Wisconsin 95, Illinois 74 Postgame

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#327      
Oracle21
I’ll tell you what is expected.

We got 2 NBA picks (Riley/KJ), and a very high priced Arizona transfer (Boswell). We got a head coach that is paid a top 10 salary. When you have those amount of assets invested in the team, you expect more return than what we are getting.
 
#329      
Oracle21
blife said:
He is Marcus Domask like
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He was a good player at Colorado State. No idea what happened at Mizzou last year as he only played 8 games and very few minutes. Must have been injured bc I’m sure Mizzou wishes they still had him.

Blackwell/Tonje is the best scoring backcourt WI has had in forever, and all their stretch big men can shoot as well. Very well rounded offense that works the ball around.

I’m not sure if Tonje is big enough to play 2 guard in the NBA, and he’s def not a PG, but as a do it all college scorer he’s great. Pure stroke, scores at all levels. 3s, post ups, mid range shots. Bounces off defender and step back. You need a tall athlete to defend him and IL didn’t have anyone that ticked those boxes
 
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#332      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
this team lacks tanicity and bite. wasn't a issue for those guys. and if it was, it was only a game or two, and they knew to learn from adversity and correct it.
 
#333      
PNWIllini
Illiniguy13 said:
The arc of this season is truly astounding. Can’t say I’ve seen a collapse like this... Can you believe for a good chunk of the early season BU was a favorite to win NCOY?
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Just the famous 78-79. We beat number 1 MSU and Magic Johnson to go 15-0. Steve Lanter gets injured. We lose to OSU by 3. We finish up 19-11 and miss out completely. From 15-0 to 19-11. That one still stands out.
 
#336      
SAELION
HereSoIDontGetFined said:
I look at it like this. Among KJ's most impressive plays were no look or seemingly impossible passes that he did in the first five games of the season.

Now, when KJ is dancing around in the lane, players know to block off passing angles to open spots where a cutter might be, and look, turnover!

It's that simple. I've seen it happen a ton of times. It looks really bad on TV, like why was he throwing to triple coverage? Because that worked in game 5. We ain't in game 5 anymore.

Could you perhaps scheme other ways to do it? Sure. But is KJ good at any of those things? Well, that's the real trick, isn't it?
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Very observant comment. When KJ drives into traffic and tries to pass out of it all 5 defenders (and several on the bench) swarm and block the pass for a turnover.
 
#337      
Brosky
NIT here we come. BU is not doing his job. We have too much talent and depth for a performance like this. This wasn't just a loss, it was a disgrace.
 
#338      
Brosky
For me, the most deflating part is the lack of progress. Before the season started, we were opining that this group would progress with time. Unfortunately, just the opposite has been the case.
 
#339      
dainjazoner
down 6 at halftime. it was a winnable game if you made adjustments and you didnt. vegas had it opened as a 3.5 pt underdog. enough with the excuses already
 
#340      
PepeSilvia
I mean Cal just isn't a good X's and O's coach though.

Also, we aren't Duke and can't build a roster like Duke. It's also working because they have a generational type freshman in Flagg plus 5 other freshman that were rated in the top 50.

Per 247, Ngongba(21st) and Harris(40th) are both glued to the bench despite being very highly touted recruits. Evans(14th) is averaging 13 minutes per game.

The 3 freshman playing heavy minutes were ranked 1st, 4th, and 18th. Then they surrounded those freshman with two veteran guards in Proctor and James plus a sophomore former 5-star in Foster. Then they have veterans like Gillis and Brown in supporting bench roles despite having been more productive elsewhere.

Duke legitimately has guys that are higher rated than prospect Illinois has gotten glued to the bench or minor supporting roles. Plus I honestly don't even know if it works without a freshman star like Flagg.
 
#341      
PepeSilvia
Well if he doesn't it's all on Brad for not playing him.

Boswell is averaging 30 minutes per night and is worse than Dra.
 
#342      
SescIllini
DGL put on a nice tape for other teams to see in the portal. Go back in time and see how little he played Morez when the game was already won.
 
#344      
the sports sage
I thought both Dravyn and Ben did very well in their interviews. I was particularly impressed with Ben's maturity and savvy in answering questions. He controlled the interview like a seasoned pro and it's not like he's been playing the past few years for a high profile D1 school.

Here's something important to consider: underdogs always have more "freedom" to perform well due to lower expectations. It's logical to expect this team to only win 1 or 2 of its remaining regular season games and possibly experience an early exit from the B1G tourney and a low seeding for Madness. But if this team gets back to almost full health (MJ being the one exception) and they stick together and maintain a level of confidence, I see a script coming together for a surprising run starting a month from now (isn't it a bit shocking that the big dance is still a month away...that's plenty of time to get healthy).

The next 2 weeks may be tough to watch but let's see how healthy we are when the B1G tourney begins. And seeding won't matter to this team if they get healthy.
 
#346      
the sports sage
Here's another crazy "made for Hollywood" story for this team. Shannon was the energy behind last year's deep March run. What if that happens again this year? The inspirational way he turned something embarrassing for the school into something super positive for those in need while basically ignoring the fact that he was the victim shows the kind of character we want every Illini to embody.

What if this unfortunate incident during a most unfortunate ending of a game becomes the impetus for one of the most unexpected resurgences in recent memory? Our players take the upside down impact of sickness/injury and turn it into another deep March run...and the T-shirts become the banner our players and fans wear as we rise like a Phoenix and defy the odds. It's not a stretch to think it could happen. And there won't be any pressure nor expectations. It could happen.
 
#347      
blackdog
Just an observation from last night. Tre went to the line in the second and he is very visibly sucking wind trying to get his breath. Nobody on Wisconsin seems tired at all.

This was a team early on that relied on high energy and effort to win games. What happens to that energy and effort when you've been sick, missed practices and, are no longer better conditioned than the guys you are playing against?

That doesn't necessarily explain everything but I think it goes a long way toward why they've struggled so much recently, especially on the defensive end. Offensively they need to change philosophies and it seems like Brad knows that but again limited practice time to be able to accomplish that so you get a disjointed mess instead.
 
#349      
OrangeBlue98
In other words, YMCA noonball offense. I see it all the time at the community college intramural games at the gym I attend.

TSJ and Domask sure covered up a lot of coaching issues.
 
#350      
Vinegarben
This team is a total car wreck. Injuries, sickness, poor coaching, turnovers and just poor play have sent this team spiraling into a total collapse. I have never seen anything like this. I refuse to watch the demolition derby that Duke will put on us Saturday! Brad should plead for mercy. When kids watch these last few games it will discourage them and they will turn and run the other way.
I have to say I am damn tired of hearing lottery picks--BULL--------SH-------------IT! KJ is suppose to be the super star, he is the leader, he should step up when his teammates are down but instead he plays one of his worst games! NBA my butt! He is so loose with the ball at 78 I can take it away from him! Brad better let DRA play or he will walk, maybe he and others will walk anyway! I just don't see them winning another game!
Brad needs to quit blaming their crash landing on injuries and illness and point the fingers at himself and his low IQ staff!
 
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