Illini Basketball 2018-2019

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#202      

BRucks

BRucks
BRucks
ILL in IA said:
Damonte had 4 years of eligibility in front of him and reason to be cautious. DeLa is in use it or lose it with eligibility this year, so pending his aspirations to play professionally after this season, he may be willing to push getting back early
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He would like to play internationally (like his brother does). He shouldn't take any chances about coming back too soon and jeopardize a paycheck.
 
#203      

PtownIllini8

P
PtownIllini8
Selfcon4 said:
DW might have beeen cleared after 10 months. But most on the boards are saying he was just coming into his own this summer and was limited all last season.
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I'm not sure he was physically limited but getting over something like an ACL is mental as well. I think he's now at the point that he can just play and forget about the knee.
 
#204      

Calvin

C
Calvin
BRucks said:
He shouldn't take any chances about coming back too soon
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Agree 100%. First and foremost thought should be to let the medical folks do their thing, and for him to be healthy. Guys occasionally re-injure those, and that would suck.
 
#205      

FiveStar

F
FiveStar
This has been floating around for a while now if you’re interested in new acl techniques.

A teacher I worked with last year tore her acl and was literally walking without crutches the day after surgery. Obviously not an athlete but I was still shocked.

The Georgia read was interesting, but basketball presents some different challenges (excessive jumping/lateral movement) that football just does not, to the same degree.
 
#206      

mainlabs

M
mainlabs
FiveStar said:
This has been floating around for a while now if you’re interested in new acl techniques.
The Georgia read was interesting, but basketball presents some different challenges (excessive jumping/lateral movement) that football just does not, to the same degree.
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Mikey Dudeck says you are wrong about football!
 
#207      

nwebb1

N
nwebb1
Does anyone have a link to the live video of media day?
 
#208      

t7nich

t7nich
Central IL
t7nich
Has anybody used the Mobile Pass before? You apparently get a different seat for each home game. I'm wondering if the seats are any good, or do they stick you in the nosebleeds most of the time?
 
#211      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Brad Underwood press conference
https://twitter.com/DPiper247

Underwood: We've got an exciting group of guys that I've really enjoyed coaching to this point.

Underwood: I do want to single out Aaron Jordan. Has taken on a tremendous leadership role within our locker room. He has a 'pay it forward' mentality. He's everything I want our program to stand for.. Work ethic, character, etc.

Underwood: Kipper is changed.. Not just physically. He's more mobile. But he's a 'lead by example' guy. He's in the gym all the time.

Underwood: This is a group with tremendous personality. You'll see guys who have a way about them that is very contagious.

Underwood: We've had six practices to this point. Today will be No. 7. We have very, very few 'down moments' in practice when it comes to competitiveness.

You're going to see a better basketball team in December than you do in November. And on throughout the season.

Underwood: We are young. There is no denying that. Every single day, we have an 'oh wow' moment. And that's both good and bad.

Underwood: We have to get better at the defensive end. Worked very hard at it and focused on it. Length and athleticism should help that. IQ as well.

Will face a top-5 in Gonzaga out in Maui. To have Georgetown and UNLV coming here.. Should be exciting for the fans.

Should gain tremendous confidence from playing these teams.

Underwood: We have one of the best (most challenging) schedule in this program's history.

Underwood: We recruit with the premise that you're going to play against the best players in the country.

Underwood: I feel very confident with our perimeter play. I think we'll be a better shooting team at every spot.

Underwood: Adonis De La Rosa is coming off his injury. He's getting closer. He's a force. He's a load. We've got him down to 262. He's proven. He'll be nice.

Underwood: Giorgi has exceeded every expectation that I've had for him at a very early point.

Second smartest freshman I've ever coached.

Underwood: Giorgi is a guy we can play a lot offense through because he's such a good passer.

Underwood: I love Kip. He has an ability to put the ball in the basket. It's been about consistency. Tremendous personality.. He'll hug you and dap you up. We want him to bring that to the court and lead. He's doing that.

Underwood: You need to ask Tevian Jones about the dunk Da'Monte had over Tevian's head. And that's saying something about Da'Monte because Tevian is athletic.

Underwood: Da'Monte can be an All-Big Ten player one day. He is an All-Big Ten defender right now.

