10/20 News & Notes

[Dan]

Q&A: Brandon Paul

What did you specially work on this offseason to get better?

PAUL: "I mean, I've worked on a lot of things. Trying to just get my point guard skills better because I know they told me they want me to play a little more point guard than I have in the past, but that's nothing new to me. I've been backup point since I was a freshman.

"I think my shot has been more consistent. Obviously I had a setback when I broke my jaw. I came right back. I'm back at my regular weight and 100 percent. I'm just waiting for the season to start."

Fletcher Page

New Illinois coach John Groce opens up a goal new world

"We have to get three things done," he said when asked how he'll measure success this season. "We have to [develop] a culture of toughness and togetherness. Second, we need to develop a defensive mind-set, where we care as much or more about getting stops as [offense]. And third, [we have to embrace] the concept that every day matters. Every practice, every workout, every single thing matters. We can't have bad days. I don't do bad days. Those are the three most important things to establish here in Year 1."

That's a mouthful. But so far, so good.

"He's great," senior guard D.J. Richardson said of his new coach. "He's young, he has energy. You see him in the weight room. You even see him tweet a little bit."

Herb Gould

In case you missed it-

Sean Harrington to work at BTN

This season he will work as a studio analyst and color commentator for BTN, which continues to do a fine job assembling knowledgeable basketball minds for its on-air talent.

"This is something I've always thought about doing," said Harrington, who lives in C-U with his wife, Christine, and 19-month-old son, James.
Harrington views TV as a long-term profession. His Big Ten schedule could include up to a dozen nonconference games before Christmas.

Klee

[Groundhogday]

Paul at PG will be one of the big keys to the season. The other big key being Abrams at PG.

[Combo]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Paul at PG will be one of the big keys to the season. The other big key being Abrams at PG.

As PG goes, our season will go. If Tracy stays healthy and improves, and if Brandon can give us some quality minutes there, we could make the NCAA Tournament.

[Illini70math]

Coach Groce has said he wants at least two "ballhandlers" on the court at all times in his offensive system, so both Tracy and Paul will be needed in that role unless one of the other players can take on a "ballhandler" role this season. Indeed, someone else will have to give us some minutes because Tracy and Brandon can't both play every minute.

This is why I think we will achieve the goal of being much better by the end of this season than we are at the beginning. Our "ballhandlers" should get better at their roles with experience since decision-making is a key component (a bit like running the option in football). That is important for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that we have several games we should win even if we are struggling at the beginning of the season, and probably very few of those at the end.

[Redbirds33333]

Originally Posted by Illini70math

Coach Groce has said he wants at least two "ballhandlers" on the court at all times in his offensive system, so both Tracy and Paul will be needed in that role unless one of the other players can take on a "ballhandler" role this season. Indeed, someone else will have to give us some minutes because Tracy and Brandon can't both play every minute.

This is why I think we will achieve the goal of being much better by the end of this season than we are at the beginning. Our "ballhandlers" should get better at their roles with experience since decision-making is a key component (a bit like running the option in football). That is important for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that we have several games we should win even if we are struggling at the beginning of the season, and probably very few of those at the end.

I'm really anxious to see if Langford can be that guy...As a point forward type. I feel like he can be a mismatch nightmare if his handles are as good as I've read.

[combes]

Langford handles the ball well for his size, but he was somewhat of a turnover machine in high school. I saw him turn it over 13 times in one game. If he can clean that up, he can be in the rotation.

[DaytonIllini]

Originally Posted by Redbirds33333

I'm really anxious to see if Langford can be that guy...As a point forward type. I feel like he can be a mismatch nightmare if his handles are as good as I've read.

I think we have heard several times that his handles are not that good. I agree that it would be awesome if they were but I think we are looking at JB as the 3rd ballhandler. He cannot handle like a point guard but he seems to handle passably well against opposing 3's.

[redriver]

Originally Posted by combes

Langford handles the ball well for his size, but he was somewhat of a turnover machine in high school. I saw him turn it over 13 times in one game. If he can clean that up, he can be in the rotation.

Just exactly how many games did you watch him play? The one or two in Illinois when he was sick, or the three or so streamed from his state tournament? If you make a statement like 'turnover machine', you gotta link?

