Illini Zip

I'm going to add to your good point. Due to Covid shortening and tightening our schedule, the staff had fewer windows than usual in which to make adjustments along the way.

This.

Anybody else really excited when Tribble hit his 3 pointer and then a little concerned when he took two more? Ha!! I believe he will continue to get better as time goes on.

I agree, but I wouldn't leave KJ Walton out of this observation. Different circumstances I imagine, but they both had opportunities to be a part of this team's success. And chose to pass.

Sweet!! Nice field. And the Cayman Islands again. I might have to start saving my pennies. Go Zips!!

Great points. I'm currently all out of likes. The pace of the offense being 350th in the country is so not Groce's style, but that shows you how he adjusts to his current team. Having a short bench he slowed it down to save their legs. Quite amazing.

@Let'sGoZips94 Let me be the first to congratulate you because I know how much this matters to you. I can promise you that next year the Zips, with an entire roster returning and some important new pieces will play in a better holiday tourneyment. Not sure how much better, but Groce likes to build on successes. So while we are all looking forward to the big dance, you can start dreaming about next year's OOC schedule.

ESPN3 does have the replay if you are interested.

Love this!!

The moment when the MAC realizes the wrong coach got the Coach of the Year Award.

Keep their head under water just a little while longer.

Let's do this!! Go Zips!!

I hear you. But they have been pretty formidable since I have been watching.

@Blue & Gold Did Groce just kill Toledo?

That was the best 18 minutes and change of a game CBS Sports allowed me to watch ever!!

Zips peaking in March!! Shame on me for doubting.

How is Toledo not called for traveling? Twice now.

CBS Sports…

It’s a conspiracy. Double overtime.

Damn, we have overtime on CBS Sports.

I did not see that game. I will see if I can find it on ESPN3. Edit: That game winning 3 pointer in OT was amazing and is what makes March Madness so awesome. I do feel for Furman. They couldn't have guarded any better. 2 guys chasing him down, 1 with hands up and he still nails it on the move. Nothing you can do there. That was an exhausting game to watch. I was home pacing myself. Ha!!

Too close indeed. But to Garvin Clarke's credit he stayed between the player and the basket, kept his hands back and made sure not to allow any contact in the act of shooting.

I'm going to take a shot at this. Do with it as you will. The excessive dribbling, turnovers and not passing the ball back out drives me crazy too. But at this point in the season, for Ali to still be doing this tells me he is doing what Groce is asking of him. Or at least good enough at this point to stick with it. And that is to back into the paint to score or draw double-teams and collapse the defense. Remember early on Castaneda and Clarke could not get going north and south. And Trimble couldn't get his shot off. They would all dribble, dribble, dribble the shot clock away up top. Without a crafty guard this year who can get inside at will and cause havoc, Groce decided to use Ali as a point forward. (He did the same thing with Malcolm Hill, SF, at Illinois when we had point guard issues) Now, Ali isn't efficient at this yet and going against a very strong, physical Buffalo team was rough on him yesterday. Ali is playing out of his comfort zone and is taking the abuse for the team. The double teams on him in the post opens things up for everyone else. That's what I tell myself anyway. Now if Ali would to spend the upcoming offseason living in the gym and gain 20 lbs of muscle he will be an absolute nightmare to guard. He would be able to back players down more quickly and easily. The game would slow down for him and his ball handling and reading of the defense would vastly improve. Allowing him to feed his open teammates on the perimeter. But right now he is head-down and battling. And his frustration gets the best of him at times. Bottomline, his post-game is definitely a work in progress, but this point forward has a very high ceiling.

Tribble wins it from the free throw line. Who would have thunk early in the season?!

Tribble has improved a bunch this year. But I think his leadership at this point is outpacing his talent. So even though he might not be that go-to guy in the clutch at this point his voice, attitude and effort needs to be applauded.