Piper said KJ practiced yesterday... How on earth did we not play him????????
USC 82, Illinois 72 Postgame
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OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I don't think I'd go QUITE that far. Yes, Illinois should win just about all of their games at home. A game like the one against Tennessee will be a toss-up, as it is the #1 team in the country. But bad losses like at Northwestern and at home against Maryland (last year) or USC just can't happen. Auburn held on against South Carolina on the road. Iowa State held on to win at Texas Tech. UConn won on the road at Georgetown. Memphis struggled, but pulled out a win at home against East Carolina.
I can accept losses against programs like Tennessee and Alabama. Home losses against USC and any loss against Northwestern can't happen if you have serious aspirations of being a 1 or 2 seed.
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Lololololol ty
Over confidence…..
biglug58
- Chicago, IL
Not arguing one way or another, but I do think it’s hilarious the general consensus on this board before the game was to play it safe and hold him out regardless
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I was hoping to get through the game with a win and without KJ, but if he was able to go then he probably should have been in the game after about 10 minutes. It was pretty clear things were not going well by that time.
If he wasn’t in uniform, then c’est la vie. But he was in uniform, which made me think he could play.
biglug58
- Chicago, IL
24-69 would be our average. So just 2 below our year long average of 33.9%
Underwood said in the post-game that Illinois skipped their shootaround today because of the early tip off. How does a Midwest team use the time excuse when a west coast team is tipping off at 9am their time? The guys have all day to sleep! Get them there in the regular routine even if it starts at 5 am. Underwood clearly believed USC would be a cake walk and allowed the team to believe that too by letting them sleep this morning. C'mon man!
I get what you’re saying but don’t agree. I appreciate you being respectful about it.
Offense was atrocious
The insiders have been oddly quiet.
Hopefully the team was sent to their rooms/apts. to think about what they did.
Hopefully the team was sent to their rooms/apts. to think about what they did.
I think today against USC was a signficant setback. I think the staff and the players -- both -- are richly deserving of criticism. (yeah, I know, the best player on the team couldn't play.)
The main thing in my mind now is that the internal criticism --- players of themselves, and coaches of themselves -- will I think ultimately be what matters. I have a strong feeling that the Illini will end up winning more games after this setback and its soul-searching consequences than had the team won a game they very obviously should have won. So I am very, very disappointed about the performance and the loss. And yet with head bowed, I am as well grinning at the thought of what this setback will likely unleash.
The main thing in my mind now is that the internal criticism --- players of themselves, and coaches of themselves -- will I think ultimately be what matters. I have a strong feeling that the Illini will end up winning more games after this setback and its soul-searching consequences than had the team won a game they very obviously should have won. So I am very, very disappointed about the performance and the loss. And yet with head bowed, I am as well grinning at the thought of what this setback will likely unleash.
This was a classic trap game. Two big games on the road next week. Coming off a historic beat down of PSU. National media calling us the most talented team in the B1G, and a contender for a National Championship. I was worried going into the game. Looking flat and uninspired was not a surprise. The Illini just expected USC to lay down, but this is the B1G and no one lays down.
But this team is new/young, so this is part of the ongoing learning experience (about being EDGs).
You like learning experiences to come with a W not an L, but when BU doesn't consider playing KJ, has no warm ups, etc., it makes it seem that BU wanted this to be a challenge, and may have gotten more than he bargained for.
Remember the goal is in March Madness (and playing without TSJ last year helped the team grow into an Elite 8 team). Maybe this time without KJ helps us as well.
This game goes into the S#!t Happens category for me. Just get your head screwed back on straight and take the Hoosiers and Spartans to the woodshed next week. All will be forgiven.
One real positive - Ben continues to perform, and was maybe the best Illini player on the court today. That will be big down the stretch.
But this team is new/young, so this is part of the ongoing learning experience (about being EDGs).
You like learning experiences to come with a W not an L, but when BU doesn't consider playing KJ, has no warm ups, etc., it makes it seem that BU wanted this to be a challenge, and may have gotten more than he bargained for.
Remember the goal is in March Madness (and playing without TSJ last year helped the team grow into an Elite 8 team). Maybe this time without KJ helps us as well.
This game goes into the S#!t Happens category for me. Just get your head screwed back on straight and take the Hoosiers and Spartans to the woodshed next week. All will be forgiven.
One real positive - Ben continues to perform, and was maybe the best Illini player on the court today. That will be big down the stretch.
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biglug58
- Chicago, IL
Username checks out!
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