Illinitalk

Despite the loss, the Illini played much, much better at Purdue Saturday, especially compared to their performance against Ohio State before their week off.

Yes, the Illini left themselves plenty of room for improvement. Poor rebounding allowing the Boilermakers way too many second chance points. Inability to get to the free throw line skewed these stats heavily in Purdue's favor, as well. And turnovers hurt, too.

But, the Illini were playing one of the top teams in the country on the road, and they made a fantastic game of it. And don't forget that Matt Painter's team dominated the Illini during the second half of their game played in Champaign. This was a much tougher game for Purdue.

And because of that, there was plenty to like about the way Bruce Weber's boys played.

• Demetri McCamey ties school and season assist records. The performance of the day. McCamey played an incredible game, finding open teammates over and over and over and over again. His passing was beautiful, highlighting Weber's motion offense at its best. He made his teammates better -- as a point guard should. He dominated for the Illini, even though he only scored 6 points.
• Mr. Double-double showed up. Mike Davis had 16 points (many thanks to McCamey) and 12 rebounds. It's been a while since we've seen this side of Davis, and he looked good.
• Offense. Four Illini scored in double figures, and as a team they shot 49% for the game and 50% from 3-point range. They battled in a back-and-forth game and led for a good portion of it.
  

After the game, Coach Weber expressed his pride in the game his team played. It would have been a huge win, but Purdue, at full strength, is the class of the Conference. And perhaps the country.

As the Illini head into the home stretch of the conference season, they have a tough schedule. But if they play like they did this weekend, they can come into the conference tournament in strong shape.

Go Illini!

Labels: Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Mike Davis

The Illini took center stage in the college basketball world Saturday, hosting ESPN's College GameDay and holding on to beat the Spartans at home, 78-73. They handled the spotlight well.

The energy in Assembly Hall was fantastic, and the Illini fed on it. There were stretches of crisp passes for open shots. Demetri McCamey had a fantastic game -- a double-double with 22 points and 11 assists -- but he wasn't alone. Mike Davis added 16 points off the bench, along with 2 blocks. The last block was critical, setting up his dunk that put an Illini exclamation point on the game.

Mike Tisdale was a success in that he didn't disappear. Although he only had 6 points, he grabbed 8 rebounds. Freshmen D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul had strong games, too. Richardson scored 14 and Paul had 8 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

It would have been nice to make more free throws and grab a few more rebounds. The Spartans got plenty of second chances off 11 offensive rebounds. But the Illini took advantage of the crowd energy, the prime time slot and absence of Kalin Lucas.

No question that Tom Izzo missed Lucas. His team racked up 18 turnovers, even though they soundly out-rebounded the Illini. The Spartans are still the team to beat in the Big Ten, and will likely go far in March, but it was so nice to beat them.

At the end of the game, when the Krush celebrated on the floor, Dickie V chided them for rushing the floor. For Dick and other critics of this tendency, I would say remember the context. I don't blame the students for rushing the floor, and I think it was appropriate for a few reasons.

• Dick said that with all the success Illinois has had over the years, the celebration was unwarranted. Yes, Illinois has been one of the top programs over the past decade. But the peak was in '04-'05, which was 5 seasons ago. Since then, the Illini have struggled a bit, so this was a marquee win.
• The last time the Illini were nearly unbeatable at home was about 4 years ago. And the students in Orange Krush weren't in college then. They are young, and although they appreciate the history of the program. they haven't lived it. This one of the biggest wins they've been courtside for.
• The Illini had lost 5 straight to the Spartans. The Spartans are coming off a Final Four appearance. Beating them is a big deal.
• College GameDay started relatively early on a Saturday morning (it is a college campus), and the students had been hyped up all day to show off their passion. With that kind of emotion going all day, rushing the floor was a natural response to a win.
• National TV cameramen were egging the students on throughout the game. After so much encouragement, the Mike Davis dunk was all they needed to celebrate on the court.

So go ahead, Krush. Have your fun. You were recognized for your passion and philanthropy. You did well on GameDay. The "NIT" chant for UNC was my personal favorite. And you made Assembly Hall a House of Paign for Michigan State. Congratulations.

Next up, Wisconsin on the road...Go Illini!

