Wisconsin 95, Illinois 74 Postgame

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#501      
Eric the Red, a prominent poster on Buckyville, gave an enthusiastic review of the Orange Krush’s appearance last night:
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Grateful Red is just dated and bad. Not even really evocative of a student section name.

What are some other bad ones? Oregon has the Pit Crew, which was great when they played at The Pit.. which ended in 2001. So it’s another name out of time.
 
#502      
Underwood said last night that he thought Tomi had only participated in one practice over the last month. I think this statement likely has a generous helping of coach-speak to it (i.e., it is a huge exaggeration) but I have wondered all year about how much the team practices organized team offensive actions. Underwood supposedly told (last night's televised game analyst) LaPhonso Ellis before the game that we don't really run an offense .... Again, that is probably a misquote, an misunderstanding, and coach-speak. But ... I am not sure how many reps anyone gets with the Spain action, for example. Or OOBs. Or ... lots of stuff.
I thought he meant they couldn't run an offense due to the slew of injuries/illness. Can't plan when you don't know who's playing.
 
#503      
A team full of Jake Davises, Justin Harmons and Coleman Hawkinses is going to be on par with the Groce years. Ask KSU fans how having Coleman as your main guy has worked out. And in the last two seasons we’ve had two fan favorites not be happy with their roles and red shirt (with at least one of them leaving). These are guys who our fans have been quick to label Every Day Guys, but in the end they both wanted bigger roles than BU envisioned for them. And rather than fight for bigger roles, they packed it in.

It’s easy to look at the team when things are going poorly and say we would have been better if some of the guys didn’t transfer. But I don’t think any one of those guys makes a huge difference by himself, and all of them back isn’t likely a core that goes far. TSJ and Marcus covered up a lot of deficiencies. No guarantee at all that you find two guys like that.

In the end you want talent with some continuity. But making that work isn’t always easy to do — from a personnel side or from a scheme aspect. Does this team have talent? I think it certainly does. Did it have the continuity? No. If that continuity isn’t there, it is up to the staff to recruit new guys who will be open to the culture you’re creating — and to actually instill it in them. You also need guys on staff who can make scheme adjustments when plan A isn’t working. That to me has been the biggest failing by staff.
To be more clear I’m not saying we shouldn’t be brining in talent. There’s an alternate universe where we are starting Sincere/DGL/Ty/Amani/Morez and getting crushed in B1G play. I’m more talking about things like bringing in Tre White to compete with Ty, Ty redshirts and then Tre and Ty are likely gonna transfer at the end of the season anyways. Things like bringing in Boswell, to start, getting outplayed by DGL and still starting. Letting Goode walk and bringing in the “upgrade” with Humrichous who’s shooting 35% from 3 (32% in B1G play), while Goode is at 40% (45% in B1G play). I mean Carey Booth was supposed to be one of those high talent guys, and he just played 6 minutes in a game with Ivisic on the verge of death. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch Underwood favor new guys who are frankly not very good for the new shiny toy.
 
#504      
To be more clear I’m not saying we shouldn’t be brining in talent. There’s an alternate universe where we are starting Sincere/DGL/Ty/Amani/Morez and getting crushed in B1G play. I’m more talking about things like bringing in Tre White to compete with Ty, Ty redshirts and then Tre and Ty are likely gonna transfer at the end of the season anyways. Things like bringing in Boswell, to start, getting outplayed by DGL and still starting. Letting Goode walk and bringing in the “upgrade” with Humrichous who’s shooting 35% from 3 (32% in B1G play), while Goode is at 40% (45% in B1G play). I mean Carey Booth was supposed to be one of those high talent guys, and he just played 6 minutes in a game with Ivisic on the verge of death. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch Underwood favor new guys who are frankly not very good for the new shiny toy.
I feel like this beats everywhere but the bush here. When you've got a whole bunch of shooters well below their career averages, a bunch of other players underperforming, and you've got two players who just weren't good enough for this level in Booth and Ben who our coaches put a heavy emphasis of our resources into bringing here, the common theme is poor coaching. At the end of the day, our roster has too many flaws and our team has been way too poorly prepared for games to overcome the injuries and sicknesses we've had in the team.
 
