Illinois Post Game Thread | Page 13 | The Boneyard

Illinois Post Game Thread

RuffRuff said:
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).

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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?
 
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.
 
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!
 
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storrsroars said:
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?
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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.
 
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Rocktheworld said:
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.
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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.
 
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BigErnMcCracken said:
Something we should all be able to agree on.
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You would think so but nah...

Screenshot_20251128_213249_Chrome.jpg
 
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.
 
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KingAG said:
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.
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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.
 


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)
 
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Jaydumo20 said:
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.
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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.
 
Gurleyman said:
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.
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Well observed
 
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Rocktheworld said:
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.
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You are arguing with yourself. I have not once asked for us to beat every team by 40. I’ve echoed Hurley. We lax on our intangibles when we have big leads. It’s the sign of a team still growing. It’s an area we can improve on. If not eventually it will bite us in the ass. It’s not a one off. There is always something to improve on.

Now tell me what I said that was silly?

Did you know not 1 starter scored a fg in the final 15 minutes? Remember “foot on gas”? That’s the next level for this team. And they’re going to get there. And when they do it’s night night.

They closed tonight better than BYU(thank you Malachi). And I expect it to continue to improve

Now I’d love to see exactly what about this you “disagree” with. Or if you just want an argument lmao.
 
I really like Stewart. But I am shocked at the many missed opportunities he had today to have a breakout performance, and he missed every one of them. SMH... He needs to sit as soon as Mullins is in game shape.
 
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Tangentially related, but the other day I tossed the Illinois radio broadcast of the 2024 elite 8 game on for background noise because I was curious.

My favorite part was when Newton was shooting free throws as the 30-0 run began and the play-by-play guy mentioned Newton was first team All-America.

The color commentator, who could not remember any UConn player names half the time, and couldn't pronounce them correctly the other half, laughed upon hearing that fact. Quite classy.

A fitting moment of hubris for the run that was about to unfold.
 
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