Tactically, I *think* pace may have something to do with this
Fewer possessions in a game, so running teams off the line isn't as essential? Maybe? But yes, the hedge and recover helps a lot. And this is just eye test talking, but I also think that we're getting better at keying on the best/high volume shooters, and baiting looks from the crap shooters. That's just a guess though.  Previous Message Previous Message It's well documented how much it's improved (#1 in the country on Torvik over the last month). But in that time our 3 pt defensive rate hasn't budged--still hovering right around #180 nationally. Meaning, we have improved dramatically on defense, but not at taking away the three pointer. I find that interesting only because over the last 5 years we were routinely in the top 10 nationally at preventing 3 pt attempts, and I wondered if the drop-off this season had anything to do with the defensive issues earlier in the year--i.e., if we were still prioritizing preventing 3s but were just bad at it. But now it seems clear that this has been an intentional schematic/tactical shift, and isn't necessarily hurting the defense, and in fact we might be better. I'd genuinely be curious at what the rationale is and why. Previous Message
#16 Illinois. #19 Iowa. A shitty arena. Massively hungover Illini fans from watching the Bears game Saturday night. Hopefully the team takes a different approach than the fans and finds a way to bring appropriate aggression and energy to what could be a VERY easy game to be sleepy and get run out of the gym with the 11am Sunday start.
Iowa is ranked #19 in the country, and also ranked #18 in the NET. Iowa is 0-2 in Q1 games with a blowout loss @ Michigan State and a close loss @ Iowa State (in a game where Iowa looked very much like the better team for the bulk of the game). They have 3 Q2 wins, most relevant being a comfortable win at home against UCLA. However, most of their wins have been against bad teams at home. They've run up those scores quite a bit.
We need to shoot well and defend well to win. Getting physical with Iowa would also be a good thing.
Also, fuck Iowa.
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Message Thread | This response ↓
 Illini Basketball @ Iowa Pre-Game and Game Thread (Sunday 11am on FOX) - JFG January 10, 2026, 6:46:00
- Up to #13 in the polls* - RVA January 12, 2026, 19:32:31
- Cinematic recap - jdl January 12, 2026, 19:18:44
- I can’t believe I have to wait two more days for another game* - biclops January 12, 2026, 17:14:52
- Interesting footnote on the defense - Blazer January 12, 2026, 16:38:51
- I took a quick look at Northwestern - GMAW January 12, 2026, 16:29:16
- Wagler wins another B10 FOTW * - jjlocke923 January 12, 2026, 14:35:11
- Gameday Spirit releasing a limited 20th anniversary signed poster of the 04-05 team - IlliniSax05 January 12, 2026, 13:12:58
- After we gut-stomped them, I was a little bummed we let them back in the game - RSMBob January 12, 2026, 13:11:34
- One small sucky thing that the man has taken away from us in this new college sports era - OB25 January 12, 2026, 12:42:44
- Up to 13 in AP poll * - illini January 12, 2026, 12:34:12
- Random, but Hummer missed another kill shot 3, feels like he is 1-19 on those - reggiedunlop January 12, 2026, 10:49:31
- Some assorted thoughts from enemy territory - ijustkrushalot January 12, 2026, 9:35:20
- one final thought: Tomi - ijustkrushalot January 12, 2026, 10:55:14
- My Hawkeye BIL reached out about the game yesterday - KingTalkyTiki January 12, 2026, 10:53:28
- nm - KingTalkyTiki January 12, 2026, 10:53:26
- I love Ayo, but Wagler is more talented and will be a better pro. - GMAW January 12, 2026, 10:37:04
- Agreed freshman Wagler is better than freshman Ayo - Blazer January 12, 2026, 12:48:11
- I hope he has Ayo's work ethic and desire to improve - jdl January 12, 2026, 12:28:50
- The better pro part is probably true, and - larue33 January 12, 2026, 11:27:47
- The only "devils advocate" thing I might bring up is Ayo had to be THE MAN. - tvillini January 12, 2026, 10:58:54
- Kid's got alligator blood.* - Warrin'_Illini January 12, 2026, 10:53:30
- Kinda related to Wagler... I have a hot take on Tyler Underwood - ijustkrushalot January 12, 2026, 10:44:09
- Sucks we'll never get to see junior Wagler* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 12, 2026, 10:39:37
- It's a perfect example of deciding to want to make a call then working backwards* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 12, 2026, 10:32:41
- Yeah, mirk’s got great skill *for a big* - snipes824 January 12, 2026, 10:22:00
- Regarding Mirk - i think the last month he's done a great job of playing just below the threshold - John Coctostan January 12, 2026, 10:16:04
