Or UConn (the team with Niang still didn't play D). Or didn't get out of the first round. And and and.
Offense > Defense
- Thread starter ClonesFTW
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Or UConn (the team with Niang still didn't play D). Or didn't get out of the first round. And and and.
Offense needs to improve. Clearly.
But that doesn't mean the wheel needs to be reinvented.
We were 171 in offense in TJs first year. 114 last year. 53 this year.
Steady improvement on that end of the floor will get us a lot of wins if we can maintain the defensive level. We need to find a way to be top 40 in offense while keeping this defensive level.
But that doesn't mean the wheel needs to be reinvented.
We were 171 in offense in TJs first year. 114 last year. 53 this year.
Steady improvement on that end of the floor will get us a lot of wins if we can maintain the defensive level. We need to find a way to be top 40 in offense while keeping this defensive level.
Donate to WE WILL and help our school sustain or improve our success.
It's been posted a few times that they wouldn't have been favored in any games and UConn still would have cooked the backcourt.
And honestly even though they had the firepower when they were clicking, over that 4 game stretch there's just as much likelihood that we have a game where the 3s weren't falling and we couldnt defend enough to make up for it.
Its definitely a big 'what if' and the team definitely had the ability to win those games, but far from a certainty.
we had trouble scoring in the first half and Niang would have got us out of that situation. After moving Morris on Napier, he only had 6 points after starting with 13 points. It was a close game, close enough where Niang would have been a difference maker for sure.
And Hogue still has that big of a night?
Talking Napier's defense. He didn't let much happen.
Yea, believe every champion has been at least top 40 in both. Just another couple shots or turnovers forced tonight and we win. Milan disappearing hurt, hopefully he only grows from this.
Listen dude, it needs to get better, tj would be the first guy to agree to that, that's the point. And you know it. I'm not here to get into a semantics argument with you.
Truly elite teams do both at a very high level, that's just how the game is. But you know that.
Well no **** but TJ had to lean on what was going to set the success of the program.
Expecting it to be balanced is a lot especially if the D is so elite.
It's going to take time and some luck to get it that even; iirc there's been one team ever that was top 30 in both and they made the Elite Eight.
The staff has shown an ability to maintain the defensive level while improving the offense tremendously
Even if we could maintain at a top 15 level while taking the O up a notch into the top 40 it would be a good next step.
At the time I felt this, but in hindsight, no. Those teams were not great on defense, and you need to be able to play well on both sides of the ball.
Not saying this post is (not saying it isn't either) "but anyone with an "i told you so" post can go **** themselves. Seriously get a clue. If TJ tried to build his teams like everyone he'd be screwed . At minimum there are 2-3 dozen teams that will beat us out for recruits consistently if we were eyeing the same guys everyone else pursues we'd have at best Johnny's success.
TJ is going to strike while the iron is hot and upgrade the pieces he lost but to think we're suddenly going to get the guys needed to just go out and outscore the Dukes, Kentuckys or kansas' of the world pull your head out of your ass.
Exactly this. Put yourself into TJ's shoes as he steps into a 2-22 mess. You gonna recruit elite offensive talent by promising them 20 shots a game? FFS homies. More than likely to get toxic personalities who aren't really about the jersey.
If TJ does that and the team struggles to win, how much bigger is the group circle-jerking off on "TJ Can't Coach" comments? And how much smaller is the fanbase without the success of the last 3 years?
Get real, folks. Look at the whole body of work and the trend line. If this team takes this into the offseason as motivation, retains its players, and gets better, their vengeance will be legendary.
I’m a casual observer but I felt and Underwood confirmed it . Illinois defense was the difference
One thing I was thinking last night as the game got closer to the end. So far, TJ's teams haven't been reliable in scoring when you really needed it. Or when someone was open in the corner, you have a feeling that it's going in. This is what the Hoiberg teams where like, if someone was open on the outside and we needed a basket, you felt that it was going in. So far, TJ's teams so far are a cross your fingers and hold your breath that it goes in kind of feeling.
Illinois felt like a Hoiberg team when shooting.
