Illini Basketball 2018-2019

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#76      

jmilt7

Waukegan
Here is the official roster from UI. There is no 13

https://fightingillini.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

I think that the players don't necessarily wear the same number on their practice uniforms as their assigned numbers for their regular uniforms. I think sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. I could have swore that I saw someone wearing number 6 and there is no number 6, that is, no one was assigned no. 6 regular uniform
 
#77      
One of the interesting lineups in that day 1 video had a 4 out of Trent, Damonte, AJ and Tyler U around Kipper at the pinch post. I think Tyler is there as a guy that won’t mess it up for practice, and those are also all returning guys. But throw Ayo in for Tyler and that is one crazy small lineup I’d actually really want to see just for kicks.
Defensively that would be terrifying.

Also liked that samba wing 1v1 vs AJ. Showed enough handle and footwork in that one clip to calm my nerves about his ability to score off one dribble from the high post. Obviously I don’t expect him to dominate but he’s definitely not as raw as i thought.
 
#78      
Egwu's freshman year was just a hair less productive than Ebo was last year. Just a reminder to help us keep expectations in check.
Egwu played behind Leonard his freshman year and played 9.8 mins per game. Not sure it is a good comparison with Kane. Ebo played behind Finke and Finke missed some games. Until DeLaRosa is healthy Kane and Giorgi will probably split 40 mins.
 
#79      
One of the interesting lineups in that day 1 video had a 4 out of Trent, Damonte, AJ and Tyler U around Kipper at the pinch post. I think Tyler is there as a guy that won’t mess it up for practice, and those are also all returning guys. But throw Ayo in for Tyler and that is one crazy small lineup I’d actually really want to see just for kicks.
Defensively that would be terrifying.
Would love to see them at least try that lineup at times. It would obviously be conceding a matchup problem defensively in the post, but then again the opposition wouldn't be able to stay with Kipper either. The opposition would likely go zone, but we have enough shooters that we should be able to bust it. It's "possible" the opposing team would have to go small as well due to defensive problems. Would be interesting to find out.
 
#80      

jrod1286

Pat Chambers
Illinois
Really wanting to see Giorgi in action. Any practice film out there of him ?
 
#81      
Really wanting to see Giorgi in action. Any practice film out there of him ?

They showed a quick clip of him catching and finishing off a p/r as well as a dunk in a drill in that day 1 video.
 
#83      
The real question: Best hair Ayo or Frazier :oops:
 
#84      

Captain Bubbles

Fairfield, IL
I agree with Combes. Don't know why people are thinking Feliz won't start, I guess the majority of Illinois Loyalty folk have forgotten that Feliz was ranked as the #1 JUCO point guard. Given what he does on offense and defense, he's earned that spot. I like a lot of his game.

If we agree that Frazier and Ayo are starters, it comes down to the third guard spot. Feliz, Jordan or Williams. It will be a great battle but obviously all three are key members of the team. Any of the three could start.

I like Jordan’s shooting off the bench. He comes in when the other team is a bit gassed and nails shots right and left.

Williams has a great all around game. If he can knock down jumpers, he will be hard to keep out of the lineup.

Right now, I like Feliz at the point. That could change. I like his ballhandling, defense, and toughness. He is a bulldog. He finds the open shooter and can hit shots, too. I like Frazier and Ayo attacking off the wings.

Nichols is a lock at the four and we need Jones there, too, although Jordan can provide minutes at that spot because of his ability to rebound.

At center, it is currently Giorgi. He knows the offense, is strong, can really pass it. Hopefully, he will rebound a bit with his added strength. When DeLaRosa is healthy, he will give us an experienced option there. I like Kane’s skill set. Athletic with length and he can score. He just really needs strength right now. It’s too bad that he missed 8 weeks of weight training in the summer.

And I really like Griffin. He is a bit like Jamar Smith when it comes to shooting the ball. By that I mean he is one of those shooters where you are surprised when he misses. Right now, he is behind some really good wings until he gets more experience and strength. But I think he will surprise opponents this year.
 
#85      
I agree with Combes. Don't know why people are thinking Feliz won't start, I guess the majority of Illinois Loyalty folk have forgotten that Feliz was ranked as the #1 JUCO point guard. Given what he does on offense and defense, he's earned that spot. I like a lot of his game.
He will get his chance, it just doesn't matter!
 
#86      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
In the first three games there will be three different starting lineups. Mark it down.
I'm tempted to go four, but I'll be conservative.

By the start of B1G season my guess is Trent, Ayo, Kipper, AJ, and Giorgi. AJ's experience and zone busting shot will be invaluable, and this year he will get more open looks because all of our guards can penetrate.
Giorgi because he craves contact and doesn't back down, but he will be splitting minutes with Kane for sure. Not sure where Adonis will be at that point.

Honestly with the locker room as tight as it seems to be already this year, the starting five could be all over the map depending on the opponent and their won't be any chirping about it, just POSITIONLESS BASKETBALL Y'ALL!
 
