Tennessee 86, Illinois 79 Postgame

altgeld88 · Dec 10, 2023

Eternal Optimist said:
Gotta start somewhere I guess?

Thank you for reminding me that part II of Dune is approaching. I'd forgotten that it was on tap for March. I'll pencil it in sometime after the Elite 8.

Also, regarding the TN game: FAU felt like a tourney game deep in March. TN, a bit less so. I attribute that to a lack of a neutral court. (Left the door open for someone to invoke Rupp Arena c. March 1984.)

HoopCity · Dec 10, 2023

Illinidude said:
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.

We were at this game also. Having moved to Huntsville a few years ago the ILLINI were finally close by so we drove over. We have been to many games at Assembly Hall / SFC over the years. Having never been to Thompson–Boling Arena before am I mistaken or is this place the loudest arena you have ever been in?

Illinifrank67 · Dec 10, 2023

Peteronthespot said:
Our coach doesn’t adjust in game with any effectiveness. 2020-Loyola is a great example, same play with Krutwig killing us over and over yet no adjustment. This year-Tyler Kolek, taking the ball up the court every time and either driving for a layup or an easy assist-no box in one, no pick him up on the press, nada. This game-Barnes adjusted at halftime-he saw where we were weak and ran plays for those Euro style guards. Us-hero ball over and over with your 5 man bricking 3s. Look at underwood’s tourney history (it’s laughable). This is not to the coach who’s going to take us to the promised land. He brought us back but it’s going to be someone else to bring us to the next level. We need to wake up to this reality as a fan base. It’s good to be a homer but not to the point of ignorance-that hurts the team.

Rap47 · Dec 10, 2023

Combo said:
Plenty of 6 ft players can do all those things at a high level.

But most of them can't guard anyone.

Vballguy · Dec 10, 2023

HoopCity said:
We were at this game also. Having moved to Huntsville a few years ago the ILLINI were finally close by so we drove over. We have been to many games at Assembly Hall / SFC over the years. Having never been to Thompson–Boling Arena before am I mistaken or is this place the loudest arena you have ever been in?

We were at the game and agree it gets pretty loud in there. Did not realize it was the 5th largest arena in the country. Was happy to see how well the Illini faithful traveled! Our TN friends said there were too many Illini walking around! Met the Hansberry family on the flight home. Awesome, friendly group with great things to say about the coaching staff and the famILLy atmosphere they feel with the program. Sounded like Amani was a sponge trying to learn a lot from the older guys and enjoying his experience.

LocalChief505 · Dec 10, 2023

Peteronthespot said:
Our coach doesn’t adjust in game with any effectiveness. 2020-Loyola is a great example, same play with Krutwig killing us over and over yet no adjustment. This year-Tyler Kolek, taking the ball up the court every time and either driving for a layup or an easy assist-no box in one, no pick him up on the press, nada. This game-Barnes adjusted at halftime-he saw where we were weak and ran plays for those Euro style guards. Us-hero ball over and over with your 5 man bricking 3s. Look at underwood’s tourney history (it’s laughable). This is not to the coach who’s going to take us to the promised land. He brought us back but it’s going to be someone else to bring us to the next level. We need to wake up to this reality as a fan base. It’s good to be a homer but not to the point of ignorance-that hurts the team.

One heck of a first post.

Illinidude · Dec 10, 2023

HoopCity said:
We were at this game also. Having moved to Huntsville a few years ago the ILLINI were finally close by so we drove over. We have been to many games at Assembly Hall / SFC over the years. Having never been to Thompson–Boling Arena before am I mistaken or is this place the loudest arena you have ever been in?

I would say it was; however, the Illini representation was really impressive and capable of making a lot of noise.

illiniguy · Dec 11, 2023

Peteronthespot said:
It’s good to be a homer but not to the point of ignorance-that hurts the team.

john1952 · Dec 11, 2023

Roundball Sage said:
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.

The Illini go to another level when Hawkins is hitting long-range and mixes things up, too.

The problem is, that Hawkins does not hit from long range on a consistent basis.
Hawkins should go more for the higher percentage shots like Domask did against FAU.

Florida_Illini · Dec 11, 2023

Vols did a great job of playing up in our grills taking away good 3 point shots and also did a good job of helping on drives. It hurts us when teams play this kind of defense that we don't have many players that can break down a defense and get to the basket, it forces us into settling for 3pointers. If we see this approach again, and we will given the success, I would like to see more of Dain. We needed easier buckets and they weren't doubling inside so he could have one on one, I like his chances of scoring in bunches.

illini0440 · Dec 11, 2023

Lock it down Dan. Some of y’all think you’re Chuck Daly when yall couldn’t coach 5th graders

Illini in Italy · Dec 11, 2023

illini0440 said:
Lock it down Dan. Some of y’all think you’re Chuck Daly when yall couldn’t coach 5th graders

More like couldn't coach kindergardeners .. .

Chad Fleck · Dec 11, 2023

illini0440 said:
Lock it down Dan.

Personally, I disagree. Let the free speech flow, and shame the bad ideas as they come.

jjv0004 · Dec 11, 2023

Where is the defense the last 2 games? Someone said after Rutgers how great this team defends. 89 and 86 points allowed the last 2 games. Defense will have to get way better because come March, you have to be able to stop teams from scoring. Especially when Shannon and Domask aren't both going off for over 30+ points.

