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General Category => Fighting Illini Basketball Forum => Topic started by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 10:19:31 AM

Title: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 10:19:31 AM
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401721346/usc-illinois

ILLINI -13.5

USC hasn't shown they can beat anyone of substance, it won't happen today either.

KJ still uncertain for play today, won't matter, and probably better against this team for additional healing.

White will have another outstanding game...23-8 maybe even a double double
Ivisis should get back in the groove
Humrichous should be huge inside with Rez as well

Game will set up nicely for DGL, imo, look for another 12-15 game from him I think, maybe bigger with uncontested layups/drives which he loves to do.

ILLINI  win this easily with or without KJ 91-70 on cruise control, getting some bench guys more minutes.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLove1997 on January 11, 2025, 10:37:41 AM
Man I just woke up now it's time to have some coffee and watch some kickass hoops, nice
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 10:39:11 AM
The dreaded 11 AM start. We haven’t been too good with those lately.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 10:59:23 AM
Just win. Keep this, and football, going.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 11:17:33 AM
USC comes out hot and our guys look like they haven’t gotten out of bed yet
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 11:18:33 AM
They keep talking about USC and the 9:00am start time....hell it looks like the locals forgot to wake up...this timeout (alarm) clock will hopefully go off.

ILLINI need to drive the ball...start out beating up the defense, they are not deep/or well coached against pick and rolls/drives. Get those points then open it up with the 3's for a B1G win.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 11:26:58 AM
Outscored, out rebounded, out hustled and outplayed.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ThePAMan on January 11, 2025, 11:29:49 AM
USC just happy no wild fires except their shooting
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 11:32:35 AM
Shot selection not great. Boswell NBA 3's aren't it.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 11:44:32 AM
Much better defense the last 2 USC possessions
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 11:49:39 AM
Played as poorly as possible so far, (based on season play) and we are there at the half...B1G 2nd half defensive and drives needed.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ThePAMan on January 11, 2025, 11:49:44 AM
Liked that Johnson did not back off defensively there.

Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 11:50:06 AM
Shot selection not great. Boswell NBA 3's aren't it.

I am incensed about that so far...
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ThePAMan on January 11, 2025, 11:50:17 AM
Smart play by TGL there too
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 11:51:43 AM
Didn't play well and somehow have the lead with 38. 38 in the 1st half is fine. Giving up 36 is the problem.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 11:53:39 AM
Played a god awful half of basketball and still lead a hot shooting team at halftime. Thank god we bought our free shot shooting today.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Judge Judy on January 11, 2025, 11:59:13 AM
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn been stepping up lately. Playing much better than Riley…
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 12:13:54 PM
Desmond Claude looking like prime MJ
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 12:29:56 PM
Still being outrebounded by the 264th ranked team in rebound margin.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 12:32:03 PM
Will Riley is tanking our chances of victory
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 12:40:23 PM
Bad, bad, bad loss. Even without KJ we should have beat these scrubs.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Reacher on January 11, 2025, 12:42:07 PM
Of course the Illini are about to lose at home to a 9-6 team just when they are on the verge of cracking the top 10. Things are rarely easy as an Illini fan.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 12:46:15 PM
We're about to lose at home to a team that got clobbered 71-36 by Saint Marys. And the 36 is not a misprint.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 12:49:37 PM
I think I remember hearing about our height advantage in the front court. Outscored 40-30 in the paint and Ivisic with 5 pts and 3 boards.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 12:54:52 PM
After Oregon and PSU Underwood was asked it we can play better. He answered saying we've raised the floor.
The floor sunk back down and the win vs Oregon is now in the trash bin.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Judge Judy on January 11, 2025, 01:01:28 PM
After Oregon and PSU Underwood was asked it we can play better. He answered saying we've raised the floor.
The floor sunk back down and the win vs Oregon is now in the trash bin.

Yep…
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 01:05:11 PM
This is exactly what happens when you show up to a game not prepared to fight. USC came to play from the opening jump. We looked like we were still tucked in our beds. They killed us on the boards and in the effort category. Pathetic.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 01:07:29 PM
This is exactly what happens when you show up to a game not prepared to fight. USC came to play from the opening jump. We looked like we were still tucked in our beds. They killed us on the boards and in the effort category. Pathetic.
It's the coaches job to have the players ready. We got out everythinged.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 01:13:32 PM
It's the coaches job to have the players ready. We got out everythinged.

For sure. Completely embarrassing performance from everyone.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Custard on January 11, 2025, 01:17:31 PM
W
T
F

W
A
S

T
H
A
T
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ThePAMan on January 11, 2025, 01:19:01 PM
For sure. Completely embarrassing performance from everyone.

Are we still in the Golden Age?

I'll wait until The Only Tournament That Matters to get miffed at Underachiever.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLove1997 on January 11, 2025, 01:19:29 PM
💀💀💀💀💀💀
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 01:27:54 PM
W
T
F

W
A
S

T
H
A
T

Death. Taxes. Brad Underwood team dropping a home conference game to a middle-of-the-pack conference team.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 01:51:52 PM
Oh, we were 14 1/2 pt favorites.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Custard on January 11, 2025, 01:53:29 PM
Really a bizarre game of literally everything going wrong at the same time.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Lkdog on January 11, 2025, 02:13:45 PM
Have not watched a lot of Illini this year. Tough to compete without the guy that makes everything go.
Bad shooting night and some bad shot selection at times. Not sure what we were doing on D.
We have a lot of talent, but need KJ back on floor.