'How has Ayo looked?'

Underwood: As advertised.

Great competitive battles between Trent and Ayo every day. And that's fun to watch.

Underwood: Ayo is an unbelievable teammate. He's all about winning. He draws people to him and makes them better.

Underwood: Andres is the 'old man'. And I say that because he has an old man's game. He is the least talked about player for us after practice because of how much he does well.

Will play Trent, Ayo and Andres together. And good luck guarding that in ball-screens.

Underwood: Right now, if you asked me who to start.. I couldn't tell you. But I can tell you we have some good players.
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#212      

ChiefIllini

C
ChiefIllini
Don't want to be a negative nancy, but I'm pretty sure BU gave Matic some pretty high praise last year (mobility and passing I believe?)

Most of this is coach speak (which should be obvious). Believe the things BU says when you see it. And Occams Razor.
 
#213      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Dan said:
Brad Underwood press conference
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Good overall press conference and some high praise for AJ beyond basketball. Leadership, work ethic, and character are some big words in life, well done.

As far as on-court observations from the conference, it seems that backcourt is a strength but frontcourt comments (or lack of) seem to indicate that we are thin.
 
#214      

Deleted member 746094

D
Guest
Deleted member 746094
Dan said:
Brad Underwood press conference
https://twitter.com/DPiper247
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Front court is obviously a concern since it was hardly mentioned. And I agree with others that sometimes he lays the intangible strengths on a little thick. We obviously lacked overall leadership last year and it sounds like that has been addressed through AJ. But it takes more than one and I am excited to see if guys like Kipper, Trent and Ayo carry this over to game day when it truly matters. True leaders come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common and that is they are present and at their best when there is adversity. Our backcourt group as whole could be a tough group to contend with if they can gel and gain some confidence early on. BU seems to think so at least. I will take his word for it right now.
 
#215      

Nathan

Nathan
Nathan
t7nich said:
Has anybody used the Mobile Pass before? You apparently get a different seat for each home game. I'm wondering if the seats are any good, or do they stick you in the nosebleeds most of the time?
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I had them the past two seasons. 100% are nosebleeds. SFC was so empty the last two years that I just sat in upper 200 level at half court every game instead. Good value in my opinion.

200 level could use some louder fans, too.
 
#216      

TGB

T
TGB
ChiefIllini said:
Don't want to be a negative nancy, but I'm pretty sure BU gave Matic some pretty high praise last year (mobility and passing I believe?)

Most of this is coach speak (which should be obvious). Believe the things BU says when you see it. And Occams Razor.
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Same negative tone on the football forum. Man, you must be fun to live with.
 
#217      

t7nich

t7nich
Central IL
t7nich
Nathan said:
I had them the past two seasons. 100% are nosebleeds. SFC was so empty the last two years that I just sat in upper 200 level at half court every game instead. Good value in my opinion.
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Thanks
 
#221      

Greensboro

Greensboro
Greensboro
PtownIllini8 said:
Personally, I expect Kipper to play almost exclusively at the 4 while Giorgi/Kane/DeLaRosa man the 5.
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For me that is the dream/wish, but not the expectation. My expectation is Higgs & De La Rosa won't be ready for awhile, anything we get out of either this year is gravy, while, as freshman bigs Kane & Giorgi will be good for 10 - 15 minutes each, so we need to find a 5 for 10 - 20 minutes. If we are reasonably lucky, then De La Rosa and/or Higgs may be able to fill those minutes by midseason, but even in that case Kipper has already spent more minutes than we wanted at the 5.
 
#222      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Greensboro said:
For me that is the dream/wish, but not the expectation. My expectation is Higgs & De La Rosa won't be ready for awhile, anything we get out of either this year is gravy, while, as freshman bigs Kane & Giorgi will be good for 10 - 15 minutes each, so we need to find a 5 for 10 - 20 minutes. If we are reasonably lucky, then De La Rosa and/or Higgs may be able to fill those minutes by midseason, but even in that case Kipper has already spent more minutes than we wanted at the 5.
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Yeah, if Higgs & De La Rosa are injured and not ready at start of season, it is hard to assume Giorgi/Kane playing the full 40 mins.
 
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