Offensive talent…Yikes, they are both scary good. Driving, cutting, movement, finishing inside…
Illinois/Maryland game is showing a lot of
- Thread starter SBP
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Big 10 is super talented this year. We need to keep up with recruiting. Griffiths will be really good but we need 2 or 3 more impact players and skilled role players. No more wasting roster spots with guys like Palmquist and Reiber.
Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or not but I don't know how anyone can watch that game and not see two teams playing at a far higher level than Rutgers. Illinois has Coleman Hawkins handling the ball at the top of the key and driving into the lane. Maryland iced the game on a three pointer by Jahmir Young where he ran off a screen and had a perfect quick release. Those are two of the half dozen or so things I saw in that game that Rutgers simply cannot do. The cutting and ball movement from both teams was superior, it didn't seem that either offense ever got bogged down. And it's not like they can't defend: Maryland held Miami and Saint Louis down while Illinois did the same to UCLA and Syracuse.
Now to be fair I also would've said this going into the Purdue game last year. I'm not writing off the possibility of a win today but I think it's unlikely.
Now to be fair I also would've said this going into the Purdue game last year. I'm not writing off the possibility of a win today but I think it's unlikely.
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That’s why I posted this… I was sitting there thinking, we don’t look like we could hang with these guys at all. But again, you never know, but the offensive weapons they displayed, the aggressiveness and ability to score from anywhere was very evident.
Exactly recruiting recruiting we can't get just one guy like Griffiths a year we need 2 top guys a year to keep up with the Jones so to speak!!!
Was at the game with my daughter who goes to UMD. Maryland looks like they will live or die based on 3 pointers. They’ve taken a ton all season and look to be around 40%.
They got a lot of wide open looks in the first half and shot almost 50%. When Illinois hedged and took that away in the second half they struggled and Illinois came back from 10 down until the end of the game when they hit 2 or 3 more.
The home crowd was the difference maker in the end. Good atmosphere but not as good as the RAC. Loud but the building wasn’t shaking like the RAC does.
They got a lot of wide open looks in the first half and shot almost 50%. When Illinois hedged and took that away in the second half they struggled and Illinois came back from 10 down until the end of the game when they hit 2 or 3 more.
The home crowd was the difference maker in the end. Good atmosphere but not as good as the RAC. Loud but the building wasn’t shaking like the RAC does.
It was a heck of a game with both teams playing well on both ends of the floor. Very entertaining!!!
Didn’t see MD and Willard being them this good this fast, but considering Illinois’ cupcake schedule the Big 10 gave them this year, I’m not complaining either.
For those who haven’t looked, Illinois gets projected bottom feeders Northwestern, Minnesota, Nebraska and Penn State ALL TWICE!! Only at PSU seems like even a remote chance of an “L” in those 8 games.
Didn’t see MD and Willard being them this good this fast, but considering Illinois’ cupcake schedule the Big 10 gave them this year, I’m not complaining either.
For those who haven’t looked, Illinois gets projected bottom feeders Northwestern, Minnesota, Nebraska and Penn State ALL TWICE!! Only at PSU seems like even a remote chance of an “L” in those 8 games.
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Caleb 61 starts in his career, Paul 56 starts, Cliff 45 starts
Cam Spencer 49 starts, 42 at Loyola(Md)
Aundre Hyatt 25 starts, 17 at LSU
Mag 9 starts and Derek 3 starts
That first game when Cliff, Caleb and Paul play will be the real start to the season, because we will see how the team was meant to be during the summer before the injuries. Let the dominoes fall into place first before anyone writes off this team or season, sheesh. No one on the team has more experience at the point than Paul, 2nd most experience at the point is Caleb. Give it time.
Cam Spencer 49 starts, 42 at Loyola(Md)
Aundre Hyatt 25 starts, 17 at LSU
Mag 9 starts and Derek 3 starts
That first game when Cliff, Caleb and Paul play will be the real start to the season, because we will see how the team was meant to be during the summer before the injuries. Let the dominoes fall into place first before anyone writes off this team or season, sheesh. No one on the team has more experience at the point than Paul, 2nd most experience at the point is Caleb. Give it time.
It’s early but pretty amazing what he’s done. I always thought he was an underrated coach who wasn’t appreciated at Seton Hall.
Did not watch first half but watched second half. You mention teams did not struggle to score but not sure what you were watching . Maryland struggled mightily for about 10 minutes on the second half to score or get a decent shot when Illinois made their run . Watched the offensive highlights of the game and it appeared Hart was open all day from 3 and hit 5-6 threes but was a big part of Maryland having the lead . Not sure Illinois thought he could knock them down.
The effort and intensity for both teams was phenomenal as was some of the defensive effort. Both teams are good but not ready to anoint them better than us. Maryland is playing well as a team on both ends of the court and Williard has done a great job in a short time. I welcome Maryland and Rutgers matchups for the top of the Big 10 . You seem quick to sell our team short especially with our early injuries.
While Sha did take a tiny school like St Peter’s deep into the tourney, Willard is a better coach right now.
It’s not good for RU that Willard is at Maryland. He’s a good game day coach and he has recruiting ties from DC to NYC
Handlers, Uncles and HS coaches of elite recruits have appreciated Willard for employment opportunities for years.
There is no doubt that Illinois is better than us. Maryland was home, so they jury is still out on us vs. them by the end of the year.
Our defense can shut teams down if used properly..that I’m confident In. major issue for me is fundamentals of boxing out for rebounds—too many second chance opportunities
As for offense..too much standing around and overcrowding. I will say our passing has been much better to create flow but we lack the shooters to look like some of these other teams. Cliff should touch the ball at least once everytime down the court similar to TJD. We go away from him too often due to Mag/Hyatt who think they are the 1st option
As for offense..too much standing around and overcrowding. I will say our passing has been much better to create flow but we lack the shooters to look like some of these other teams. Cliff should touch the ball at least once everytime down the court similar to TJD. We go away from him too often due to Mag/Hyatt who think they are the 1st option
Reiber isn't a waste, he just got hurt this offseason. Oskar is an absolute waste though
See my comment above Illinois hedged against UMD. They forced them to go inside and that’s how they almost came back to win. Gameplan for UMD is the same. They haven’t had a bad 3 point game yet. Keep them under 30% from the 3 and you’ll be in the game.
I didn't say "they didn't struggle to score" I said "they didn't get bogged down offensively." They were still (mostly) running crisp stuff on that side of the ball even when the shots didn't fall.
Splitting hairs but a few shot clock violations and as Rubjk mentioned above they hedged the three point screens and Maryland ‘s offense bogged down. The 12 point lead was tied at 62-62 late.
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