Comments on: Illinois Fighting Illini http://www.bracketography.com/teams/illinois-fighting-illini/ NCAA Tournament Predictions and Projections Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:06:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: plainz23 http://www.bracketography.com/teams/illinois-fighting-illini/comment-page-1/#comment-11254 plainz23 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:51:47 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/?p=792#comment-11254 they r overrated they r overrated

]]> By: David Mihm http://www.bracketography.com/teams/illinois-fighting-illini/comment-page-1/#comment-10224 David Mihm Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:08:38 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/?p=792#comment-10224 Andrew, I remember the game you are talking about clearly. This team has improved dramatically at the line over a year ago. However, I still do not trust the Illini shooters late in the game. McCamey missed several free throws at the end of regulation in the game at West Lafayette that would have iced it and Mike Davis missed a key FT with three minutes left in this weekend's game against MSU. The Illini can also point to an 8-for-13 performance in East Lansing as a key reason for that close loss. Frankly, if they got to the line more during the game (i.e. dumped it down to the bigs more often) FT% wouldn't really be an issue. Andrew, I remember the game you are talking about clearly. This team has improved dramatically at the line over a year ago.

However, I still do not trust the Illini shooters late in the game. McCamey missed several free throws at the end of regulation in the game at West Lafayette that would have iced it and Mike Davis missed a key FT with three minutes left in this weekend’s game against MSU.

The Illini can also point to an 8-for-13 performance in East Lansing as a key reason for that close loss.

Frankly, if they got to the line more during the game (i.e. dumped it down to the bigs more often) FT% wouldn’t really be an issue.

]]> By: Andrew Force http://www.bracketography.com/teams/illinois-fighting-illini/comment-page-1/#comment-10223 Andrew Force Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:01:40 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/?p=792#comment-10223 I agree completely on D-Mac. Though he is the best backcourt player, he has a tendency to brood and lets his personal success (or occasional lack thereof) to affect all elements of his game. I completely disagree about the free throw shooting. I think a big reason why the Illini are a different team this year from last is the free throw shooting. This stat somewhat illuminates my point: This season the Illini are 4-1 in games decided by five points or less. Last season the Illini were 5-5 in games decided by five points or less. When your "clutch" player is Shaun Pruitt (56% FT), you will lose a lot of close games. That was the scenario last season. The apex of his struggles, and Illini pain occured against Indiana (constant rival and Eric Gordon thief in the minds of ILL fans). Pruitt missed 2 "clinchable" free throws with 2 seconds left in the first OT after missing a front end with :04 seconds at the end of regulation. Oh, and Pruitt stood at the line for three STRAIGHT misses to conclude the first half. The Chief never looked so somber. I agree completely on D-Mac. Though he is the best backcourt player, he has a tendency to brood and lets his personal success (or occasional lack thereof) to affect all elements of his game.

I completely disagree about the free throw shooting. I think a big reason why the Illini are a different team this year from last is the free throw shooting.

This stat somewhat illuminates my point:
This season the Illini are 4-1 in games decided by five points or less.
Last season the Illini were 5-5 in games decided by five points or less.

When your “clutch” player is Shaun Pruitt (56% FT), you will lose a lot of close games. That was the scenario last season.

The apex of his struggles, and Illini pain occured against Indiana (constant rival and Eric Gordon thief in the minds of ILL fans). Pruitt missed 2 “clinchable” free throws with 2 seconds left in the first OT after missing a front end with :04 seconds at the end of regulation.

Oh, and Pruitt stood at the line for three STRAIGHT misses to conclude the first half.

The Chief never looked so somber.

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