Routed by 8-8(0-3) Illinois....

[HUD628]

This team we have really just isn't very good folks. We have these 2 great centers, but any time a team makes a concerted effort to not allow them to get the ball, we just turn the ball over and look like a totally untalented and poorly coached team. Furthermore, and I don't care what the numbers say, this is nowhere near a great defensive team. Quite frankly. I'm not sure what this team really does well. Can't get it inside, can't shoot, turnover city....Hsll this team doesnt even seem to have any intensity, want to or toughness. They're just going through the motions. Sad. We got a nice win at Pitt and otherwise have done nothing really notable. Painter has his work cut out for him, and he better turn this bullshit around. PATHETIC is what tonight was, and so was Iowa and so was Butler. Get it together coach. Boiler Up

 

[PalmCoastFl]

This team we have really just isn't very good folks. We have these 2 great centers, but any time a team makes a concerted effort to not allow them to get the ball, we just turn the ball over and look like a totally untalented and poorly coached team. Furthermore, and I don't care what the numbers say, this is nowhere near a great defensive team. Quite frankly. I'm not sure what this team really does well. Can't get it inside, can't shoot, turnover city....we got a nice win at Pitt and otherwise have done nothing really notable. Painter has his work cut out for him, and he better turn this bullshit around. PATHETIC is what tonight was, and so was Iowa and so was Butler. Get it together coach. Boiler Up

Well said..............no further comment!

 

[PaBoiler78]

This team we have really just isn't very good folks. We have these 2 great centers, but any time a team makes a concerted effort to not allow them to get the ball, we just turn the ball over and look like a totally untalented and poorly coached team. Furthermore, and I don't care what the numbers say, this is nowhere near a great defensive team. Quite frankly. I'm not sure what this team really does well. Can't get it inside, can't shoot, turnover city....we got a nice win at Pitt and otherwise have done nothing really notable. Painter has his work cut out for him, and he better turn this bullshit around. PATHETIC is what tonight was, and so was Iowa and so was Butler. Get it together coach. Boiler Up

this was worse than iowa. 2 great centers? outplayed by a Maverick and a Stinke.

 

[TJBoiler]

On paper it looked like a good team. But paper don't play. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing Cline and Swanigan play as they are part of the future of the team. For as good as Hammons has played. He is in this for the money and has admitted so... He isn't out there trying to WIN for Purdue. I just think the team is not put together well. At end of season if they flame out. I wouldn't be surprised if you see more turnover. Transfers... Remember this team was lousy 2 years ago and any Junior on up was part of those teams.

Matt is not Greg Popovich or Larry Brown when it comes to managing a bench. This team lacks athleticism and the players just don't seem to look like they know their rolls yet.

 

[Wilt 13]

Hammons is playing his ass off. Cline should have a red shirt on. We are 14-3. Not one team in America plays great every game. Get off Painters ass.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Hammons is playing his ass off. Cline should have a red shirt on. We are 14-3. Not one team in America plays great every game. Get off Painters ass.

Hammons play yesterday sure did not indicate that. If Cline was red-shirted, IMO the team could be 13-4 now. The rest is ok...

 

[RegionWarrior101]

This team we have really just isn't very good folks. We have these 2 great centers, but any time a team makes a concerted effort to not allow them to get the ball, we just turn the ball over and look like a totally untalented and poorly coached team. Furthermore, and I don't care what the numbers say, this is nowhere near a great defensive team. Quite frankly. I'm not sure what this team really does well. Can't get it inside, can't shoot, turnover city....Hsll this team doesnt even seem to have any intensity, want to or toughness. They're just going through the motions. Sad. We got a nice win at Pitt and otherwise have done nothing really notable. Painter has his work cut out for him, and he better turn this bullshit around. PATHETIC is what tonight was, and so was Iowa and so was Butler. Get it together coach. Boiler Up

There are many people who are "these things happen" type. And yes... these things happen. Losing to a bad team, Illinois is bad and will not make the NCAA, on a Sunday night on the road, etc. etc. BUT the concern is a week earlier when the team lost at home in a "these things happen" game where they led by 19 against an above average Iowa team, not the 76 IU Hoosiers, but a team who will be tough but finish 4th/5th in the conference. Two "these things happen" games in one week. I thought the Michigan game was very unimpressive as they struggled to stop another non-NCAA team with an injury to their best player. Now you also look at the Butler loss and they are not great. The thing is all games are lost in the same manner; there is a recipe to beat this team and we cannot find a cure because there is not a cure on the roster. They can practice against press and that trap all they want but when someone else does it, it will be deer in headlights.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

There are many people who are "these things happen" type. And yes... these things happen. Losing to a bad team, Illinois is bad and will not make the NCAA, on a Sunday night on the road, etc. etc. BUT the concern is a week earlier when the team lost at home in a "these things happen" game where they led by 19 against an above average Iowa team, not the 76 IU Hoosiers, but a team who will be tough but finish 4th/5th in the conference. Two "these things happen" games in one week. I thought the Michigan game was very unimpressive as they struggled to stop another non-NCAA team with an injury to their best player. Now you also look at the Butler loss and they are not great. The thing is all games are lost in the same manner; there is a recipe to beat this team and we cannot find a cure because there is not a cure on the roster. They can practice against press and that trap all they want but when someone else does it, it will be deer in headlights.

You identified the key - the losses are all alike, the blueprint is obvious, and the trend is troubling to say the least. I'm taking faint solace in the 2010 season when the Boilers started out the conference 2-3 and then went on the terrific run that ended with The Incident at The Barn.

But Painter and the squad need to adjust and clean this up post haste. I don't think it's unreasonable to say that the remaining games this month should be wins, including payback in Iowa City. But the trend suggests that each one (with the possible exception of Rutgers) will likely be a butt-clenching, knuckle-whitening struggle.

 

[BoilerTom90]

Hammons is playing his ass off. Cline should have a red shirt on. We are 14-3. Not one team in America plays great every game. Get off Painters ass.

Unfortunately, this team hasn't played well for a few weeks. Even before the Butler game, this team started to go backwards. Almost as if they were taking things for granted. I hope the can get things turned around before it's too late.

 

[combes]

Hill and Nunn are really good players. One of the highest scoring combos in the country. The problem is that the rest of the lineup is either out with injury or freshmen for the most part.

Three starters: Tracy Abrams at the point, Mike Thorne at center, and Leron Black at power forward have been out. Discounting Abrams who was hurt in the preseason, Illinois has only had its starting lineup for a game and half all year. Thorne was averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds when he injured his knee. Huge loss. Plus he is 6-11, 275. He might actually be able to push and shove with other bigs.

Of the 8 losses, 4 of them have happened with Nunn out of the lineup. 3 have happened with Thorne out of the lineup. Only one loss has occurred with both of them playing.

For Illinois to win against good teams, Hill and Nunn have to carry them. That's what happened last night. They just don't have a ton of support many nights. Freshmen Finke and Coleman-Lands have been good, but they are still early in their developments. Plus Finke was in foul trouble all night. He has been the third best player with while the injured players are out. JCL has been pretty consistent and has a bright future. Heck of a shooter.