Frustration of an Illini Fan

Yes I am frustrated. First an inexcusable loss to UIC at the United Center. I wrote that off, took a few days break and thought ya know what? Sometimes teams lose games they shouldn't. We've got a good team, senior leadership. We didn't get up for a small game and it bit us in the ass. Fine I'm moving along - it's time to think about Missouri. Get the Braggin' Rights game and all is good again.

Illinois Freshman Foward, Jereme Richmond

I notice a tweet right before the start of the game and see that Jereme is starting. I'm excited, he deserves it. He comes with energy and passion (something, unfortunately, I am not sure I can say about too many other members of our team). Didn't know who he was starting for, I had hoped to see him take Davis' spot at the 4 to start the game to try and match up with the quickness of Missouri. Davis makes too many poor passes and doesn't understand his role as well as Cole.

He's starting at the 3, moving Cole to the bench. Alright I'm ok with that.

We looked bad early, we missed layups, put backs. Then we got going and had a seven point lead. Cautiously optimistic (as I always am) I'm starting to think we might be able to make a nice push and get a good lead, something I assumed we'd need to have any chance at winning the game, we just can not close games out (more on this later).

Then we fall apart with turnovers, missed shots. Tie game at half.

Well, at least we're not down.

A tight second half, we're up a few late and we do the ONE THING, the ABSOLUTE ONE THING I HATE about this team.

We slow it down and walk the ball around for 25 seconds before we decide we'd better take a shot, usually ending in a bad look or worse, a jacked three. Sometimes they go, but they are still bad shots.

Why? It makes no sense to me. Maybe this is why I'm not coaching on the hardwood but I can not seem to understand how that helps us win games? Every single time. Every single game. No killer mentality. No thought of trying to put a team down and deliver the knockout punch. Never.

And I am not one to rip on players, they're not paid the big bucks. But I'm trying to decide where the problem lies? I'm not sure you can coach toughness and killer instinct. You either have it or you don't, yet at the same time I wonder why we are playing guys that don't seem to care to win when the game is on the line.

"What happened to this is our year and we haven't done nothing yet," Davis?

Box out. Put your butt on a guy. We lose games because we can't hustle, we don't know where to put ourselves on defensive rotations. All to often we make a poor rotation and leave someone else open, closer to the basket.

It's time for the seniors to step up. Actually it's time for everyone to step up. Davis played well yesterday but nobody else came to play. I love that we have five to eight players who could score double digits any given game but we have to have consistency. We have to run our offense. I lost count of the number of plays last night I watched four Illini players stand around while someone dribbled. Pick, Cut, something! Or else tell coach to put someone else in because you don't feel like playing. I'm sure Crendall and Tyler would love more playing time.

If we lose, because we are not as talented. I don't care. But lose with passion, show you care. Don't lose because you were completely outplayed.

Big Ten ball is just around the corner and right now, we're not ready. I'm not ready to put this on the coach, yet; right now it seems like the guys just don't get it and just don't care to get it. And that's scary.

I'm sure I will elaborate on my thoughts more as the day goes on. It wasn't a bad loss, but a game we should have won.

But however things go ILL-INI.

It's time to go kick the crap outta Iowa.