at UIC - 11/30/23 - 7 pm - ESPN+

[Buffett1]

Ya gotta have the horses.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Ya gotta have the horses.

I think we are much closer to having them. We need to get Pence some confidence. He had one really nice move/drive but missed the bunny. He really needs one to just fall. Need more from Davis. Lieb has to be able to finish close. Need more consistency from Mal and DB. Dalton and Johnny have been big positives.

 

[Rsolaw90]

Where is this narrative that people are calling for Pedon to be gone coming from? Being critical on performance does not mean people want change. If you don’t get mad about the Wright State game the are you even a fan? I’m confident Pedon is the right man for the job, but at the same time games like Wright State are unacceptable. Pedon knows that and probably told the team the same.

100 % agree with this.

 

[Redbirdmike]

Yak is 19-36 in valley play, 35-49 overall entering his 4th year. Using the sentiment around here (of which I understand and endorse for the most part) he should have already been jettisoned by UIC. Yes he is off to a respectable start this year and we will soon see if he keeps it up. I highly doubt he does anything meaningful on a multiyear basis.

Moral of Yak story....sometimes it takes more time than the mere 18 months that Pedon has enjoyed in order to have some success.

I agree that UIC is a tough place to coach and win on a consistent basis. Being from Chicago you see that not having the campus atmosphere at a commuter college is a big drawback for a fan base. Jimmy Collins was able to recruit the city and do fairly well for a while here. UIC is improved this year and will be a tough out for us. I’d just like to see us bounce back from our last game and play well enough to get a road win (which is like gold) in the Valley against anyone. Go Birds!

 

[Aggie]

Hoped for progress year 2 - play and win Thursday
Year three play and win Thursday and Friday
Year four avoid Thursday

Not huge, but attainable, and lastly at least be competitive in games

Thank you,

 

[SlackBooDom]

Dug in a little more on year-to-year progress for recent MVC hires for context. I think it goes without saying there are different circumstances for each. For example, Muller taking over Jank. Jank wasn't fired, so he isn't starting from the same place as Pedon would be for Muller. Just wanted some information as it pertains to the conversation on what our improvement should look like year one to year two.

Dan Muller: 18-15 Y1, 18-16 Y2
Ryan Pedon: 11-21 Y1, 3-3 Y2
David Ragland: 5-27 Y1, 6-0 Y2
Steve Prohm: 17-15 Y1, 2-3 Y2
Bryan Mullins: 16-16 Y1, 12-14 Y2
Luke Yaklich (Horizon): 9-13 Y1, 14-16 Y2
Luke Yaklich (MVC): 12-20 Y1, 5-2 Y2
Dana Ford: 16-16 Y1, 16-17 Y2
Josh Schertz: 11-20 Y1, 23-13 Y2
Darian Devries: 24-10 Y1, 20-14 Y2
Brian Wardle: 5-27 Y1, 13-20 Y2

David Ragland will make a big jump. Yak will too. Josh Schertz has done a great job in Terre Haute. Wardle did well to improve. Outside of that, I would say this actually helped me see year two for what it is - establishing culture and improving with the core group. Expectations feel a little reset in my eyes seeing it with numbers for the rest of the league.

 

[Bird Friend]

Dug in a little more on year-to-year progress for recent MVC hires for context. I think it goes without saying there are different circumstances for each. For example, Muller taking over Jank. Jank wasn't fired, so he isn't starting from the same place as Pedon would be for Muller. Just wanted some information as it pertains to the conversation on what our improvement should look like year one to year two.

