We had just played Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday and found out that we needed serious work against the press when we collapsed against West Virginia weeks ago.
So why did we come out looking overwhelmed by the Illini? Why didn't Cuonzo have different plans to attack it besides a below average ball handler picking up his dribble as soon as he crossed half court? Why the high pick and roll when it invites traps and clearly overwhelms our guards?
Why, when the threes clearly weren't working, did we not try to establish Tilmon down low? when he was scoring every time he touched the ball inside. And then after we did that for a bit, go back outside and see if the threes would start falling.
Why didn't somebody get in Jontay's ear, when it was clear his head wasn't in the game, and try to light a fire in him? I saw Mike giving him more pep talks than anybody on the coaching staff.
I've been a huge Cuonzo fan, but he got pantsed last night on a big stage by a huge rival, both on the court and in recruiting, and that really stings. If he can't get his guys to come out with more fire than that, in a game that should've been personal to several guys on the team, especially him and Jeremiah, than that is incredibly disappointing and frankly a little alarming.
Hope we get it figured out, but i'm afraid we're going to see more than a few performances like last night as the season goes on.
So why did we come out looking overwhelmed by the Illini? Why didn't Cuonzo have different plans to attack it besides a below average ball handler picking up his dribble as soon as he crossed half court? Why the high pick and roll when it invites traps and clearly overwhelms our guards?
Why, when the threes clearly weren't working, did we not try to establish Tilmon down low? when he was scoring every time he touched the ball inside. And then after we did that for a bit, go back outside and see if the threes would start falling.
Why didn't somebody get in Jontay's ear, when it was clear his head wasn't in the game, and try to light a fire in him? I saw Mike giving him more pep talks than anybody on the coaching staff.
I've been a huge Cuonzo fan, but he got pantsed last night on a big stage by a huge rival, both on the court and in recruiting, and that really stings. If he can't get his guys to come out with more fire than that, in a game that should've been personal to several guys on the team, especially him and Jeremiah, than that is incredibly disappointing and frankly a little alarming.
Hope we get it figured out, but i'm afraid we're going to see more than a few performances like last night as the season goes on.
