Wisconsin 92, Illinois 90 OT Postgame

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#501      
BoiseBaller
Officiating in this league is a joke … It’s been AWFUL this season …

Not just for these last two games for us … Across the league …
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It's been like that for years. No accountability. These guys go out night after night and are piss poor at their jobs, yet still keep getting to call games.

I'll die on the hill of officiating being a big reason why the B1G underperforms in the tourney. You get into games where contact is called correctly and you have no shot when you grab, bump, hold on every exchange of the ball.
 
#503      
blackdog
Morning after thoughts. College basketball is a weird thing. When two competitive teams play there are so many different factors that can impact the outcome of a single game. Especially true when you are factoring in the sometimes uneven performance of college athletes. Its why almost nobody goes undefeated and why winning a single elimination tournament gives us so many wild results.

Just 5 days ago everyone was talking about Illinois as a title contender and having a good shot at a deep run. 5 days later its the same team, plus some short term injuries to key players. We lost two really wacky close games during that time that realistically could have gone a completely different direction. Also at the end of a stretch of playing more games than anyone else in college basketball according to Brad, 11 games in just over 30 days. This team hopefully has a couple days to regroup, refocus, and come back out firing for the stretch run but the potential doesn't change based on two probably unrepeatable results.
 
#504      
rdk573
Rebounding Dog said:
Help me understand when in the first half where Jake picks off a pass and goes into our half court and tosses it back to Keaton…. we loose possession based on back court violation. Looks like Walger is in air and on our side of the court.
What am I missing or not seeing? I have rewatched it several times… is there an explanation I am missing?
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I think the ref just blew it on the call
 
#505      
SummerofGeorge
We were down 2 starters, gave up too many offensive rebounds, and lost turnover margin 13-4. Cannot rely on officiating to overcome playing poorly. Great teams find ways to overcome inconsistent officiating (and it was bad). I just think that is the level this program has elevated to.
 
#506      
Geno33
Indy Illini Fan said:
Officiating in this league is a joke … It’s been AWFUL this season …

Not just for these last two games for us … Across the league …
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I agree 100%, Watching the end of his post-game press conference you could definitely see how frustrated brad is as well. I've watched a lot of other conference games, and Big Ten officials are by far the worst. Especially high knees and the bald-headed guy tonight. Pathetic.
 
#507      
HailtotheChief
Our ball handlers were awful tonight. Mirk and Keaton combined for 8 assists, 9 turnovers , and 8 of 16 from the line.

We also lacked the quickness to get to long rebounds. I dont like how BU doesnt give some of the quicker ball handlers that are finally healthy and needed any real opporrunity. We have seen this before from Brad and its not good.
 
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#508      
Bevoillini
Couple of observations about the game last night which I attended. The crowd was off, not much energy except for a couple of brief times. The officiating was atrocious as well, but I have a hard time blaming them when we turn the ball over14 times vs 4, don’t make our FT’s. The staff has to figure out how to give Wagler some rest. I understand we were 2 players down but he has to give the kid a break periodically . Teams have been playing him much more physical the last several games and you can see the toll it’s been taking on him. The other thing I noticed was Wisc guarded the 3 point line down the stretch and we did not. Let’s get Indiana.
 
#509      
ILL-Intentions
Ok ok, enough Petro talk. What about Toni Billic? Could he have played a few minutes for defense and a Wagler breather?? /s kinda
 
#510      
Second place is 1st loser
illinifan1971 said:
It's very obvious. Our 2 best defenders were out today and they hadtwo really good guards that could penetrate. We will be fine.
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After sleeping on it and getting the bad taste out of my mouth....all we can do is the best we could do with 6 guys. I can see where Brad wouldn't want to go when the smaller guards(Petro ridiculously small) because we were getting hammered by the bigs/bigger guards already. Those guys would have been hunted out. He ride and died with what he had a available.

Our bigs, we're in an impossible situation. You're asking them to try and fight Wisconsin on the glass, while at the same time, get out to guys like Blackwell. Mirk was charged with that assignment and it's just an enormous ask to be able to do reasonable well.

None of this even begin to address the other offensive side. Wagler and Mirk were the two major violators at the line, but given what we needed from both .....you just can't get made.

We were in position to win, but again, there was just no gas left.

We need to get fully healthy. We can't have those types of critical pieces missing, especially at the same time.

Hopefully, we're up and running for Sunday because the guards are going to be under siege again.
 
#511      
chief
I had no idea about the 10 second call that didn't get called
 
#512      
Second place is 1st loser
hoopsfan47 said:
Unfortunately, though I wanted MP to prove capable and deserving of minutes, I can beat him off the dribble....and I am 78 Y/O. Seriously, not once this season have I seen him make a good defensive play, something we should have suspected from watching tape on him before offering.

And shake my head on all the takes by people that have seen him do nothing all season on defense while BU sees him every day. Can he possibly know more about his own players that the fans? Many sure don't think so, but I will bet my life that BU has an infinite amount of wisdom in the game such that I would bet my life he knows better than anyone if Petro can be trusted. That is defensive deficiencies are not evident to all is bewildering.