Labels: Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

Assembly Hall in Champaign is known as one of the toughest places to play in the country. Filled to the brim with orange, court surrounded by the loud, proud and philanthropic Orange Crush, it's the kind of place that can intimidate.

But the last few years, Penn State has been an odd exception. They had won 3 straight on the road against the Illini. And the Nittany Lions have been in the middle to the bottom of the conference the whole time, a monkey on the back of the Illini.

With a 54-53 win, the Illini just managed to end PSU's streak at the Hall. In an ugly game, the Illini scored just enough baskets and played just enough defense to go 4-0 in conference play. We are starting to see some trends that could end up defining the '09-'10 Illini.

Trends to like:

• Mike Tisdale is developing into a Big Ten big man. He still has his soft shooting touch and pretty jump hook, but he's also becoming more aggressive. Tisdale's diet and exercise plan has helped him bulk up, and he can now bang with at least the lower half of the Big Ten. He's going after rebounds more aggressively, and he's becoming a scoring machine. This stronger, more experienced Tisdale is learning to take advantage of the mismatch he presents most teams. It's pretty exciting to have a 7'1" guy who can hold his ground!
• Demetri McCamey has maintained his scoring and attitude coming off the bench in recent games. He started against the Nittany Lions, and led the Illini in scoring. McCamey responded well to Weber's tinkering with the line-up. But best of all, he's leading the conference in assists and has been dramatically improving his assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Jeff Jordan has earned quality minutes and a couple starts, adding defense and leadership, allowing McCamey to share point guard duties. Jordan has become a valuable piece of this team, and they would really be hurting had he opted to stick just to the classroom this season.
• Rebounding is also improving as the season progresses. Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale are leading the way, but the guards have also improved in going aggressively after rebounds and grabbing the ball. There's still plenty of room for improvement, but they are trending up here...
• Free throw shooting has improved dramatically, and it helped the Illini win against the Hoosiers. Yes, Tisdale missed the front end of the one-and-one against Penn State, but he's still shooting around 87%...not bad for a big guy.
• Shot blocking is one part of the Illini defense that is really fun to watch. Tisdale does really well, but he's often not alone in that stat line. Blocks have saved a couple Illini wins.

Trends to dislike:

• Fading freshman as the Big Ten schedule gets into full swing. D.J. Richardson has had some fantastic games and some struggles. Brandon Paul got off to a hot start this season, but the grind seems to be wearing on him, as he has struggled, as well. These guys are talented, and they will play key roles on the team. But they appear to be hitting that wall...
• Mike Davis has been strugging to find his game. "Mr. Double-Double" isn't quite reaching the goal Coach Weber challenged him with. We know Davis is capable, but he's gone cold with the weather. Fortunately, he has the experience to turn this trend around.
• Turnovers continue to plague the Illini. They tend to pass to the opposing team or to thin air. And it's a trend that they just can't stop, as noted during the first two possessions against Penn State.
• Allowing open 3s behind opponents' picks and screens makes it much easier for them to get back into games after the Illini take strong leads. The Illini have had a few possessions of lock-down D in recent games, so we know they are capable, but they lack consistency.

That said, the Illini have taken advantage of the conference scheduling. I happen to like seeing them near the top of the conference standings. Next up...a very tough game at Michigan State. Izzo's team is also undefeated in conference play.

Go Illini!

Labels: Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Jeff Jordan, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

Sing with me now. "If I could be like Mike. I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like Mike."

Of course, that commercial was probably before the time of this Illini team. But they should be singing it this season, and not just because Jeff's dad is around at times. Who wouldn't want to be like Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis?

Mike & Mike are learning to take control of games (kind of like Jeff's dad), how to dominate. And against Northwestern, Tisdale led the way.

Tisdale had a monster game, scoring nearly half of the Illini points in the first half. He ended with a double-double, career-high 31 points, along with 11 rebounds. Oh, and 2 steals and 2 blocks. Unfortunately, he fouled out in the middle of OT. Otherwise, he could have racked up even more stats.

Davis also dominated, with yet another double-double: 20 points and 17 rebounds. Yes, the Big Ten's leading rebounder pulled down 17. When Tisdale had to sit down, Davis took over where he left off, scoring down low.

