IDK, have either of those 2 thrown a chair across the court or demolished a garbage can lately? What is their forte other than winning a bunch of games and championships?
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Wisconsin 78, Illinois 69 POSTGAME
IDK, have either of those 2 thrown a chair across the court or demolished a garbage can lately? What is their forte other than winning a bunch of games and championships?
Even though we now live in an "everybody gets a trophy world", the vast majority of coaches do not coddle kids at this level. You might see plenty of flowery comments during recruiting as well as in the media during their career but I guarantee you most kids are getting their a$$ chewed from time to time. And both the smart ones and the good ones know that it is only for their own good. If they can't handle it, they shouldn't be playing at this level because they don't have the mental toughness to succeed.
IDK, have either of those 2 thrown a chair across the court or demolished a garbage can lately? What is their forte other than winning a bunch of games and championships?
Bobby was pretty successful too, wasn't he?
At least I had sense enough to go to bed at halftime and watch it in the morning. Still crazy enough to be reading this, but enthusiasm is gone. Will hopefully regain some for next year, but not sure I will. Normally with the NFL over I focus on the Illini, but my in season interest is severely waning. Drove ~4 hours each way to RU last year, but have no interest in doing it this time around.
Will admit that W presents a bigger matchup problem for us than some other teams, but we seem to be the only B10 team getting hammered by the stinkin badgers.
I think BU is a good coach and hope there is more additions next year than Ayo. Illini sports are just depressing. At least the Patriots lost the super bowl. I live in MA and am sick of hearing for the locals. Who is in worse shape, Bears, White Sox, Illini football or Illini basketball?
Go Illini! (managed one exclamation point)
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
In fact, when Deron was in town recently, he repeated for the players and the press a story I've heard before. The players didn't like Bruce at all and were not buying into his system at the beginning. But after a time, as they began to see results, they started to convert and by the end of the first season they were completely sold. That is when they really took off.
The obvious difference is that Bruce was given a better chosen team, with more talent and a bit more seasoning. So, BU is not likely to have the same trajectory.
But the concept is one that we should be looking for, imo.
My feelings, exactly!
I think BU has done a great job. Luck has really gone against this team in many games which makes this season look FAR worse than it is. Developing a winning culture is really what is important now. Yes they are undermanned but SFA was as well. A winning culture is coming and it's going to be fun.
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illini80
- Forgottonia
BU's biggest failure so far was in overestimating the ability on this team. With so many shortfalls everywhere you look, the choices were 1) Devise a system that would try to maximize the current roster strengths and make changes later when the personnel allows, or 2) Put the system in place and recruit players to the system.
It's clear which direction he has chosen and now it's on him and his staff to get those players. This system clearly doesn't work well with the current roster, but hopefully he can develop and recruit to a much better future. I believe that will be the case, but it may take longer than I hoped.
It's clear which direction he has chosen and now it's on him and his staff to get those players. This system clearly doesn't work well with the current roster, but hopefully he can develop and recruit to a much better future. I believe that will be the case, but it may take longer than I hoped.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
another thing people tend to overlook is how intense BU is during the games....It'[s his job to coach and I'm surprised his head hasn't exploded after the season we have endured...I judge him on his demeanor in the pre and post game pressers...he is articulate and knowledgeable with concise answers and throws himself under the bus if warranted....look , times have been tough for the Illini for over 10 + yrs now....BU says that UI is his dream job , an elite job....let him do his job and get the players to do their job.
we are seeing a lack of coaching previously that no one could overcome with the lack of big time talent on the team...we have talent , but it is lacking in balance and basic bb IQ....
now I'm pumped....daggumitt....go ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The day to day skill development under Groce was average at best. He picked his asst coaches and they were not good skill development guys. Walker was the one I saw ever do skill training when they show practice sessions online.
SKane
- Tennessee
I don't want to throw any rain on the parade but I guess that I will.
OSU was predicted to be in the same tier as Illinois this year or maybe even worse.
Yet OSU is doing great and IL is doing very bad.
Did OSU actually have better players than most people expected or did they get coached up with a better system? I'm not as willing to write it off to luck.
Not to say that BU can't turn it around but the results so far do not lead to optimism.
OSU was predicted to be in the same tier as Illinois this year or maybe even worse.
Yet OSU is doing great and IL is doing very bad.
Did OSU actually have better players than most people expected or did they get coached up with a better system? I'm not as willing to write it off to luck.
Not to say that BU can't turn it around but the results so far do not lead to optimism.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
OSU has a POY candidate and plenty of beef in the frontcourt...we don't...
SI pre-season: OSU #11, Illinois #13 and Mark Alstork, newcomer of the year!! How accurate was that??
SI pre-season: OSU #11, Illinois #13 and Mark Alstork, newcomer of the year!! How accurate was that??