But as much as anyone, I hope he works on his defense and improves to the point of becoming serviceable in the future. However, against the MSU and Wisky guards is not the time to fail your way to success.
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I think a big issue with him is his size. He is incredibly tiny to be run out there versus a team as big and physical as Wisconsin. We had enough trouble battling on the boards, he just would have exacerbated the problem.

Brad's option was to try and win a grinder. He's proud of the guys who played through basically the entire game. I am too.

We need to get guys back. Can't lose guys of that caliber and just assume it's business as usual.
 
#513      
HailtotheChief
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I’ll listen to the Brandon Lee should have got some run stuff.

But outside of that, as far as tonight goes, idk what other options you got.
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When the 2 primary ballhandlers have 9 turnovers maybe at least try your 1 true PG who wasnt healthy the for half the season, was a star in the 2nd best league in the world, and hasnt had a true opportunity to see what he can do only playing 37 minutes in B10 games. Most of which is in mop up minutes. When Keaton sat for a minute we lost a fairly good lead in literally a minute due to turnovers. When we have seen guys not get a real opportunity here so they go elsewhere and go off. We lack quickness to the loose balls and ball handling without Kylan and we need to play a true at times PG to help Keaton. Brad wont and Mirk cant do it extensively vs quucker guys.

We need someone to get in the lane sone and create besides Keaton. Tomi did posting and Mihailo once again was not given a chance.
 
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#514      
Second place is 1st loser
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I’d say we deserved to get makeup calls tonight. The problem is we played a team coming off a game where they get jobbed worse than us.

From a pure entertainment standpoint. I’m not sure why the league wouldn’t have wanted a banger Illinois versus Michigan title game. But hey, idk
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You are 100% right. Indiana was absolutely gifted that game versus Wisconsin. I don't complain about the refs much, but that was highway robbery. What happened to them was blatantly bad by anyone's measure. Even IU fans knew they received a gift.

I'm not going to say that they were handed anything after what occurred to them. Last night was the one team that caught it FAR worse than us.
 
#515      
Vinegarben
Well the Illini just let MSU, Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, UCLA, Wisconsin all back in the race. They controlled their own destiny with MSU and Michigan coming up they laid 2 eggs against MSU and Wisconsin.
Absolutely no excuse for those losses. They led MSU by 9, Wisconsin on the ropes by 12. Poor defense once again.
This is the 3rd game I as I recall shooting below 60% at the free throw line [lost all 3 games] Keaton missed 2 big ones in regulation [1 with just seconds to go that would have won the game 82-81. Mirk missed 2 big ones in O.T. No excuse to shoot 46% from 3 and can't make a damn free throw.
No excuse to go without a basket for about the last 5 minutes of the game. Keaton and Mirk with 9 of the 13 turnovers! They shot 14 of the 19 free throws and only made 8 [57%] clang clang clang.
I said earlier that the Wisconsin and Indiana games would see what they are made of after an OT loss. I guess we have part of the answer.
I don't know why Stok didn't play but they need Boswell and him back against Indiana of we will see another Loss. What happened to all that depth and size advantage? Wisconsin had their way on the offensive glass.
Last this team looked very tired down the stretch. Did they peak way too soon?
 
#516      
thehass
Back to back games where opposing guards have been the difference between winning and losing. Bos and Sto can't get back soon enough!
 
#517      
Oldskoolkoach
Does this loss sting? Yes
Is it the end of the world? No

We played a 6 man rotation against a full strength 17-7 team that beat Michigan at Michigan, 3 days after a very physical OT game 3 days ago.

In addition, we were missing 28 points from our starting 5 and had 1 guard playing in this game.

Should we have won? Yep
Life's tough, sometimes the cards dont line up, the boys gave it their all and didnt have it last night.

Get healthy, mentally prepare, watch film, make adjustments and win Sunday!
 
#518      
WeLoveNoOther
hoopsfan47 said:
Getting beat to death is a result of him taking it to the rim on every other chance....he gets physically attacked and that is what happens in the B1G...and it very likely won't change.

However, it seems he was getting a lot of calls earlier in the season that have not been called in the last half dozen games or so. The kid is a true star and he should be as protected as anyone else....but he is not.
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Seems to me the turning point was his Purdue masterpiece. Ever since then teams have been noticeably more physical with him, hich was to be expected. But suddenly he's getting no calls on the hand checking and bumps and especially in the lane.

I don't think any player should be "protected" just because they are a star. But just call the d*mn fouls that are there. 🙄
 
#519      
theNewGuy
Waking up this morning sucks. I can't imagine how the players are feeling. Back to back OT losses in games they should have won.
I think this game cost Brad any shot at being the B1G coach of the year.
I think this game cost this team a shot at B1G champs.

I hope this lights a fire under their butts and makes them realize that EVERY single rebound, free throw, and turnover counts.

