thank you peternotonthespot.....ignorance is a topic that you seem to have great knowledge of
Tennessee 86, Illinois 79 Postgame
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Not really sure what it is about this UT game that’s driving out all the trolls from their cave
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Their diapers are full . . . .
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Because the dominant performances they witnessed v. Rutgers and FAU threatened their preferred narrative of impending doom. They were hankering for a high-profile loss.
That, and/or they took UT v. the 8.5 pt. spread and are angry that UT failed to cover.
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went back and went thru the play by play over the last 8:15 (used this mark because TJS hit 2 FT's) and I believe my numbers are correct.
score was 65-56.
Us: 0-7 from 3. I I'm pretty sure all came with at least 15 left on shot clock and CH took three of them.
We were 12-13 from the line.
Tenn: 0-1 from 3 and 13-15 from the line.
CH has been playing very well since he came back and he hit a couple 3's earlier but I'd rather he be underneath during this stretch and the 3's limited to Luke and Q.
Normally I would say TSJ and Marcus but they just didn't have it from 3 today.
Also, any thoughts on the our press? They have solid guard play and it really threw them off. Might be a nice wrinkle to use as a surprise.
End of first half, maybe out of a TO for a couple possessions.
score was 65-56.
Us: 0-7 from 3. I I'm pretty sure all came with at least 15 left on shot clock and CH took three of them.
We were 12-13 from the line.
Tenn: 0-1 from 3 and 13-15 from the line.
CH has been playing very well since he came back and he hit a couple 3's earlier but I'd rather he be underneath during this stretch and the 3's limited to Luke and Q.
Normally I would say TSJ and Marcus but they just didn't have it from 3 today.
Also, any thoughts on the our press? They have solid guard play and it really threw them off. Might be a nice wrinkle to use as a surprise.
End of first half, maybe out of a TO for a couple possessions.
Yes, this group has the capacity for great things.
But the concern is that... this game was just like a tournament game. That kind of talent and intensity. And there are at least 20 teams in America at the level of where the Illini are right now or a bit better. None of us want to see another early washout come Springtime. The Illini have to win these kind of tournament-style games and not just feel good that they were close.
As good as the Illini have played at times so far... these players are still capable of doing better. Both individually and as a group. Domask and Goode can still get more consistent from game to game... as can Shannon. And certainly Hawkins has to play at a higher level especially with what he hopes for in his future. And these guys are the core and heart of the team.
In other words, feel OK about where you are right now but know you need to get better. There's just too many out there just like you are.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
That it's Dec. 10 and we're having this conversation makes me feel good about where this team is heading. Many seasons the team doesn't learn to play tenacious D, the key to the tournament, until well into January. That some are wringing their hands about whether the team is playing lockdown D for 40 mins against the No. 2 D in the nation on the road on Dec. 9th doesn't exactly make me despair.
I distinctly recall in mid-Dec. 2020 trying to talk posters in the postgame thread off the ledge after a close loss at the RAC, noting that the team (yielding 91 pts to Rutgers) wasn't playing solid D yet. The guys lost to MD and OSU in early/mid-January and then, having learned to defend for 40, the remainder of the season went fairly well for them. They won 14 of their final 15 games through the BTT title game, losing only to MSU on the road (where Sissoko broke Ayo's nose.)
I grew up and live in Chattanooga and attended the game yesterday with my Dad who is Urbana native. We try to make a trip to Champaign/Urbana once a year for a game and this was much easier (2 hours vs. 8 hrs). Illinois traveled well, and I think overall played very well for this point in the season. Having grown up in the South, I knew we were going to get screwed by some hometown officiating. Also, Vol fans are football fans first and really do not understand basketball and arcane rules like fouling.
To echo some of the other comments, the PG situation is a bit concerning and fixing that gap is going to affect our overall ceiling. Some of the passing has been very sloppy and is probably going to lead to some free buckets against high quality competition (and maybe cost us some close games). With that said, we got absolutely screwed on foul calls to start the second half and that lead to a lot of frustration and silly fouls by the Illini. I am not against Illinois taking a lot of in rhythm 3s but of those 36, several were way too early in the shot clock and were available at any point. Going forward Illinois needs realize that when the outside shots aren't falling, they are well equipped to score 10 feet and in at pretty much will (not to mention get to foul line). While this game revealed several correctable problems, I think this team has a very high ceiling and will be a lot of fun to watch. I am really hoping to catch a home game in Illinois this year.
To echo some of the other comments, the PG situation is a bit concerning and fixing that gap is going to affect our overall ceiling. Some of the passing has been very sloppy and is probably going to lead to some free buckets against high quality competition (and maybe cost us some close games). With that said, we got absolutely screwed on foul calls to start the second half and that lead to a lot of frustration and silly fouls by the Illini. I am not against Illinois taking a lot of in rhythm 3s but of those 36, several were way too early in the shot clock and were available at any point. Going forward Illinois needs realize that when the outside shots aren't falling, they are well equipped to score 10 feet and in at pretty much will (not to mention get to foul line). While this game revealed several correctable problems, I think this team has a very high ceiling and will be a lot of fun to watch. I am really hoping to catch a home game in Illinois this year.
1)We're consistently winning
2)Back to back high profile, national TV games
3)Both triggered more interest and more opinions.
Even though this person's hot take is absolutely idiotic, it's program interest that's driving it, which is a good thing.
