Illini Hoops

The ball screen coverage down the stretch was not good. Fears able to snake it and wait for a big to seal off so he has a clear lane. I’d almost rather send a ton of help / stunts off their non-shooters and live with getting beat off a weak side three

Fears now averaging 2.5 trips and 0.5 donkey kicks to the nuts over his last 2 games.

7 regular season games left.

Illinois still controls its own destiny for a share of the Big Ten title. Go take care of business in your next 4, and bring an absolute haymaker to Michigan in Champaign on February 27th. #illini

FINAL: Michigan St. 85, #illini 82

I’m sick of the way games are officiated in East Lansing. Phantom foul call on Tomi in OT lost us the game. I’ll give the Spartans’ bigs credit because they out-hustled ours tonight.

Jeremy Fears is still a punk and should be suspended for his tripping antics.

This one stings. But Michigan St made way more winning / hustle plays down the stretch, and Jeremy Fears has vastly outplayed Keaton Wagler tonight.

These horseshit Michigan St refs man. Absolutely unbelievable.

This game is taking years off my life. Now would be a great time for the Keaton Wagler we all know and love to come out and steal this thing…

Jake Davis. NAILS!!

We are headed to overtime in East Lansing… #illini

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#illini

DAVID. MIRKOVIC

Offense has gone dead here, and Michigan St. keeps getting to the foul line. 1 point Spartan lead with 90 seconds to play. Gotta find a way to score here and get a stop on the other end. #illini

This game is a WAR

DAVID JOK-IVIC

How DAMN good has David Mirkovic been tonight?!? Special player

At some point, we have to see some threes go down tonight. Feels like we’ve gotten some damn good looks

Clearly not Keaton Wagler’s night. Didn’t think we’d be saying that at all this season, but he’s been bottled up. Can we find a way regardless? I liked some of the looks Illinois got in the 1st half with Mirkovic operating in booty ball. Good news is Wagler has been able to draw some good fouls.

Thought we made a nice adjustment with Tomi flashing to the high post off the ball screen blitz — Wagler did a great job making a quick and decisive pass, and it led to a corner three. Rare game where I think Keaton’s been a bit slow to move the ball after MSU aggressively shows.

Tough game to be running a 7-man rotation. When Michigan St. wants to run on a missed shot, we’re just not back quick enough. Wagler looks a bit gassed out there trying to cover Fears

Ben Humrichous appreciation post.

Thought the senior had a phenomenal half on both ends of the floor. And seems he’s getting his shot confidence back. 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 15 minutes. #illini

He can’t keep getting away with this…

The shot quality between Illinois and Michigan St. in the half-court is night and day. Spartans have been able to hang around due to transition points and offensive rebounds. Grind the game to a snail’s pace and get back on defense and we can steal this win. #illini

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Losing 20-17 on the glass and only have 2 points from Keaton Wagler? 4 point halftime lead in East Lansing.

Coach Underwood appealed citing a missed flagrant. Refs reviewed and deemed Jeremy Fears Jr inadvertently tripped David Mirkovic here. No flagrant. Illinois loses a timeout.

A lot of credit to Jordan Scott in the first half — he’s put the clamps on Wagler. Fortunately for us, we have a lot of guys who can put up points in a hurry.

Jeremy Fears tripping another player. Absolutely insane. Can’t make this shit up. And we don’t win the appeal.

What a game — Michigan St. has definitely been the aggressor and has won more 50/50 balls and offensive rebounds. Illinois shooting starting to take off thanks to Ben Humrichous. Transition defense and defensive rebounding need to improve to walk out of Breslin with a win.

The home whistle is insane. Illinois starting to get hot, and the refs are doing everything possible to keep the Spartans in it right now… come on…

Jake Davis… attacking the hoop?!?!

Michigan St. in the half-court = bad
Michigan St. in transition = elite

Have to be incredibly sharp in transition defense today. Cam Ward put Tomi on a poster, and the Breslin crowd is starting to get going. #illini

About how I expected this one to go through 5 minutes… chippy and ugly game. Illinois already with 3 fouls and has allowed Michigan St. to get 5 offensive rebounds. Sparty’s defense has been stout.