Butler can’t move, time for Chandler

[AshWilliams]

His shoulder is clearly not mobile. He loses control of the ball a lot and he can’t play aggressively.

Pope said his shoulder is hanging by a string and taped together.

We might have fooled Troy for a few minutes last night but Illinois isn’t stupid. No chance we get past somebody like Tennessee with Butler playing significantly.

Pope needs to make a decision and stop monkeying with the lineup. Chandler needs to start.

 

[Delk#00]

No

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Chandler played well but he isn't ready to lead an offense in the NCAA tournament. At this point I don't expect Butler to do anything besides facilitate and provide defense. Overall, I thought Pope did a good job with substitutions.

If we're gonna beat Illinois, then someone has to step up and Williams has to finish around the basket. Teams are going to key in on Oweh so guys have to make shots.

Being this limited has lowered our margin of error to the point we absolutely must get production from our 8/9 guys.

 

[coachcombs57]

If you think we operate better on offense or defense without butler on the court I don't know what you're looking at. Dude was +22 vs Troy.

 

[MonsterMash79]

His shoulder is clearly not mobile. He loses control of the ball a lot and he can’t play aggressively.

Pope said his shoulder is hanging by a string and taped together.

We might have fooled Troy for a few minutes last night but Illinois isn’t stupid. No chance we get past somebody like Tennessee with Butler playing significantly.

Pope needs to make a decision and stop monkeying with the lineup. Chandler needs to start.

You must really wanna lose lol.. You still drinkin into tha a.m. bro?

 

[coachcombs57]

Chandler played well but he isn't ready to lead an offense in the NCAA tournament. At this point I don't expect Butler to do anything besides facilitate and provide defense. Overall, I thought Pope did a good job with substitutions.

If we're gonna beat Illinois, then someone has to step up and Williams has to finish around the basket. Teams are going to key in on Oweh so guys have to make shots.

Being this limited has lowered our margin of error to the point we absolutely must get production from our 8/9 guys.

This. Chandler getting more comfortable is huge but it doesn't mean he's ready to be the primary ball handler. He's not a point guard by any means and will never be. But it makes me excited for his future that he's starting the flash now.

 

[megablue]

We need Butler on the floor … bottom line, but match-ups with Illinois might allow more sporadic use … we’ll know early on in the game. Illinois is a tall team. Only Boswell is less than 6’6” … so Oweh might guard him, with Butler out, but guarding Jakucionis will be key !!

 

[AshWilliams]

You must really wanna lose lol.. You still drinkin into tha a.m. bro?

Butler keeps losing control of the ball and can’t shoot. Chandler gave us a spark and separation. Illinois will try to take advantage of a handicapped Butler. Sorry you don’t have good eyesight. Bro.

 

[MonsterMash79]

Butler keeps losing control of the ball and can’t shoot. Chandler gave us a spark and separation. Illinois will try to take advantage of a handicapped Butler. Sorry you don’t have good eyesight.

Perfect eyesight bro👍 You’re looking at speed obviously, because chandler couldn’t guard a post. PG’s jobs are to facilitate ( court general ) 👍

So… If you still think chandler fits that mold, you need to proceed to put down the sauce 👌


Please 🙏

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Butler injured is still better with the ball than Chandler is when healthy

 

[kats23]

I would suggest you go watch any game this season that Butler did not play in and watch the outcome. I get it, you’re one of weirdos that don’t like Pope but you don’t have to go full brain dead because of it

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Chandler is either zero or hero never anything between. Perry was awful last night. Butler was clearly even less healthy than before and less effective on O.

We're playing with house money from here on imo

 

[aikenite4uk]

Chandler gave us 9 points in 10 minutes. I suspect we will need good minutes from him against ILL to get the win.

 

[megablue]

Chandler is either zero or hero never anything between. Perry was awful last night. Butler was clearly even less healthy than before and less effective on O.

We're playing with house money from here on imo

Your post makes sense to me.
I cannot decide if Illinois’ height provides problems or opportunities for Garrison and Almonor to step up and fill voids.

2024-25 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics - University of Illinois Athletics

The official 2024-25 Men's Basketball cumulative statistics for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini

fightingillini.com

If we’re hitting threes, we win, as I think our outside shooting will be the key.
GO CATS !!

 

[CondorCat]

Doesn't Chandler mainly come in to spot Oweh? Perry for Butler. Butler didn't score yesterday but was effective at PG and on defense. Chandler has made real progress recently. We'll need productive minutes from him and everybody else tomorrow.

 

[megablue]

Doesn't Chandler mainly come in to spot Oweh? Perry for Butler. Butler didn't score yesterday but was effective at PG and on defense. Chandler has made real progress recently. We'll need productive minutes from him and everybody else tomorrow.

