NU-Illinois Second Half Thread

[Straus2018]

It all has to start on the defensive end for the Cats. They can't afford to give up more than 25 points in the second half if they want to win this game. Also Demps and BMac will need to step up big- Sobo may very well have been NU's best guard in the first half

This post was edited on 2/28 7:00 PM by Straus2018

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

My fingernails might be safe tonight...

 

[Straus2018]

On one hand the only offense the Cats have going for them is Olah, but on the other hand feeding the post is not the high-paced offense that will get them back in the game

 

[Gladeskat]

Things are not going well when Maverick Organ is scoring put backs

 

[Gladeskat]

Where's Demps? Get Demps back in there.

 

[mikewebb68]

Great that the Illini saved their best game of the season for us.

 

[Gladeskat]

Tap!...Don't get cute...shoot!

Nice drive by Demps.

Get Olah back in there.

 

[willycat]

Afraid your right Virginia. Illinois is by far the better team tonight but they are sure playing thug ball and mostly getting away with it. At least two obvious flagarant fouls, one called and constant elbow swinging while on the floor, with no calls or even warnings.

 

[Katatonic]

Give the Illini credit, while they are playing a bit of thug ball, they are playing some tight D.

They are also hitting their 3s (sometime getting way too open looks) and the 'Cats aren't hitting enough of theirs to give Olah some help.

 

[Gladeskat]

Olah is wheeling and dealing tonight. Nice drive waved off, but he made his free throws.

 

[willycat]

Kat, agree but was just pointing out the chippy stuff that illinois is getting away with. Their 3 point shooting and NU's lack of the same is the ball game.

 

[Katatonic]

Did not say what I did - implying that you weren't giving the Illini credit (you did); just stated it in general.

Just one of those games where the shots are falling for one team and not the other (but the Illini are playing better D).

 

[Katatonic]

Not much positive outside of Olah this game.

BMac settled down and played better in the 2nd half and Sobo had a nice game.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

Illinois has to be one of the strangest teams and basketball programs in America. Who ever knows what to expect from them?

 

[Medill90]

Illinois has so much talent. Preseason I picked them along with Iowa and Purdue to come out of the middle of the big Ten and potentially make a run at the conference crown. I love Egwu. (Half of that is that he's a great kid. The other half is that he shows how far Olah has come along (having consistent, decent success against a former top 75 recruit)

I questioned whether it was coaching because I wasn't impressed by how they played in January and an Illinois poster took great offense.

If they could have played in the mindset and with the physicality that they played last night over the entire season they would be one of the best teams in the country.

 

[combes]

Thug ball on both sides. Actually, more like chippy ball. NU got frustrated and guys like Rice, a Black and Nunn won't back down when someone like Lumpkin or Olah gets "thuggy" themselves. Collins apologized to Groce after Lumpkin took the ball after one chippy play and tossed it at Groce.

Both teams have good kids. It did get chippy. And it wasn't one-sided.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Originally posted by combes:
Thug ball on both sides. Actually, more like chippy ball. NU got frustrated and guys like Rice, a Black and Nunn won't back down when someone like Lumpkin or Olah gets "thuggy" themselves. Collins apologized to Groce after Lumpkin took the ball after one chippy play and tossed it at Groce.

Both teams have good kids. It did get chippy. And it wasn't one-sided.

The only true "cheap shots" I saw came from Illinois players. That technical on Lindsay was very thuggish...

 

[WeberResign]

lumpkin undercutting rice was dangerous and should have merited a flagrant 2. how rice got a flagrant was the real mystery. lumpkin also avoided a tech after throwing the ball at groce. everything that followed originated with lumpkin.

This post was edited on 3/1 11:12 AM by WeberResign

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

I definitely disagree and the refs saw it the way I did, except I don't think Lumpkin should have received a tech at all. Regardless, no comment from you on the Lindsay tech? Not surprised...no defense possible for that one...

 

[Medill90]

Lumpkin does get right up to that line. There have been a number of time this year when I've been surprised it didn't result in a fight. I'm thinking about the Iowa game and the Wisconsin game.

He typically is playing against a much taller player so uses the physicality to neutralize the height advantage. I think he puts so much energy into it its taken him completely out of an offensive mindset. When it turns into a physical confrontation I've been amazed at Lumpkin's ability to shift it into neutral and not get called for the foul.

Illinois has two or three guys built like Lumpkin and who weren't going to be roughed up by him. Certainly not last night.

Tossing the ball to Groce should result in him not starting against Michigan.

Olah is not a thug. More than any other player in the Big Ten, he actually cares about the players he's playing against. A little too much like John Schurna in that regard. Olah to me epitomizes what can be right about college athletics. I'd put Egwu in that same boat.

 

[willycat]

medill. in order to win in the Big Ten NU needs more guys to play with Lumpkin's attitude. Did he actually toss the ball at Groce or just toss the ball away? Suspension, no way, heck there wasn't even a foul called and no one was hurt.

 

[Medill90]

I completely agree Willy. And I didn't say suspension.

I think Collins was probably ok with how Sanjay played. But he needs to send some type of message to the Big Ten coaches that his players won't disrespect his peers. I think Sanjay would agree. He's a pretty terrific young man.

 

[willycat]

Sorry Medill but I interpreted not starting him as a quasi suspension.