Let’s accentuate the positive. Tuesday’s was Illinois’ best loss of the year.
It was one of their best overall games in a long time. They scouted Purdue well. They executed their game plan. They imposed their offense on the Boilermakers. The motion looked good. A bevy of kickouts and dump-downs replaced stagnant ball movement.
The Illini began the game with a set play. It didn’t work, and in fact led to a turnover. But I’m encouraged by the broadmindedness.
Illinois lost because of basic failures of fundamentals. That’s much, much more encouraging than losing because their system is broken and they can’t figure out why, where and how.
THE BAD
Free throws cost Illinois the game. It’s that simple.
Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Brandon Paul each floundered on pairs of freebies. McCamey missed 6 of his 19 attempts. A point guard must be 80% or better. Under 70% is unacceptable.
Two other fundamental shortcomings: shot selection and rebounding. Our freshmen guards continued to make poor choices. Brandon Paul still hasn’t recognized that he’s playing against opponents who move as quickly as he does, who can jump as high as he can.
DJ Richardson followed his 0 for 9 effort at Michigan State with an 0 for 6 start on Tuesday.
Still, the Illini raced to an early lead because they trampled the Boilers on the way to the glass. At the 11:27 mark Illinois led 16-10 in points and 15–7 on boards.
“Who’s going to get a rebound?” Matt Painter asked his bench, inviting playing time to anyone willing to jump in the air and grab a bouncing ball.
From that point the Boilers won the battle on the glass 30 to 22.
Painter’s faith in delegation saved the game. Later in the half he said “who’s going to stop that?” referring to Illinois’ dribble-penetration. One of his assistants had an answer.
“Hart?” Painter verified. His tone suggested not incredulity; just wanting to be sure he’d heard right. The idea seemed to come from Elliot Bloom.
“Hart!” Painter called down to the end of the bench.
John Hart hadn’t played in a Big Ten game this season. His name didn’t even appear in the official scorekeepers book.
I spoke with John after the game. (And per my editor’s request, I also asked Robbie Hummel about his favorite local restaurants.)
INTERIOR DECORUM
Lindsey Willhite wrote a good piece about Mike Tisdale yesterday. Here are the two crucial points:
1) Michigan State used a bunch of players against Tisdale
2) Tisdale must be on the floor for Illinois to be successful
Both are true. But a conflict lurks:
If opponents throw multiple players at Tisdale, and those players bang with Mike, then the impact on Mike equals the impact dispersed among that number of players. MSU throws four players at Mike, and he bangs with them. Each of them picks up a foul, and Mike picks up four fouls. Each of the opponents finishes the game with a nasty bruise and Mike sits in a hot tub nursing four nasty bruises.
The Illini continue to struggle through the lack a reliable hatchet man. There ought to be a guy who sets hard screens, and bangs underneath. It’s unreasonable to expect our Thins to fight like heavyweights. But as long as we ask The Mikes to bang, it’s unreasonable to expect them not to collect fouls.
If Mike Davis played the three, and Bill Cole the two, Illinois could employ Tyler Griffey at the four spot and still keep our best three offensive weapons in the game.
Someone observed that a Cole/Griffey pairing begets smooth movement. I’d give credit for the observation, but I don’t remember where I read it.
Cole is adept at feeding the post. Griffey is unafraid to clear it out. That tandem of facilitating components makes everything easier for both Mikes.
Just a thought.
(Hey look! I managed to make that point without even mentioning Richard Semrau.)
Yes, this fivesome leaves the freshman on the outside, and that’s okay. DJ picked up the pace, hitting 4 threes late in the game. Brandon stopped heaving off-balance shots.
But they’re still freshmen. They need time.
FACES IN THE CROWD
Ex-NFL Rich Stephens is the uncle who taught Tyler Griffey to eat organic.
Springfield 8th grader Larry Austin Jr. returned. This time he sported Illini colors.
Larry’s dad sat in front of Old Sleep N’ Eat.
Crandall Head attended. He confirmed there will be no basketball for the duration of his high school career.
The Chisholm Family
I am somewhat to blame for the nickname “Hundo.”
Antinio Petty was spellbound.
AN OBSERVATION
Referee Antinio Petty spent an entire timeout staring at Erin Andrews’ ass.
To be sure, he may have been trying to find it. It’s also possible that he was trying to recall any portion of the rule book regarding non-team members in the huddle.
Whatever the cause of Petty’s distraction, it only barely affected his duties. When play resumed, Petty whistled Demetri McCamey for palming when Mark Wohlford had clearly touched the ball.
It’s as if he had palming on the brain.