Dan Muller: 18-15 Y1, 18-16 Y2
Ryan Pedon: 11-21 Y1, 3-3 Y2
David Ragland: 5-27 Y1, 6-0 Y2
Steve Prohm: 17-15 Y1, 2-3 Y2
Bryan Mullins: 16-16 Y1, 12-14 Y2
Luke Yaklich (Horizon): 9-13 Y1, 14-16 Y2
Luke Yaklich (MVC): 12-20 Y1, 5-2 Y2
Dana Ford: 16-16 Y1, 16-17 Y2
Josh Schertz: 11-20 Y1, 23-13 Y2
Darian Devries: 24-10 Y1, 20-14 Y2
Brian Wardle: 5-27 Y1, 13-20 Y2

David Ragland will make a big jump. Yak will too. Josh Schertz has done a great job in Terre Haute. Wardle did well to improve. Outside of that, I would say this actually helped me see year two for what it is - establishing culture and improving with the core group. Expectations feel a little reset in my eyes seeing it with numbers for the rest of the league.

I can't believe they didn't fire Devries for regressing year 2.

 

[Popsto4]

I think we are much closer to having them. We need to get Pence some confidence. He had one really nice move/drive but missed the bunny. He really needs one to just fall. Need more from Davis. Lieb has to be able to finish close. Need more consistency from Mal and DB. Dalton and Johnny have been big positives.

I still say offensively it’s still a bit confusing to me. If you have dogs at different positions that can just go get a bucket then all good. If not a system need to be placed to get more open looks other than perimeter shots. Granted, those open shots still need to be knocked down when opportunity arrives. If we don’t have a player getting at least 18 pts consistently it’s going to be hard to win at a high clip in conference. Look around most of these teams in the Valley have a go to guy. Who or where is ours? It’s a huge advantage to have a kid like that. Sure balanced scoring is great, but lacking in the go to player is missing. It’s early and someone need to really step up in this category to be a leader offensively and pretty much demand the rock on the offensive end. Defensively we could’ve played better in Florida but man we held those teams pretty much under their averages for the most part. Defense can’t be overrated but putting the ball in the hole wins the games honestly.

 

[TBS_20]

UIC 74 - ISU 66

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

I agree that UIC is a tough place to coach and win on a consistent basis. Being from Chicago you see that not having the campus atmosphere at a commuter college is a big drawback for a fan base. Jimmy Collins was able to recruit the city and do fairly well for a while here. UIC is improved this year and will be a tough out for us. I’d just like to see us bounce back from our last game and play well enough to get a road win (which is like gold) in the Valley against anyone. Go Birds!

was at a birthday part this fall and there were 2 coaches from different MVC teams (SIU/UIC..no head coaches) as well as Loyola head coach and two assistants from Illinois and one assistant from Iowa. Got on the topic of whether the UIC head coach position is now a good or bad job. Most thought the job has improved dramatically from 10 years ago and even 5 years ago. The consensus seemed to be 'maybe' it is now a good job. Overall they all felt it is easier to recruit for UIC being in the MVC, the increased university profile and more importantly all of the changes to the campus and surrounding area. UIC now resides in or is surrounded by basically one of the more trendier areas to live in chicago. It still has the challenge that many commuter schools struggle with and that is their biggest negative discussed.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I still say offensively it’s still a bit confusing to me. If you have dogs at different positions that can just go get a bucket then all good. If not a system need to be placed to get more open looks other than perimeter shots. Granted, those open shots still need to be knocked down when opportunity arrives. If we don’t have a player getting at least 18 pts consistently it’s going to be hard to win at a high clip in conference. Look around most of these teams in the Valley have a go to guy. Who or where is ours? It’s a huge advantage to have a kid like that. Sure balanced scoring is great, but lacking in the go to player is missing. It’s early and someone need to really step up in this category to be a leader offensively and pretty much demand the rock on the offensive end. Defensively we could’ve played better in Florida but man we held those teams pretty much under their averages for the most part. Defense can’t be overrated but putting the ball in the hole wins the games honestly.

That’s what I think killed us in the MTE. We never had that go to guy when we needed a bucket. It’s been Mal, it’s been Luke, it’s been DB. Nobody has been consistent. If Mal hits some of this early looks against Wright State then the game probably isn’t nearly as ugly. Is that his fault? Not really. We just need someone to be the guy and get a bucket when we need it. Someone dependable.