BashCtIllini · Dec 11, 2023

jjv0004 said:
Where is the defense the last 2 games? Someone said after Rutgers how great this team defends. 89 and 86 points allowed the last 2 games. Defense will have to get way better because come March, you have to be able to stop teams from scoring. Especially when Shannon and Domask aren't both going off for over 30+ points.

Are people really asking why some of the best teams on our schedule scored more than some of the worst teams on our schedule? I've got one thought.

It's no different the when DGL scored 18 against EIU and people went crazy. His 2nd best game was against WIU, he played a total of 10 mins against Marquette, FAU, and Tennessee.

Moral of the story, it is a little harder to look great against your toughest opponents, and it's easy to look great against your weakest opponents.

Second place is 1st loser · Dec 11, 2023

illini0440 said:
Lock it down Dan. Some of y’all think you’re Chuck Daly when yall couldn’t coach 5th graders

Most of us are in agreement with the awful takes of some of the posters, but short of them using foul language, making personal attacks, making team attacks, etc...can't lock down a thread because someone's opinion suffers from yours.

Actually, your comment about people not knowing squat is more derogatory than anything that they offered up(though I agree that they were terrible takes).

phats22 · Dec 11, 2023

Chad Fleck said:
Personally, I disagree. Let the free speech flow, and shame the bad ideas as they come.

Terrible idea, just terrible

illini0440 · Dec 11, 2023

Second place is 1st loser said:
Most of us are in agreement with the awful takes of some of the posters, but short of them using foul language, making personal attacks, making team attacks, etc...can't lock down a thread because someone's opinion suffers from yours.

Actually, your comment about people not knowing squat is more derogatory than anything that they offered up(though I agree that they were terrible takes).

Their opinion is blatantly not true....just watch the game or film and you can see it. and that's a fact not just my opinion.

alaskaillini · Dec 11, 2023

I think we all can agree it sucks to lose, and it sucks to read game threads when we lose.

jacekpardol · Dec 11, 2023

Second place is 1st loser said:
Most of us are in agreement with the awful takes of some of the posters, but short of them using foul language, making personal attacks, making team attacks, etc...can't lock down a thread because someone's opinion suffers from yours.

Actually, your comment about people not knowing squat is more derogatory than anything that they offered up(though I agree that they were terrible takes).

Right. The board has a tendency to witch hunt anyone that isnt ALWAYS ultra optomistic. You can be critical while still being a fan. The two aren't mutual exclusive. This is also coming from someone who doesn't agree with the controversial post.

Go on the Michigan State forum. A lot of people are ready to fire a hall of fame coach a month and a half into the season.

Nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree.

alaskaillini · Dec 11, 2023

jacekpardol said:
Right. The board has a tendency to witch hunt anyone that isnt ALWAYS ultra optomistic. You can be critical while still being a fan. The two aren't mutual exclusive. This is also coming from someone who doesn't agree with the controversial post.

Go on the Michigan State forum. A lot of people are ready to fire a hall of fame coach a month and a half into the season.

Nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree.

But I thought making me read ideas I disagree with is violence towards me. /s

Following a loss, people are disappointed, and it seems that expressing that disappointment in the form of over-the-top hot takes is somehow cathartic for them. I try to be understanding.

If Dan didn't open a post game thread for 48 hours following a defeat, it would probably be a lot more tame.

jacekpardol · Dec 11, 2023

alaskaillini said:
But I thought making me read ideas I disagree with is violence towards me. /s

Following a loss, people are disappointed, and it seems that expressing that disappointment in the form of over-the-top hot takes is somehow cathartic for them. I try to be understanding.

If Dan didn't open a post game thread for 48 hours following a defeat, it would probably be a lot more tame.

Exactly. People tend to be overly emotional after a game. We win and people starting thinking were favorites to win the NCAA. Case and point after FAU win almost everyone here predicted a Tenn win. We lose and the doomers come out, they are ready to say that we wont sniff the NIT. The truth is almost always in between.

Chad Fleck · Dec 11, 2023

These guys continue to have reasonable and interesting takes. Worth the listen if anyone still wants to think about this game:

BRucks · Dec 11, 2023

Florida_Illini said:
Vols did a great job of playing up in our grills taking away good 3 point shots and also did a good job of helping on drives. It hurts us when teams play this kind of defense that we don't have many players that can break down a defense and get to the basket, it forces us into settling for 3pointers. If we see this approach again, and we will given the success, I would like to see more of Dain. We needed easier buckets and they weren't doubling inside so he could have one on one, I like his chances of scoring in bunches.

Tennessee was able to pay extra attention to Shannon and Damask because they pretty much ignored Ty. Ty took only one shot vs. FAU so Barnes took the chance to not guard him. He took zero shots vs. Tennessee. Look for future opponents to follow suit unless we get some sort of offense from Ty.

ptgrd23 · Dec 11, 2023

Our players did not work hard enough to get open. Other than the high post there were no picks being set.

With Tennessee agressively overplaying the pass the backdoor cut should have been wide open.

We should have cleared out lane to let Marcus post up the 6' guard.

Last - we reverted to 2022-3 team and took way too many contested 3 pointers.