From what I can see so far- we really can be very good. When we are not hitting threes and not connecting on D we are pretty vulnerable, but you could say that about most anyone in top 15-20.
These upper tier teams are all so interchangeable these days. Question is who can play enough D and get on a heater in March.

Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 02:40:46 PM
The dreaded 11 AM start. We haven’t been too good with those lately.

Told ya. Still not an excuse for the shitting we did all over the court today.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLove1997 on January 11, 2025, 03:34:51 PM
https://old.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1hz4ybm/the_illini_cant_play_in_the_morning/

Apparently have lost 9 in a row during 11am games
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 11, 2025, 03:38:57 PM
https://old.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1hz4ybm/the_illini_cant_play_in_the_morning/

Apparently have lost 9 in a row during 11am games

I knew it was bad. I didn't know it was THAT bad.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 11, 2025, 04:27:12 PM
https://old.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1hz4ybm/the_illini_cant_play_in_the_morning/

Apparently have lost 9 in a row during 11am games
That's awful. In the last 3 games we've been favored, we've lost by double digits. In the 2 home games we were double digit favorites. smdh
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 05:09:40 PM
Ivisic and Riley both no shows....1 drive early, dunk and then nothing else but hoisting 3's.

Riley ISN'T NBA yet and will/should not be drafted on promise alone. Way to young, body needs more Fletch, and he needs to really really work on ball handling/shot selection.

Both will be somewhere other than the NBA next year, lets hope it is here.

DGL needs to start imo, only drawback is having smaller guards height wise.


Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 11, 2025, 05:10:54 PM
https://old.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1hz4ybm/the_illini_cant_play_in_the_morning/

Apparently have lost 9 in a row during 11am games

USC should of had the early start time issues not us at HOME, no excuse for this one, and now with the NW loss, it will hurt later even more.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: illiniray on January 11, 2025, 05:34:04 PM
After the Oregon game, I was afraid the team had peaked too soon. Apparently, not.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Gokuwearsorange/blue on January 11, 2025, 09:59:53 PM
Illinois has had these type of games in mid January for like the past 4-5 years. Illinois was w/o KJ,  so don't freak out. This loss is  not going to define our season.

Underwood does need to settle down on this 30+ 3pt attempts a game though.






Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 12, 2025, 07:14:09 AM
For things to look forward to, we do have an 11am game at Sparty next Sunday. ⏰️ 🌞
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Lkdog on January 12, 2025, 10:51:03 AM
https://old.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1hz4ybm/the_illini_cant_play_in_the_morning/

Apparently have lost 9 in a row during 11am games

Wow. Crazy.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Miles Leonard on January 12, 2025, 02:33:10 PM
Now for some positivity:

These types of peculiar losses in mid January, usually at home, have become a staple of the Underwood era. I remember a few of John Groce's teams going into East Lansing and beating Sparty @ Breslin. Shit happens. The good news is we've been able to overcome those losses for the most part and go on a run. This next week with a couple tough road games - one being @IU and the other one an 11 AM game @Sparty - will tell a lot about where we stand. I'd happily take a split there. Getting KJ back would be real nice obviously.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 12, 2025, 06:37:14 PM
14-6 was the way to early prediction that I had...we are on pace.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Reacher on January 13, 2025, 03:23:02 PM
Not that it matters that much, but this loss tanked our ranking. Two extremely impressive blowouts didn’t help us much. We’d have been pushing top 10 with a win. We are 19.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on January 13, 2025, 03:44:21 PM
Not that it matters that much, but this loss tanked our ranking. Two extremely impressive blowouts didn’t help us much. We’d have been pushing top 10 with a win. We are 19.

Lucky to be there imo, no excuse for that home loss with out home court advantage that we have normally.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Jobu on January 13, 2025, 03:53:45 PM
Yeah, shitty loss. Let's see what happens.
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: ThePAMan on January 13, 2025, 04:45:11 PM
Not that it matters that much, but this loss tanked our ranking. Two extremely impressive blowouts didn’t help us much. We’d have been pushing top 10 with a win. We are 19.

Let me know where, and how,  the Illini finish in April....
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: illiniray on January 13, 2025, 07:55:11 PM
We got a 6 PM road game coming up..
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: No one in Mn on January 14, 2025, 06:44:32 AM
Not that it matters that much, but this loss tanked our ranking. Two extremely impressive blowouts didn’t help us much. We’d have been pushing top 10 with a win. We are 19.
The team we beat by 32 on their floor took our spot at #13. 🤷😃
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Lkdog on January 14, 2025, 10:01:08 AM
Not that it matters that much, but this loss tanked our ranking. Two extremely impressive blowouts didn’t help us much. We’d have been pushing top 10 with a win. We are 19.

That is quite an avatar.  ;D
Title: Re: ILLINI vs USC 12 ET, 11 CT , 10 MT on BTN
Post by: Lkdog on January 14, 2025, 10:03:43 AM
I think with these revolving door AAU rosters and then trying to play NBA style ball at this level you will see some wild swings in performances at times.
We will see how this comes together in a few weeks.