 

[SlackBooDom]

That’s what I think killed us in the MTE. We never had that go to guy when we needed a bucket. It’s been Mal, it’s been Luke, it’s been DB. Nobody has been consistent. If Mal hits some of this early looks against Wright State then the game probably isn’t nearly as ugly. Is that his fault? Not really. We just need someone to be the guy and get a bucket when we need it. Someone dependable.

I only disagree because of the roster makeup. You can have a team of balanced scoring that doesn't require one guy to be the focus and I feel we will have to be that. We're last in the MVC in scoring offense. We're 9th in FT%. We're last in FG%. We're last in 3P%. We're last in assists. I don't think we have "someone to be the guy" because we don't have a guy on this roster offensively capable of being that. We're not skilled enough.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

I only disagree because of the roster makeup. You can have a team of balanced scoring that doesn't require one guy to be the focus and I feel we will have to be that. We're last in the MVC in scoring offense. We're 9th in FT%. We're last in FG%. We're last in 3P%. We're last in assists. I don't think we have "someone to be the guy" because we don't have a guy on this roster offensively capable of being that. We're not skilled enough.

I think that is a good synopsis of the situation.

 

[cpacmel]

Illinois State +8

Over / under 132

 

[Redbird82]

I only disagree because of the roster makeup. You can have a team of balanced scoring that doesn't require one guy to be the focus and I feel we will have to be that. We're last in the MVC in scoring offense. We're 9th in FT%. We're last in FG%. We're last in 3P%. We're last in assists. I don't think we have "someone to be the guy" because we don't have a guy on this roster offensively capable of being that. We're not skilled enough.

Ouch!

 

[Hamdonger]

I only disagree because of the roster makeup. You can have a team of balanced scoring that doesn't require one guy to be the focus and I feel we will have to be that. We're last in the MVC in scoring offense. We're 9th in FT%. We're last in FG%. We're last in 3P%. We're last in assists. I don't think we have "someone to be the guy" because we don't have a guy on this roster offensively capable of being that. We're not skilled enough.

Under Ryan (and I CERTAINLY am not calling for his head), we've had an awfully hard time manufacturing buckets through effective ball movement. We're terribly predictable on offense and this is a major problem. This is the area I'm looking for the most improvement this season. So far I'm not seeing it. We've got some guys who can shoot...and score...but the cohesiveness in getting those buckets just isn't there. After 40 games it's a concern.

I do believe we are a better team, though. The real season is just beginning, and I'm looking forward to watching our team improve. A distributing guard - and Lieb hitting a shot from 15 feet in - will make us look like a much different team...and man am I ready for a freakin' winner.

 

[Redbird222]

We will be at the game tomorrow rooting for a birds victory. We can't shoot any worse than we did the first half at UIC last year. UIC is very good defining the perimeter. We need to limit turnovers and our post players need to rise to the occasion and contribute offensively.

I can't remember the last time we started the MVC conference with a road win.

 

[Redbird222]

We will be at the game tomorrow rooting for a birds victory. We can't shoot any worse than we did the first half at UIC last year. UIC is very good defining the perimeter. We need to limit turnovers and our post players need to rise to the occasion and contribute offensively.

I can't remember the last time we started the MVC conference with a road win.

It looks like 2017-18 season we opened at Evansville and won.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Finally, it's gameday!

 

[Phantom]

It's not necessarily a bad thing not having one go-to guy for baskets. Having a balanced attack where several people could score on a given night is fine...provided we have the right combinations and offensive flow to do that. We need better movement and transition. We don't run enough. Drive and kick is fine and our guards can do that, but that shouldn't be our only option. I'd like to see us get down the floor more, and you can kickstart some of that with defensive boards & turnovers. Get your asses up the floor and attack the hoop or find a trailer.