- Is your second point about the hook & hold call on Wagler?* - biclops January 12, 2026, 10:13:15
- Steinbach probably edges out Wagler for B10 FOTW honors *
 - jjlocke923 January 12, 2026, 8:41:53
- Underwood on Field of 68 - biclops January 11, 2026, 21:51:45
- So the over/under was 143.5… and it ended up at 144 - aimlessillini January 11, 2026, 21:33:05
- So is ther - aimlessillini January 11, 2026, 19:40:34
- Probably* - Phytynlini January 11, 2026, 19:42:12
- Buttgers and Nerds headed to OT on Peacock* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 18:06:15
- LOL, I missed this one in real time - jdl January 11, 2026, 15:14:21
- Mirk was great today. It seems to have slowed down for him* - CWR10 January 11, 2026, 14:53:25
- Up to #7 in KenPom and the defense keeps climbing. (#16).* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 13:43:35
- Eat shit and die Iowa and refs. Tight rotation today.* - Toonces January 11, 2026, 13:32:38
- That felt like the stripes were trying to manufacture a tight finish for TV* - uofi1998 January 11, 2026, 13:30:08
- This team is different, man - Blazer January 11, 2026, 13:28:27
- Those refs....uf da* - Tooldresser January 11, 2026, 13:14:45
- NW tickets are like 140 with fees. Ouch* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 13:11:47
- Awesome performance. Now we hope Iowa doesn’t give another plague like we had last year* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 13:08:31
- They just called another travel on Z* - ibdoc January 11, 2026, 13:08:20
- ho hum, just a semi-comfortable road victory against a ranked opponent* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 13:08:10
- Every crazy call against them, clutch FTs, win and move on. Nice job fellas not getting rattled* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 13:07:56
- Q1 locked* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 13:07:34
- Was worried about reverse Bears all game* - ab75 January 11, 2026, 13:07:20
- We beat Iowa and the refs!* - ibdoc January 11, 2026, 13:07:20
- HUGE - bjl63 January 11, 2026, 13:07:13
- FUCK YOU IOWA AND REFS* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 13:07:11
- Another road win * - biclops January 11, 2026, 13:07:04
- Good win. * - harb January 11, 2026, 13:07:04
- Did he just try to do the off-the-back for a layup down six with six seconds left?* - RVA January 11, 2026, 13:06:59
- EAT SHIT IOWA * - jdl January 11, 2026, 13:06:57
- Love it. Gritty round of 32 type win* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 13:06:51
- Still got a foul to take* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 13:06:25
- Amazing that Z just keeps deciding to fall down when he gets a rebound. Ponderous* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 13:06:00
- The raggedness and time to complete the last 1:30 of this game is a disgrace to basketball * - illiniranger January 11, 2026, 13:05:53
- LOL at trying to spin at home vs. Rutgers and USC into a touch stretch* - RVA January 11, 2026, 13:05:49
- Just ridiculous. Did he check the possession arrow before he made that call?* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 13:05:24
- wtf??? At a minimum that was a jump ball* - deadpoolOG10 January 11, 2026, 13:05:13
- How is that not a jump ball?* - ab75 January 11, 2026, 13:05:10
- Z just can’t stand up straight. Nothing else causing it at all* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 13:05:06
- these refs are a disgrace!* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 13:04:59
- lol these fucking refs* - ATL January 11, 2026, 13:04:54
- refs doing everything they can to keep them in this thing. shameful.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 13:04:40
- These fucking refs. * - VIV January 11, 2026, 13:04:35
- Man all the bounces* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 13:02:27
- Presence of Z doing some work there* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 13:01:45
- Ball don’t lie there* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 13:01:09
- amazing that a marginal play like that can be upgraded to something that significant.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 13:01:09
- Among the dumbest rules in sports is that that’s a jump ball* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 13:01:08
- Can we not get one fuking break. * - harb January 11, 2026, 13:01:02
- COME ON DOWN TO THE REF SHOW!!!! - VIV January 11, 2026, 13:00:06
- These refs are fucking criminals* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 13:00:02
- This is so fuked up. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:59:24
- that's a travesty* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 12:58:58
- As bad as the Texas Tech end of game bullshit* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:58:56