Positives: we have still not lost in regulation since December.
Maybe this L will drop us a seed line but get us into the right locations
This performance still does not change how I feel about this team. You were hurt, the refs sucked, and yet still made it to OT with a chance to win it.

If Keaton hits that 3 at MST, or his FT last night, it's a 14 game win streak, despite everything...

Bottom line - Get Healthy
 
#520      
rbse
heartbreaking to watch the score on your phone, don't know that I would have wanted to watch it. Was the tall bald head "Lurch" guy one of the officials? He's the worst in all of college ball referees, can't believe the coaches haven't had him removed from officiating.
 
#521      
Roundball Sage
IllinoisGrad0609 said:
Very little positive to say about this game.
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From a purely Illini point of view you are correct.

But from a purely basketball overview... those Northerners did what you are supposed to do out there when the game is on the line and in peril.

When The Northerners fell behind by a decent amount of points they did not ease off and quit. They got mad and turned it on. They made shot after shot without letup. They quickly made a 20-point-game turn around and the stunned Illini could not handle it. When challenged, the Illini folded... in front of a home crowd that was hungry to see the Illini get back on track after a tough prior loss.

There is some major soul-searching that this Illini group has to do before Tournament time. Just like the prior game... the result of this game does not bode well for the Tournament.

The mark of a good team is not just how you look when things are going well on the floor. The mark of a good team is knowing how to turn a game around when the other guys are threatening to steal the game away.

Good teams hold big leads in the second half on their home floor. Good teams win games in overtime instead of having to wonder what went wrong. There is time to fix this... but time is growing short and the Tournament is looming large.

Illini... we want to believe.
 
#522      
Curbelo Fanboy
This game brought back the bad memories of what I call "Underwood Specials". Home losses that just should not happen. We seem to have at least 2 a year & that costs you a line or 2 on the seeding at the end.

Objectively Brad has done great things for this program & I am not one of those crazy "fire the coach" types, but to be honest he is not a good in game coach "when stuff goes sideways". We look like the best team in the country when the 3 ball hits but when it doesn't we have struggles. Shot good in this game except for from the line so tonight it was other things.

He has had a solid month without Boswell to figure out how to hide Petro, Lee or some walk on for 5 minutes a night to give Wagler a blow.

I just don't trust him in a big spot against say a UCONN, Duke, Arizona type of team to come up with a game plan that catches the other team off guard. Kind of guy that can get you to the sweet 16 but the title is probably a pipe dream.
 
#524      
FormerIllini
Oldskoolkoach said:
Does this loss sting? Yes
Is it the end of the world? No

We played a 6 man rotation against a full strength 17-7 team that beat Michigan at Michigan, 3 days after a very physical OT game 3 days ago.

In addition, we were missing 28 points from our starting 5 and had 1 guard playing in this game.

Should we have won? Yep
Life's tough, sometimes the cards dont line up, the boys gave it their all and didnt have it last night.

Get healthy, mentally prepare, watch film, make adjustments and win Sunday!
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This.

We lose 2 games in a row. One very physical, poorly officiated but hang in and lose in ot. The second a grinder with one of our primary creators out and only playing six guys and again lose a tight one in OT.

Common denominators in both: free throws, silly t.o.s, and poor rebounding (which is the killer for me). Too many times got caught watching. Not sure if fatigue issue or the boys just think they are gonna out tall everyone but it has been really underwhelming to watch us go from dominant in that area to even. Hopefully someone lights that fire back. Watching closely during both you see many times our bigs are getting a discreet (sometimes not so discreet) push in the back when going up which I agree is trash officiating.

But to add to what a few have said. Winners move on to the next. Can’t control officials and while it appears uber difficult in this league we gotta continue to fight for ours. Don’t change our game. Force the refs to make a call.

Get healthy and let’s right the ship starting this weekend.

PS: the stadium atmosphere is embarrassing. I think I read an argument that often times it’s a result of the play in front of them. WTF do they want to see. We battle, generally play hard, but rarely get that extra juice that any former athlete knows that comes from a rabid fan base. I remember teams used to hate coming to SFC due to Krish crushing it. They would travel incognito etc etc. don’t think I’ve seen that at all recently. And unfortunately I’m out of state so I don’t get to go to many. But we went to Nashville for the game and I can say with 100% certainty our crowd was louder there than they were last night.
 
#525      
GoodePodzMelendez
You cannot win in this conference without a bench. I have said for years you need 9-10 guys in your rotation in case or if needed via import r illness. We have played with 7 for a few weeks and 6 last night. We are falling into the same mess we did in 2022 where thev team was gassed by the BTT. I blame Brad for misses with Lee and Pertro. They are roster fillers instead of rotation players. If we have another injury like to Keaton we are skrewed as we have no replacement for him. He cannot keep playing 38 minutes a game. Last night we played 6 guys over 30 minutes. Who had Davis getting 30 a game on their Bingo card? Davis has stepped up but he cannot stop stopping the ball. Our best two perimeter defenders we on the bench last night. If we had full health, minus Rodgers, we would have won both these loses. Let us hope that Boz will be back this weekend along with Andrej.
 
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