Mike & Mike showed passion and energy. They asked for the ball, shot well, passed it off and went after rebounds aggressively. And the Illini will have a much better season if they can all be a little more like Mike.

As the Illini prepare to head to the United Center to face Gonzaga, they all can work on cutting down turnovers, boxing out to prevent offensive boards and hustling a bit more.

But we will take the 1-0 start to the conference season. And we will watch to see if the rest of the team can be like Mike.

Go Illini!

Labels: Illini basketball, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

Wow! That was fun! An Illini comeback worth getting excited about. And proof that, despite the disappointment in Vegas, the ’09-’10 Illini basketball team will be exciting to watch. Not always easy to watch, but certainly exciting.

This game is a perfect example
It was the worst of times (during the second 10-12 minutes of the game)...
It was the best of times (from about 2 minutes into the second half until the Illini took the lead, and eventually won)...

Let me break it down a bit

• Demetri McCamey
• The worst - Two quick fouls before the first break put McCamey on the bench. And when he re-entered the game in Weber’s effort to keep the wheels from falling off, he picked up his third cheap foul. Without their point guard, the Illini had way too many turnovers that the Tigers converted to points.
• The best – After picking up foul 4, Weber switch the Illini to zone defense to help protect McCamey. He successfully played big minutes in the second half, boosting Illini ball security without fouling out. Yes, he only had 2 points early, but McCamey showed his value running the floor and dishing out assists.
• Mike Tisdale
• The worst – Mike all but disappeared in the first half. He had a few plays on defense, but Clemson got around him easily. And he didn’t score. At all. When you have one of the tallest guys on the floor, you need him to score, even if he does get pushed around a bit. And he didn’t rebound. Clemson got way to many offensive rebounds as they dominated the boards in the first half.
• The best – Tisdale stepped up big in the second half, with plenty of key baskets. The prettiest may have been the pump fake that took Trevor Booker out of bounds, followed by an easy drive to the basket for the layup that up the Illini up for good. And he followed that with a critical block, coming down with the ball in his hand. But I also liked the aggressive rebounding he showed in the second half, going strong to the ball and pulling it down.
• Freshmen backcourt:
• The worst – Brandon Paul got off to a hot start, and DJ Richardson had some great shots throughout the first half. And Paul’s drive and dunk…beautiful. But as the Illini fell apart, the freshman were pulled along in the flow. Turnovers. Questionable shot selection. Fouls. As the Tigers made their run, the freshman got a taste of a true college road environment, and it seemed to rattle them a bit.
• The best – The Comeback wouldn’t have happened without both Paul and Richardson. Paul had critical 3s, strong drives and handled the free throw line well (although that last one would have helped me breath a bit easier for that last 8 seconds). And Richardson’s 4-point play boosted the team’s confidence while demoralizing Clemson. The experience of this game should pay big dividends this season and beyond for these two.
• Mike Davis
• The worst – I thought Mike actually handled the ugly part of the game better than most of the team. But I’m not sure the Illini boxed out at all during those painful 10 minutes, and as the team’s leading rebounder, Davis needed to show more energy.
• The best – Davis collected a Clemson inbounds pass in the middle of the Comeback that created a 5 point swing. What once looked like an insurmountable lead shrunk quickly. His leadership on the floor, sweet shot and strong rebounding was critical to this win.
• Momentum
• The worst – I thought the Illini hit their low point when they were whistled for a technical for…I’m not sure what. And those two made free throws were followed immediately by an intentional foul. But I was wrong. Right after halftime, the downward spiral continued as the Clemson lead reached 23.
• The best – You know momentum is on your side when your opponent’s leading score goes for a rebound that ends up in your basket. Thank you, Trevor Booker. That was a tough play for him, but it showed how everything was breaking the way of the Illini. And Dominique Keller won’t mind the stats.

Good Hope Orange handed out much-deserved credit to both the players and Weber. And Chief made a good point about Bilas. His comment about the Clemson collapse bugged me -- and I didn't realize how inconsistent Jay was being. Yes, the Tigers collapsed, but much of that was due to pressure from a hungry Illini team, who were already embarrassed, as Weber told them at halftime.

To top it off, the Big Ten finally won the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Thank you Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin (great game) and our own Illini! They signaled that the Big Ten is a conference to be reckoned with this year.