I'm in my second season hoping for Hawkins to score more down low. 20% from three yet over half his shots come from there. His scoring is not likely to change.
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
How to you tell us you haven't watched any games this year without saying "I haven't watched any games this year." All you are doing in this post is bringing up things people have complained about Underwood in the past and are certainly not relevant to this season. My goodness, man, this is one of the dumbest posts I have seen this year and there have been some doozies. This certainly illustrates your name does not check out.
There are always big men who look tall but think like (shooting) guards. Hawkins is one in a long line of those guys.
Big men years ago were always the inside guys. Down low and little else. Two tall towers going at it and clogging up the middle.
But the game changed and now big men prowl the entire floor. And the most effective big/tall men are those who can score from any range. And they drive defenses crazy because they have multiple spots on the floor to do damage from.
The modern big/tall men wants to have that great outside game. And that's good. But some of them need to think not just like guards but also like guys who are their size -- and use that to their better advantage over the smaller player.
The Illini go to another level when Hawkins is hitting long-range and mixes things up, too. He might be pressing himself too much to show what he has in his short window left. He needs to relax more when shooting from distance because you cannot hit from their unless you are loose and in the flow. The more tense you are... the less likely the ball is making that sweet sound you want to hear.
I agree, (I know you were responding to someone responding to my post) in my original post I said during the end stretch of this game. If we really are going to be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the conference and be a threat to make a run post-season, we must have Coleman as a threat from outside.
His long range shooting woes are on their 4th season. His draft buzz as a sophomore was due to potential based on his skill set. But he's never developed any sort of offensive game. He's not pressing too much. He's just not a good long range shooter. As I've said in other threads, he needs a shot chart like Mike Davis. Or Joakim Noah. I think fans should stop expecting some break out shooting from the guy. He is who he is. And apparently Underwood is fine with it.
You need a plan B.
Looking back in a couple years you might be right about this. But I see potential in his long game.
We see his percentage is not good. But as a shooter... I see when he does connect from range the shot is SWEET. Usually clean to the middle. That takes a certain kind of touch. And if he can do that once in a while he can learn to do that more often. It's a shame that his game has not progressed lately. But he is one of those guys where you can see potential there (which as you say may never be developed).
Not referring to Hawkins here but in general: Some guys develop that potential but many do not. Whether it is being too satisfied with their current game... or lack of commitment needed to get better... many thousands of guys have left their full potential on the 'table' and not on the 'floor'. High school guys who don't develop in college, or college hot-shots who fizzle out in the pros.
I love those guys who are always working on their game... and the other kind of guys who you can see are giving you all they've got and just hustle like hell all the time.
And a guy who's got Game and hustles all the time? What kind of guy is that? Someone from 'Michael Jordan's School of How To Play This Game.'
Ayo... Trent... etc.
Pretty my view. I like our players. It looks like every guy is “all in” for the success of the team. It’s just such a shame the missing piece is two guys with roots so close to C-U.
I do not think it’s fair or accurate at all to say this game was “just like a tournament game”… This was not a tournament game on a neutral-court in March…this was an away game in an especially difficult environment in early December. I don’t think people understand this Tennessee team has lost just 2 home games in the past 2 years, including going undefeated in ‘21/22. Thompson Boling is the 5th largest arena in the country. You can take any one of those 20 teams and I guarantee you 0 of them would have a cakewalk in Knoxville. Most would walk away with an L. I do not understand the hand-wringing
A lot of people are concerned about our PG situation
BU has convinced me he has it figured out for the most part
We had 9 to turnovers and had 5 more points off turnovers than them.
We scored almost 80 points against a defensively minded team
Yea we had a couple turnovers dribbling up the court but we seemed to handle their press ok. Our assist total is low but we are playing the matchup so that is not a big issue
I rather have a quick 6’6 player who can shot, drive, defend, read the floor than a quick 6 ft player who lacks on of those areas
Basketball is about mismatches. I think we have at least 2 mismatches in our advantage every night
BU has convinced me he has it figured out for the most part
We had 9 to turnovers and had 5 more points off turnovers than them.
We scored almost 80 points against a defensively minded team
Yea we had a couple turnovers dribbling up the court but we seemed to handle their press ok. Our assist total is low but we are playing the matchup so that is not a big issue
I rather have a quick 6’6 player who can shot, drive, defend, read the floor than a quick 6 ft player who lacks on of those areas
Basketball is about mismatches. I think we have at least 2 mismatches in our advantage every night
Plenty of 6 ft players can do all those things at a high level.
Once the Illini finally got rolling and Tennessee cooled off from their red-hot start... I had the feeling of watching a tournament game with how they were going at each other. And little while later, the guys who were doing the TV telecast said something like, 'This is like watching a Sweet Sixteen game!'. And made a similar remark in the second half.
So I might be wrong... but if so I wasn't alone!
Of course it was a regular-season game in a tough environment... but tough games in a foreign environment are the DNA of the Dance.
When was the last time we had a PG who could do all those things? I think you have to go back to 2005. Not saying there aren’t really good 6 ft players but there are not many
Not sure if anyone listened to Barnes post-game but he gave our group tons of praise. Said we’re just as good as anyone they’ve played so far (which is saying a lot), and said we’re going to win a lot of games this year, and his facial expression emphasized that he really meant that… I agree.
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