Illini Zip

I think it's probably a culmination of many things that is effecting these players emotionally. But as to the fouling, as bad as Toledo is they're not even the worst offender. If the MAC really, truly wanted to get control of the rediculous fouling issue (I'm all for strong, straight-up physical defense) they would foul guys out regardless of circumstance early into conference play each and every year. Even if it's the first half and a team's best player, it shouldn't matter. Send him to the bench early. The coaches and players will be forced to adjust their approach. But I think the MAC likes the bumping and hacking because it allows the bottom half of the league to stay in games with the top half. If these games were called even close to legitimately I believe Akron blows some teams out by 30-40 points and we have a much better NET ranking. The crap that really bothers me is when the officials in a sense "move the strike zone" mid-game. You play the first 30 minutes of the game with a loose whistle and then out of nowhere they call fouls for breathing on a guy. You can say that the Zips were soft and careless with the ball against the Buffalo press late in that game. Groce believed so. But I'm watching foul after foul by Buffalo not being called as well. We say at times that "the refs have lost control of a game". Watching this video I have to wonder if the refs are losing control of the league. Edit: One can say "who cares" because we are still winning games. But remember that margin of victory affects NET rankings and NET rankings affect seeding in the NCAA Tournament. And I'm tired of getting crushed by the likes of Arizona in the first round.

In Steele’s defense, I’m hearing that the speaker was drunk and belligerent during the whole first half. It had it coming.

I know we often talk about the Kent State hangover, but yesterday’s game didn’t strike me as physically and emotionally draining as some in the past. We didn’t start the game with a tip-off scrum for one. I’m sure there will still be a tendency for a let down. Don’t do it Zips!! Handle your business.

Complete game. Maybe their best game yet.

Sports Center anyone?

Good first half, but we are going to need a complete game tonight.

I thought we might see Barre in this one.

That’s a whole lotta sweaters.

I think the undefeated record has to weigh on Miami at some point.

MAC officials are awful.

💯 This.

Sure, when we both make the final four. It could happen. 😄

Other than 1 nice block, didn’t see much from Barre again.

I can’t believe that we are sooooo bad guarding the arc that everyone can have great shooting percentages against us.

Barre is in the game for 30 seconds and gets called for a foul. 🤦‍♂️

Was that a charge call? Hmmm.

I sure wish we were deeper.

Why can’t we ever bury a team?

Underwood played at Kansas State and was an assistant coach there under Huggins and then Frank Martin. Underwood and Martin have the same personality. Like someone pee’d in their cornflakes. I’m not really a fan of either. Maybe Underwood takes the K-State job because of his familiarity with the program, but I have to think the move from Illinois to K-State is a lateral move at best.

I wasn’t crazy about the idea at first either. Going back to Illinois. Watching your point guard dribbling down the clock to make sure there is only time for his last shot and maybe a quick tip-in is nerve wrecking. I have seen his point guards pass out of double teams and not take that last shot themselves, but it’s often not a drawn up play coming out of a time out. Other than maybe spreading everyone out, etc.

Groce is a former math teacher, so yes. There will be times at the very end of a close game where he will simply run a motion to get the ball into his best scorers hands. Then live or die by what he can create on his own. Because even though it’s not clever, it has the highest probability of success. Right now that would be Tavari.

Yale’s Celiscar hits free throws with .5 seconds in OT to win at Harvard. Nick Townsend left the game with an injury at some point. Didn’t see it or him in the second half.

I thought that was a pretty good fight until the basketball game broke out. 🙄

I love the very last frame of this video. The look of incredulity on Groce's face when talking to Frank Martin in classic. I sure wish I knew what they were discussing.

UMass is a good team that can shoot very well. But if the MAC doesn't get their fouling in check I could see a bench clearing brawl in the future. My prediction is it happens when UMass plays Kent.