Go Illini!

Labels: Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

The Illini men faced their first test of the 2009-2010 season against Wofford in Champaign Tuesday night. And although the first half was dicey, the Illini passed, winning 78-64.

Wofford isn't your typical early-season cupcake. The Terriers beat Purdue in West Lafayette a couple years ago, and just last week they beat Georgia, after losing to Pitt by just 3.

And at Assembly Hall, the Terriers immediately set out to prove they can play with anyone, anywhere. Hot 3-point shooting and working deep into the shot clock allowed Wofford to lead much of the first half. But the Illini stepped up on defense and pushed the tempo in the second half to finally pull away.

Lots to like from the Illini:

• Inside game. Mike Tisdale dominated down low in the first half, and Mike Davis became a force in the second half. The Illini had a clear advantage down low.
• Demetri McCamey. The point guard led the Illini with 21 points, including a buzzer-beater to give the Illini a 3-point lead heading into halftime and a highlight-reel behind-the-back layup in the second half.
• Freshman shooting. D.J. Richardson made 5 of 6 from 3, helping the Illini keep pace with the hot hands of Wofford. Although Brandon Paul made the first shot for the Illini, he struggled with foul trouble. But between the two of them, these freshman have accounted for critical scoring for the Illini so far this season.
• Defense. Not so much in the first half, but in the second half, the Illini turned up the pressure and severely limited scoring opportunities for the Terriers. The Illini proved they could make adjustments at halftime that really make a difference.
• Energy off the bench. The Illini off the bench really added energy to the game, especially Bill Cole. Cole had a nice layup on a break, but he also had some great hustle plays, good defense, a nice tip-in, and enthusiasm. Jeff Jordan added a spark on the perimeter, as well.

Of course, it's only November, and there are opportunities for the Illini to improve as they get ready for a challenging conference season:

• Free throw shooting. I'm glad to see the Illini getting to the line. They had 22 attempts compared to 15 for the Terriers. But the free throw percentage needs to go up -- 14 of 22 could easily be the difference in a game in the coming months.
• Rebounding. The Terriers out-rebounded the Illini, epecially in the first half. And the Illini had a significant height advantage. I disagree with the ESPNU commentators, who described the Illini as a strong rebounding team. Mike Davis is solid, but across the board the Illini need to be more aggressive on the boards.
• Controlling the floor. This athletic Illini team can run. They should be pushing the tempo, controlling the game and pushing opponents faster than they want to go. The Illini did this successfully at some points in the game, but the Terriers dictated tempo for close to half the game.
• Defense. Yes, I realize this is in my "lots to like" section. But in the first half, the Illini allowed a few too many open 3s and too much penetration. As the competition gets tougher, the Illini will need to play a full 40 minutes of stingy, aggressive defense. These guys are capable.

And now, on to Las Vegas. Go Illini!

Labels: Bill Cole, D.J. Richardson, Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Jeff Jordan, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

Although the Illini beat their second "directional" school in as many games, this one wasn't as easy as the first. Northern Illinois challenged Bruce Weber's squad with strong offensive rebounding and points off turnovers. And a half-court bank shot at the end of the first half.

We learned quite a bit more about this Illini team:

• Demetri McCamey is critical to their success. When he's on the floor, the passing is pretty. Really pretty. I'm not sure which was my favorite in this game, but the behind-the-back was impressive. McCamey again led the team in assists. But when he left the game with 2 fouls late in the first half, the Huskies went on a strong run thanks to 3 consecutive Illini turnovers.
• They can find the free throw line. It's nice to see the Illini driving to the basket and drawing fouls. Next step: improve the team free throw percentage.
• Brandon Paul likes to shoot. And he can draw offensive fouls. Paul followed his record debut with a 20-point night, and even though he cooled off in the second half, he continued to play solid defense with some great plays and more than his share of offensive fouls.
• Turovers could be a big problem. They had 14 against the Huskies, who took full advantage of their opportunities.
• Interior defense has pros and cons. Pro - blocks. Tisdale and Davis have shown their ability to block shots, and Dominique Keller and Brandon Paul got in on that action against NIU. Con - lack of physical presence. Tisdale and Davis are talented, slender perimeter big guys, not bang-the-boards, fight-for-space guys. And that could become a problem in the Big Ten.
• Mike Davis is into double-doubles. He had a career-high 17 rebounds and 14 points against the Huskies, and he's been challenged to average a double-double this season. That would be a huge boost for the Illini.
• D.J. Richardson has lots of energy. Should he be able to maintain that all season and channel it into defense, he could grow into the designated top-scorer-shut-down defender, a role up for grabs since Chester Frazier graduated.

