For the Fans

Illini Hang Though in Ann Arbor, But Fall Short

Posted by: Tom Young

Monday, January 5, 2009 7:02 AM

#24 Michigan 74    Illinois 64

 

Does it stink to lose?  Yes.

Does it stink to lose to Michigan?  Yes.

Was this Illinois best effort?  Probably not.

Does this mean Illinois is now a bad team?  No.

 

Every team will have down games (look at North Carolina yesterday), but that doesn’t mean all is lost.  I had about a 20-minute conversation with a buddy of mine yesterday who pretty much had this attitude.  I didn’t get it.  Illinois is having an awesome season, and regardless of what happens the rest of the way, they have improved, and that is obviously a step in the right direction.

 

As for this game, it will be one of the very very few times you will see Bruce Weber get out coached.  John Beilein made some great adjustments that led to his team winning.  Michigan starts the game with man-to-man defense, and the Illini just tore it up in the first half.  We saw the motion offense at it’s finest with some possessions leading to wide open shots right under the basket.  On the other side, Michigan played the chucking game.  Michigan just kept chucking threes, and they were making them.  18 of their 29 shots in the first half were threes, and they made eight of them (62.1% shots in the half were threes).  In the second half, Michigan goes zone, and like last year, this messes up Illinois a little bit.  We aren’t as bad against the zone as we were last year, but it still gives us some fits.  And on the other end of the floor, Michigan put the ball on the floor and drove to the bucket.  Michigan only shot nine threes out of 24 shots in the second half (37.5% three point shots).  Illinois didn’t have an answer.

 

Here is the bottom line.  We are an amazing 13-2 on the season, and after seeing our schedule at the start of the year and looking at the players on our team, I will gladly take it.  The good news about this season is how well the Big Ten is playing.  This means a middle of the pack finish, which is where I still think Illinois is heading, doesn’t look too bad.  The way the Big Ten looks this year is the way I like it; everyone is good except for Indiana.  Every game will be tough, so if Illinois can protect the home court, and sneak out a win or two on the road, we should all like where they will end up. 

 

Let’s face it; the Illini will probably lose again at some point.  They aren’t the most talented team in the Big Ten, but they are very well coached, and they play well as a unit.  These two things will be enough for the Illini to compete in a tough conference, and ultimately get them to the big dance.  Things are looking up for these Illini.  Don’t let one road loss to a tough team make you look any other direction.

 

I-L-L…

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