Can Chandler / Noah neutralize Jakucionis ?? He’s their leading scorer and very active off the bounce … but all five starters average double-digits. Only 2 of their top 8 players stand less than 6’6” … fwiw.

 

[65pacecar]

We need Butler on the floor leading the team and playing D, but without the expectation that he will score very much, let the rest of the guys get the points.

 

[LmdCat]

His shoulder is clearly not mobile. He loses control of the ball a lot and he can’t play aggressively.

Pope said his shoulder is hanging by a string and taped together.

We might have fooled Troy for a few minutes last night but Illinois isn’t stupid. No chance we get past somebody like Tennessee with Butler playing significantly.

Pope needs to make a decision and stop monkeying with the lineup. Chandler needs to start.

Bulter at 70% with his final 4 experience is better on the court for the tourney than any of his possible replacements. If you heard any of the post-game interviews, you should realize the importance of his leadership on the court.

 

[LmdCat]

Chandler gave us 9 points in 10 minutes. I suspect we will need good minutes from him against ILL to get the win.

Yes, we need good minutes from him going against their backups and not against their starters.

 

[megablue]

Illinois is 2-2 against SEC, having defeated ARK and MIZZ, but losing to BAMA and TENN.

 

[uk78]

Perry remains the most disappointing recruit. Every announcer will at some point mention him being the record High School scoring champ of all time in Kentucky basketball. I also watched him in a few all-star games and he was great. He won the pre-season 3 point shooting contest. Now, he can't hit an open look if his life depended on in and can't drive the lane and do anything with the ball. It is beyond disappointing actually.

I so want him to have a break out game.

 

[LmdCat]

Chandler is either zero or hero never anything between. Perry was awful last night. Butler was clearly even less healthy than before and less effective on O.

We're playing with house money from here on imo

I don't even begin to understand why anyone would make such a statement about a Blue Blood that was seeded as the 11th ranked team in the country. The committee seeded UK as they did without knowing for certain that Butler would be available. It is amazing that others have more confidence in this team than some of the fans.

 

[LmdCat]

Perry remains the most disappointing recruit. Every announcer will at some point mention him being the record High School scoring champ of all time in Kentucky basketball. I also watched him in a few all-star games and he was great. He won the pre-season 3 point shooting contest. Now, he can't hit an open look if his life depended on in and can't drive the lane and do anything with the ball. It is beyond disappointing actually.

I so want him to have a break out game.

I want the team to win and I don't really care who provides the points for the victory.

 

[JonathanW]

Even at 70%, Butler is our best on ball defender. Thats why we need him on the court. I’m ok with keeping his minutes down (20-25), but we do need him.

Even before last night I didn’t want him shooting 3’s because even though the left hand is just the guide hand, I don’t think he has enough mobility in thst shoulder to make a shot.

 

[AshWilliams]

I would suggest you go watch any game this season that Butler did not play in and watch the outcome. I get it, you’re one of weirdos that don’t like Pope but you don’t have to go full brain dead because of it

False. I'm looking at last night's game. That's the most recent evidence. And you're pushing a straw man. I never said "don't let Butler play."

Did I.

Show me ONE POST where I've said I don't like Pope. All I did was criticize his insane lineup changes. Which he hasn't done all year.

You're not helping your buddies' cases. You should go back to being silent, you look less like a fool that way.

 

[AshWilliams]

Even at 70%, Butler is our best on ball defender. Thats why we need him on the court. I’m ok with keeping his minutes down (20-25), but we do need him.

Even before last night I didn’t want him shooting 3’s because even though the left hand is just the guide hand, I don’t think he has enough mobility in thst shoulder to make a shot.

He was 0-5 with two turnovers.

I'm more concerned with our scoring droughts. That's where Troy made it a game. Chandler came in and gave us separation and we never looked back.

Troy was a terrible team compared to Illinois or Tennessee. They will expose Butler. Sorry you don't like the truth.

 

[AshWilliams]

Bulter at 70% with his final 4 experience is better on the court for the tourney than any of his possible replacements. If you heard any of the post-game interviews, you should realize the importance of his leadership on the court.

Butler isn't at 70%. You're lying to yourself. He's more like 35%.

What I heard postgame was Pope saying his shoulder was held together by string and tape.

 

[bballcat4]

His shoulder is clearly not mobile. He loses control of the ball a lot and he can’t play aggressively.

Pope said his shoulder is hanging by a string and taped together.

We might have fooled Troy for a few minutes last night but Illinois isn’t stupid. No chance we get past somebody like Tennessee with Butler playing significantly.

Pope needs to make a decision and stop monkeying with the lineup. Chandler needs to start.

