UConn 71, Illinois 62 Postgame
- Status
63 Split
- Mesa, AZ
And a shout-out to all on this post-game thread. We all know posted comments can be understandably negative after a loss…complaints about players, coaches, refs, etc. We got 17 pages so far, and virtually all positive. A credit to all and a signal of the love for this team. Nice to see!!
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
Lotta open 3's.......just sit back and throw the 3, .....a couple of these had NO Illini close.
I had the same thought - I know coaches don't want to change heading into a big game (roll with what got you there, etc.), but I think when it comes to Jake starting it was almost just a superstition by that point (and why not throw a curve ball at the other team!) - Andrej was getting the starter minutes, so the opposing coaches knew that. I think UConn used it to their advantage knowing Jake was a matchup they wanted to go at. Starting Andrej would have at least allowed us to get some downhill one on one looks with Andrej from the start given they were sticking to our shooters. An early Andrej scoring burst could have changed the whole complexity of the game from the start.
Everything you say is born out by the numbers:
UCONN FGA% and Rank
2021 - 22 FGA% .403 (31st)
2022 - 23 FGA% .399 (16th)
2023 - 24 FGA% .392 (7th)
2024 - 25 FGA% .421 (78th)
2025 - 26 FGA% .403 (20th)
UCONN shot 35.5% from the field against (29% in the second half) on Saturday. We shot 33.9% on Saturday went 13- 30 from 2 point range (43%) and we average 57.5% from 2pt range.
You can draw your own conclusions.
All that said, our program is getting closer to the top of the NCAA.
Hessel Blvd
stop listening to sleepers
- the desert
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
The girls were fantastic. What a great National Anthem. I wish the game would have gone as well. So many missed layups. Our boys fought till the end. So proud. It was funny when crowd booed Hurley during the post game interview. Showed the power of the Illini faithful. Likely B10 trifecta - Indiana Naty football, UCLA natty WBB and Michigan natty MBB. Most money, most alums, most wins!
HoopCity
- Huntsville, AL
Please tell me what the 3 serious mistakes Z made that kept our top rebounded on the bench most all the game? Compare team stats and it makes you wonder why!!
For the year Z aver only 17min a game, top in team blocks and 3rd in Rebounds with limited min?
Final game minutes....
Z-6min Jake -17min. Ben-26. Mirk-28. Tom-33
Year starts don't lie....
Z. Min 638 Rebounds 167 Blocks 72
T. Min 865 Rebounds. 202 Blocks 20
Mirk Min 1089 Rebounds 297 Blocks 14
Ben Min 833 Rebounds 145 Blocks. 24
Jake Min 727 Rebounds 81 Blocks 8
Taris Reed physically imposing his will on Z would be the reason.
You have to shoot better than 35% to get more assists. UCONN's strategy was to double team the ball at the top of 3pt line. That is why the number of dribble drives to the rim and Keaton shooting (without a pass) 10 of our 26 three point shots. The rest of the team (combined) took 16 three pointers - Take Tomi out of the mix - the rest of the team took 9 three pointers. 44 of our 70 scoring attempts were inside of 9 ft. 38 were inside of 7ft. We also had 8 turnovers to their 4.
You have to give UCONN credit not just for their game plan, their execution defensively was excellent.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
The Illini adjusted very well in the second half. Reed was effectively taken off his game and a relatively non-factor compared to the first half.
The reality is that the coaching staff put the team in the best position to win. The problem is that not enough shots went in to win (and we had a lot of good looks). Some of those rim outs from three or two go in, and we are playing Michigan tonight for a championship.
Hessel Blvd
stop listening to sleepers
- the desert
I mean i get your point, but Uconn did it.
I was nervous all season when so much of our offense was match-up hunting with freshmen (Mirk/Wagler). They definitely exceeded realistic expectations.
I think this was probably the ceiling for this team.
Pretty decent ceiling.
I liked the second half adjustment and letting him be the “free safety” just hard when there’s 4 shooters on the floor
Yup. Meant on the boards though. Z’s length didn’t matter due to Reeds strength and physicality
We outscored them 22-21 over the first 15 minutes.
We outscored them 38-37 over the final 22 minutes.
They had a 2.5 minute 13-2 run in the first half where we missed 3 threes, 2 layups, and 2 free throws that won them the game.
They had a run. We didn't. That's the game.
It doesn't matter. But I wish more people (particularly in the media) realized how closely contested this game really was.
We outscored them 38-37 over the final 22 minutes.
They had a 2.5 minute 13-2 run in the first half where we missed 3 threes, 2 layups, and 2 free throws that won them the game.
They had a run. We didn't. That's the game.
It doesn't matter. But I wish more people (particularly in the media) realized how closely contested this game really was.
Hurley said in the interview with Goodman after the game that they defended us pretty much the same way they did in the November game. held us to the lowest point total since that game
When we went ahead by 1 after being down 9, we got two or three stops but failed to score. I thought that was a chance to gain a little control instead of having to battle uphill all night. In the end, the ball literally bounced the wrong way 10 or 11 times.
The Kylan layup. Andrej two missed free throws (both werent really close), and the Keaton airball.
I agree with you, there was a chance to open up a 7-9 point lead and get some real momentum.
No it wasn’t…their ceiling would have been basically EVERYBODY going on a heater on the same night…having one of our very best rebounding performances, really really clicking with ball movement AND simultaneously having Andrej, Wagler, and even Bos all finishing at the rack…knocking down our freebies and the whole ball of wax.
But we didn’t we ever see it. We did enough right to win in this one though… And UConn had a helluva a lot to do with the loss. It wasn’t a game planning issue/schematic problem/in game coaching deficiency in the slightest. It was all there. Our bench gave us more than enough to win.
This team was great. But that elusive near perfect game eluded us. But that’s life and that’s okay. Great team. Great guys.
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Hessel Blvd
stop listening to sleepers
- the desert
fair enough.
I was mostly saying FF was probably the ceiling. I was pleasantly surprised by making it.
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