 I have no idea why. I was talking out of my hat. Our Illini writer,
Greg Taylor, asked me if I had taken too much cold medicine. Maybe I
inadvertently walked too close to one of those medical marijuana
places. I wasn't making sense. You see, both of us witnessed last
year's collapse. We may have even melted down more than the team
did.I've just always felt that our players were better than they
were showing. I never blamed the coaches for all of it. Players have
to make plays and execute, and the Illini hadn't done a lot of that
the last couple of seasons. I even asked Greg before coach Bruce
Weber's final year began if he thought we'd be better if we pushed
the basketball more instead of playing Weber's more deliberate
possession game. He never did give me an answer except to say that
he would play Myke Henry a lot more -- he loves that kid!
My only point in asking Greg that question was that if you have a
team that makes 20 turnovers a game in a half-court offense, what do
you have to lose by trying something else? Maybe they won't turn it
over as much in a faster-paced, up-tempo offense. I always figure
that the coaches are smarter than us. They must have thought of
that. But for some reason they stuck to their guns. I just think
that sometimes coaches are too stubborn for their own good. I should
point out that a glance at the stats page shows that this
faster-paced edition of the Illini isn't even averaging 13 turnovers
a game (12.67 if my math is correct), so maybe our idea wasn't as
far-fetched as we thought.
While I felt like something positive was on the horizon for
Illinois, I didn't dream that it would be going along this well. I
was thinking they would be more like 11-1 or 10-2 at this point in
the proceedings, not 12-0! I thought it would take longer for the
players to adjust to coach John Groce and for him to fully assess
and judge our talent to know what to do with them. However, I never
thought that our squad would buy in as quickly as they did either. I
don't think they are immune to the booing and criticism that had
come their way over the last couple of years. I think the negativity
wore them down. But rather than sulk and mope, it appears that they
went out and did something about it.
They look stronger and more fit. They look like they are in
better physical condition. And they look like they have improved
their shooting ability. I have no idea what they did last summer,
but I do know that those aspects can go a long ways toward achieving
success.
Again, as I scan their statistics, it bears out what I'm saying.
Illinois is shooting a fine .454 from the field, which is even more
amazing when you consider how many of the Illini's shots have come
from distance this season. Case in point, they are connecting at
almost 40 percent from 3-point range (I believe it is exactly .386).
And their 70 percent shooting from the free-throw line is probably
better than most fans would guess at this point.
[to top of second column] |
 As we turn the schedule to the page showing stiffer competition,
I guess we will all begin to see what this team is made of. By
playing Missouri and Auburn, we'll see much more physical play and
much more athletic teams. I think our guys will welcome that. I
don't believe that they will back down from anybody! The experts saw
them as the ninth-best team in the league. I always thought we were
better and I said so ... I believe! I am one of those kooks who
believe that positive encouragement and enthusiasm, coupled with not
jerking guys out every time they make a mistake, allows for looser,
more confident players. So, sue me if you don't agree. That usually
results in more positive play and success -- not always, but I'm
just saying...
At any rate, once the Illini get through those two contests,
their reward will be the Big Ten opener at Purdue's Mackey Arena.
How's that for a start to the league season? Then they get two games
at home versus Ohio State and Minnesota before a road tilt at
Wisconsin. ... I love the Big Ten schedule makers, don't you?
So, I don't know what's going to happen at the Braggin' Rights
game in St. Louis. I would love for us to come out and make a
statement. I don't believe this group of seniors has beaten the
Tigers. This hopeful season could sure get a lot sweeter to me if
the Illini could bring down ol' Mizzou!
But how can that be accomplished? First, you must limit your
turnovers. You must go toe-to-toe with them and not back down. You
must crash the boards. You don't have to win the rebounding battle,
but you do have to keep it close. Believe it or not, Illinois has
outrebounded its opponents 36.6-32.8 per game for a 3.8 margin. You
must also get loose balls. It seems that Illinois has been a step
slower than Missouri the last couple of seasons -- that can't happen
Saturday.
It would be nice to get some breaks... maybe the ball bounces our
way a little bit, maybe the intangibles go our way, maybe Bill
Walton announces our game and tells the refs to whistle 65 fouls on
Missouri, or maybe our bench gives us a huge lift. We don't need all
those things, but enough to put Mizzou on its collective heels. If
we shoot it like we are capable of, that would take so much pressure
off us. And most of all, our defense has to be stifling. The Illini
are holding teams to just over 40 percent shooting and limiting them
to 32 percent from distance. If we can defend them that well or
better, especially without getting into foul trouble, there is no
reason that Illinois could not beat them (and yes, I know that
Illinois is ranked higher, but I also don't know if that is correct.
I do believe that the Illini have played a tougher schedule so far,
but because Missouri is on a winning streak in this matchup, I would
make them the favorite in this contest -- but, I still like the
Illini's chances).
Missouri is athletic; they're physical and seem to be on a roll
in St. Louis. But it's time for that to change. It's time for the
Illini to assert their own will. It's time for Illinois to reclaim
the Braggin' Rights trophy! It's your time, Illini!
[By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jmayfield@ctitech.com.
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