- That’s incredible. Wow. * - illini January 11, 2026, 12:58:55
- Never any doubt* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 12:58:47
- what a fucking joke.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 12:58:37
- The Iowa duck initiated and did all the contact! Fuck off!* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:58:37
- Are you fucking kidding me, that's flagrant? fuck this fucking bullshit* - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:58:35
- That’s an insane call. Simply inconceivable* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:58:23
- fucking ridiculous * - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:58:20
- FUCK. YOU. * - VIV January 11, 2026, 12:58:06
- Fucking refs* - ATL January 11, 2026, 12:58:06
- that's fucking insane * - larue33 January 11, 2026, 12:58:00
- Fuking ref show. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:57:32
- KW had his arm but from those angles…tough to overturn. But narrator… - OWWDig January 11, 2026, 12:57:21
- Omg. What is there to talk about?!* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:57:08
- This stinks like low tide. * - VIV January 11, 2026, 12:56:57
- We’re obviously gonna get fucked here* - Herman Blume January 11, 2026, 12:56:57
- Yep. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:57:52
- They’re gonna call this* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:56:40
- Wagler didn't even pull him down, what are we doing?* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 12:56:36
- an appeal but not a challenge?? lol man i'm out of the loop on the rules* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 12:56:29
- And it ices Wagler* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:56:28
- Don't know the rule, but I don't see anything* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 12:56:01
- Gtfo with this* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 12:55:57
- Are you kidding me with this garbage? What's the spread on this game?* - deadpoolOG10 January 11, 2026, 12:55:50
- Not even close. Come on* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:55:41
- he's going over Wagler - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:55:25
- Nothing there * - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:55:14
- how are they going to screw us here?* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 12:55:00
- Oh good ref show coming* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:54:58
- Don’t you fucking dare* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:54:48
- “Good no call”…..fuk you. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:54:20
- Lucky to dodge that* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:53:59
- A walk? How about a shove in the back. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:53:44
- Fuck you on that travel calll* - VIV January 11, 2026, 12:53:42
- Fucking fuck ass call* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 12:53:41
- What the fucking fuck. Come on call a foul* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:53:30
- LOL come on. Fell because pushed * - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:53:30
- Z doesn’t fall over on his own! Call the foul!* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:53:25
- But banks has the flu!* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:52:42
- wagler is $.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 12:52:32
- I love how smart we are with the clock* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:52:24
- Banks walked. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:52:20
- Terrifying 1 and 1 here* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:52:20
- Jeebus, defense. * - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:52:13
- Ben WTF * - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:52:11
- Good recognition, Kylan. And even made the layup! Come on!* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:51:33
- Kb for the drive. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:50:56
- what a smart play by boz.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 12:50:35
- Goddammit Ben* - WhitmansFolly January 11, 2026, 12:50:11
- Oh Ben* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:49:37
- Damn, Ben. In and out* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:49:27
- Aaaahh had the kill shot 3 there Ben* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:49:27
- Mirk has been really good. And that was a very dumb foul bos* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:49:21
- Ben* - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:49:15
- Nice cut KB* - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:48:47
