, it worked. Illinois scored 52 of the 87 points in the paint. They only attempted 5 threes in the second half, making only 1.
If I was the coach of another team I would let them take their threes and attack the rebound. If Illinois got hot, they got hot. If not, my team would have a better than 50-50 chance of winning.
Little schools shoot a lot of threes. North FL, UT Rio Grande, Akron, Cal Poly, Western Carolina, William and Mary, Central Arkansas North Dakota State. Besides Illinois the only other predominate team in the top 10 for attempts is Louisville. (Alabama is 11th. Followed by another 9 mids)
Neither Louisville or Alabama is particularly good at threes either. But they are better.
I guess my real concern has been mentioned before. They take bad threes. They pass the ball around the parameter and they chuck it up hoping to score. When they get behind by 5 or 6 points they try to get a 10 point basket.
I think it's highly likely Garcia puts up 30+ on us at MN...hope I'm wrong, but I feel like we've seen this movie before.
KJ has a lot going for him, but bad shooting and silly turnovers is a great way for a guard to fall out of the draft. I shake my head every time he has one of those wild passes where he slings it with his whole arm, over his shoulder or backwards. I gotta believe he's not 100%. He's passed on some open looks that he would have taken earlier in the year.
On the plus side, the way they fought back from the horrendous opening 15 minutes was impressive -chipping away the deficit and eventually getting a small lead. They didn't seem to have enough in the tank to finish, but they fought.
It has been said over and over. We miss Ty on the floor.
I'll go with crazy. Morez can mix it up with anyone in the country, and is an absolute beast. But I don't see him as a team leader at this early stage.
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