#505      
To be more clear I’m not saying we shouldn’t be brining in talent. There’s an alternate universe where we are starting Sincere/DGL/Ty/Amani/Morez and getting crushed in B1G play. I’m more talking about things like bringing in Tre White to compete with Ty, Ty redshirts and then Tre and Ty are likely gonna transfer at the end of the season anyways. Things like bringing in Boswell, to start, getting outplayed by DGL and still starting. Letting Goode walk and bringing in the “upgrade” with Humrichous who’s shooting 35% from 3 (32% in B1G play), while Goode is at 40% (45% in B1G play). I mean Carey Booth was supposed to be one of those high talent guys, and he just played 6 minutes in a game with Ivisic on the verge of death. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch Underwood favor new guys who are frankly not very good for the new shiny toy.
I don’t think it is as much “new shiny toy” as it is a further shift in offensive philosophy — specifically emphasis on 3-point shooting and spacing as well as positional size. Have the moves worked out? Obviously not like we would have liked. But it is also easy to say it was a bad strategy once you’ve seen results. And it is never a bad strategy to try and improve talent.

Booth is a mystery. He some how got broken. But he didn’t “replace” anyone. Dain was not coming back. He wasn’t happy with his role and didn’t fit the offense well.

I agree it is frustrating to see how things have worked out. I’m certainly not happy with the season. You don’t have many posts, so I’m not sure if you were against all the other moves you mention when they happened. I wasn’t, and I don’t think the majority of the board were either.

There were plenty of people that might not have been high on Ben, but most people seemed more concerned that Goode was transferring to IU than that he was transferring at all. It’s not like he had a great overall season last year. I think most people were very happy to see Boswell brought in. His overall stats are on par with last year’s except up in rebounds, slightly higher in TOs and a huge decrease in 3-pt shooting % (must be because he got fletched //s). That last one is the killer. But why would one expect a player like him to be down 15 percentage points from his career average coming into the season. I give DGL credit. I’m sure he wasn’t happy with his initial role, but he worked hard, gave team a spark off the bench and worked his way into starting lineup before his illness threw a kink into things.

I also had no problem with bringing in Tre White. Adding talent and depth is a good thing. Unlike DGL though, seems like Ty was unwilling to come off the bench, work hard, compete, and increase his role during the season. It’s not like he would not have had a role and it role likely would have gone up as season went on. But we’ll never know cuz, ummmm cuz, he wanted assurances he’d start? I don’t particularly blame him for red shirting. He has to do what he feels is best for him. But I don’t pine for a guy who folded up his table before season starts. And in my book he certainly forfeited his chance to be called an Every Day Guy.
 
#506      
To be more clear I’m not saying we shouldn’t be brining in talent. There’s an alternate universe where we are starting Sincere/DGL/Ty/Amani/Morez and getting crushed in B1G play. I’m more talking about things like bringing in Tre White to compete with Ty, Ty redshirts and then Tre and Ty are likely gonna transfer at the end of the season anyways. Things like bringing in Boswell, to start, getting outplayed by DGL and still starting. Letting Goode walk and bringing in the “upgrade” with Humrichous who’s shooting 35% from 3 (32% in B1G play), while Goode is at 40% (45% in B1G play). I mean Carey Booth was supposed to be one of those high talent guys, and he just played 6 minutes in a game with Ivisic on the verge of death. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch Underwood favor new guys who are frankly not very good for the new shiny toy.
I think you're onto something here. Instead of taking ice baths, we should be soaking overnight in the sweat of Ayo, Kofi, TJ, and the like.
 
#507      
Grateful Red is just dated and bad. Not even really evocative of a student section name.

What are some other bad ones? Oregon has the Pit Crew, which was great when they played at The Pit.. which ended in 2001. So it’s another name out of time.
How is it dated? Specifically 'grateful red'.
 
#509      
There are some parallels between KJs lack of development and Andre Curbelo.

