We lost our best player (Hill) heading into last year and again lose our best player (Black) heading into next year. We're not going to be anywhere close to sniffing the NCAA tourney......but......I love the direction we're headed. We'll be a MUCH BETTER team at the end of next year than we will at the start and will return just about everyone for a tourney and hopefully Big Ten title run in 2020.
Illini Basketball 2018-2019
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We lost our best player (Hill) heading into last year and again lose our best player (Black) heading into next year. We're not going to be anywhere close to sniffing the NCAA tourney......but......I love the direction we're headed. We'll be a MUCH BETTER team at the end of next year than we will at the start and will return just about everyone for a tourney and hopefully Big Ten title run in 2020.
If BU gets us to 10 wins he should be considered for coach of the year in B10. I was really disappointed that we dont have a more rapid way to instill offense and build chemistry with BUs system. I really believe if BU and the staff can get these guys going earlier we can surprise in B10. I think if they do come along rapidly, it will be testament to guys like TF, AJ and KN....they can have a significant role in educating the young guys.
BU made the wise decision to hire assistants who would be valuable recruiters unlike JG who just brought his assistants with him. The downside was he had to teach his assistants as well as the players his system. Hopefully that should go faster as he has core players as well as his assistants with experience. Tyler, AJ, etc. can help the new players over the summer. Also not sure it isn't easier to teach from the start than change an existing system. This learning curve rate will determine our success this year IMO. He will have more raw talent if he can get them in sync.
Deleted member 29907
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Who was best Black or TF? Black spent a lot of time on the bench in foul trouble and his D was pretty much just ok.
We will miss Black’s offense but his defense was in the lower 10% of the BT by metrics. The only Illini player lower in the metrics was Mark Smith.
Dan
Admin
The annual "Braggin' Rights" game between Illinois and Missouri is currently scheduled for Saturday 12/22, per a source.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/988079275558490113
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/988079275558490113
Pretty good evaluation and observation. All I want to see is cutting down on turnovers, growth throughout the season in interior defense, better shooting, and guys committed to helping the team and each other win games. Seeing them grow throughout the season is enough for me as if they do..games will be won. 8 wins would be excellent and 20 for the year is hardly out of reach if everyone does their job....including coaches. At best, it will be a bubble year and 3 or 4 NIT games would give them confidence. Could do even better and that would bode well for an exciting future. Time will tell.
I believe that this is the main thing that proves that the recruits that are incoming will have a good chance to be better than the players they're replacing. Although Black was a good scorer , his defense was not the best, and the fact he couldn't stay on floor because of foul issues, on a regular basis. Liked LB alot, but not sure why all think he won't be easily replaced.
With the guards coming in, AJ, DMW, Trent and Kipper will provide fire power from perimeter, our issues will be on the interior. Ebo and Matic will need to step up. Ebo I think will make large strides , Matic will have to show something, or be replace by whomever, Bez or Golden(Okoro) in 4 . Samba will need time to fit in, but I'm sure he will play alot. Kipper will be a key , but he will need to be consistent. Too many times BU has needed him to be the man and was lost in space. This can't happen. Jones will pass him up , and will be sitting out.
Black leaving is not a terrible loss, Trent was a better defender, and his scoring will be replaced. Who will be the banger inside is yet to be determined. We have some time, a new faces to try and find a answer.
Black leaving is not a terrible loss, Trent was a better defender, and his scoring will be replaced. Who will be the banger inside is yet to be determined. We have some time, a new faces to try and find a answer.
Any way you slice it, Black leaving is a terrible loss.
We may be able to replace his offensive production, but we will be hard pressed to replace his offensive efficiency -- and given that our defense will likely continue to be inefficient inside -- those possession matter.
Simply stated, the team next year would be better with Black than without, under just about any feasible scenario. He was a force offensively that is difficult to replace, and notwithstanding the defensive liability and foul issues, as a coach you game plan around things you can count on (and can count on the defense reacting to), and we could largely count on Leron on the offensive end. Towards the end of the year, we knew we were going to Leron, the opponents knew we were going to Leron, and he still was relatively efficient offensively. Losing one dependable offensive option on a team with a paucity of them is not beneficial.
Having said that, there is also the fact that without regards to next year's potential, we are nowhere near the "elite" level we seek, and it may be better for our long term prognosis to take a small step back next year from what we may have had with Leron in order to have a more sustained rate of progress going forward. Since under most scenarios, we are not a tourney team next year even with Leron, and under the most optimistic scenarios, we are a borderline tourney team, I'm not sure it is as big a loss as it may otherwise be, given that our goal is to be a consistent Top 25 program.
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Unfortunately, we seem to be turning into the Cubs fans of yore, where, no matter the performance the season prior, expectations in April are through the roof.
At the same time, April is likely the best time of year to drink the orange Kool-Aid, as it doesn't leave nearly the same bitter taste that drinking it in the September/October time frame seems to.
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/.../its-just-the-beginning-damonte-williams.html
Some talk about DMW this offseason.
Some talk about DMW this offseason.
blackdog
- Champaign
Really drives home the point of how limited he was last season. Hes going to be a totally different type of player this year. I think we see him much more aggressive offensively attacking the rim.
haasi
- New York
Maybe it’s the thousand nutpunches and 12 years of wandering in the basketball desert, but I really hate optimistic prognostications based on offseason reports. Hope Damonte is awesome next year, but I always advocate “I’ll believe it when I see it”
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http://www.barttorvik.com/trankpre.php
Does this make anyone feel better? #54 Rank 19-14 record 9-11 conference
Does this make anyone feel better? #54 Rank 19-14 record 9-11 conference
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I'd take that. Add in a nice BTT or NIT run to end the season and I'd definitely take it.
He's playing without his brace so far this year.
12th in the B1G will make the fans restless.
I know knee injuries can change a player, but wasn't there talk about, preinjury, DMW having a shot at Mr. Illinois Basketball? I remember reports basically saying if he can keep his motor up, he could've been the top playing in the state.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Not sure that 12th team in the B1G would be winning 9 games. Apparently, a tie with a few others.
haasi
- New York
This would be a really nice step forward, especially if there are signs of real progress as the season goes on. Any higher than that (ie bubble territory) and I will be ecstatic.
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Deleted member 29907
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Guest
And, 10 spots above Miznoz - so we've got that going for us....
Tophe
- Middle TN
The prediction is for MSU to go 15-5 in the B1G, Rutgers to go 5-15, and everyone else in a logjam from 12-8 to 8-12.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Interesting that they predict 8.6 NCAA tourney teams, with odds from 99.7% (MSU) to 33.7% for Illinois and then on down to 0.2% for Rutgers.
Pretty balanced and strong conference would be the thinking
If we were to have that record, I would be shocked if we weren't ranked heading into the next season. I don't know if we'll be able to have that much success and quick turn around but that would be impressive. Probably still on the wrong side of the bubble but being on the bubble itself would be nice next year.
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