Illini Basketball 2019-2020

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#101      

Deleted member 643761

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The biggest Q by far: can Georgi -- the best freshman under the basket I have seen in 40 years for us -- now play the 4 on offense with nearly the same effectiveness, and let Kofi and Kane handle the 5. Georgi will have to show he can make jump shots. Underwood said Georgi had a thumb injury which hindered his jump shot the last half of the year, and was confident Georgi can do it. We're going to find out....

I'd put this a different way. Can Underwood incorporate Kofi in the offense without losing the demonstrable effectiveness of Giorgi?
 
#102      
I'd put this a different way. Can Underwood incorporate Kofi in the offense without losing the demonstrable effectiveness of Giorgi?
I think this is a fair question, however before we get there, I think the first question we need to answer is if we can even find enough minutes at the 5 that Giorgi even gets the opportunity to play significant minutes at the 4. Between conditioning, general size, & fouls I don't think it is a given that Kofi sees more than 15 - 20 mpg. So before Giorgi gets significant time at the 5 we need Kane, Kouma, or a big to be named later to find a spot in the rotation and back up the 5.

If we get past that hurdle, Giorgi seemed to start most of the sets in the pinch post, not sure Kofi plays the pinch post much, so sort of think this may work itself out anyway...old school basketball had both 4s/5s with post moves and opportunities, I am less worried about getting both Giorgi & Kofi post touches when they're in the game at the same time.
 
#103      

Deleted member 554798

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I'm actually more concerned about Giorgi on the defensive side of the ball. Every time he snuck out to play perimeter D he came away with a foul. He really needs to tighten that up. He tries to body-up too much and impede the freedom of movement.
Agreed. He got absolutely destroyed all year on the pick and roll but he is a freshman. Not very many elite defensive freshman bigs out there
 
#104      

Deleted member 29907

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I'm actually more concerned about Giorgi on the defensive side of the ball. Every time he snuck out to play perimeter D he came away with a foul. He really needs to tighten that up. He tries to body-up too much and impede the freedom of movement.
Have to disagree. He didn't get destroyed - he fouled because he was over aggressive when he did go out too far in BU's over play D. He actually was pretty good at hedging the screen and double teaming guards. There is a reason we held Happ down this year and Giorgi was a big part of that - he has good feet.
 
#105      

Deleted member 554798

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Have to disagree. He didn't get destroyed - he fouled because he was over aggressive when he did go out too far in BU's over play D. He actually was pretty good at hedging the screen and double teaming guards. There is a reason we held Happ down this year and Giorgi was a big part of that - he has good feet.
We will just have to disagree on that. What I saw and what you did are just two different things. I saw him constantly in the wrong spot on the pick and roll but I also expect that from 19 year old bigs on the peremiter
 
#106      

Deleted member 29907

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We will just have to disagree on that. What I saw and what you did are just two different things. I saw him constantly in the wrong spot on the pick and roll but I also expect that from 19 year old bigs on the peremiter
Yep - will have to disagree - I saw some pretty good hedging of the opposing guards away from the basket until recovery - but hey - he's got a good head for the game and good feet - so hopefully either way he will only get better
 
#107      

Deleted member 554798

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Guest
Yep - will have to disagree - I saw some pretty good hedging of the opposing guards away from the basket until recovery - but hey - he's got a good head for the game and good feet - so hopefully either way he will only get better
Completely agree. All the tools are there and as you said his feet are quick. Something most guys his size don’t have. We’re lucky to have him. I will say you have a point on the hedge. Being good and the recovery not so much. Felt like he took the wrong angles a lot of times and let guys go right around him to the rim or left wide open for a jump shot.
 
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#109      

blackdog

Champaign
Completely agree. All the tools are there and as you said his feet are quick. Something most guys his size don’t have. We’re lucky to have him. I will say you have a point on the hedge. Being good and the recovery not so much. Felt like he took the wrong angles a lot of times and let guys go right around him to the rim or left wide open for a jump shot.

Giorgi was used to a more physical style of play which is why he hedged those screens to hard. You could see the frustration every time it got called. Big thing is as the year went on he got called for those fouls a lot less as he started to make the adjustment. Giorgi is a really smart player who should be a much better defender this year with the experience he got last season.
 
#110      
Giorgi was so much better than anyone we've had since Egwu I couldn't complain. I always blamed the problem on lack of a second big man. He was also the first we've had that wasn't called for a moving screen at least twice a game.
 
#112      
Dan, are you monitoring this? Suspensions are in order!

Revoke their internet privileges!

Who woulda thunk I'd live to see the day that people were polite and respectful on the internet. Back in my day people threw out all kinds of slurs and insults and hid behind the anonymity provided by their screen names.

You guys are destroying the whole foundation of the Internet. MAKE ILLINOIS LOYALTY GREAT AGAIN!!!
 
