Illinois Post Game Thread

[RuffRuff]

How does that have anything to do with his toughing it out through pain, which he already did this season to make sure we beat BYU? Don’t try to move the goalposts; you sound no less idiotic for your initial post.

What is the “koolaid mafia”? Please expound

Lay out your 10:1 good:bad points.

Exactly. And yet, he played through whatever discomfort he was still experiencing to help us win. Are you that dumb that you don’t realize you’re defeating your own stupid point?

Did you not watch Tarris last year? He was a beacon for inconsistency. He tends to be a bit moody out there at times, often when things are going his way. When he's on, he's an alpha.

The tribe that comes after you when you say one critical item.

Not ten, but multiple. Reibe, Malachi, AK, Ross........

Best game by Malachi so far in a UConn uniform.

Mullins looks like he will be very good. Just wait to he finds his footing.

Mullins looked great - he can get up. He's active, and aware. Doesn't look nearly as slight out on the floor. Can't wait to see him in longer stretches.

 

[aboogieee]

Great win, and the bench really gave off 2022–23 vibes. They stayed aggressive in the second half; the shots simply didn’t drop. Other than a few tough shot selections from Ball, the only thing I didn’t love was Jaylin not giving up the ball on either fast break—one to Ball, the other to Reed.

That’s two games in a row with a play run for Ross! I used to pray for times like this..

 

[Rocktheworld]

Did you not watch Tarris last year? He was a beacon for inconsistency. He tends to be a bit moody out there at times, often when things are going his way. When he's on, he's an alpha.

You haven’t answered the question as to how you’ve arrived at the conclusion that Reed is “soft” and doesn’t play through pain. But don’t bother anymore; it was more so a rhetorical exercise in demonstrating how dumb your post was.

The tribe that comes after you when you said one critical item.

What’s the “kool aid”?

Not ten, but multiple. Reibe, Malachi, AK, Ross........

You can make 100 nice posts. If you make an unfounded and embarrassingly stupid post to denigrate one of our players, some of us will take you to task. Suck it up and deal with it, or keep the dumb thoughts to yourself. Don’t be a child and call us some “mafia” over it.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Underrated story of the night, we shut down 2/3 of their big 3, those guys are excellent scorers, credit to the team defense for really clogging the paint.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Solid game overall. We were in control wire to wire. We outrebounded a team with good size throughout the rotation. We kept our fouling under control which kept the FT shooting margin in line.

Reibe continues to impress. These are great minutes from him while Reed is playing through injury. The confidence is building.

Mullins was rusty, but I liked what I saw. He plays smoothly and utilizes off ball movement very well. He is a baller. Any negatives to be said about Mullins 10 minutes are solely because they were his first 10 minutes of college ball after being sidelined for weeks.

 

[thekollieman]

I thought from the outset that Tarris looked limited in his mobility, so I definitely applaud him for making an impact however he could, but I admit I’m worried about the potential for season-long nagging injury. Like Hurley said, “we can’t do this without him.”

 

[HooperScooper]

No offense...you might be one of my top 500 favorite BY posters but I think your takes are terrible

When you post 500 takes a week you're bound to have some good ones and some bad ones. But just by the sheer number of posts he makes there are a relatively large number of bad ones and that's what stands out to many people.

 

[mauconnfan]

The reports of Ball’s and Karaban’s demise in play were greatly exaggerated.
View attachment 113943

Well Alex was great on both ends. His D and help D was really good and he made great cuts on O. Happy for him and us. Solo, well good first half but just as bad in the 2nd half. Played too many minutes in the 2nd half Malachi should have had a few of those especially late 2nd half. He’s way too worried about kicking his legs out to get fouled on his jumpers, stop please and just shoot the ball. He’s awful from 3 was hoping when he made his first it would change but it didn’t and he missed a few badly. If it continues Mullins will eventually get some of his minutes.

 

[uconn_jack]

That court was terrible on the eyes.

Yes, and they need to take the NBA 3 line off, I think it was throwing both teams off again.

 

[storrsroars]

Pretty good analysis, emphasizing the importance of AK on the team, as a key QB of their set actions. Which slow down and tire high scoring teams like Illinois, forcing them to chase/defend through picks and actions. One of the secrets of the Hurley system (and what kept us in winning distance to Florida last year).

What is this "mental thing" Dan Hurley is talking about regarding Solo at 21:23? Said he's getting counseling from Ray to get his head straight or something?

 

[Hunt for 7]

Did we win this afternoon? I thought we did but then I started reading this thread……….

 

[Kitaman]

I predict that our bench will become our identity, and a story line in every game. Quite honestly things get more exciting when our bench players subs in.