- Maybe try a little defense* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:48:34
- All this with Stirtz on the bench * - biclops January 11, 2026, 12:45:19
- Playing a bit of weberball* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 12:45:12
- WTF was that possession Boswell* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:44:52
- We've lost all aggressiveness on offense - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:44:52
- Wagler’s going to be unstoppable when he’s a Senior* - bbonb January 11, 2026, 12:43:52
- So much standing and dribbling* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:43:45
- come the fuck on with that free throw* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 12:43:12
- Gross* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:42:58
- That call, after our plays in the paint this half. Come on* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:42:54
- IDK what this season would have looked like it Wagler wasn’t a phenom* - biclops January 11, 2026, 12:42:43
- oh fuck you ref* - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:42:26
- Wagler for threeeee * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:42:11
- Badass* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:41:56
- where is z?* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 12:41:54
- Getting mugged down low* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 12:41:21
- missing layups and wide open 3's* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 12:41:17
- So much dribbling this half* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:40:59
- Lucky they missed the dunk. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:40:42
- Guess defense is now optional* - WhitmansFolly January 11, 2026, 12:40:18
- Tomislav is -2. Zvonimir is +9* - biclops January 11, 2026, 12:39:49
- Fucking abysmal* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:39:21
- Hit these free throws and they’ll have only cut into the lead by 1 point in 12 minutes. Don’t panic. - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:36:20
- Run outs and wide open 3s is not a winning formula* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:34:57
- This lineup isn't it* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 12:31:55
- I am so tired of Tomi’s bullshit* - opossum jenkins January 11, 2026, 12:31:55
- This* - Phytynlini January 11, 2026, 12:32:26
- Be strong with the ball. Wagler and tomi just letting it go* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:31:46
- Bad Tomislav * - biclops January 11, 2026, 12:31:21
- It keeps going downhill when we take out Mirk and Andrej at the same time. Stop doing that* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:31:16
- what are you doing Tomi* - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:31:14
- God damnit* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:31:10
- Fuck the hawkeyes* - TarheelIllini January 11, 2026, 12:28:32
- I don’t understand that TO at all…* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:27:49
- KB open, no hesitation. Nailed it. Nice. * - DocWalk20 January 11, 2026, 12:26:34
- Through 8 minutes, extended the lead by 3 and have gotten Stirtz to 4 fouls. Very good* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 12:22:47
- Huge (correct) call* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:22:28
- Wagler so effin good * - jdl January 11, 2026, 12:22:28
- 4 on Stirtz* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:22:24
- Damn wagler* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:21:30
- What a pass by Wagler to Andre. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:21:21
- Big Z with the answers. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:20:34
- Maybe stop giving them open 3s* - ISeeDeadHawkeyes January 11, 2026, 12:20:28
- Keep generating these great looks and we’ll be fine* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:19:53
- that's the flimsiest floor squeegee I've ever seen* - RVA January 11, 2026, 12:19:04
- Bos has been awesome* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 12:18:21
- Wagler for 3. * - harb January 11, 2026, 12:17:00
- Defense is leaky now* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 12:12:59
- Whistle feels little uneven lately. Call it both ends * - meanjeans January 11, 2026, 12:11:18
- How'd ya like to be on the #20 team? "Wait, we're ranked behind THOSE pieces of shite?" - osklister January 11, 2026, 11:56:21
- Tomi has to show a right hand. He’s so scouted it’s comical* - CWR10 January 11, 2026, 11:54:04
- you know it's a good half when 11 feels just ok - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 11:53:13
- Up 11 at half….nice. * - harb January 11, 2026, 11:51:55
- Guess the towels aren’t working - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:51:54
