Never-say-die Illini find a way to win
CHAMPAIGN — Say what you will about the motion (or at times lack there- of) offense this season, the turnovers or flat-out blown defensive assignments with this Illinois basketball team. Those things are going to happen and frustrate fans.
But at the same time these Illini, more often than not, are going to fight until the buzzer sounds, and that's what Bruce Weber's team did Tuesday night in an 81-72 double-overtime win against Minnesota in the Big Ten opener for both teams in front of 15,549 at the Assembly Hall.
The Illini (12-2, 1-0) led by 13 with 13:20 left in regulation, but Minnesota used a 19-6 run over the next seven minutes to square things up.
"I said this at the beginning of the season, I didn't say we were going to win every game, but every game we're going to come out and fight," said junior Brandon Paul, who had a team-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. "After we lost our lead, they made some plays. We just kept grinding it out."
That they did, and no matter how ugly, the Illini started conference play with a win for the fourth consecutive season.
There was plenty of ugly with just as much blame to be spread. Illinois committed 21 turnovers — 11 in the second half and overtime — which led to 16 Minnesota points and kept the Gophers in the game.
Paul, Meyers Leonard (20 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks) and freshman Tracy Abrams gave it away five times apiece.
"We just can't turn the ball over like that," Weber said. "Whether it's Meyers, Tracy got a little shook, Brandon tries to do too much. The turnovers have to cut back."
"That's something that I've still got to grow out of. I'm making way too many turnovers," said Paul, who had six turnovers in Thursday's loss to Missouri. "I had way too many this game. That's something I've got to work on; that starts in practice."
In addition to the Illinois turnovers, Minnesota (12-2, 0-1) was able to fight back thanks to the play of senior center Ralph Sampson III. Sampson scored 18 of his game-high 22 points after the halftime break, being guarded mostly by Leonard.
"He's a skilled player; I gave him way too many opportunities. No downgrade to him, I should have shut him down, no doubt about it," Leonard said. "I'm more athletic and a better defender than that. I'm not disappointed in myself; I just know I've got to be a lockdown defender in the post."
On a day that started out on a sour note with the announcement that sophomore guard Crandall Head, unhappy with his role, was leaving the program, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the Illini.
Fresh off a breakout performance against Missouri in which he hit all nine of his shots and scored a career-high 19 points, guard Joseph Bertrand continued his stellar play.
The third-year sophomore hit his first four shots and finished with 13 points.
"I thought Joe was excellent again for us and continued playing well," Weber said.
Bertrand finished 6 of 10 from the floor, missing a 15-footer on the left baseline in the first half to bring his consecutive field goals-made streak to an end at 13.
"I don't want to talk about that one," he said with a laugh.
D.J. Richardson (13 points) and Sam Maniscalco (10) also reached double figures for the Illini, who last won a double-overtime game in 1993 against Purdue.
The eye test showed Minnestoa ran their offensive sets much better than the Illini throughout the course of the game. I give the hometown guys a great deal of credit for powering through and pulling out a win.
Positives: Brandon Paul DRIVING TO THE BUCKET and being an offensive leader. Leonard continuing to have good offensive games. Bertrand with another good performance.
Areas to address: Sometimes still in love with the 3 ball. If Bob Knight and Jim Jackson both preached more driving to the basket, when will they make an adjustment. Also, unfortunately Tyler Griffey's minutes need to be reallocated to other players. I really don't think he contributes much to this team.
Am I wrong, but does Paul need to value ball possessions a little better? Some of his entry passes to the big guy frustrate me. I was'nt able to read the comments after the Mizzou game, but to me, Paul's ball management in the last few minutes or so costs them they game. Am I wrong?
Leonard and Paul both had 5 turnovers (as did Abrams in much less minutes) but Meyers and Brandon were also the best players for Illinois and without them Illini wouldn't have won. Maniscalco hit some clutch 3-pointers late but otherwise just as he was against Missouri and UNLV, Sam is much too slow and a liability on defense. When Brandon and Meyers often get more assists than him in games, you have to wonder what his worth as a point guard really is. I would rather have seen Crandall Head getting his minutes because like Meyers Head makes things happen in comebacks I have watched with Head, Paul and Bertrand in the game together. Oh well too late for that now with Head gone but I would rather see Meyers, Brandon, DJ, Joe and either Tracy, Myke or Nnanna in there together as our best and most potent lineup. In watching Sam, he holds the ball and dribbles too much, is a poor passer and just gums up the works. Things are more free flowing with the ^ above lineup in the games.
Though I hope the players find a way of molding into the system the coaches are teaching, all too often the players perform far below their talent levels. In my opinion, some of this has to be attributed to coaching. While I support Coach W, I hope that he can loosen up a little and let the players talent flow. From my perspective, that is how Betrand has come alive while sadly I think Head left because he didn't feel allowed.
And what was up with Sam being told to sit down at the end of the game by coach Mc Clain? Silly! I want my whole bench up and cheering whenever possible.
Go ILLINI!
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