This may be our deepest team ever, we'll see.

 

[Al Czervik]

Had incredible seats behind the scorers table and there were at least three times where they (and all UConn fans) were completely perplexed by the refs’ calls. Heard the scorers say, “wow, was fully expecting the opposite of what the ref called” (I.e., should’ve been in UConn’s favor, but was not). Completely understand why Hurley can lose his mind at the refs.

Smith was a DOG, so happy we have him. Assist machine and is a consistent disruptor on defense. Love that we rack up assists on offense. Mullins gets off the floor like koroma and Ross (ala shon Miller) - super athletes.

When fully healthy, this team is a problem for anyone in the country. Buckle up, we are ready for an even better ride this season!

 

[Hunt for 7]

What is this "mental thing" Dan Hurley is talking about regarding Solo at 21:23? Said he's getting counseling from Ray to get his head straight or something?

Has to be confidence and believing you are a great shooter so believe everytime the ball leaves your hand is it hitting the bottom of the net. It always seems to be confidence with great shooters.

Look at Hawkins in the NBA we all know how good a shooter he is but he can’t shoot 30% from three.

 

[dalydosehoops]

Mali’s world is home to stabilizing force on UConn’s bench

Malachi Smith launches desperation three that turned into four-point play and dagger for UConn against Illinois. (Photo by Fox Sports) NEW ...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[KingAG]

Spend more time watching college basketball. These are 18-22 year olds, it’s a game of runs, and Illinois isn’t a bad team. Did you expect another 30-0 run? We’re allowed to take a 20 point lead and it’s unfathomable for them to have a few 8-10 point runs of their own?

Think.

I agree with you. You’re arguing with yourself. We change the way we play with leads. We specifically stall out at the same point each game. I wish we wouldn’t. It’s nitpicking. If we figure that out we are the best team in the country. There’s some good teams out there. Michigan won 4 straight high major games by 40. I think we’re better. Standard is high.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

That Mullins pull up mid range was smooooth

 

[superjohn]

Something we should all be able to agree on.

You would think so but nah...

 

[FearThePups]

That court was terrible on the eyes.

And so was the camera angle

 

[87Xfer]

The 'yard. We beat a top 15 team, and I can't even tell what people are arguing about in the post game thread.

Fukkin Reibe and Number Zero today! We're good.

 

[FearThePups]

Damn. How good will this team be when they start making shots!?! UConn is a high ceiling team.

I also saw glimpses of the motion offense today reminiscent of our back to back teams.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I also saw glimpses of the motion offense today reminiscent of our back to back teams.

Yes, shocking that someone watched the game. Motion and off ball screens were much improved. Integrating new players isn’t as easy as we fans think.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I agree with you. You’re arguing with yourself. We change the way we play with leads. We specifically stall out at the same point each game. I wish we wouldn’t. It’s nitpicking. If we figure that out we are the best team in the country. There’s some good teams out there. Michigan won 4 straight high major games by 40. I think we’re better. Standard is high.

Im certainly not arguing with myself. You’re making silly statements out of what I appreciate you self-identifying as petty nitpicking. Why you’re proud of your own nitpicking is beyond me. That same Michigan team beat TCU by 4 and Wake Forest by 1 on overtime. Our dominant ‘24 team beat Villanova by 1. Butler by 7. SJU by 4.

We. Are. Not. Going. To. Coast. To. 40. Point. Victories. Over. Everyone. To whine over the fact that we don’t is just moronic. Don’t act like there’s some “standard” for that. It’s childish bluster.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Hurley on Solo: "Solo is obviously dealing with a mental thing, and he's in the locker room talking to Ray Allen. I stuck them in a room together so hopefully that gets rectified there."

lol.

He continued...

"But then, Malachi was awesome. And we were all living in Mali's World today. That was the most fun I've had in that world." (maliz_world is his Instagram handle)

 

[Gurleyman]

Im kind of over stats. They are revisionist. You are correct, but his 3 was timely. Also, solos 1st half is why we were up so big. That 1st half was so important it won us the game.

After Solo’s quick start, Illinois went all in for a while on defending him with everything they had. The back up guard Lee (#1) was put in essentially just to face guard him and then a second defender would shade his way coming around screens.

Solo made Illinois change their game plan - taking one of their offensive weapons off the floor for a defensive specialist. That’s when it’s time for other guys to step up.

And from Solo’s perspective - sure, he got some clean looks late once Illinois was playing more straight up that he didn’t convert. And he just has to be ready to knock those down - “ok, you cooled me off for a while, but now I’ll make you pay.”

But he had a big part in the win even despite cooling off.