Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
That's great, but, also, a massive tease!
Illini Basketball 2019-2020
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That's great, but, also, a massive tease!
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At least we get to make "Verdonk" puns for a while before he redshirts and transfers to Grand Canyon.
Dan, you've been unusually talkative lately. I appreciate hearing your takes every now and then. God knows you read all of our takes.
I Bomb
Stylin' and Profilin'
I'm not sure - there are camps going on and someone sent it to me, but I'm not sure if these practices are supposed to be "closed" or what...
I'd say it's a more minor tease since he led EYBL in rebounding. Did people really think you could do that without a load of talent, like playing against a bunch of HS kids 6'6" or less? Almost all of the best kids from multiple recruiting classes play in that league.
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Yes! Exactly what I was thinking.
Regarded by most folks as a sleeper in the Big Ten who will be expected to finish from fifth to eighth in the league standings, the Illini look like they’re on the way up,
Agree or Disagree?
https://illinois.rivals.com/news/hope-for-whitman-lies-in-breakout-hoops-season
Agree or Disagree?
https://illinois.rivals.com/news/hope-for-whitman-lies-in-breakout-hoops-season
8th place in the B!G won't get it done.
Absolutely right!
They now have five starters in Ayo, Trent, Tevian, Giorgi, and Kofi who should be able to compete with anyone. Capable backups are the question but development is a coaches job isn't it? I want to see them back to the point where we are favored in almost all home games.
201154JC
- Rockford, IL
I will be disappointed if we aren't at least a top four team in the BIG. I'm willing to bet we will be. They are going to be on the attack this year. That is a very capable starting five and we have depth!
I will be disappointed if we aren't at least a top four team in the BIG. I'm willing to bet we will be. They are going to be on the attack this year. That is a very capable starting five and we have depth!
I agree. If the starters are as Ga65 surmises, we will have Feliz at the 1-2, DMW, and Griffin and Kipper at the 3-4. The 5 is the question, and it could well be that Giorgi and Kofi split that with some limited time on the floor together depending on matchups. In fact, I think this is more likely now that the 3 pt line has moved back, as that probably changes the calculation on Giorgi playing the 4 somewhat. Giorgi was so effective at the 5 last year, I really can't see him staying at the 4 to put in Kane or Kuoma, unless they really surprise or Giorgi turns out to be special from the 4 as well (in which case both he and Ayo are probably gone the following year).
Ranking the Big Ten's top centers
Spoiler alert, Giorgi is not number one
Also, author writes about Maryland sports or basketball.
Spoiler alert, Giorgi is not number one
Also, author writes about Maryland sports or basketball.
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Another one by the same author
Ranking the Big Ten's top benches
Illinois is fifth
What can I say, I am desperate for news, articles, whatever.
Ranking the Big Ten's top benches
Illinois is fifth
What can I say, I am desperate for news, articles, whatever.
Deleted member 17900
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He has De La Rosa on our bench as a sophomore. Apparently not much research went into these articles.
Maybe we shouldn't be ranked quite that high in light of our missing Soph bench player: Adonis De La Rosa listed in the article.
Yeah, here's another one where he lists Ayo as a small forward. But at least he ranks him as the number one small forward.
Ranking the Big Ten's small forwards
And what the heck, I may as well do the rest while I am at it.
Ranking the Big Ten's shooting guards
Ranking the Big Ten's point guards
Ranking the Big Ten's top power forwards
We really have no idea if Tevian or Kofi can compete in the B10.
that same guy you are talking about as the best shooter on our team was barely shooting 30% from 3 two years ago. He improved from 30 to 46 soph to jr year. Often times the weak shooting percentages of frosh/soph is a function of adapting to this level and not their actual shooting potential.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
All I know is that at minimum we need to be a bubble team this year to keep the momentum going. A NIT appearance would be disappointing imo but I could live with it if we get a top 20 recruiting class. Then we’ll be ready for take off.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I think we know they can compete, we just don't know at what level. Tevian (in the Maryland game) proved he has the capability and the physical assets. Kofi played against the best HS players in the country at a very high level. What is unknown is how they will fit into this team and play at a consistent basis.
Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
I absolutely agree the Illini are on the way up, but how far up is the question. The biggest thing for this year is I think we can have a starting 5 without any holes, solid at all positions. But it doesn't matter what I think , it is really really nice that Andy Katz thinks we are on the way back up. We all probably have a little tunnel vision
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You must be desperate to read more than one article from that guy. His rating system is strange - Giorgi's stats are better than many rated better, but because he's fouled out more he's not as good? Some strange logic. And maybe its me, but if Winston has like - what - 8 turnovers against us every time we play him - I am not sure how that guy is the #1 point guard in the Big Ten. He gets many of his points via severe push off of the opponent. Yes, he very often gets away with it because he does it so much, but if the refs clamp down on that, you take away his best offensive weapon.
Curious how a guy considered possibly the best pt guard in the country, in your mind, should not be considered the best in the Big Ten? He makes passes a lot of guys don't even see and a lot of his turnovers against us were because guys didn't catch the ball or, didn't get their head around quickly enough. Not his fault but, your reason for criticizing his game.
Deleted member 8896
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Yahoo sports 6/21 mock draft for 2020 has Ayo at 18 next year.
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