ISU Red

[lake Camelot]

Sam played pretty decent this tourney. I still think he will struggle some in the big ten. And I don't think he was their best player.

He was really good yesterday and up and down tonight.

ISU looks to have some players. It is a long season and either team may not be that good though.

[Bravesfan]

Sam played pretty decent this tourney. I still think he will struggle some in the big ten. And I don't think he was their best player.

He was really good yesterday and up and down tonight.

ISU looks to have some players. It is a long season and either team may not be that good though.

Yeah, I think ISU is playing a bit above their heads, so to speak. Even if they win this game tonight, I would not have changed my prediction of a last place finish. It would have been nice for them to have won this game though as it would have added to the Valley RPI. But there's no way they are going to be within a sniff of being an at-large team, let alone a top 5 Valley team even if they had won tonight.

[real fan]

Yeah, I think ISU is playing a bit above their heads, so to speak. Even if they win this game tonight, I would not have changed my prediction of a last place finish. It would have been nice for them to have won this game though as it would have added to the Valley RPI. But there's no way they are going to be within a sniff of being an at-large team, let alone a top 5 Valley team even if they had won tonight.

ISU will not finish last, they have a lot more depth then we do and shoot the 3 much better, we will need to get better in order to finish ahead of them.

[cpacmel]

Sammy was the best player on the floor. His 14 points lead Illinois, and without him, the Illini get blown out.

Sam might have been the best player on the floor for the Illini last night, but I think Carmichael was the best player on the floor PERIOD.

He had 17 points in only 19 minutes of game time. He held Meyers Leonard to only 10 points (in 38 minutes) and helped foul out Egwu in the process as well.

[lefty]

Sam might have been the best player on the floor for the Illini last night, but I think Carmichael was the best player on the floor PERIOD.

He had 17 points in only 19 minutes of game time. He held Meyers Leonard to only 10 points (in 38 minutes) and helped foul out Egwu in the process as well.

I don't know that Sam looked any better than DJ, they both played well..

Ekey and Carmichael played good too...as did Wilkins in the first half..where was wilkins in the 2nd half?

[tornado]

Sammy was the best player on the floor. ..

The headlines read...
"Sam Maniscalco scores 14 points to lead the Illini"
"Leonard, Maniscalco key Illini win"
"Illini, Maniscalco hold off Illinois State"

Not only was Sammy the leading scorer in this game for Illinois, but now he's among the Illini season leaders as well and shooting 53% from the floor..
and is Top 20 in scoring in the entire Big Ten, and top 20 in FG%- and top 5 among guards

ISU will not finish last, they have a lot more depth then we do

I am not convinced of this at all...
even playing their "suspended" players...the got almost nothing off the bench last night..
Only two FG's were made off the bench and the bench gave them
just 7 pts (on 2-10), 5 rebs, 2 asst (none from Nic Moore), 4 TO, in more than 45 minutes of play.
The Illini bench which has been noted in national publications to be severely thin, gave them substantially more in every category except, of course fewer TO.

To compare to us - our last game, also a very close loss - our bench gave us 12 pts, 10 rebs!

[lefty]

Sam made some huge shots last night but he wasn't superman...he almost gave it away at the end too. It's hard for me to say how good ISU will be in the Valley after seeing only one game but I thought they looked pretty decent last night.

[NSBF]

I am not convinced of this at all...
even playing their "suspended" players...the got almost nothing off the bench last night..
Only two FG's were made off the bench and the bench gave them
just 7 pts (on 2-10), 5 rebs, 2 asst (none from Nic Moore), 4 TO, in more than 45 minutes of play.
The Illini bench which has been noted in national publications to be severely thin, gave them substantially more in every category except, of course fewer TO.

To compare to us - our last game, also a very close loss - our bench gave us 12 pts, 10 rebs!

You're in denial. While Illinois just didn't knock my socks off, Illinois State played a very competitive game with a chance to tie or win down the road on a neutral court. Add in the missed FTs, step out of bounds, bad shot at the end, and any other number of variables and they walk out of Cancun with a big wooden trophy.

If you think playing against Illinois and not getting points off the bench is an indicator of a teams future success, then bear in mind the night before Illinois had 3 players score in double figures, only 5 players scored and I believe the announcer said NO bench points.

And before you jump to judge, I do remember just a few short years ago two BU players PLAYED against ISU after DUI offenses, only to be suspended by Glasser later. Pot meet kettle? Why can't we just talk basketball instead of the veiled shots across the other schools bow? Until BU can beat ISU I'd say they're the better team right now.

[tornado]

please stick to facts - Bradley has NEVER had a DUI - (and certainly not bar-fights and major assaults and robberies) - there were two players cited were underage consumption but they were NOT driving
If tickets for similar offenses as underage consumption were publicized & printed in B-N there wouldn't be any forests left...nor would there be enough players left on the roster for ISU to play...

[buschsquirrel2011]

With Ekey, Wilkins and Moore ISU has three very nice underclassmen on which to build. Carmichael is tough and Brown as well. Unfortunately I think ISU is better than Bradley this season. Hopefully I am wrong.

[shaunguth]

Sam might have been the best player on the floor for the Illini last night, but I think Carmichael was the best player on the floor PERIOD.

He had 17 points in only 19 minutes of game time. He held Meyers Leonard to only 10 points (in 38 minutes) and helped foul out Egwu in the process as well.

I'm left wondering how Carmichael, in his 19 minutes, was able to hold Leonard to 10 points, in his 38 minutes.

[shaunguth]

Only two FG's were made off the bench and the bench gave them
just 7 pts (on 2-10), 5 rebs, 2 asst (none from Nic Moore), 4 TO, in more than 45 minutes of play.

To compare to us - our last game, also a very close loss - our bench gave us 12 pts, 10 rebs!

Maybe isu should have a starter come off the bench so they get more production from the bench.

[tornado]

but don't you see what I see- that all three of those players are being utilized a bit out of position...
Moore is a good PG but he got no assists last night and most often functions as shooting guard taking more FG attempts than anyone
Both Ekey & JW are two of their best post players but roam the periphery looking for long shots.
In other words -- all three think they're SG's and lead the team in 3-pters launched - despite their assigned positions
At least Jackie Carmichael isn't out there launching threes...

[shaunguth]

And before you jump to judge, I do remember just a few short years ago two BU players PLAYED against ISU after DUI offenses, only to be suspended by Glasser later.

Interesting. I don't remember that at all......and there were TWO of them?

[buschsquirrel2011]

but don't you see what I see- that all three of those players are being utilized a bit out of position...
Moore is a good PG but he got no asists and most often functions as shooting guard taking more FG attempts than anyone
Both Ekey & JW are two of their best post players but roam the periphery looking for long shots.
In other words -- all three think they're SG's and lead the team in 3-pt-ers launched - despite their assigned positions
At least Jackie Carmichael isn't out there launching threes...

Which goes to show you what "assigned positions" mean in the scheme of things....absolutely nothing.

Coaches should play their best five players the most minutes on the team. That shouldn't be a novel concept but sometimes is. It can be frustrating to see tall guys who like to shoot or short guys who can't shoot but you gotta play to your strengths.

Wilkins and Ekey have posted pretty decent rebounding numbers at least.