vs Eastern Illinois - 11/15/23 - 7 pm - ESPN+/Marquee Network

[Dmills]

I don't believe Burford was at 100%

 

[cubird]

Random thoughts..Hope the flu runs it's course b4 their road trip. Davis did not play the second half after shooting air balls the first half. Sissoko got some minutes. In close games down the stretch Foster may be pulled because of his 50% ft shooting.

 

[Redbird222]

I think we need to steal some of Marty's inbounds plays.

 

[Hootyhoofan]

Everyone needs to RELAX and stop being so critical of these young men. We have 8 NEW PLAYERS.. it is a process! Yes tonight wasn’t a perfect but niether will it be when conference play starts as well. Last time I checked a win is a win.

Side note: I think Lewis and Foster could be one of the best rebounding duos at the mid major level this season.

 

[DWRedbird]

I've thought this in the past but haven't shared but Poindexter reminds me a little of Trey Guidry, specifically his shooting stroke and touch (Pops, that's a compliment) and an ability to be on fire any given night.

This is such a great comparison. Mal really does remind me of Trey, similar height, similar build, same awesome shooting ability.

Not sure when, but we're going to need guys who make other players better.

Poindexter - 23 minutes, 0 assists
Foster - 27 minutes, 1 assist
Burford - 19 minutes, 1 assist
Kasubke - 23 minutes, 1 assist
Kinziger - 23 minutes, 0 assists

There's a reason the offense looks so bad at times. We are awful at sharing the ball.

I think this is a product of the offense we tend to run. Our guards sit out around the perimeter, no one drives, no one works their way inside, and we get exceptionally easy to guard and passes are getting to guys who are open to make a shot. I say this pretty much every game, but we need to throw that part of our offense out. When we started working the ball inside and such our offense works so much better.

Some other thoughts:

• Knowing Mal had the flu makes sense, but I wonder if Banks did as well. He looked like he was completely off, making some bad passes and was kind of sloppy with the ball.
• If Kinziger was 3 inches taller, I believe he'd be the Badgers starting PG right now. The kid is really good, and really poised. He looks comfortable with the ball and without it.
• Foster is a beast inside. A double double is fantastic to see, and I'm going to keep saying he is going to give the Valley fits. I would still love to see him and Leib/KLew work a high-low offense. It would be so effective.
• Speaking of, having Foster and KLew each get 10 or more rebounds is amazing. Its really nice having having to worry less and less about us getting rebounds.
• Only causing 14 fouls is amazing. We had more than that in the first half against St. Louis. We are going to need to keep the fouls down to win games.

 

[DaveBird10]

Not sure when, but we're going to need guys who make other players better.

Poindexter - 23 minutes, 0 assists
Foster - 27 minutes, 1 assist
Burford - 19 minutes, 1 assist
Kasubke - 23 minutes, 1 assist
Kinziger - 23 minutes, 0 assists

There's a reason the offense looks so bad at times. We are awful at sharing the ball.

Banks and Lewis had 7 of our 11 assists last night. We did only have 11 turnovers as a team and out rebounded EIU by 10.

 

[SlackBooDom]

Banks and Lewis had 7 of our 11 assists last night. We did only have 11 turnovers as a team and out rebounded EIU by 10.

Yep - plenty of positives. Just know that (small sample size alert) we are a bottom third team In the country in assisted field goals made. Last year we were in the same spot. We aren't talented enough to just go get buckets. We have to set our teammates up. The way it is structured now leads to way too many scoreless stretches. We aren't good enough defensively to overcome that.

 

[Popsto4]

Mal played sick tonight with the flu. Johnny so far is deserving of more minutes. It’s great to see Luke find his groove too.

2nd thought. I think we’re sharing the ball ok. Sometimes we seem to be starting games in a shooting slump more often than not. A ton of open looks were missed early. Knock down some of those and the assists would’ve been there.

 

[Phantom]

Closer than it needed to be. Didn't really have much of an offensive flow. Looked like some lead in the asses last night. But we'll take the W.

And now after reading Doug's comp of Mal to Trey, all I keep hearing is Steve Adams' booming voice: Treey GIDREEE for THHREEEE!

 

[isuquinndog]

Someone tell Lieb he doesnt have to shoot from 3. We just need him to pull his best Rodman

I know I'm very late to reply to this, but that is not his game. He may be over 7' tall but he's always been an outside player as much as an inside one.

