Sunday, November 22, 2009 East Central Illinois

For the Fans

My Thoughts on Illinois @ Wisconsin 2/5/09

Posted by: Tom Young

Friday, February 6, 2009 7:16 AM

Wisconsin 63        #21 Illinois 50

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I actually have a decent amount of time this morning to talk about last nights Illinois-Wisconsin game.  I just wish there were more good things than bad to say about it.  Something about road games brings out the worst in this team, and for whatever reason we can’t make our shots.  After looking at the box score (which you can look at with the above link), there were some stats that stuck out to me.

 

- Mike Davis:  14 points and 12 rebounds

          I was happy to see Davis once again get a double double.  I know he hasn’t been in the best of health of late, and that obviously has affected his play a bit, but when he is on, he has shown how tough he can be.  He has a nice inside outside game, and is a decent, but not great rebounder.  Speaking of rebounding…

 

- Chester Frazier:  13 rebounds

          Nice if your Chester Frazier, but I see this as a bad thing.  Sure, your small guards are going to get rebounds from time to time, but if your shortest guy is getting 13, that means your big guys need to do better.  Mike Tisdale…1 rebound in 16 minutes.  As nice a year as Tisdale has had, he desperately needs to improve in this category, along with the rest of the team.  It’s time to use fundamentals to get rebounds and stop relying on athleticism to get it done. 

 

- Mike Tisdale:  5 fouls

          I don’t know if we can call him James Augustine yet, but Tisdale is making a bad habit out of this.  He has missed a lot of playing time because of foul trouble, and it is hurting the team.  The Illini need him on the floor, as he has become one of our better scoring options.  How does he stay on the floor???  Just play more alert on defense.  Everytime he gets beat, he seems to just reach in there and foul a guy to make up for it.  Stop it.

 

- 4-4 from the free throw line

          This has bugged me all year long, and everyone that I have talked to about Illini basketball knows this.  GET TO THE LINE!!!  Last year is over.  This year, they can actually make this shot.  During this mini slump, the Illini are looking too much like last years team.  Not enough drives to the basket.  I’m not talking about driving to the free throw line and then kicking it out, I’m talking about going all the way to the hoop and making contact.  Demetri McCamey, this is where you step in.  You should have 20 points a game with your ability.  You are our best option to do this since you’re a strong player and handle the ball well.  I got nothing against assist, but the problem is no one else is making anything right now, so it is time to take matters into your own hands.  We’ll see what happens on Sunday.

 

- Alex Legion 1-8 FG

          I hate to say this, but Legion needs to be demoted to garbage time.  He is obviously a talented player, but there is something going on mentally and it’s not allowing him to perform at the level he can.  He has taken so many bad shots, whether it’s guys in his face or running three pointers.  Plus his shot is way too flat.  It’s pretty hard to put the ball in the hoop when the ball flies in a straight line.  Both him and McCamey have this problem, but Legion’s shot has not shot at going in.  Legion shoots a basketball like a pitcher throws a baseball, and until he learns to soften the touch, and get some arch on the ball, he won’t make outside shots consistently.

 

Alright, a couple of days off, then Purdue comes to town.  Hopefully we can use the home court to our advantage and get back on track.  We are due for another good team game, and Sunday is as good a time as any to have it.

 

I-L-L…

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