The Illini have plenty of things to work on, and the Big Ten season will be tough. After all, the Illini are in the top 25, but that still puts them 6th in the conference. They have time to improve before the schedule really picks up, and they need to take advantage of those opportunities.

But despite allowing a 19-point lead to dwindle to 3, the Illini regained control of the game and took care of business. Nice game, boys!

Labels: Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Mike Davis

The Big Ten Tournament is a relatively young event, but it's provided a stage where the Illini shine. For the 11th time in 12 years, the Illini are in the semifinals, thanks to a 60-50 victory over a tough Michigan team.

It was hard to watch Chester on the bench with the soft cast on his right hand, limiting his enthusiastic gestures to encourage his team. But there's no question that Chester was involved in the game, even though he didn't play.

Calvin Brock stepped up with excellent primary defense on Michigan's leading scorer, Manny Harris. Brock and the rest of the team held Harris to just 9 points. Jeff Jordan also contributed solid minutes off the bench, including a highlight-reel steal and assist to Calvin.

The Illini played well, matching the Wolverines in the first half, and pulling away with an impressive run early in the second half. Then they withstood the Wolverine's second-half run and hit key shots and free throws down the stretch.

There was lots to like. Mike Davis led the Illini with a pretty shot, plus 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Passing was sharp, and the open man often passed the ball to the more-open man. Trent dished out 5 assists, and Demetri was steady, with 12 points and 6 rebounds. And the Illini recovered from their losing streak that finished off the regular season.

But, reaching their 7th Big Ten Tourney final will be a challenge. It's not easy to beat a good team 3 times in one season, so I would have faced Penn State than Purdue today. But the Boilermakers took care of business, so Bruce Weber and Matt Painter will face off for the 3rd time this season.

Purdue is getting healthier and playing very well. And the Illini will miss Chester. This will be a very tough game for the Illini. Defense is the calling card for both teams, so expect a battle. The Illini will need to rebound well and make what shots they get, besides playing their defensive game.

Go Illini!

Labels: Calvin Brock, Chester Frazier, Illini basketball, Mike Davis

Shooting 58.3% (nearly 53% from behind the arc), assists on 23 of 28 baskets and demoralizing 3s as the shot clock went off. That's the way to recover from the painful performance earlier last week. And one of these days -- where shots fall even in a hostile environment -- is way more fun for teams and fans.

The Illini went into Columbus (not a place that has been kind to them in the past few years) and played like a completely different team than the one that was at Assembly Hall last week. In fact, they brought their best shooting game of the conference season, and they needed it to hold on against the Buckeyes. But hold on they did, 70-68.

In the recent past, zone defenses have concerned me. It seems that the Illini usually struggle to figure out how to get inside or get the 3s to fall. But this year, zones almost make me on behalf of Mike Davis. His mid-range game is a thing of beauty. Davis has a knack for flashing in the holes of a zone near the free throw line, and nation's team with the highest percentage of assists on baskets can get him the ball quickly and efficiently for easy baskets. That's how Davis got many of his team-leading 22 points Sunday. So, bring on the zone. This Illini team can get through it well.

While the mid-range game has been fun to watch, the long-range game is a bit different. I love the kick-out for the open 3, or the in-rhythm shots when Trent or Demetri are set and ready to fire. But I have to agree with my brother that it's a bit annoying when a desperation 3 is launched as the shot clock runs out, and it falls. As he pointed out, those plays reward the offense for not being able to execute. However, I do appreciate how shots like Chester's two deep 3s demoralize opponents, despite the reinforcement for a poor offensive possession. And it IS fun to watch those shots fall.

Next up: Minnesota at home. Go Illini!

Labels: Illini basketball, Mike Davis

Oops, that's volleyball. I mean, block!

