10/15 News & Notes

[Dan]

Change is coming

How is John Groce’s first team going to be different than Bruce Weber’s last team?

You will see changes in everything from philosophy to schemes to substitution patterns to where they recruit. On defense, coaches are tinkering with the idea of playing more zone than you might expect, but their foundation will be man-to-man. The Illinois philosophy was to be solid on defense; the Ohio philosophy was to create steals and be the aggressor. “We want to make teams uncomfortable,” as assistant coach Jamall Walker put it. On offense, you will see a focus on ball screens and spacing and more three-point shots and free throw attempts. Remember, though, it’s doubtful you will see the full John Groce system until Year 2 or Year 3. The first season is going to be a toned-down, safer version to fit a roster short on ball handlers. But Groce’s style fits his personality: aggressive and confident.

Klee

[FinalFour88]

When asked which teams in the Big Ten would make the tournament, he listed Minnesota as one of the teams definitely in. Minnesota is a bubble team every year. They're never a guarantee to make the tourney. I know they have Imbakwe back, but still, they can't get off the bubble.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Minnesota's problems recently have been poor guard play, they kept losing players like Nolen (grades), Joseph (xfer), Cobbs (xfer). Last year they played a couple of freshmen and a JC xfer there so have a lot of experience back along with Mbakwe and Rodney Williams. They also get Mo Walker back, they should be really good this year.

[FinalFour88]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

Minnesota's problems recently have been poor guard play, they kept losing players like Nolen (grades), Joseph (xfer), Cobbs (xfer). Last year they played a couple of freshmen and a JC xfer there so have a lot of experience back along with Mbakwe and Rodney Williams. They also get Mo Walker back, they should be really good this year.

Sure, they could be good, but Minnesota hasn't won more than nine games in the Big Ten since '04'05. Every year they're supposed to be good and they end up 9-9 or worse. They seem to always find a way to be mediocre in the Big Ten.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Sure, they could be good, but Minnesota hasn't won more than nine games in the Big Ten since '04'05. Every year they're supposed to be good and they end up 9-9 or worse. They seem to always find a way to be mediocre in the Big Ten.

I guess I don't remember them being picked all that high in many preseason projections. Even this year I don't think many are picking them higher than 5th or 6th at best. *shrug*

They had Monson and then Molinari as head coach through 2007, then Tubby's had the same problem as Weber, too few PGs on the team. They lost Nolen halfway through both 2010 and 2011 seasons, had to use Hoffarber at PG that 2011 and they lost 9 of their last 10 games. Tough to win at this level without good PG play as we know too well.

[CaliforniaIllini]

I like Sam McLaurin more and more whenever I read about him.

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Sure, they could be good, but Minnesota hasn't won more than nine games in the Big Ten since '04'05. Every year they're supposed to be good and they end up 9-9 or worse. They seem to always find a way to be mediocre in the Big Ten.

It's not that they disappoint relative to expectations though, it's that something terrible always seems to happen to them. Someone gets hurt, someone transfers, someone gets kicked off the team, etc.

If that doesn't happen this year, they could be really good.

[UIUC2008]

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

When asked which teams in the Big Ten would make the tournament, he listed Minnesota as one of the teams definitely in. Minnesota is a bubble team every year. They're never a guarantee to make the tourney. I know they have Imbakwe back, but still, they can't get off the bubble.

I think Minnesota is going to be real solid this year. I think they'll make noise in the Big Ten. I'd bet they finish the season ranked.

[mattcoldagelli]

I forgot that the Big Ten Tournament returns to its rightful home this year. Giddyup.

[combes]

Mbawke is suspended right now for a DUI he got during the summer. He has had a lot of problems over his college career, but as long as he rebounds, I am sure he will be back.

[justsomedude]

I'm curious if any of our "insiders" with connections to the staff for recruiting have heard anything about the first weekend with 5 practices.

[laocoon]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I forgot that the Big Ten Tournament returns to its rightful home this year. Giddyup.

I thought it was in Chicago in 2013 and 2015.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by laocoon

I thought it was in Chicago in 2013 and 2015.

This year is 2013. Or rather, this season's BTT will be played in 2013.

[laocoon]

I don't know if zone has to be the right answer, but I appreciate the flexibility. I'm hoping that a change in recruiting will make the switch everything defense (see http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...ville-defenses) possible at Illinois. Calipari and Pitino are two great defensive masterminds, and it sounds like JG has a strong commitment to defense.

[laocoon]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

This year is 2013. Or rather, this season's BTT will be played in 2013.

I know. I don't think Chicago is it's rightful place.

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by laocoon

I know. I don't think Chicago is it's rightful place.

Everyone is entitled to a wrong opinion.

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by laocoon

I know. I don't think Chicago is it's rightful place.

