Recent content by orangem

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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Another poster commented that Lathon does not count for much under Torvik, but Torvik dings Lathon for his mediocre 2-pt field goal percentage -- his other stats are very good. His role with the Illini will be 3 and 6' 5'' guard D instead of manufacturing tough 2s on a limited team, and...
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Pairing Ugonna with Hum would allow Hum's offense to shine while greatly reducing the issues with Hum's interior defense. Get David Jones also and you can see the blueprint -- surround a dominant rim protector with premier offense. It's UConn #2, and we could win a national title.
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Claude shot a reasonable 30% as a frosh. His stats other than 3-point shooting are very impressive -- if he could be a 35% 3-pt shooter he could be all B1G Ten: https://barttorvik.com/playerstat.php?year=2024&p=Desmond%20Claude&t=Xavier
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Illini were #80 on KenPom defense after most expected at least top-30 based on height, athleticism, experience and coaching (Illini had a top-30 defense the previous 3 years). This #80 defense doesn't seem like a 99th percentile positive outcome to me -- coaches found the right guys and culture...
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Hope so, but username doesn't check out
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    It helps that he played basketball an hour away from Champaign -- the "coming back home" vibe is something people can relate to.
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    Coaching Carousel (Basketball)

    He is a legendary figure there, so he is being allowed to resign after the season to take an NBA job. But he has already been terminated.
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    Illinois 105, Minnesota 97 Postgame

    In 1990, Loyola Marymount beat Michigan 149-115. The 264 combined points are the most in an NCAA Tournament game all time. I was in Vegas betting for the first time, and that game was the first and last time I have bet an Under....
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    Illini Basketball 2023-2024

    With the Illini at the #6 offense at KenPom going into mid-February, it's time to acknowledge that Underwood had the correct off-season analysis that we could thrive without a true pg. I am duly impressed, and hope and expect our defense to eventually gel into the top-20 Kenpom unit it should...
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    TSJ Thread

    If as rumored there is a full video of the incident in which nothing seems out of proportion, it changes everything.
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    TSJ Thread

    Here is my second-hand inside info -- the same alleged victim has also made a prior rape allegation against a KU basketball player, and the allegation was not believed by the KU program after investigation. Bill Self and Underwood are also very good friends.
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    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    He's the 3rd string pt guard, won't get any significant time unless Ty or DGL get injured. Still a valuable emergency piece, but his role isn't complicated.
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    Illini Football 2023

    We will be playing a home game next October against Michigan for the 100th anniversary of the incredible Red Grange game -- been in the works for a decade, count on it...
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    Illinois vs Kansas (Charity Exhibition Game), Sunday, October 29th, 5:00pm CT, BTN

    Kansas and Illinois are both matching up against highly rated squads just 2 weeks after the exhibition (Kentucky and Marquette), so I expect both teams to handle it very much like a regular game for best prep possible.
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    Illinois vs Kansas (Charity Exhibition Game), Sunday, October 29th, 5:00pm CT, BTN

    CBS preseason ranking currently has Kansas #1, Illini #23.