No!!!!!!! Butler is certainly limited. But, we’re a much better team with him on the floor. The thought of not having Butler available to guard Ilini’s AA PG sends shivers down my spine. Chandler is at his best right now when he’s at 10–12 mins a game.

 

[ace on the river]

False. I'm looking at last night's game. That's the most recent evidence. And you're pushing a straw man. I never said "don't let Butler play."

Did I.

Show me ONE POST where I've said I don't like Pope. All I did was criticize his insane lineup changes. Which he hasn't done all year.

You're not helping your buddies' cases. You should go back to being silent, you look less like a fool that way.

Wait… You think HE looks like a fool?…LMAO

 

[AshWilliams]

Perfect eyesight bro👍 You’re looking at speed obviously, because chandler couldn’t guard a post. PG’s jobs are to facilitate ( court general ) 👍

So… If you still think chandler fits that mold, you need to proceed to put down the sauce 👌


Please 🙏

Blah blah blah...bunch of platitudes. "Facilitate" you mean like throwing the ball away or losing it out of bounds? "Court general" means nothing when you look at his play last night. He was 0-5 with 2 turnovers. He kept losing control of the ball. I guess you didn't WATCH the game. Did you get Grok to write that response? LOL

 

[AshWilliams]

No!!!!!!! Butler is certainly limited. But, we’re a much better team with him on the floor. The thought of not having Butler available to guard Ilini’s AA PG sends shivers down my spine. Chandler is at his best right now when he’s at 10–12 mins a game.

Extra exclamation points don't help your argument, FYI. I don't really care what scares you. Fact is, Butler is less than half effective right now. He can't shoot, he can't control the ball. Not saying he shouldn't play. But he's not going to help us much and Illinois will exploit that weakness.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I don't even begin to understand why anyone would make such a statement about a Blue Blood that was seeded as the 11th ranked team in the country. The committee seeded UK as they did without knowing for certain that Butler would be available. It is amazing that others have more confidence in this team than some of the fans.

Im just going by what i saw from Butler last night. Still elite on defense but now he has to avoid contact at all costs and can only use his right hand on finishes, which means he basically cant finish.

Kudos to him for gutting it out but hes severely limited.

 

[Myotis]

Perry remains the most disappointing recruit. Every announcer will at some point mention him being the record High School scoring champ of all time in Kentucky basketball. I also watched him in a few all-star games and he was great. He won the pre-season 3 point shooting contest. Now, he can't hit an open look if his life depended on in and can't drive the lane and do anything with the ball. It is beyond disappointing actually.

I so want him to have a break out game.

I was listening to the Westwood One stream and at least twice they specifically called out Perry for denying Conerway penetration. I wonder sometimes if everyone’s perception of him causes a bias that reinforces seeing his failures and sometimes causes blindness to his successes.

 

[LmdCat]

False. I'm looking at last night's game. That's the most recent evidence. And you're pushing a straw man. I never said "don't let Butler play."

Did I.

Show me ONE POST where I've said I don't like Pope. All I did was criticize his insane lineup changes. Which he hasn't done all year.

You're not helping your buddies' cases. You should go back to being silent, you look less like a fool that way.

He doesn't look like a fool.

 

[LmdCat]

Im just going by what i saw from Butler last night. Still elite on defense but now he has to avoid contact at all costs and can only use his right hand on finishes, which means he basically cant finish.

Kudos to him for gutting it out but hes severely limited.

That last drive to the basket didn't look like someone avoiding contact at all cost. He is far more physical than Williams.

 

[thebluestripes]

Chandler is either zero or hero never anything between. Perry was awful last night. Butler was clearly even less healthy than before and less effective on O.

We're playing with house money from here on imo

basically

 

[LmdCat]

Im just going by what i saw from Butler last night. Still elite on defense but now he has to avoid contact at all costs and can only use his right hand on finishes, which means he basically cant finish.

Kudos to him for gutting it out but hes severely limited.

Kentucky looked better than Alabama in their first round game, so is Bama playing with house money too?

 

[LmdCat]

Butler isn't at 70%. You're lying to yourself. He's more like 35%.

What I heard postgame was Pope saying his shoulder was held together by string and tape.

I don't care what his percentage is. If he is on the court, he is better than Chandler.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

That last drive to the basket didn't look like someone avoiding contact at all cost. He is far more physical than Williams.

It definitely did. Thats why he missed. He was focused on avoiding contact.

 

[G-PIP]

Can Chandler / Noah neutralize Jakucionis ?? He’s their leading scorer and very active off the bounce … but all five starters average double-digits. Only 2 of their top 8 players stand less than 6’6” … fwiw.

I believe the guy to guard Jakucionis would be a healthy Butler. I think he would present major problems for the way Jakucionis wants to play. Maybe in his current condition Butler can still cause problems for Jakucionis.