With all the turnover year-to-year, it takes time to appreciate each individual Illini basketball team. There are the on-paper accomplishments and the KenPom stats, but there are also the moments that replay in your head for years to come.
Trent Frazier unstoppable scoring outbursts.
Ayo clutch moments.
Kofi physical domination.
TSJ explosiveness in transition
KJ artistry in the halfcourt
KJ had a brief interview line with the phrase "basketball is beautiful" and I think that defines this team. When this team is "on" it just makes basketball look so easy. We'll have a 12-2 run out of nowhere and you don't even really notice the score because the game is just flowing. KJ slices through the lane and throws something in off the glass. Boswell gets a steal. Ivisic dishes to White for an open layup. Morez grabs a rebound and puts it right up and in. Ivisic blocks a shot. Boswell hits a transition bucket. KJ finds Humrichous for a couple 3's. Morez forces a tough 2 and snatches the rebound off the front iron. Then it goes back-and-forth for a few minutes and we hit another run like that. Suddenly we're up 20 points and it's still the first half.
I was just watching the highlights from last night and this team is starting to figure out cutting and interior passing and the flow of the game. I'm also seeing more guys anticipating passes on defense and getting steals. I'm loving the defense around the rim with verticality and not fouling. There's just an artistry there that is so smooth and enjoyable to watch.
I know we don't sustain it for 40 minutes (frankly we'd be beating teams by 50 if we did and that feels almost mean) but this team is just fun to watch when they get it going. That first half last night was just clinical. Cruised to an easy 60 points and it felt like we could do it again.
Normally at this time I'd be worrying about standings or seeding or projecting the future. I'm sure I'll get back to that at some point. For now, though, I just want to watch the games and enjoy the ride. We might lose a couple, but we also might just drop 100 points on a ranked team and win by 20+ at their house. I really love this brand of basketball, the talent, and the feeling that we've got the best 5 guys on the floor every night and anything is possible. I remember this feeling in the early 2000's and it's just so much fun. I hope there are others here feeling the same way.
Trent Frazier unstoppable scoring outbursts.
Ayo clutch moments.
Kofi physical domination.
TSJ explosiveness in transition
KJ artistry in the halfcourt
KJ had a brief interview line with the phrase "basketball is beautiful" and I think that defines this team. When this team is "on" it just makes basketball look so easy. We'll have a 12-2 run out of nowhere and you don't even really notice the score because the game is just flowing. KJ slices through the lane and throws something in off the glass. Boswell gets a steal. Ivisic dishes to White for an open layup. Morez grabs a rebound and puts it right up and in. Ivisic blocks a shot. Boswell hits a transition bucket. KJ finds Humrichous for a couple 3's. Morez forces a tough 2 and snatches the rebound off the front iron. Then it goes back-and-forth for a few minutes and we hit another run like that. Suddenly we're up 20 points and it's still the first half.
I was just watching the highlights from last night and this team is starting to figure out cutting and interior passing and the flow of the game. I'm also seeing more guys anticipating passes on defense and getting steals. I'm loving the defense around the rim with verticality and not fouling. There's just an artistry there that is so smooth and enjoyable to watch.
I know we don't sustain it for 40 minutes (frankly we'd be beating teams by 50 if we did and that feels almost mean) but this team is just fun to watch when they get it going. That first half last night was just clinical. Cruised to an easy 60 points and it felt like we could do it again.
Normally at this time I'd be worrying about standings or seeding or projecting the future. I'm sure I'll get back to that at some point. For now, though, I just want to watch the games and enjoy the ride. We might lose a couple, but we also might just drop 100 points on a ranked team and win by 20+ at their house. I really love this brand of basketball, the talent, and the feeling that we've got the best 5 guys on the floor every night and anything is possible. I remember this feeling in the early 2000's and it's just so much fun. I hope there are others here feeling the same way.
