Illini #20 in AP and Coaches
by Joe Kutsunis on Feb 23, 2009 1:16 PM CST
5 comments
Well I am slightly surprised we did not fall further in the rankings, based on the media reaction to PSU alone you would think that this team couldn't even take the court against an ACC team.
Also after looking over the stats from the Duke Wake Forest game, it makes me wonder whether or not the ACC actually plays defense. I am not saying that we are a better team than either, but seriously doesnt giving up 50 points in a half suggest at the very least a relaxed defense?
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Regarding the ACC . . .
my brother and I discussed THAT EXACT thing last night, although the conversation more-or-less centered on Duke rather than the ACC as a whole.
I mean, it’s OK to give up 91 points and still expect to win a game in, say, the NBA. Or against Grinnell College (and if you give up only 91 to them . . . you’d BETTER win). But in an NCAA D1 game? Eeeyikes. That’s craziness. Maybe there’s a reason Seth Davis (a Duke guy, mind you) picked Duke as an “early bounce” candidate in the Big Dance.
It almost makes me wish Illinois had drawn Duke instead of Clemson for the ACC-B10 diddly-doohickey.
"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields
ACC Defense
I think it’s a combination of the defense, but also more quick offensive pace. We sometimes complain about how Illinois gets into a habit of passing until the shot clock runs out and then start the offensive set with 10 seconds left. I see that many ACC teams just like to attack the basket right away. They seem to love the pull-up jumper when the bring the ball up court. Just what I’ve noticed.
But . . .
is that a function of the defenders not getting back in time to defend the pull-up J, or a function of the defenders knowing it might be coming and not putting a hand in the dude’s grill? If it’s the latter, that’s poor defense and wouldn’t happen as often against your average Big Ten squad. If it’s the former, it’s poor (or at the very least, lackadaisical) hustle that your average Big Ten coach wouldn’t put up with for too long.
"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields
Also...
there could be something to what has been discussed about the officiating in the Big Ten, i.e. how the refs will let the defense get away with a lot more than in other conferences. It’s tough to get penetration and score when you get hacked at the basket and the refs only call it half of the time. You tend to get tentative about the dribble and start looking for other options, instead of attacking the hoop.
"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."
I'll agree with you on that . . .
but only somewhat.
Alot of these refs call non-conference games in Nov-Dec of each season.
I guess the best way to resolve THAT one would be to keep track of their calls in those non-conference games.
I guarantee, though, that no matter WHAT conference is involved, Eddie Hightower is lettin’ it go. No foul.
"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields
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