After the 22/23 season, this year was fabulous. Don’t think we’ll have this success next year do enjoy. Illini are seen as basketball school again.
My one complaint before I turn the page and appreciate this season is that after the abysmal start of the game, I thought there was no way we would run Ty out there to start the 2nd half. He has to develop at least a midrange jumper for next year or bigs will clog the lane every night. Love his motor and effort, but he has to be somewhat of an offensive threat.Rodgers knew what he needed to do with the Center on him strategy, and he just couldn’t execute. Feel bad for him. That’s tough. Better days ahead for him.
This. Seems like we tweaked our game too much and gave them too much respect, and it made us disjointed. If we played to our normal ability this is a close game. If we played great then we could have definitely beat them.Marcus calmly did his usual Marcus things but everyone else including TJ was either waaay sped up or waaay too timid (sometimes both). We play our normal offensive game and we’re up by 8 at the half. They couldn’t make a shot in the first half either.
You fear that he's going to leave because a special season came to an end and he won't be playing alongside 7 or 8 of those guys ever again and he was crying because of that? If he wasn't upset, I'd be concerned. He cares. If he was smiling, you'd feel better about his return?I have a terrible feeling that Ty is gone because of how tearful and upset he is. I hope I'm wrong...
A few things:
1. I'm sad our streak of no double digit losses had to end, and so spectacularly.
2. This is all Jeff Bezos' fault for not getting skyldub's orange Liquid Deaths delivered on time. All Illini should now boycott Amazon until which time we win a Natty.
3. Still proud of our boys for a terrific season that exceeded expectations. All seasons should be so fun and all teams should represent the O&B with such class, humor, and humility. I'll always have fond memories of this season and this team.
Yep. Gut wrenching way to go out. This team deserved respect and sadly that wasn’t what we earned tonight.not the way we wanted it to end but i really enjoyed this team and this season. ILL
Agreed and great takeaway.My one complaint before I turn the page and appreciate this season is that after the abysmal start of the game, I thought there was no way we would run Ty out there to start the 2nd half. He has to develop at least a midrange jumper for next year or bigs will clog the lane every night. Love his motor and effort, but he has to be somewhat of an offensive threat.
Amen. 71 yo.I love this team. I love this coach. I'm proud of every single one of them. Thank you for the memories for a guy that is getting old enough that he doesn't know how many are left. ILL!
No it's not. Coach had it correct. Referees were not calling him for 2, 3, 4 ,or 5 fouls. 1st half should have been up 10 with all his and Uconn fouls at rim. Just horrible the way game was officiated that 20 minutes. 2nd half we simply got blitzed.I should add, my original post was all positives, it is still fair to be critical of Underwood for that gameplan and performance.
You are 71 years young, brother.Amen. 71 yo.
Thank you for saving me typing that. It’s exactly how it occurred to me, too. No recognition and adjustment. Absolutely bewildering. Can’t recall seeing anything like it.Seriously I've seen the film. He's good...but he's not as talented as Edey.
We were like 4 year olds trying to go straight at dad.
That first half UConn shooting slump was the break we needed.If I told you before the game they shoot 17% form 3……
most obvious missed call this season.......no Illini within 5 feet of the ball and ball clearly went off the Klingon...........................-I proclaimed we would win at half and I really believed that. I quickly realized when a clear out of bounds on big guy went against us and then an over the back discard and they get an offensive rebound, we might be f'd. Suddenly we are down 10 and stunned. TJ has a nice drive and a no call, but still our ball. I could see the body language...it wasn't good.
-I thought the lessons of playing Edey would pay off, they certainly did not.
-My resolve is stronger than ever in my 41 years for Illini MBB.
-In my eyes, this is the first time we were just beat. Uconn is money, they are a beast. We had a blueprint and were right there. Unfortunately, we will be made fun of and probably most by people who didn't even watch this game let alone any of our season. F em.
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***Illini for life!!!
Bronx cheer?When Harmon made that layup, ending UConn's 30-0 run, the folks at the local bar in Campustown Champaign cheered as if we were winning the game.
So proud of the team and our fans. It is the last year of my PhD program. What a season it has been for our basketball team.
NoBronx cheer?