A loss is a loss, but......

[Rawkhawk73]

I really like what I see out of this group and the coaching that Fran and his staff bring to the table and at the end of the day, if we're going to struggle to win games, I'd rather see us struggle playing 87-77 games than 57-47 games.

On a specific note, this team seems to do better in man to man than zone. That zone just leaves the three too wide open. When we got down 19 and went to a man, we got more aggressive and got back into the game. Also, I think Basabe got a big wake up call in how the Big Ten is played. Hopefully it's a lesson he takes to heart and comes out more aggressive against OSU because it doesn't get any easier.

 

[ICAlumni]

Basabe has the flu... cut him a little slack.

 

[EddyP]

I really like what I see out of this group and the coaching that Fran and his staff bring to the table and at the end of the day, if we're going to struggle to win games, I'd rather see us struggle playing 87-77 games than 57-47 games.

On a specific note, this team seems to do better in man to man than zone. That zone just leaves the three too wide open. When we got down 19 and went to a man, we got more aggressive and got back into the game. Also, I think Basabe got a big wake up call in how the Big Ten is played. Hopefully it's a lesson he takes to heart and comes out more aggressive against OSU because it doesn't get any easier.

I wish he would stop playing zone too. Hate it. He likes to do it on out of bounds plays and when they drop back from the press but it isn't working. I think, hopefully they will figure something out.

 

[PhotoHawk]

As I recall, the scouting report on IL this season was that they had been struggling more against zone vs man so I imagine that is the primary reason Iowa tried to do the same, however, our rotations tonight on defense were much slower than I have seen in the past few games.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I am actually glad Fran is willing to play man or zone. Both can have there time and place in effectiveness. Unfortunately, Illinois could do no wrong on most of the perimeter shots they put up. As much as I despised us not covering open shooters and seeing them go 83% from 3 land in the first half, I would rather take my chances forcing the other team to beat me deep than giving up easy baskets underneath. That is where a zone can have its advantages. It just stinks when you play zone and the other team lights it up on you. If anything, it is a good change of pace. Something those Lick teams could have benefited more from.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

The team got down big and battled back, which is the encouraging thing. I've noticed that with this team, they never quit. It was just too big of a hole to climb out of against a good team.

Biggest thing is the defense - we've got to improve a LOT there. You can't give up 67% from the field and expect to beat anybody.

The good news I think is that team defense is pretty correctible and coachable, for the most part. Obviously having good athletes helps, but I've seen teams that aren't overly athletic still play solid D. Fran harps on defense alot in his post-game comments, so I feel confident it's being addressed. I just hope we improve quickly on that end of the floor - but Illinois is probably the best team we've played so far this year, so last night's game was a good learning experience, no doubt.

 

[JHHawk]

Both UIC and Mizzou hurt Illini with 1-3-1 zone. Alas, it did not work for the Hawks,as the illini shot lights out. Still, worth a try,imo,and I like that Fran switches up defenses often to keep them off-balance. But when an opponent comes out and hits 7 for 7 from three early....all bets are off.

 

[DaBears]

I am pretty sure almost everyone on this board rips ISU and their fans when they make comments like this regarding football. Yet, some people have continued to be wowed by moral victories all year.

 

[EddyP]

Not sure about the scouting report but didn't Spank state in his preview that they were shooting 40% or something from three? And I know I remember seeing that McCamey was shooting 50% from three. Obviously those numbers are now higher. I'm not saying never play zone but unless you are having serious match up problems which didn't appear to be the case last night play frickin' man. In a zone you are just hoping they miss(like UNI did). I thought Cartwright did an excellent job on McCamey when they were in man. Yeah he got his points but he had to earn them and he is a great player.

 

[Rawkhawk73]

I am pretty sure almost everyone on this board rips ISU and their fans when they make comments like this regarding football. Yet, some people have continued to be wowed by moral victories all year.

Pretty big difference between ISU football, that has shown flashes over the last several years and Iowa that hasn't sniffed a damn thing in 5 years. I can't believe I just wrote that, but the sad truth is that that's where we stand right now.

I find it hard to believe myself, but I'm just glad the arena was full, the Hawks put up a good fight, and it is obvious the players have bought in to the system and are showing improvement each and every game. Obviously by Year 3 there will be higher expectations than this, but it's baby steps at this point fellas.

 

[HawkeyeShane]

Fans can have all of the "moral victories" they want...it's coaches and players who can't settle for them...and eventually, the fans won't settle for them either. It's all about expectations and for this season, expectations are "give me a better product to watch, from guys who are having fun and want to learn and get better every game"...that's not going to be the case next year or the year after. So go crawl back into your Cyclone hole, DaBears...and congrats to your screen name, they've been told for 16 weeks that they're not good enough and they just keep on being good enough.

 

[bcl20]

Moral victories are ok when you are a ****** team. You have to have something to hang your hat on.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Fans can have all of the "moral victories" they want...it's coaches and players who can't settle for them...and eventually, the fans won't settle for them either. It's all about expectations and for this season, expectations are "give me a better product to watch, from guys who are having fun and want to learn and get better every game"...that's not going to be the case next year or the year after.

That's exactly right. I don't like moral victories either, but this year, we may have to settle for those as signs that we are headed in the right direction. Fran will have to start producing results in the W column at some point, but year 1 can't be "win or else".

 

[Cydkar]

If moral victories fill the seats this year then they are a good thing. Like stated above, moral victories are for fans, not players.

 

[JHHawk]

Moral victory vs OSU= losing by less than 20.

 

[DodgerHawki]

The reason people have played some zone against Illini...

Not sure about the scouting report but didn't Spank state in his preview that they were shooting 40% or something from three? And I know I remember seeing that McCamey was shooting 50% from three. Obviously those numbers are now higher. I'm not saying never play zone but unless you are having serious match up problems which didn't appear to be the case last night play frickin' man. In a zone you are just hoping they miss(like UNI did). I thought Cartwright did an excellent job on McCamey when they were in man. Yeah he got his points but he had to earn them and he is a great player.

is that they have carved people up with their offense against man to man. For the year, Illinois' adjusted offensive efficiency is 115.6 according to Pomeroy (16th in the country). They are very good offensively. They had 2 poor offensive games against Missouri and UIC, both of whom had some success playing zone. Illini then carved up Wisconsin in Champaign after beating Iowa. Shot 56% from the field, made 6-12 three-pointers and 17-22 free throws.