There weren't a lot of bright spots for NU in the first game of 2024.
I cut out the last 4:55 as "garbage time" but probably could have tossed the entire 2nd half.
Justin Mullins came into the game at 4:55, with Illinois ahead 82-55.
Mullins attempted his first field goal, a jumper, which was blocked. He also committed 3 fouls.
Luke Hunger had 5 points, a rebound and an assist in garbage time to pad out a mixed effort.
| Player | Minutes | NU Pts | ILL Pts | Raw +/- | Player Adjust | Game +/- |
|---|
| Martinelli | 24 | 35 | 52 | -17 | +5.0 | +1.6 |
| Berry | 29 | 46 | 68 | -22 | +4.3 | -0.1 |
| Preston | 6 | 10 | 11 | -1 | +2.0 | +1.0 |
| Hunger | 14 | 20 | 31 | -11 | +1.3 | +1.0 |
| Clayton | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | -1.5 | -2.5 |
| Nicholson | 14 | 25 | 40 | -15 | +0.2 | -2.8 |
| Buie | 27 | 37 | 66 | -29 | -0.2 | -6.0 |
| Langborg | 24 | 42 | 54 | -12 | -5.1 | -7.5 |
| Barnhizer | 33 | 53 | 76 | -23 | -5.9 | -10.5 |
From a team perspective, NU really got walloped when Boo Buie was on the court. Not sure what was going on, but I hope I don't see it again. My guess is that he couldn't guard anyone on Illinois.
When Nicholson was on the court, NU got outscored 40-25 in about 14.4 minutes. Illinois scored 17 points in the first 5 minutes. By possession, Illinois scored 3,2,2,2,0,3,2,3 before the first TV timeout.
On the less grim side... Ty Berry and Nick Martinelli competed.
Berry had a really difficult time with Domask, giving away 3 inches and 30 lbs, but at least he didn't quit. Martinelli defended Domask on one occasion and stayed right on him, forcing an airball from a red hot scorer. Unfortunately everybody else watched an Illinois player grab the errant shot and dunk it. It was that type of night. We were a step slow at every position and Illinois made almost everything. The Illini were 25 of 38 inside the arc and 10 of 18 outside it. They shredded us. A compliment to their coach, gameplan and execution. Their big guy Hawkins, went out to the perimeter, dragging our centers out there, enabling the taller Illini players to punish our guards inside. Our double teams were notably ineffective.
And now for the bright spots... Luke Hunger displayed his shooting touch from the perimeter, making 2 of 3 from outside the arc.
More importantly, the lineup of Hunger/Martinelli/Barnhizer/Berry/Langborg was effective against Illinois. With Buie on the bench, that lineup won their 2 segments by a combined 18-16 over almost 8 minutes of action. Hopefully we see that lineup when Buie needs a rest. All other lineups with Hunger at center got outscored 15-2 in 6 minutes.
The lineup of Nicholson/Martinelli/Barnhizer/Berry/Buie (which has been our best, but rarely plays) got 4 minutes of time and we got outscored 7-4. That was the segment early in the 2nd half where Nicholson missed a layup with his left hand and dunked an offensive rebound. I would
really like to see that group of 5 playing together often, instead of rarely.
The pieces are there, but the offense looks really stagnant and one-dimensional, with Buie trying to do a lot by himself and not much going on to create easy shots.
Defensively, we need to be able and willing to switch to zone if necessary. (Sorry Gato).
Lastly, according to my ratings, this was the Illini's best game of the season and NU's 3rd worst (behind Chicago State and Detroit Mercy).