#113      

illini80

Forgottonia
I'd put this a different way. Can Underwood incorporate Kofi in the offense without losing the demonstrable effectiveness of Giorgi?
Absolutely this is the key to the season. If kofi is really good he can replace Giorgi's production at the 5, but if Giorgi struggles to transition to 4 the net gain will be less than we are expecting. I think they will eventually get it but how long that takes may determine the level of success this season. Giorgi seems to have a high BB IQ and I think he will be able to figure it out.
 
#114      
I assume BU's offense and defense will change when Kofi and Giorgi are on the floor at the same time.

Phil Anderson
 
#115      
I assume BU's offense and defense will change when Kofi and Giorgi are on the floor at the same tim
Think BU's defense needs some tweaking regardless of players but especially with Kofi. He doesn't appear to have Giorgi's quick feet but his size offers a positive if he doesn't have foul trouble. Even if that is accomplished we will need Samba to be effective 20 mins a game in the rotation. One of the announcers last year commented that you couldn't win consistently in the BIG if you were out rebounded. Need two of three bigs playing 90% of the time IMO.
 
#116      
Absolutely this is the key to the season. If kofi is really good he can replace Giorgi's production at the 5, but if Giorgi struggles to transition to 4 the net gain will be less than we are expecting. I think they will eventually get it but how long that takes may determine the level of success this season. Giorgi seems to have a high BB IQ and I think he will be able to figure it out.
I think it'll be more important to see if Kane or some other big not yet on the team can step in and play meaningful minutes at the 5. Without a third option to play center, Giorgio and Kofi aren't going to be spending much time on the floor together because we will need them to be eating up all the minutes at the 5, and it won't matter if Giorgio can play the 4 or not.
 
#117      
I was just thinking, ...... I'm very happy Jones and Griffin are with us! I think they will help us a lot in their sophomore year. Still thinking middle of Big 10, coin flip chance to dance. ILL ....
 
#118      
Interesting article by Tupper in the Herald-Review indicating the staff is working on the adaptations needed next year. They must have been reading this board. A point the article makes is a year of experience by the team allows more variations. Individual improvements have been discussed but a lot of room for team improvement just based on cohesiveness. Like another ready big but optimistic in any case.
https://herald-review.com/sports/il...cle_433ed00f-4855-5712-86b1-cd1cd76394fa.html
 
#119      
I think it'll be more important to see if Kane or some other big not yet on the team can step in and play meaningful minutes at the 5. Without a third option to play center, Giorgio and Kofi aren't going to be spending much time on the floor together because we will need them to be eating up all the minutes at the 5, and it won't matter if Giorgio can play the 4 or not.
totally agree, hope we have a chance to find out if Giorgi can play the 4 with Kofi at the 5
 
#120      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
Interesting article by Tupper in the Herald-Review indicating the staff is working on the adaptations needed next year. They must have been reading this board. A point the article makes is a year of experience by the team allows more variations. Individual improvements have been discussed but a lot of room for team improvement just based on cohesiveness. Like another ready big but optimistic in any case.
https://herald-review.com/sports/il...cle_433ed00f-4855-5712-86b1-cd1cd76394fa.html
Thanks for posting the article. Fists are pounding...? Artistic embellishment or something more...?
 
#121      
I'm actually more concerned about Giorgi on the defensive side of the ball. Every time he snuck out to play perimeter D he came away with a foul. He really needs to tighten that up. He tries to body-up too much and impede the freedom of movement.

I know this was hyperbole, but I only have visions of him picking somebody's pocket and going end to end for a layup. He's got the skills to do it. He's just needs a little more time to learn and avoid silly fouls regardless of where he was picking them up.
 
#122      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
With a legit 5 on the floor, I am curious to see if Kofi/Samba can erase some of the easy layups we gave up on the back cuts, or if we ease up on the overplays/pressure and take away the back cuts altogether, because we are able to match up defensively with teams better,
 
#123      
With a legit 5 on the floor, I am curious to see if Kofi/Samba can erase some of the easy layups we gave up on the back cuts, or if we ease up on the overplays/pressure and take away the back cuts altogether, because we are able to match up defensively with teams better,
I would guess same pressure and gambling for most players. Can use the shot blockers to deter those easy layups. It seemed Illini would be in those offensive positions and not shoot/ or were affected by shot blockers.
 
#124      
Biggest difference should be rebounding. Kofi, Giorgi, Ayo, and one of Tevian/Kipper/Alan all good rebounders. Big difference in size replacing Aaron and DaMonte with Kofi and Tevian. Of course, we can always assume Bernard is GiorgiII until the season starts.
 
#125      
Biggest difference should be rebounding. Kofi, Giorgi, Ayo, and one of Tevian/Kipper/Alan all good rebounders. Big difference in size replacing Aaron and DaMonte with Kofi and Tevian. Of course, we can always assume Bernard is GiorgiII until the season starts.
Tevian is taller than DaMonte but he doesn't rebound any better.
 
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