[HeartofaChampion]

Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

I think we have heard several times that his handles are not that good. I agree that it would be awesome if they were but I think we are looking at JB as the 3rd ballhandler. He cannot handle like a point guard but he seems to handle passably well against opposing 3's.

JB will have to handle the ball given our lack of depth. Perhaps DL or MyH can handle it some, too, at the 4 spot. Neither is a great dribbler as a wing but could probably take other 4s off the dribble in mismatches on the perimeter. DL is also supposedly a very good passer.

[zoggle101]

DJ Richardson is more then capable of bringing the ball up court under light pressure to initiate our offense. It gets old hearing about how this kid can't dribble because he never attacks the basket off the bounce and that he hasn't done anything positive for this program since his freshman season. I think a lot of that talk comes from the way BAM used him on O and D along with fact most people are, what have done for me lately types. It's almost as exaggerated as Mike Davis only played well the last half of his senior year, Trent was a true walkon, Pruitt sucked, and the Rev wasnt one of the best ever to suit up in the Orange and Blue.(rant) DJ has great endurance but he'd have to be on MLT's sub 5 minute mile(shout out on that Mike) to play at his highest level for the 30+ minutes game in and out under BW's coaching. There are not a lot of guys on Mlt's level of running a mile but I will say Richardson never takes a play off period. I'm not saying he has Phil Pressey skills where he can break a full court press by himself with consistence but one vs one full court I have faith in DJ. I honestly can't recall him getting the ball stolen from him when he has just one guy guarding him. Let's also not forget how impressive that is considering he usually has a very good, athletic sg hounding him. One more thing about DJ's lack of penetrating the defense and attacking the basket. It's not the easiest thing to do with the zones and help defense in the Big. Big coaches expect effort on the defensive end unlike the big least or the ACC where it's all O and not much D which is just my opinion. I'm interested to see if we spread the floor well, creating space, along with good ball movement opening up lanes to attack in Groces offense. Like many of us know about this team, we have athletes who should flourish under positive, motivational coaching.

I've seen a few teams getting some hype despite losing one key player because they bring back so many experienced minutes. The stars usually don't lie and we have the makings of a top 25 team. This is basically the same team as last year that started out the year great before and of course this is my opinion team term oil devastated the season. Hopefully everyone has their head on straight and I do not want to see a kid crying because an under appreciated Huskers team to most of Illini nation took it to us.

[FinalFour88]

Originally Posted by zoggle101

DJ Richardson is more then capable of bringing the ball up court under light pressure to initiate our offense. It gets old hearing about how this kid can't dribble because he never attacks the basket off the bounce and that he hasn't done anything positive for this program since his freshman season. I think a lot of that talk comes from the way BAM used him on O and D along with fact most people are, what have done for me lately types. It's almost as exaggerated as Mike Davis only played well the last half of his senior year, Trent was a true walkon, Pruitt sucked, and the Rev wasnt one of the best ever to suit up in the Orange and Blue.(rant) DJ has great endurance but he'd have to be on MLT's sub 5 minute mile(shout out on that Mike) to play at his highest level for the 30+ minutes game in and out under BW's coaching. There are not a lot of guys on Mlt's level of running a mile but I will say Richardson never takes a play off period. I'm not saying he has Phil Pressey skills where he can break a full court press by himself with consistence but one vs one full court I have faith in DJ. I honestly can't recall him getting the ball stolen from him when he has just one guy guarding him. Let's also not forget how impressive that is considering he usually has a very good, athletic sg hounding him. One more thing about DJ's lack of penetrating the defense and attacking the basket. It's not the easiest thing to do with the zones and help defense in the Big. Big coaches expect effort on the defensive end unlike the big least or the ACC where it's all O and not much D which is just my opinion. I'm interested to see if we spread the floor well, creating space, along with good ball movement opening up lanes to attack in Groces offense. Like many of us know about this team, we have athletes who should flourish under positive, motivational coaching.

I've seen a few teams getting some hype despite losing one key player because they bring back so many experienced minutes. The stars usually don't lie and we have the makings of a top 25 team. This is basically the same team as last year that started out the year great before and of course this is my opinion team term oil devastated the season. Hopefully everyone has their head on straight and I do not want to see a kid crying because an under appreciated Huskers team to most of Illini nation took it to us.