KJ is obviously way better and 5” taller, but his bad habits have gotten worse as the season has gone on (careless passes, loose with the dribble, one handed passes), along with the “no offense” offense have contributed to his turnover issues.

It might be an overstatement to draw the comparison, but still. If your offense is street ball, the pg isn’t getting reps learning in a system. I don’t even think it should be a good thing for recruiting to have no structure.
I don't really think KJ has gotten worse with his habits.

He just got into conference play where you are consistently playing tough opponents and teams have nearly 30 games of scouting on him and the Illini offense.

Every opponents defense focus is on him and opposing defenses are blitzing him on ball screens or when he drives and daring someone else to beat them.
 
#511      
I think you're onto something here. Instead of taking ice baths, we should be soaking overnight in the sweat of Ayo, Kofi, TJ, and the like.
Frustrated Clint Eastwood GIF
 
#512      
It's so discouraging for me that it seems we're going to lose DGL next year. I just can't wrap my head around how someone that is so loyal, hard working, brings high energy and has seemed to be the highest talent person on the court in several games this year doesn't get rewarded Somehow. the coaching staff doesn't feel he deserves playing time over others he constantly out performs? If he leaves after this year I can't help but think this is a huge blunder for Underwood. Possibly there's off court stuff we're not aware of, if not this is very puzzling.

But...but....but.....DGL gambles on defense sometimes though! Apparently in our staff's opinion that warrants not giving him minutes while we continue to play dudes who are softer than dog poo.

Pay no attention to the fact that he's shooting almost 47% from the field this season (2nd highest on the team for a guard) and brings the most energy and fire when he's in the game, gotta clean up those 1-2 defensive gambles a game!
 
#514      
There are some parallels between KJs lack of development and Andre Curbelo.

KJ is obviously way better and 5” taller, but his bad habits have gotten worse as the season has gone on (careless passes, loose with the dribble, one handed passes), along with the “no offense” offense have contributed to his turnover issues.

It might be an overstatement to draw the comparison, but still. If your offense is street ball, the pg isn’t getting reps learning in a system. I don’t even think it should be a good thing for recruiting to have no structure.
If he gets it together like Curbelo in the B1G tourney then it was all worth it.
 
#515      
I don't really think KJ has gotten worse with his habits.

He just got into conference play where you are consistently playing tough opponents and teams have nearly 30 games of scouting on him and the Illini offense.

Every opponents defense focus is on him and opposing defenses are blitzing him on ball screens or when he drives and daring someone else to beat them.
Ant Wrights breakdown really did a great job highlighting it....
Kylan is unplayable with KJ. Completely negates what KJ does
 
#519      
I've read a lot of harsh post on here and on X. At times I have been hard on the team. Our team is built up with fighters that go out and play when sick or injured. So damn proud of this group, win or lose. This is a team of real men, no whiners. I'm excited for each and every game we have left, wherever that may be. We have to remember that we are the youngest team in the Big 10. We are already overachieving with a terribly young group. This is and always was a rebuilding year. I cannot wait what is in store for the future!!!!
 
#522      
You have no business being part of an NBA program as a talent evaluator if you listen to an agent saying those things and base evaluations on an agent. That is what agents do build up their clients, who cares what they say.
That's what I was thinking but I know nothing about the NBA/agents/etc.
 
#525      
But...but....but.....DGL gambles on defense sometimes though! Apparently in our staff's opinion that warrants not giving him minutes while we continue to play dudes who are softer than dog poo.

Pay no attention to the fact that he's shooting almost 47% from the field this season (2nd highest on the team for a guard) and brings the most energy and fire when he's in the game, gotta clean up those 1-2 defensive gambles a game!
Yes, some don't gamble on defense but just get flat out smoked time after time and that's ok because they were in the right spot and just let someone score right through them or so slow on their feet that people just go around them. The latter people get 30+ minutes and DGL gets minimal.

It sure would be nice to have someone that the opposing team can't sag off of, to double KJ. Who is the person that's fast and athletic enough to drive and finish at the rim on our team if someone plays off of them? I just don't get it.
 
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