They were not at all impressive tonight. But last Sat., in W. LaFayette, they were a well oiled veteran team hitting on all cylinders. Their Achilles is rebounding and the ability to slow down elite perimeter shooting teams due to the size of their guards. They can at times....however...be the most impressive team in the nation. But like all great teams, including the Illini, they can look horrendous when they are fatigued and hitting a lower % of their shots.
Going on the B1G road when tired is, unfortunately, a recipe for a loss. The Illini will likely suffer another loss, maybe two, under such conditions to someone other than the top 5 contenders. Pretty sure there are a % of posters who do not understand that and will go ballistic with denigration when it happens. Our guys strive for consistency in every area, but sometimes, regardless of intent, energy sags and the rim shrinks. Been that way since Doubleday nailed his first peach basket to the wall. Condition all you want, practice all you want, yell and hyperbole all you want... it will not change anything. But teams chasing the biggest carrot of all, if they have depth, can fight through it better than others, especially when they have a team full of shooters....like the B1G leading Fighting Illini....I hope.