Maybe DJ can bring the ball up against light pressure like you say, but he's not a strong ballhandler. I think Weber and Groce both would agree on this. I judge this on how many times he's gotten the ball stolen from him in the last few years.

[IlliniSpine]

I HATE Dicky V but he gives props to BP3 on his preseason teams:

http://espn.go.com/espn/dickvitale/s...-teams-2012-13

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by zoggle101

DJ Richardson is more then capable of bringing the ball up court under light pressure to initiate our offense. It gets old hearing about how this kid can't dribble because he never attacks the basket off the bounce and that he hasn't done anything positive for this program since his freshman season. I think a lot of that talk comes from the way BAM used him on O and D along with fact most people are, what have done for me lately types. It's almost as exaggerated as Mike Davis only played well the last half of his senior year, Trent was a true walkon, Pruitt sucked, and the Rev wasnt one of the best ever to suit up in the Orange and Blue.(rant) DJ has great endurance but he'd have to be on MLT's sub 5 minute mile(shout out on that Mike) to play at his highest level for the 30+ minutes game in and out under BW's coaching. There are not a lot of guys on Mlt's level of running a mile but I will say Richardson never takes a play off period. I'm not saying he has Phil Pressey skills where he can break a full court press by himself with consistence but one vs one full court I have faith in DJ. I honestly can't recall him getting the ball stolen from him when he has just one guy guarding him. Let's also not forget how impressive that is considering he usually has a very good, athletic sg hounding him. One more thing about DJ's lack of penetrating the defense and attacking the basket. It's not the easiest thing to do with the zones and help defense in the Big. Big coaches expect effort on the defensive end unlike the big least or the ACC where it's all O and not much D which is just my opinion. I'm interested to see if we spread the floor well, creating space, along with good ball movement opening up lanes to attack in Groces offense. Like many of us know about this team, we have athletes who should flourish under positive, motivational coaching.

I've seen a few teams getting some hype despite losing one key player because they bring back so many experienced minutes. The stars usually don't lie and we have the makings of a top 25 team. This is basically the same team as last year that started out the year great before and of course this is my opinion team term oil devastated the season. Hopefully everyone has their head on straight and I do not want to see a kid crying because an under appreciated Huskers team to most of Illini nation took it to us.

Do you think that if DJ was to bring the ball up against Purdue or Indiana that he would be going against light pressure? As soon as he assumed that role, the man-to-man would be cranked up. When BP was assigned to bring the ball up last year against NW, Jershon Cobb ate him up defensively. That's Northwestern, not one of the defensive powerhouses in the conference. DJ wasn't even solid enough with the ball to be considered as a legitimate option at that time. In 3 years of full time duty, DJ has not proven to be strong with the ball against pressure, nor has he shown the speed and quickness with the ball to get around a good defender in the open floor. He's just not a threat off the dribble outside of his shooting range. Within his range, he can get around a defender who is trying to sell out and recover to prevent the 3-pt shot. Historically, that's just about the limit of his dribble drive ability.

[Illini70math]

First off, dribbling the ball up the court is not the only way to get into the forecourt. One of the reasons MSU has been so successful under Izzo is the consistent use of the outlet pass to attack the defense before it gets set. Yes, you need a dribbler who can bring the ball up when needed, but that has not been a huge problem for us. We did decently against Mizzou last season, and they are about as tough as anyone in that department.

Secondly, we need to keep in mind that we are running a very different offensive system with very different skill requirements. The extensive use of ball screens is a truly different approach compared to what we have been doing for the most part, so let's wait to see which players can do what using that approach. I am not saying the change is a magic bullet, but it is quite different from what we have been doing as far as requirements.

[Greensboro]

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Maybe DJ can bring the ball up against light pressure like you say, but he's not a strong ballhandler. I think Weber and Groce both would agree on this. I judge this on how many times he's gotten the ball stolen from him in the last few years.

I would also add that when DJ has brought the ball up against any pressure, the offense seems to come to a crawl. He seems to be so worried about getting the ball stolen that I don't see him as able to make a play or pass.