#87      

Tevo

Wilmette, IL
I really hope AJ will start over Feliz. His shooting, length and B1G experience give him quite the advantage over a 1st-year JUCO transfer to me.

But if Feliz starts over AJ, that means that he's good enough to play ahead of a guy with AJ's shooting, length and B1G experience. That would be a GOOD thing for the team, right? I mean, it's a double-edged sword saying player A should start over player B. Is that because A is good, or because B is not so good? It's kind of like when your offense in football puts up 5 touchdowns on your defense, during a scrimmage.

I we think AJ is a great shooter, and a good rebounder, we should be ecstatic if Feliz is even more valuable.
 
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#88      

Tevo

Wilmette, IL
The real question: Best hair Ayo or Frazier :oops:

Ayo's hair looks like it is just one solid piece, attached to his head with a hinge, and you could just lift it up and pull out his brain, like a med school prop.
 
#89      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
Feel like we go in circles on this and then come back to the main point. It's not who starts, but who gets the minutes and plays in crunch time. AJ, DW, Feliz will all get a lot of tick. Who's the hot hand and who matches up with our opponent that night.
 
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#90      

AEX

Danger Zone
Feel like we go in circles on this and then come back to the main point. It's not who starts, but who gets the minutes and plays in crunch time. AJ, DW, Feliz will all get a lot of tick. Who's the hot hand and who matches up with our opponent that night.

This is where I am at. Hard to project with absolute certainty how player A will perform from year to year or from JUCO to big ten. Both AJ and Feliz have something to prove when it comes to performing well on the biggest stage. More than anything i’m excited to see healthy competition for playing time and guys with a variety of skills. We’re going to be a tougher, more nuanced team as a result. Much better than weak and one-dimensional, which is what we’ve been for a long time.

All that said, the usual caveats about message boards as a space for debating the finer points ad nauseam.
 
#91      
While experimentation with lineups and rotation will indeed happen, the much tougher non-conference schedule early on will likely shrink the bench/rotation compared to previous years because we need to find consistent answers quickly IF we are to be successful and compete for an NCAA birth. Too much turnover, lineups, and rotations will likely mean that Illinois struggles to find consistency.
 
#92      
Anybody else see a little Andre Jordan in De La Rosa game? Nope OK, back to drinking then...:unsure:
 
#93      
Was that AJ dunking on a drive at about 30 seconds in?
 
#95      
The love for AJ's game continues to confuse me. In 3 years he has had 2 years of nonexistence, 1 non-con of lights out shooting, and 1 B1G season of average shooting. I will be a bit disappointed if Damonte, Ayo, and Feliz can't combine to shrink AJ's minutes by mid season.

That being said, AJ sounds like the perfect role model for these young guys and he will push them every day in practice.
 
#96      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
The love for AJ's game continues to confuse me. In 3 years he has had 2 years of nonexistence, 1 non-con of lights out shooting, and 1 B1G season of average shooting. I will be a bit disappointed if Damonte, Ayo, and Feliz can't combine to shrink AJ's minutes by mid season.

That being said, AJ sounds like the perfect role model for these young guys and he will push them every day in practice.
AJs much more than just a shooter, anticipates on D and runs the offense very well - one of the few guys who hit the cutters last year in our new offense.
 
#97      
The love for AJ's game continues to confuse me. In 3 years he has had 2 years of nonexistence, 1 non-con of lights out shooting, and 1 B1G season of average shooting. I will be a bit disappointed if Damonte, Ayo, and Feliz can't combine to shrink AJ's minutes by mid season.

That being said, AJ sounds like the perfect role model for these young guys and he will push them every day in practice.
I'm not sure you have to love his game that much to think he could start. His main competition will be Damonte and true freshmen. I think his skill set may fit better in a unit with Trent and Ayo than Damonte's so I think he'll probably start. His understanding of the defense will certainly give him a leg up on the freshmen.
 
#98      
AJs much more than just a shooter, anticipates on D and runs the offense very well - one of the few guys who hit the cutters last year in our new offense.

If that was true I would think he would've demanded more minutes in conference play last year (19 mpg). This year our guard play should be much better. Not a guarantee though.
 
#99      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
If that was true I would think he would've demanded more minutes in conference play last year (19 mpg). This year our guard play should be much better. Not a guarantee though.

He couldn't get open shots after his flaming hot start. This years team will have more options and he will get more looks.
 
#100      
But if Feliz starts over AJ, that means that he's good enough to play ahead of a guy with AJ's shooting, length and B1G experience. That would be a GOOD thing for the team, right? I mean, it's a double-edged sword saying player A should start over player B. Is that because A is good, or because B is not so good? It's kind of like when your offense in football puts up 5 touchdowns on your defense, during a scrimmage.

I we think AJ is a great shooter, and a good rebounder, we should be ecstatic if Feliz is even more valuable.

I said something similar a couple days ago, but I think you said it better. I think the right word to use was who is more valuable, and is it because the other is better, or one is worse?
 
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