We played a 3-2 zone for several possessions late in 2nd half
Rutgers 91, Illinois 88 Postgame
We played a 3-2 zone for several possessions late in 2nd half
It’s pretty simple really zero out of Miller and Curbello really fouling out with so few minutes of court time. The big issue was loosing DMW to fouls. Georgi could not guard out on the floor at all. This is where I had hoped Grandersion (sorry if I am spelling that wrong?) would be helpful. He really has done nothing. I think at this point Georgi has to be just the back up to Kofi. So that really means if neither transfer or BBV is going to really play. Hawkins is going to get more time? We just don’t have a player that can guard a 6’6’ wing type (Harper) except DMW and he is always undersized and will be subject to foul issues.
Is it just me or is BBV simply never going to play for Illinois? I am not even sure what his injury is at this point? I know it was some sort of foot problem I think? That takes 2 years to heal? We really need to recruit some wing players with size because what we have (unless Hawkins is the answer) really give us nothing.
Is it just me or is BBV simply never going to play for Illinois? I am not even sure what his injury is at this point? I know it was some sort of foot problem I think? That takes 2 years to heal? We really need to recruit some wing players with size because what we have (unless Hawkins is the answer) really give us nothing.
Bummed that we don't get a rematch until potentially the B1G tourney.
Feel like we got Rutgers’ best shot today. All of their players were at or above their season averages including, most crucially, free throws. They were money from the line down the stretch, believe they made 8 out of their last 10 or better. They revert to the mean on the line down the stretch and we probably get back into the game.
That being said, we got out worked and out hustled too. Can’t lose that battle with Rutgers playing their A game and expect to win. Need to clean up the effort and the fouls. Both of which are doable.
Finally, a player like Harper will be out cryptonite this year. We just don’t have anyone who can match up with big, bruising 4 who can stretch the floor. Damonte plays above his height/weight but tough ask to handle that sort of size disadvantage for 30+ minutes. Giorgi just isn’t a good perimeter defender. Hawkins isn’t strong enough and also lacks lateral quickness at least at this point IMO. That leaves Grandison who I hoped would fill that kipper role at 6’6” but so far it just hasn’t happened. Grandison has the potential to really be our X factor. It didn’t amount to anything but I was glad he knocked in that 3 at the buzzer. Hopefully he can build on that, although I think where he is not earning minutes is on the defense/rebounding side.
Disappointed in the 5-3 start but some really hard games. I still think we can clean a few things up, gel and be a really tough out as we figure some things out on defense and Cuerbello continues to build rapport with our bigs. We aren’t 89 or 05 but still potential for a deep run in March. Let’s just stat covid free and continue to get better. Go Illini!
That being said, we got out worked and out hustled too. Can’t lose that battle with Rutgers playing their A game and expect to win. Need to clean up the effort and the fouls. Both of which are doable.
Finally, a player like Harper will be out cryptonite this year. We just don’t have anyone who can match up with big, bruising 4 who can stretch the floor. Damonte plays above his height/weight but tough ask to handle that sort of size disadvantage for 30+ minutes. Giorgi just isn’t a good perimeter defender. Hawkins isn’t strong enough and also lacks lateral quickness at least at this point IMO. That leaves Grandison who I hoped would fill that kipper role at 6’6” but so far it just hasn’t happened. Grandison has the potential to really be our X factor. It didn’t amount to anything but I was glad he knocked in that 3 at the buzzer. Hopefully he can build on that, although I think where he is not earning minutes is on the defense/rebounding side.
Disappointed in the 5-3 start but some really hard games. I still think we can clean a few things up, gel and be a really tough out as we figure some things out on defense and Cuerbello continues to build rapport with our bigs. We aren’t 89 or 05 but still potential for a deep run in March. Let’s just stat covid free and continue to get better. Go Illini!
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
Going into the season I thought we had a solution for someone like Harper with BBV, Grandison, and Hutchurson. I even felt they could start. Damonte can only do so much. I don't know why Grandison isn't seeing more ticks, to be honest.
That being said, the three freshmen have either lived up to what I expected or exceeded it. Hawkins has surprised me in a good way.
That being said, the three freshmen have either lived up to what I expected or exceeded it. Hawkins has surprised me in a good way.
We are also just a few free throws from being 7-1
and two decent non-homer refs from being 6-1. Several of their offensive rebounds started with blatant over the backs. Great foul disparity to put us in the hole.
Ayo will increase his draft position if he can dribble for a teammate. Drive and dishing to Trent especially. Today Dakich called him out for that reason. Trent will hit the jumpers, need that for the team.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
This is the correct take. This is a absolutely a good team with a metric crap ton of potential. When these freshman catch up mentally and start playing defense consistently....look the F out.
They look disjointed and flustered for periods and combine that with terrible FT shooting and lapses on D...good teams take advantage of that....especially on their home floors. Miznoz and Rutgers are good teams. They capitalized on our mistakes and shortcomings.