The Illini defense showed up in Bloomington, ready to reject anything the Hoosiesr put near the basket. At halftime, the Illini had more blocks than the Hoosiers had made baskets. The way they approached the basketball, the Illini looked like they had spent a little time with Don Hardin's volleyball team. Along with blocks, the Illini recorded 14 assists on 17 baskets in one of the best halves they played this season.

The second half was a different story, but the Illini held on to get a second road win this week 65-52 over the Hoosiers.

Beyond the 10 blocks (although if I was doing the stats, I may have added one or two more), the Illini dominated the boards on both ends, with 35 total, and 12 offensive rebounds, compared to 23 for Indiana, including 6 offensive. Mike Davis had 10 rebounds, leading the Illini as a forward should. Crisp passing allowed them to dominate in the paint and with open mid-range jumpers until the Hoosiers made a strong run near the end of the game. It also gave the Mikes 16 points each. The Illini bench also showed up, with significant contributions from everyone on the floor. Calvin Brock and Jeff Jordan stepped up with Demetri McCamey under the weather. And Jordan and Alex Legion provided a nice defense/offense complement in the final minutes. And although Brock drew a legitimate technical after his dunk, he still provided the energy his teammates have come to expect. Chester Frazier led the team on the floor, delivering 7 assists and adding 7 rebounds and 9 points, including critical baskets to stem the Hoosier momentum late in the game.

The Illini couldn't close out the game they way they wanted to after leading by 21 in the first half, but they held on. However, (as hard as it is to admit) credit must be given to Tom Crean and his Hoosiers. They have improved dramatically all season, and Crean will have the Hoosiers where they expect to be relatively soon. His guys played hard, and they didn't give up. Perhaps what surprises me most is the support the Indiana fans have given Crean as he works to rebuild a program after the disaster Sampson left. The Hoosiers filled Assembly Hall and made it tough for the Illini to play, even though their team has just 1 Big Ten win. The main reason I'm surprised? Tom Crean is a quality coach AND person. The latter usually struggles in Bloomington.

So, Illini fans, enjoy the sweep of the Hoosiers this year. But don't expect this to be a regular occurance in this storied rivalry. And don't expect Weber and Crean to provide the drama Henson and Knight provided once upon a time.

The remaining schedule for the season will be tough, but the Illini are in good shape as they look to welcome Penn State to Champaign this week.

Labels: Chester Frazier, Illini basketball, Mike Davis

The Illini looked good at the United Center Saturday. Georgia certainly helped, with their season-high turnover mark and inability to score (which included the last 7 minitues of the game). But the Illini had D -- lots of it:

• D for Demetri McCamey, the leading scorer for the day, who drove to the basket, hit threes, and dominated the early minutes of the game.
• D for Defense -- one that got 13 steals and 3 blocks and held the Dawgs to 35% shooting.
• D for Davis and tisDale. The Mikes each scored 14 points and Davis added to the highlight reel he's working on.
• D for Dominique Keller, who came off the bench, nailed a couple of 3s in the second half when the Illini began running away with it for good. He was 3 for 4 behind the arc for the game.

This was a confidence-builder for the Illini, but Georgia clearly struggled all game. Part of the challenge could be attributed to the early start, but Dennis Felton looks to have a long season ahead of him.

And although the Illini have a lot to be happy with, the game tape will show plenty of room for improvement:

• Passing: I still like it, but it looked a bit slower and was telegraphed too clearly against Georgia. They looked better earlier in the season, and they need to maintain and improve in this area to allow the motion to really shine.
• Communication: Closely related to passing -- there were a few too many miscommunications that turned into turnovers. These guys play together well, and this should be an easy improvement.
• Rebounding: Georgia won the battle of the boards, 34-26. This is another area to improve, especially before conference play begins. The Illini forwards don't have as much meat on their bones as many big men, but they've got to be able to gete in position and battle anyway.
• Shooting when open: I love the extra pass, but shooters -- if you recieve that extra pass, shoot the ball quick. That's your job. You don't need to make the thrid or fourth extra pass if you are open already.

This team is starting to answer questions about who they are, but much remains to be seen. Should be an interesting season...

Go Illini!

