Illinois fell in love with the 3

olivecourt

Well-Known Member
I was emailing with Mr. SwirlinLingerie around half time and noted that even though that 3-pointer Illinois hit at the end of the half was a killer, it might end up helping us if they fell in love with shooting treys.

They ended up chucking 26 threes and only hitting seven of them (27%). How many possessions were there in the second half where Leonard did not even get a touch? There was at least one trip when Leonard was only being guarded by Gatens and they didn't even look at him. I'm guessing that kind of stuff is the reason why Illini fans want Weber gone. That and the fact that a team with that sort of size advantage couldn't get to the free throw line even once.

Anyway, sweet win. Great game plan, great execution, aided by some foolishness by Illinois.
 






Agree.... You have an NBA player in the post, feed him.

Ill just plays dumb.

There's a reason Illinois faded so fast down the stretch, and this is why. They stuck to the gameplan the last time we saw them, but they didn't today.
 


Stunned that Leonard become the invisible man in the second half. He destroyed us in the first.
 


I figured that three before half also confirmed to the Illini that they'd pull away for another easy win against our band of misfits. It's just Iowa, after all. Led by a scrappy guard with a buzz cut and a gangly redhead with teenage acne.

Early in the second half, you could sense Iowa was the team playing with a collective purpose and a bit of grit.
 


Stunned that Leonard become the invisible man in the second half. He destroyed us in the first.

He also destroyed us the entire game last time we played them. It makes little sense to me why they would go away from him, but hey, I will take the victory!
 




There is a reason why Weber will not have a job at Illinois next week. he can't get his players to play smart, or he's not smart enough to figure it out either.
 


There is a reason why Weber will not have a job at Illinois next week. he can't get his players to play smart, or he's not smart enough to figure it out either.
Imagine starting the season with a 15-3 record, 4-1 in the Big10 with a win over OSU, and then going 2-12 to finish at 17-15.

OUCH.
 




The possession you mention...

I was emailing with Mr. SwirlinLingerie around half time and noted that even though that 3-pointer Illinois hit at the end of the half was a killer, it might end up helping us if they fell in love with shooting treys.

They ended up chucking 26 threes and only hitting seven of them (27%). How many possessions were there in the second half where Leonard did not even get a touch? There was at least one trip when Leonard was only being guarded by Gatens and they didn't even look at him. I'm guessing that kind of stuff is the reason why Illini fans want Weber gone. That and the fact that a team with that sort of size advantage couldn't get to the free throw line even once.

Anyway, sweet win. Great game plan, great execution, aided by some foolishness by Illinois.

where Leonard was guarded by Gatens encapsulates the Illini's season well. They certainly "looked" at Leonard that entire possession, but everyone stood looking at the mismatch instead of actually reversing the ball and moving it into a position where the guard could feed Leonard. Whoever the guard was (Abrams or Richardson) stood out 30 feet from the basket with the ball above his head, with no other movement by anyone else. So Iowa could cheat other guys toward Leonard so there was nowhere to throw the ball.

Really unbelievable that Leonard only got off 11 shots. Iowa had no answer for him.
 


Re: The possession you mention...

where Leonard was guarded by Gatens encapsulates the Illini's season well. They certainly "looked" at Leonard that entire possession, but everyone stood looking at the mismatch instead of actually reversing the ball and moving it into a position where the guard could feed Leonard. Whoever the guard was (Abrams or Richardson) stood out 30 feet from the basket with the ball above his head, with no other movement by anyone else. So Iowa could cheat other guys toward Leonard so there was nowhere to throw the ball.

Really unbelievable that Leonard only got off 11 shots. Iowa had no answer for him.

Leonard didn't attempt a shot the final 7:00:eek:
 


I had been saying for a few days, the only way Iowa beats Illinois is if their guards quit throwing the ball to Leonard and start chucking threes. I'm glad to see that is what happened.
 


I had been saying for a few days, the only way Iowa beats Illinois is if their guards quit throwing the ball to Leonard and start chucking threes. I'm glad to see that is what happened.

Your arm looks tired let me take over patting you on the back. :D

BTW sioux, been meaning to ask ya. Who better Weber or Alford? ;)
 


Re: The possession you mention...

Leonard didn't attempt a shot the final 7:00:eek:

Not only did he not attempt a shot, I don't even remember him touching the ball in that span except for that attempt at an offensive rebound when he basically spiked it out of bounds.
 


Your arm looks tired let me take over patting you on the back. :D

BTW sioux, been meaning to ask ya. Who better Weber or Alford? ;)

Hey, I am right so infrequently I have to point it out when I am.

Another thing I am right about is Weber is still a better coach than Alf.
 




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