Blue Highlander

January 18th, 2024 at 10:18 PM ^

Brad Underwood seems like he is enjoying coaching about as much as Lou Henson (or Gene Keady).  Actually having trouble thinking of a coach who’s doesn’t seem like it might explode at any moment.

Joined: 12/04/2022

MGoPoints: 3783

Qmatic

January 18th, 2024 at 10:19 PM ^

You know if it was just a case of “not having the horses” I’d be able to accept some of this. Like in 2015 from January on where we had Dakich and Lonergen in the rotation, 6’6 Bielfeldt as our Center. That team at least competed and did the little things well.

The stagnant offense, no rebounding awareness at all, poor communication is just so evident. And to think, we have some players on this team. 

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 33016

1blueeye

January 18th, 2024 at 10:19 PM ^

It’s over. No chance this staff can fix this, I’ve seen Amaker and Ellerbe. This is the same, Beleins attention. To details made him unpopular in the NBA, but for college it’s so important, This staff is the opposite. Might work in the NBA but not here, 

Joined: 02/13/2014

MGoPoints: 2907

Qmatic

January 18th, 2024 at 10:21 PM ^

I really hope Dug doesn’t bolt. He’s the type of 4-year PG who can do special things senior year (I think of Frank Mason, Quinn Cook, Jalen Brunson).

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 33016

JamesBondHerpesMeds

January 18th, 2024 at 10:25 PM ^

I said in the other thread that I’d give Juwan the rest of the year. If the team could fight like they did against Ohio state, he’d probably deserve another year to right the ship.

this game suggests he doesn’t deserve that.

Joined: 04/13/2009

MGoPoints: 39719

XM - Mt 1822

January 18th, 2024 at 10:44 PM ^

it's not that we have no talent - we actually do, though probably more modest than the illini.  it's that we don't do the basics that johnny-Y-league can do like hustle and block out.   that is coaching.  that is heart.  that is character.  if our hoops team played like our football team we'd be a top 10 or top 15 team, pure and simple. 

Joined: 12/21/2011

MGoPoints: 104456

rob f

January 18th, 2024 at 11:45 PM ^

To me, maybe with that level of effort the lower rungs of the top 25 is their ceiling.  This team would have to show up on top of their game lot more consistently. We saw a few days ago vs OSU a complete game out of this team. 

But tonight it was 11-2 Illini before we finally hit our 2nd bucket at the 15:04 mark.  We're not good enough to overcome that large of a deficit and finish a game against top 25 teams very often, especially a team as talented as Illinois.  To me, they're what a rising ↑↑↑ top 10-15 squad looks like, what a well-coached hustling team looks like.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 195689

Dwarrior

January 18th, 2024 at 10:48 PM ^

I wish I could be like some folks on this board and be all Joey Sunshine and give pats on the head and participation medals to a team and staff firmly at the bottom of the conference but I’m a realist. This is as bad as it’s been since Ellerbee. Maybe you can take solace in that they supposedly fought back tonight. But committing fouls to extend the game is hardly fighting back. How about not turning the ball over? Or perhaps not ball watching and instead box out with force? Juwan will probably get a couple more years to turn things around. But realistically I only see more of this. At the end of the day you are what your record says it is. And we’ve become cellar dwellers. 

Joined: 01/27/2013

MGoPoints: 6865