Well obviously that sucked but we have no one to blame but ourselves. Lost focus and momentum when Keaton went down and never really got it back. We still should have won if we just hit our free throws. Andrej not being able to hang on to that rebound at the end was crucial as well. I am wondering if Brad emphasized not fouling on that last possession which resulted in our traffic cone defense.
UCLA 95, Illinois 94 OT Postgame
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Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
What a s### loss.
4 s#### conference losses.
4 s#### conference losses.
This loss scares me for March. That’s why this doesn’t sit well for me. Type of loss that sends you home early.
The play that I cannot stop thinking about is Dre not securing the offense rebound in OT. He wanted no part of sticking his nose in there and coming up with that rebound. That rebound should of been his. I can see why Brad gets so frustrated with him and has to constantly remind him to be tough and rebound.
At this point in the season with a full roster they've learned what their going to. They have certain defensive deficiencies based on roster composition. The same composition that makes the offense so efficient. This won't change. Just hope your shooting well enough from 3 and hitting fts to survive athletically superior teams quickness. For Underwood and the progress of this program you need to make the Sweet 16 with this roster. After that it's a crapshoot with this team. It is disturbing to lose 3 games in OT. Hard to think Final 4/ National Championship caliber teams lose that many close games. Part of the disappointment is Illini fans and national media in their exuberance had this team penciled in already to the Elite 8. May not happen with their defensive issues
I haven’t scrolled through the entirety of post game hot takes yet.
I will say that like all of Illini nation, I am disappointed in the loss. Obviously.
However, the sky is not falling.
This team has been such a joy to watch and I am looking forward to the BTT and March Madness.
I truly believe this team has what it takes to make a solid run.
Tough loss for the boys, but the sun came up this morning and better days (and outcomes) will follow.
I will say that like all of Illini nation, I am disappointed in the loss. Obviously.
However, the sky is not falling.
This team has been such a joy to watch and I am looking forward to the BTT and March Madness.
I truly believe this team has what it takes to make a solid run.
Tough loss for the boys, but the sun came up this morning and better days (and outcomes) will follow.
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
It was wild how untalkative the staff was with each other and with players during the game. Bench was lifeless including players and coaches except for Z (when he wasn't in) and Fletch.
Seems we lost focus after getting up by so much with relative ease. It’s human nature to let down on the intensity, and maybe the catalyst was Waggler going out with an unknown shoulder situation.
Also, our Achilles heel would seem to be quick teams that get us spread out. We lack shutdown one on one defenders. That’s worrisome come tourney time, where one bad matchup turns it into a coin flip. We’re not good at coin flips.
Also, our Achilles heel would seem to be quick teams that get us spread out. We lack shutdown one on one defenders. That’s worrisome come tourney time, where one bad matchup turns it into a coin flip. We’re not good at coin flips.
After the Nebraska loss, I thought this team would have the same fate as last year's disappointing R2 loss.
However, as the season progressed, this is my new belief: if Illinois is a 2/3rd seed, this particular team should destroy the 14/15th seed and should probably even cover against their R2 opponent.
It's the S16 game that begins to scare me--and since we all want "Elite" status, losing in this round is unacceptable. In the S16, I am not saying they have to play a flawless basketball game, but they must stay hungry, attack the rim when the 3-point shooting is struggling, make your FTs and just play solid defense. If they do this, they win the game. They cannot have a horrible defensive effort like they did against Alabama, UConn, MSU and UCLA.
Even if the Illini were a little better on defense, they win 3/4 of those games listed in the previous paragraph. Just don't be abhorrent on defense, and they still would have a great chance to move on to the Elite 8.
I just hope BU and staff can come up with something when they face really good PGs in the tournament.
Brad seemed off and the rest of the bench looked forward and didn't say a word to each other. It was odd.
This speaks volumes……
80'sIllini
- Arizona
I noticed the same thing.