- I’ll take it* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 11:51:28
- Tomi still just so unsure. Not comfortable at all* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:48:49
- stop doing tomi in backdowns!* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 11:47:36
- come on guys * - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:47:27
- Don’t like that shot from Adrej* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 11:46:24
- Why not use your TO somewhere in there?* - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:43:13
- Need Andrej back in for these last few minutes* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 11:42:17
- Weather this run and close the half strong. * - harb January 11, 2026, 11:42:09
- Boswell has brain farts way too frequently. That shot was indefensible* - CWR10 January 11, 2026, 11:42:05
- Boom goes Big Z. * - harb January 11, 2026, 11:40:12
- IDK what Boswell is doing * - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:39:31
- defense looks great.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 11:35:48
- Update to the below - it was two ten year olds they moved! Had 4 tix, 2 on floor, 2 10 rows - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:34:34
- Ludicrous speed, GO!* - voiceofreason January 11, 2026, 11:34:16
- I appreciate that this team doesn’t miss very many layups, that seemed to… - shua January 11, 2026, 11:33:52
- ooo - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:33:43
- Yeah. Illness. That’s what it is* - opossum jenkins January 11, 2026, 11:33:38
- Announcer: “Crowd trying to do anything to get Iowa going” Crowd: “ I - L -L”* - ibdoc January 11, 2026, 11:33:33
- Don’t let up! Keep the foot on their neck. I effing hate Iowa* - ibdoc January 11, 2026, 11:31:09
- Rebounds are currently 15-5 * - meanjeans January 11, 2026, 11:30:42
- Kylan is locked in both ends today* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 11:30:18
- This is fun. I’m having fun* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:30:09
- Great take by Boswell* - Ron McDon January 11, 2026, 11:30:05
- Move the ball, guys. Way too much dribbling.* - voiceofreason January 11, 2026, 11:29:01
- Come on Tomi, don’t give them life with a sloppy turnover/fast break* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 11:27:52
- Have more confidence Tomi!* - memyselfandillini January 11, 2026, 11:27:10
- Great speech from the Iowa coach* - gvibes January 11, 2026, 11:25:03
- the ad for Feat Factor featured some of the Hawkeyes faces* - memyselfandillini January 11, 2026, 11:24:51
- So much fun when we attack the rim like this. Love it.* - voiceofreason January 11, 2026, 11:22:12
- Random question but have Davis and Hummer ever been on the floor together before? - meanjeans January 11, 2026, 11:21:48
- I could go for a Stojakovic goes nuclear game* - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:21:30
- SWEEP THE LEG * - jdl January 11, 2026, 11:21:21
- Kill shot* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:20:42
- the D is really rounding into form. it looks *good* good* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 11:20:29
- had a nice ill chant going here.* - Ari Gold January 11, 2026, 11:18:37
- Keep attacking the hoop, guys.* - voiceofreason January 11, 2026, 11:17:32
- We have more talent than these guys by like a full order of magnitude* - opossum jenkins January 11, 2026, 11:15:15
- Awesome start. Size is really evident, and Stirtz is the kind of player Boswell is best at guarding* - OB25 January 11, 2026, 11:14:39
- ok mirk. great start* - snipes824 January 11, 2026, 11:14:11
- Love the energy to start* - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:13:57
- Fuckers. Buddy got tickets from his Iowa boss that couldn’t go. Court side. 10 min before - John Coctostan January 11, 2026, 11:08:02
- All blue throwbacks today * - biclops January 11, 2026, 11:00:01
- Posted without comment - biclops January 11, 2026, 10:31:56
- Iowa sucks, we're going to beat the crap out of them. * - larue33 January 11, 2026, 10:31:09
- I've been consuming so much Bears content that I just now remembered we have a game today - IlliniSax05 January 11, 2026, 10:08:37
- Tidbits from Brad's Saturday press conference: - JFG January 10, 2026, 15:54:31
- Congrats to Ty, Andrej, Tomislav, and Zvonimir - biclops January 10, 2026, 9:22:01
- I’m expecting an L. Beat NW* - bjl63 January 10, 2026, 8:55:29
- Torvik has this game as a coin flip. Gives us a 50% chance of winning with a 0.0 spread* - biclops January 10, 2026, 8:37:03
- nm* - biclops January 10, 2026, 8:36:58
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on January 12, 2026, 16:57:03, in reply to "Mirkovic - in particular - has become very good at hedge and recover*"