Here is my analysis of this game and the team overall.
1st Half
- We came out very flat!
- They pressured the heck out of us in the first half and we refused to drive to the basket. This lead to many turnovers and to the Illini 20 point lead.
- We were soft most of this half and they took it to us inside and out.
- We shot poorly and took way to many 3’s. We rarely look to throw it inside and Jontay needs to learn to post up and play inside more. He is rather soft as like a lot of our players.
- Where was Puryear tonight? We need at least 10-15 a game from him.
- Our point guards didn’t handle pressure. Geist and Phillips didn’t because they apre not quick enough. Harris didn’t because of his lack of experience. It It time we play him 30 minutes a game and live with his mistakes. He is our future and he is the quickest and the biggest of our three point guards. Harris did show glimpses!
- The officiating was not real good in the first half and we got very few calls. I haven’t seen a well officiated game yet so I guess everyone just has to learn to live with it.
2nd Half
- We came out energetically and took it too them.
- We drove to the basket and it was effective. We drew a lot fouls and made some layups and we cut into their lead.
- We still shot too many 3’s and we did not shoot them that well again, but better than the first half. After about 10 minutes we quit driving as much and this hurt us.
- We gave up too many offensive rebounds in key situations, although I could have said that about the first half as well.
- Our bench didn’t play well tonight. I don’t remember anyone off the bench scoring and that can’t happen!
- Phillips made a few good plays and then did some really stupid things as well. His late 3 pointers in key situations should not have happened. The second one where he jumped up for a 3 and then came down with it was a killer. Harris needs to start playing more late in games.
- The refs were bad again, but we got a lot more of the calls this half. They didn’t cost us the game, but they helped them get a big lead and made it harder for us to come back.
Team Overall
- They share the basketball very well and get a lot of open shots.
- They throw the ball into Tilmon about 3-4 times a game and then forget about him. Tilmon needs to play more, but he must stay out of foul trouble in order to do that.
- Thanks goodness we got Roberto because he carries us a lot. He does try to do too much sometimes and he is NOT a point guard. He like our other three point guards is not strong with the ball.
- Barnett needs to take it to the whole more because he is shooting the 3 so well the drive will be there some.
- We are a work in progress. This won’t be the last frustrating half or game we have this year.
- We generally play hard most games, but we are very soft at times.
- Our team quickness is not great! However we are a rather tall team overall and generally rebound pretty well.
- We are a fun team to watch when we get rolling and share the ball.
- We have other flaws, but I am trying to show optimism!
1st Half
- We came out very flat!
- They pressured the heck out of us in the first half and we refused to drive to the basket. This lead to many turnovers and to the Illini 20 point lead.
- We were soft most of this half and they took it to us inside and out.
- We shot poorly and took way to many 3’s. We rarely look to throw it inside and Jontay needs to learn to post up and play inside more. He is rather soft as like a lot of our players.
- Where was Puryear tonight? We need at least 10-15 a game from him.
- Our point guards didn’t handle pressure. Geist and Phillips didn’t because they apre not quick enough. Harris didn’t because of his lack of experience. It It time we play him 30 minutes a game and live with his mistakes. He is our future and he is the quickest and the biggest of our three point guards. Harris did show glimpses!
- The officiating was not real good in the first half and we got very few calls. I haven’t seen a well officiated game yet so I guess everyone just has to learn to live with it.
2nd Half
- We came out energetically and took it too them.
- We drove to the basket and it was effective. We drew a lot fouls and made some layups and we cut into their lead.
- We still shot too many 3’s and we did not shoot them that well again, but better than the first half. After about 10 minutes we quit driving as much and this hurt us.
- We gave up too many offensive rebounds in key situations, although I could have said that about the first half as well.
- Our bench didn’t play well tonight. I don’t remember anyone off the bench scoring and that can’t happen!
- Phillips made a few good plays and then did some really stupid things as well. His late 3 pointers in key situations should not have happened. The second one where he jumped up for a 3 and then came down with it was a killer. Harris needs to start playing more late in games.
- The refs were bad again, but we got a lot more of the calls this half. They didn’t cost us the game, but they helped them get a big lead and made it harder for us to come back.
Team Overall
- They share the basketball very well and get a lot of open shots.
- They throw the ball into Tilmon about 3-4 times a game and then forget about him. Tilmon needs to play more, but he must stay out of foul trouble in order to do that.
- Thanks goodness we got Roberto because he carries us a lot. He does try to do too much sometimes and he is NOT a point guard. He like our other three point guards is not strong with the ball.
- Barnett needs to take it to the whole more because he is shooting the 3 so well the drive will be there some.
- We are a work in progress. This won’t be the last frustrating half or game we have this year.
- We generally play hard most games, but we are very soft at times.
- Our team quickness is not great! However we are a rather tall team overall and generally rebound pretty well.
- We are a fun team to watch when we get rolling and share the ball.
- We have other flaws, but I am trying to show optimism!