 

[DaveBird10]

There were some good things and knowing now that Mal had flu makes sense. We shot 41% from field, outrebounded EIU by 10, only had 11 turnovers, shot 6-19 from 3 (wish that was higher but the shots I thought were good looks). EIU shot 38.6% from the field, 30% from 3 and we only had 14 fouls so we doubled them at the line with 26 attempts to 13.
We don't seem to be a good free throw shooting team but Foster will make that lower just because he's not a good foul shooter. You take away his 1/4 and we are 16/22 from the foul line. But I love the look of Foster and KLew playing together. Even tho that game wasn't pretty I will take it. I am wondering if our games especially MVC games might look like that. If we control the paint with Foster and Lewis they will be wars and might not look pretty especially if we are wanting to control the paint with rebounds and points in the paint as Pedon has consistently said "he wants to play through the paint. "
I love the way Kinziger looks already, kid has a nice pull up jumper and poise beyond his years. Remember this was game 3 and the 1st game where the entire team was together, it will come around. On to Florida where hopefully we can go 2-1, have a tough game against a Long Beach State who is coached by Dan Monson and returns all 5 starters from last year.

 

[TBS_20]

I know I'm very late to reply to this, but that is not his game. He may be over 7' tall but he's always been an outside player as much as an inside one.

never too late to change.

 

[Hrtnfldhse]

Everyone needs to RELAX and stop being so critical of these young men. We have 8 NEW PLAYERS.. it is a process! Yes tonight wasn’t a perfect but niether will it be when conference play starts as well. Last time I checked a win is a win.

Side note: I think Lewis and Foster could be one of the best rebounding duos at the mid major level this season.

This exactly. A lot of new faces have to have time to gel and know each other tendacies. That should mean we continue to play better as the season goes on. The SLU second half was encouraging which is your only loss. Be happy for the W's before the calendar turns to 2024 and then hit your stride during the stretch run in the Valley

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Side note: I think Lewis and Foster could be one of the best rebounding duos at the mid major level this season.

Don't forget that Lieb had 12 rebounds in the first half against SLU.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

No panic from me after last night. Should be a fun season.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Keeping an eye on Long Beach State against Michigan tomorrow. LBSU has played a pretty tough schedule so far and have high expectations for this season. Could be a good measuring stick game next Monday.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

I have always hated the "We didn't win well enough" argument. You won a D1 game and the first day of March Madness every year will tell you that college basketball comes with no sure things. Taking a big first half lead and then not really losing control of the game at any point after that, to me, is what the goal should be.

It seemed like a well-enough played early season game and I think it went well. Call me an optimist.

 

[Manchester Matt]

I know I'm very late to reply to this, but that is not his game. He may be over 7' tall but he's always been an outside player as much as an inside one.

I guess I don't get where people think Lieb is a threat from the outside. He put up zero three-point attempts in his limited time at Illinois. That being said, he's a fantastic rim protector and rebounder, and I hope he settles into that role.

 

[Adunk33]

Echoing what some others have said...Johnny not being in down the stretch was probably my biggest head scratcher in regards to Pedon of his tenure. He played very well and I think will take the reigns as starter by the full conf slate in January.
+/- tends to be a telling stat. Here's what last night looked like.
Luke +20
Johnny +15
Kendall +10
Myles +8
Banks +8

Davis, Lieb, Burford all -6.

Overall, they should be a very good rebounding team. There were a couple that Myles' length really showed. One stands out specifically in the second half where he jumped for a board in the middle of three EIU players and just went straight up with both hands and took it away from them. He and Lewis are going to be a heck of a tandem.

The assist numbers might be a little skewed as another poster pointed out. You could argue most of Foster's points were assisted but he backed down his defender, so the assist opp goes away. I'd argue there were probably 5ish more out there to be had.

I'm not seeing much out of Davis right now to evaluate what he can potentially bring. When he was brought in, there was talk of his versatile defense and having the ability to score at all three levels. I haven't see it yet. I think Pence is being groomed to be the next Lewis, when I think it might benefit all for him to be more like the next Luke (wing as opposed to forward). He's a scorer and doesn't have the body to get in good positioning in the post right now.

Chasing being in a boot confirms for me that we aren't going to see him this year.

This tournament is winnable but we definitely drew the toughest team on day 1. Here's to hoping for match ups against High Point and Buffalo. Current Birds vs Former Birds.

 

[Adunk33]

I guess I don't get where people think Lieb is a threat from the outside. He put up zero three-point attempts in his limited time at Illinois. That being said, he's a fantastic rim protector and rebounder, and I hope he settles into that role.

He mentioned in his commitment article that he was to reintroduce that part of his game that he didn't get to explore. Pedon has said he doesn't mind Brandon taking those shots as long as they're good ones. To Brandon's defense, they've all be wide open threes....

But yes, I like all of you, would prefer him to work on post play and efficiency around the rim.