Question re UIC game

[brewtownbrian]

bbfran said:

Three reasons we lost tonight -- Tigert's injury, horrible transition defense, and horrible free throw shooting. And UIC played out of its mind.

I agree! Mostly on the 2nd & 3rd points. As much as the press worked last night(possibly the most effective all year) it doesn't pay to press if you can't get back on defense and lock up on the shooters.

And if they continue to NOT make free throws, it's really going to hurt them.

On the Tigert injury...during the warm-ups it was obvious that he was uncomfortable and it's obviously a huge loss to not have him on the floor, but it was almost more detrimental to have him out there at only 70%. On the other hand, injuries can't be used as an excuse...other guys have to step in and step up!

[uwm97]

Tigert should have absolutely not played last night. I was fortunate to have 2nd-row, mid-court seats and I could tell on the first possession he was a liability on the floor, especially on defense. Give UIC credit - they gave what's his face the ball at the foul line and let him take Tigert off the dribble. Not only that, when Tigert got the ball in the post he could barely move, especially laterally. I understand he's a competitor and all that, but the team comes before he does. If he's anywhere near as hurt Saturday as he was yesterday there's no way he should play in that game.

[BBFran]

teddyp00 said:

No reason to root for anyone but Loyola, if they win out UWM wins the tie breaker and the tourny is at the cell. That would put Loyola at 9-7 and a fourth place finish giving us the tie breaker even if we lost to Detroit on Tuesday.

Actually, if Loyola wins out it means Butler has another loss, in which case all we have to do is beat Detroit, and the tiebreakers will never come into play.

Go Ramblers!

[TBone]

Maybe it wasn't Tigert's idea to play? Maybe Jeter really wanted him cause he knew Bendall, McCoy, and Ford wouldn't last the whole game?

Besides, he's a senior, playing against the one team who's been our biggest rival his entire college career for the last time in his college career.

I can't fault him with wanting to play and at least trying to contribute some minutes. AT in all reality is the glue to this team. He brings a lot of intangibles to the court, and I would think that even at 70% (if that's what AT was) the intangibles he brings are better than playing Ford/Bendall/McCoy the whole game.

I think Jeter's done a good job this year, but can't help but to wonder if he's getting a big dose of trial by fire these last few games and his coaching shows some inexperience.

Hopefully we can get things righted, get AT healthy, and make a strong showing in the Bracket Buster and Horizon Tourney.

I don't think you're going to see a seed higher than 13 though unless we win out.

T

[uwm97]

When Tigert was on the floor it was as if we were playing 4 on 5. He couldn't jump more than an inch off the ground. When he touched the ball in the post he resembled a statue. Maybe I would have let him start to see what he could do out there, but to let him play after the first minute of the game turned out to be a detriment to the team. Whoever's decision it was to keep him out there as long as he was totally backfired. I hope he's ready on Saturday but if not they need to rest him for Detroit. That game is a hell of a lot bigger than the Brackebuster game.

[Kroener3535]

I think he was hurting pretty badly...I know he had quite a few to's which I attribute to him just trying to do something he couldnt do with the injury

[JimmyLemke]

In the press conference, Jeter said it was AT's decision whether he wanted to play or not. He said Adrian, the trainers, the doctors, and everyone thought he was able to play.

I'm not sure I would have played him at all. Even if he were effective, you can't risk the chance of re-injury.