Labels: Demetri McCamey, Dominique Keller, Illini basketball, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale

The Illini didn't quite hold up under pressure, losing 76-74 to Clemson. And that last play caused flashbacks to last season, where the Illini just couldn't pull out close games. But despite the disappointing (and avoidable) loss, there was a lot to like in the play of the Illini. Here are several reasons I think the Illini will not revert to team we saw just miss in close games last year:

• Passing. It's pretty. And unselfish. Reminiscent of 4 years ago, actually. Yes, there were a few passes that could have been crisper or quicker, but the ball changed hands often, especially in the first half. And how about the Frazier pass into the lane for a Davis dunk? Really pretty. Nearly 2/3 of the Illini baskets came off of assists. That's the kind of team I like to watch.
• Free throw shooting. 7-8, compared to Clemson's 6-13. Last year the Illini were on the other side of that equation, and I'm still adjusting to not worrying when the Illini step to the line. Making free throws down the stretch will make all the difference in close games.
• Mike Davis. Wow. 28 points, 8 rebounds, a steal and a block, plus a couple of dunks for the highlight reel. He's fun to watch.
• Chester Frazier. His leadership, tenacity and ball handling have really developed over his time in Champaign. Tonight he had a few more turnovers than usual, but he still racked up 12 assists, a couple key baskets and rebounds, and a strong presence on the floor. Even with a nasty thigh bruise. (And the new look is growing on me, too.)
• Rebounding. Illinois had 30 rebounds to Clemson's 20. Getting out-rebounded is a pet peeve of mine, but this team stayed on the boards really well. And they had 12 offensive rebounds to the Tigers 7, even though it didn't really feel like that.
• The bench. Calvin Brock, Dominique Keller, Richard Semrau and Jeff Jordan came off the bench for key minutes. Keller was 100% from the field, Semrau had 8 rebounds and Calvin hit a big basket. And Jordan gave Chester a much-needed rest. And this will get deeper once Alex Legion is eligible to play.
• Orange Krush. The students are embracing this team and making Assembly Hall a very tough place to play.

But there is plenty of room for improvement, as well. Could the Illini have come out the undefeated team? Definitely. Areas to work on include:

• Conditioning. The Illini kept up with Clemson's pace really well -- for the first 30 minutes of the game. Then they started to tire, and it showed in missed open 3s and the look on Davis' face when he finally got a break. The press wore them out late in the game, and that was a key difference.
• Defending the drive. It was way too easy for Clemson to drive to the basket in the second half. Fatigue may have been part of that, and Mike Davis answered much of the time, but a stop in the lane would have helped.
• Driving to the basket. The last play (or non-play) of the game aside, driving to the basket is not one of the strengths of this team. After all, they only shot 8 free throws. If more driving threats emerge, the Illini will be much harder to defend.
• Turnovers. The Illini got sloppy, especially in the second half. Again, fatigue and the Clemson press were part of that, but taking care of the ball will be critical in the Big Ten.
• Need to control the game. The Illini let the Tigers dictate the pace of the game. They tend to play the opponent's game, instead of setting the tone for the game. The Illini need to learn to take control and play their game.

This was a disappointing loss, a game the Illini let slip away. But Clemson played a great game, using their strengths to come back from 8 down. As long as this doesn't become a pattern, Illini fans should have a pleasantly surprising season as we prepare for the arrival of a couple notable recruiting classes...

Go Illini!

Labels: Chester Frazier, Illini basketball, Mike Davis

Any guesses?

That would be team free throw stats for the Illini in a 69-63 win over Vanderbilt. In Nashville.

That's right, 100% free throw shooting from the Illini. That's a big change. And it looked even better compared to the Commodores, who were 13-for-21 at the line.

The Illini used 18 assists, 37 rebounds and a 13-1 run in the middle of the second half to hold on in a tight game against a young, aggressive Vandy team. And they made free throws down the stretch. Demetri McCamey had a great game with 23 points, and Mike Davis added 11 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double in 2 games. Not bad.

We still have a lot to learn about this team, but Vandy was the first significant competition the Illini have faced to date. They didn't lose a game in Nashville last season. So this was a good confidence-builder for the Illini. It's early, but perhaps things are looking up... And this win comes the day after the Illini women beat Mizzou to go to 3-0 on their young season. Go Illini!

Labels: Demetri McCamey, Illini basketball, Mike Davis