It's clearly the best place for our basketball program. While Chicago is a much better city, I can understand why fans enjoy the total experience and ease of Indy better, but make no mistake, it is better for Illinois basketball when in Chicago.

[Dan]

Abrams Has Need to Lead

"I just go. I just try to help guys out," he said. "I do what I can to try to help my players and teammates win and get those guys better. If leadership is what it is, let it be, but I'm just here to help those guys out and let those guys help me and just win games."

Fletcher Page

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

I'm curious if any of our "insiders" with connections to the staff for recruiting have heard anything about the first weekend with 5 practices.

I believe HOC's contact has moved on, and that was our crucial source of info during the preseason. I would expect to hear little.

Honestly, maybe it's better than way. On one hand, we hear this good stuff coming out of practice like "Brandon Paul is by far the best player blah blah" and then when the season comes we expect him to dominate every game. I think this, of all years, is the year we need to go into it without any expectations.

[jackman404]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

It's clearly the best place for our basketball program. While Chicago is a much better city, I can understand why fans enjoy the total experience and ease of Indy better, but make no mistake, it is better for Illinois basketball when in Chicago.

It's only good if we play well there.

Indianapolis has the better fan experience, but Chicago is better exposure for the conference.

[NJJ87]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

It's clearly the best place for our basketball program. While Chicago is a much better city, I can understand why fans enjoy the total experience and ease of Indy better, but make no mistake, it is better for Illinois basketball when in Chicago.

The fact that they even refer to Indianapolis as a city is laughable. It's a large empty lot where they built a couple of stadiums and a few office buildings around an old train station. But, as I always hear when this topic comes up, it's got great parking for RV's!!!

If you like being able to stay in a Days Inn across the street from the arena and then eating at TGI Fridays after the game, then Indy is your place. Me, I think the total city experience available in Chicago during the BTT blows away anything Indianapolis could ever dream of.

As much bad news as has happened to the Big East, they still are smart enough to leave their tournament at the Garden instead of deciding that Hartford or Newark might offer "a better total experience".

[laocoon]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

It's clearly the best place for our basketball program. While Chicago is a much better city, I can understand why fans enjoy the total experience and ease of Indy better, but make no mistake, it is better for Illinois basketball when in Chicago.

It is good for our team, and many of our fans. That doesn't make it the rightful place. The tournament should be in the best venue for the fans, not the one that is in the best interests of a single team. I also don't agree that Chicago is a much better city (or even better at all). They are two different places that are difficult to compare.

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by laocoon

The tournament should be in the best venue for the fans, not the one that is in the best interests of a single team.

Not a single team, no, but it's in the best interests of the conference as whole for it to be in Chicago.

Do you think the Big East would just move its tournament to Hartford if it was more fan-friendly? They'd be crazy to. Playing in MSG and in NYC has been huge for that conference's basketball visibility and identity. For the Big Ten to just pass on the opportunity to do the same in one of America's great basketball cities and in the house the MJ built is a major misfire.

[Noday]

Originally Posted by laocoon

It is good for our team, and many of our fans. That doesn't make it the rightful place. The tournament should be in the best venue for the fans, not the one that is in the best interests of a single team. I also don't agree that Chicago is a much better city (or even better at all). They are two different places that are difficult to compare.

Are you talking about residency or a Sporting Event? ChiCity is by far a much better City than NapCity when it comes to sporting events like the B1G tourny.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by NJJ87

The fact that they even refer to Indianapolis as a city is laughable. It's a large empty lot where they built a couple of stadiums and a few office buildings around an old train station.
If you like being able to stay in a Days Inn across the street from the arena and then eating at TGI Fridays after the game, then Indy is your place. Me, I think the total city experience available in Chicago during the BTT blows away anything Indianapolis could ever dream of.

As much bad news as has happened to the Big East, they still are smart enough to leave their tournament at the Garden instead of deciding that Hartford or Newark might offer "a better total experience".

Indianapolis is a major city - 12th largest in the US. Second largest in Big Ten territory - larger than Detroit, Milwaukee, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. A ton of people think St. Louis is a great city to visit - apparently, many more people like Indianapolis.

I prefer Indy to Chicago, though that probably has more to do with the fact that I'm not worried about getting shot every five seconds in Indy, as well as everything else in general being more affordable.

Calling Indianapolis a "laughable" city and implying there's nothing to do is ridiculous. Trying to compare Indianapolis to cesspools like Hartford and Newark is laughable.

That being said, the Big Ten would be better served to capitalize on the huge media market of Chicago as well as the imagery of playing on the Bulls' home court - the same way the Big East capitalizes on MSG and playing the tourney on the Knicks' floor for their tournament. And yet, given that the majority of the Big Ten is in small and mid-sized cities, Indianapolis provides an environment that is probably closer to the image the Big Ten wants to promote.