1) After the game was decided 5 minutes in tonight, Malcolm Hill basically said "F*** it" and was handling the ball himself and going to the rim with force and look what happened: 22 points on 13 FG, 6 assists and 8 FTA. Hill was responsible for over 60% of Illinois's offensive production tonight. Why wasn't this happening all season, especially after Rice came back?
One thing: Malcolm was clearly having a mental battle with his role all season. Switching from the 4 to the 3 and back, how much he was asked to handle the ball; do I defer, be aggressive, go to the rim, shoot, I don't know. Some games he just wasn't aggressive and it seemed like he was out of it and confused.
When he dominates the ball, initiates the offense, drives in isolation, and plays with tenacity, good things happen for Illinois. But instead we got this gift from Santa Groce all year:
2) Ahmad Starks and Jaylon Tate: 1-12 FG, only 2 assists, and terrible defense. Groce should have been running Rice at the 1, playing zone defense (because Rice and Hill are SLOW; Hello John, I don't coach these guys, you get paid millions to do that, yet apparently my 20/160 eyeballs can see better than yours), and having Hill initiate the offense basically the entire time after Rice came back from injury. It was SO OBVIOUS based on how bad Tate and Starks were and how Hill played when Rice was out.
They needed to get the bad players off the floor and put Black/Colbert on the floor for effort and energy. Your half court offense doesn't need a point guard, Groce. Why this didn't happen is literally inexplicable.
Bottom line: There was enough talent on this team to make the tournament, despite injuries, suspensions, and Cosby turning out to be a pile of nothing. Wisconsin has played 6 guys since Jackson went out. Ohio St. played literally no bench that year with Diebler. Put your best f***ing players on the floor and figure out how to make it work.
This post was edited on 3/18 7:29 AM by bucshon
One thing: Malcolm was clearly having a mental battle with his role all season. Switching from the 4 to the 3 and back, how much he was asked to handle the ball; do I defer, be aggressive, go to the rim, shoot, I don't know. Some games he just wasn't aggressive and it seemed like he was out of it and confused.
When he dominates the ball, initiates the offense, drives in isolation, and plays with tenacity, good things happen for Illinois. But instead we got this gift from Santa Groce all year:
2) Ahmad Starks and Jaylon Tate: 1-12 FG, only 2 assists, and terrible defense. Groce should have been running Rice at the 1, playing zone defense (because Rice and Hill are SLOW; Hello John, I don't coach these guys, you get paid millions to do that, yet apparently my 20/160 eyeballs can see better than yours), and having Hill initiate the offense basically the entire time after Rice came back from injury. It was SO OBVIOUS based on how bad Tate and Starks were and how Hill played when Rice was out.
They needed to get the bad players off the floor and put Black/Colbert on the floor for effort and energy. Your half court offense doesn't need a point guard, Groce. Why this didn't happen is literally inexplicable.
Bottom line: There was enough talent on this team to make the tournament, despite injuries, suspensions, and Cosby turning out to be a pile of nothing. Wisconsin has played 6 guys since Jackson went out. Ohio St. played literally no bench that year with Diebler. Put your best f***ing players on the floor and figure out how to make it work.
This post was edited on 3/18 7:29 AM by bucshon