We have to play much smarter and cohesive...and that simply comes with time. I 100% expect us to be a really scary team come tourney time. I have no problem with losses like these because they are supreme learning moments. Think about how important these minutes are for the freshman. Think about how good they are going to be in a couple years!! I fully expect Miller and Curbelo to be at least 3 year guys. That should scare the bejesus out of the rest of the B1G.
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No, actually we’re a few made free throws from being 7-1. And making free throws is part of the game. Just like defense and limiting offensive rebounds by the opponent. Illinois is still a good team and should get better, but the “few free throws away” argument doesn’t work for me — especially when shooting under 70% on the year.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
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Rutgers is a very good team and will raise some hell the rest of the season. It wouldn't surprise me if they end up one of the top 4 teams in the conference.
I had a sense during the end of the first half that Rutgers would take control in the second half. One factor that contributed to the loss was the insane shooting % they shot at the end of the game. It seemed that everything they threw up there went in.
I had a sense during the end of the first half that Rutgers would take control in the second half. One factor that contributed to the loss was the insane shooting % they shot at the end of the game. It seemed that everything they threw up there went in.
I predict we will lose most games that we give up 20 offensive boards to the opponent.
or even 15.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Today is a great reminder for everyone that there are no nights off in this B10. It's hard to win games, and it's especially hard to win on the road.
Illinois needs to learn that lesson. MSU now has a chance to as well.
Illinois needs to learn that lesson. MSU now has a chance to as well.
One last thing semi related to officiating. I'd like to see Underwood take a tech early in the second half or so when its evident our guys are getting jobbed. Sometimes that ignites players to hustle regardless of the foul discrepancy when they see their coach is fighting for them. Im not a fan of the "officiating doesn't impact the game" theory bc it does. The squeaky wheel gets the chips.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Hard to know how to respond to this.
If you're just talking overall record at Illinois, then I think most would agree that a 0.500 winning percentage is below what we want and expect. But that is heavily impacted by how one feels about Underwood's first two rosters. I happen to think (and it's open to debate) that those first two rosters were mostly about Underwood fixing issues that were left over from the Groce era. And if you believe last season was the turning point and that we'll continue trending up this year and into the future, then that overall record will continue to improve.
If you're just looking at last year's record, 21-10 (13-7), I would argue that was a really good season. The B10 was a nightmare last year (at 7 losses, we were only 0.5 a game back from a four-way tie for the conference title). So I wouldn't put too much of an emphasis on how those 7 wins were against unranked teams. Wins, and especially road wins (3 of those 7), were hard to come by in the B10.
If you're just saying that we should be winning more than we have been, well, that's difficult to assess. I don't think you can say we are losing all of our close games. Ayo's late-game heroics last year pushed us to a number of wins in that category.
Which leads me to my best guess at what you mean. If you're saying based on our talent this year we shouldn't be losing these games, then I guess my response is that talent alone isn't the entire equation. We undoubtedly have a lot of talent on this team, but some of it is young talent (Miller, Curbelo, Hawkins). Some of it is limited or unavailable due to injury (Hutcherson, BBV). And the B10 is arguably even tougher than it was last year. So, yeah, we're going to lose some games. Maybe even a lot of games.
But hopefully, through the losses, our younger players gain some valuable experience, some of our players can come back from injuries, and our team can develop the cohesion necessary to make deep runs in the two tournaments.
Or give up 54 points in a half or give up a 124.5 PPP. Not good.
Ace struggling to adjust to not being “the guy”. That’s going to be the difference between us potentially making a final four and just being 1 of several solid B1G teams (that 3-7 range).
Almost wonder if giving him the keys to that second unit would be the way to go.
Almost wonder if giving him the keys to that second unit would be the way to go.
I love this squad. They need to want the loose balls, if loss #3 won't get you on the floor or jumping for a rebound, then we will be mediocre. I believe in this team.
Deleted member 11228
D
Guest
Illinois was playing a ranked opponent. Give me a break with needs to 'learn that lesson'. That lost to another team that's good.
After 8 games few things are obvious. We have talent but right now we are not a top 5 or 10 team but March is still along ways away. We are not a very good defenisve team right now which is really inexcusable for this group we foul to much 5th straight game with over 20 fouls many of them touch fouls on the perimeter. As Underwood said today if you are going to foul as much as we do it is going to be hard to beat good teams. Third time in last five games we have given up more than 80 points not sure how many games we will win if going to give up 80 plus everytime we play a good team. Sloppy turnovers have really hurt us Ayo had several today and Georgie's underhand pass took away possibly an easy transition basket. Miller is struggling right now really hasn't done much against the better teams we have played while just a freshman we need more from him going forward he played against top competition for four years in high school and was a top thirty player coming in just making a few threes is not going to cut out. We also have not shot the ball well from the FT line which has really hurt us in several of the losses. All of these things are certainly correctable but with every Big 10 game looking tough this year especially after seeing what Northwestern did to Michigan State tonight we better figure it out in a hurry or we are going to find ourselves as a 7-8 seed come NCAA tourney time which would be a big disappointment for what is expected of this team. You have an All American guard and an all Big 10 caliber big we should be a top four team in conference and right now we don't look like it.