I wonder how extra "tight" the players are gonna be if/when they are in any more games going down to the wire given how they've performed in these last 4 losses? And if they are to advance deep into the NCAA tournament- one would think they would find themselves in a close game.
this was bad. those other fluke losses have now become a clear trend. 4 loses by 6 points aren't just bad luck.... they all had the same elements resulting in the same result. that's troubling. I'm gonna let myself stew in this one
Low key the most outlandish post game take
Username checks out
Lose to Michigan. Win out. Secure top 4 BTT seed and triple bye. Vibes back. Plenty of rest before a couple tune-up games vs. tourney level B1G teams. And maybe another crack at Michigan. Enter tournament as a 2 or 3 seed. Destroy the double digit seed and enter the R32 as the unequivocally more talented/favored team. Take care of business. And from there, it’s all house money. Seeds don’t matter 2nd weekend onwards.
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We just lost away by 1 in OT to a tournament team that is 15-1 at home with a 4-pt loss to Arizona.
Sky is far from falling. We’re still very likely a 3 seed with a surprise Michigan win putting us back on the 2-line.
Lots of teams losing around us helps dampen an away loss to a respectable UCLA team.
I just hope MSU falls to the 4 line and gets knocked off by the 5 seed in the R32 or destroyed by a 1 seed.
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We just lost away by 1 in OT to a tournament team that is 15-1 at home with a 4-pt loss to Arizona.
Sky is far from falling. We’re still very likely a 3 seed with a surprise Michigan win putting us back on the 2-line.
Lots of teams losing around us helps dampen an away loss to a respectable UCLA team.
I just hope MSU falls to the 4 line and gets knocked off by the 5 seed in the R32 or destroyed by a 1 seed.
Did anyone else notice that when they showed the replay of Ben's late three point basket Mirk was getting slung to the ground underneath at the same time. Should have been three points and foul sending Mirk to the line. I know he got called for the same thing earlier that was not nearly as aggressive as that one was.
Everything is in front of this team.
Rightfully so, judgement will be made on how the NCAA Tourney goes. This should be no worse than a S16 and really an elite 8 team.
Rightfully so, judgement will be made on how the NCAA Tourney goes. This should be no worse than a S16 and really an elite 8 team.
Right after I posted my question I thought about that. I think you are right. I believe in college you can only challenge who the ball went off of going out of bounds.
I am baffled that we had zero resistance for Dent in last 4.9, especially after calling a TO.
Double Dent and let someone different, slower bring the ball up.
Btw- what was Z doing at the rim? He provided zero protection.....seemed like they were afraid to get close to Dent and afraid they might foul him
March Brad Underwood show’d up yesterday.
No adjustments
12-0 run by ucla, and no timeout called by Brad
Sit back and watch watch ucla do whatever they want on offense
Make no adjustments on offense and kept shooting 3s.
Losing this game just gave us a ceiling as a 3 seed. Meeting we lose in the sweet 16 or round of 32 again..
No adjustments
12-0 run by ucla, and no timeout called by Brad
Sit back and watch watch ucla do whatever they want on offense
Make no adjustments on offense and kept shooting 3s.
Losing this game just gave us a ceiling as a 3 seed. Meeting we lose in the sweet 16 or round of 32 again..
That’s what I keep trying to tell people. Everyone forgets this loss if they make a run in March. This team is talented enough to do something major and that’s what we should expect.
The concern is that losing at the very last instant, as you describe, is more like a pattern rather than "stuff happens."
Yeah, but I’m pretty sure more than one thing can be true at the same time.
Just because we’re a good team that lost to a tournament team that doesn’t suddenly invalidate everything else.
On the end of game situation strategy question...Would it be better to just sit back beyond half court on defense and let them come to you rather than giving them a sprint up the court with at least one defender completely out of the play?
I don't recall seeing anyone employ this strategy, but I am curious what others with more ball knowledge than I think. I suppose the amount of time left plays a big role here.
I don't recall seeing anyone employ this strategy, but I am curious what others with more ball knowledge than I think. I suppose the amount of time left plays a big role here.
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