I don't know if it was just me or not but at one point last night I thought it looked like Alstork was playing with some attitude, and not the good kind. Maybe I read too much into it but there was one trip down the court where it looked to me like Alstork did not want to give the ball to Frazier. I read into it that he might be a bit jealous. I've been a proponent of Alstork on here because of his defense but you can't have that. Well, and he probably needs to shoot less... that is one of the ugliest shots on the team.
Cook
- Richmond, VA
What I have a hard time trying to figure out with what's going on is when we hear the staff spends massive time practicing certain things, but then those things totally fall apart right from tip-off.
So either the staff can't teach well, the players can't take coaching and apply it, or they refuse to apply it, or the staff can't properly hold them accountable to execute what they want them to...
I don't know what the breakdown is, but there's a major problem if you're spending a ton of time practicing and teaching something only to watch it all immediately go to hell in a hand basket in basically every game.
So either the staff can't teach well, the players can't take coaching and apply it, or they refuse to apply it, or the staff can't properly hold them accountable to execute what they want them to...
I don't know what the breakdown is, but there's a major problem if you're spending a ton of time practicing and teaching something only to watch it all immediately go to hell in a hand basket in basically every game.
the few games before last night, Alstork was very effective offensively. Our 7 assists vs their 20 shows difference between disciplined offense or not.
On our D....zone more and hope they dont hit their 3s is best defense against Hap when we are not strong defensively down low. Deny defense didnt work.
On "most frustrated"....I'd put 17 March 2015 in the mix for " most frustrated" w.r.t Illini B ball
look up that game, if you are curious; hint... it was last game of that season in NIT and the end of 3 game losing streak.
3 more weeks and it wont matter. It is already Frazier's team so it really doesn't matter now either.
Having coached basketball for almost 30 years at the high school level the caliber of players you have makes a big difference in how you look. We run a lot of 1-3-1 trap it looks good when we have the kids and not very good when we don't. Have coached it the same way for 20 plus years talent just changes. Not sure right now that Underwood has the players to truly do things the way he wants to. All coaches look better when they have talent.
I thought this team would come out with a lot of energy to win this game. We haven't beaten WIS. in years, got crushed the first time they played, and were playing at home. Instead, Wis. came out like that except for two players.
They shot 53% from the field and from 3! You can't win games like that. Don't those guys have any heart or pride or toughness in them.?
They all played scared except for the 2 I mentioned, maybe Jordan. Did you see em' on offense, it looked like they were playing hot potato. Nobody, wanted the freakin' ball.
This WIS. team is very beatable and Illinois makes em' look like Big Ten Champs
They shot 53% from the field and from 3! You can't win games like that. Don't those guys have any heart or pride or toughness in them.?
They all played scared except for the 2 I mentioned, maybe Jordan. Did you see em' on offense, it looked like they were playing hot potato. Nobody, wanted the freakin' ball.
This WIS. team is very beatable and Illinois makes em' look like Big Ten Champs
Deleted member 500209
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Really...??? All this BS about coach U being too tuff on the guys...we lost the last two games because of two players from Illinois that left Illinois to play for Thad and Bo rather than Groce. Connecting the dots, they got the tuff guys, we got Groce’s guys. They win, we lose. Tougher mentality and making shots will bring wins. Sometimes those two factors go together.
Deleted member 500209
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Oh, btw the national defensive player of the year last year played HS in Illinois and went to play for whom? Hint: he’s not a softy.
The Underwood is too mean argument has no basis.
The Underwood is too mean argument has no basis.
My comment was that he was being tough, and some tend to not like that so they tune it out. That is an observation, might be wrong, but body language says alot. Don't know what others say, but you can see it in their eyes. When the wheels come off, nobody can put them back on.
Lucas is always looking to bench when whistle blows, Smith , Alstork do same. Probably most of them do. Him being tough is good, but not sure it's working.
IMO, think Alstork was highly overrated, and has been a factor in how this squad is going ATM. BU has no other direction to go, no other option, and that is why we have to make the best with what we have.
Myself expected alot from the squad, I guess Smith the most, but I was wrong. Thinking a bunch of freshman, with 5 other guys , that had no idea what the system was, would be successful. The lack of talent has slowly worn their own confidence, it has left us with the kids playing like they are.
Thing I can't understand is why they all are afraid to shoot? If you miss a good shot, you might sit? Hell, at this point, does it matter? Trent dribbles alot now, and basically drives and throws a circus shot up, alot drop, but I sure wouldn't call it a offense.
To sum it up, lack of talent and confidence, is where we are at now. Unless BU can instill some confidence, we will go only as far as this talent can go. Purdue and Sparty, lurking, could be a long February. Keep fighting Illini