Illini Basketball 2019-2020
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While I know it's not actually true, it does seem like Izzo has about a half dozen 6'8", 230lb, fully interchangeable, rebounding specialists that come off the bench every year.
Deleted member 643761
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Lol
He skipped college and went straight to the lottery.
So yes he was too 5
Now I see he was CC.
Anyway they are just different players
IllFanInMi
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Ma
Marcus Bingham JR and Thomas Kitthier
If we count those then we can count Kouma/Verdonk for us and we have more front court then them still. Honestly I’d take Giorgi over Tillman. And Kofi’s just better than anyone else on MSUs front court after that. So my point stands, a consensus top 5 team has equal front court depth (or worse) than us.
And our backcourt is our greatest strength. If we stay injury free I think this is the team that can help the program turn a corner.
If you're not rebounding you're not playing for Izzo.
We WILL be dancing and we WILL be better than MSU. We will be top 4 in the Big10(14).
When I look at our starting 5 players individually and as a unit I dont see many if any teams being stronger than us with the addition of Kofi. (Ayo, Trentz, GB, Kofi, and who ever else it is based on BU choice that day. The fifth could be Demonte, Feliz or Tev. I think it will be Damonte or Feliz. I'd be excited if others challenge them. Damonte isnt being talked about much but I think he is solid all around and could really show us more this season.
One thing that i hope changes is when we try to force so many steals and get beat that GB and Kofi make it much more difficult for our opponents to get easy baskets and second chance points. If we can do that it can have a big impact. We finished pretty well last season without Kofi. I expect us to be a a solid top B10 and tourney team this year. If I look at our line up this year and not last years record then I honestly think we will be a really good team. Ayo, GB and Trent all have a good chance to make an all B10 team. Kofi may be the B10 top incoming player. There are reasons to be excited.Last years starting unit had inexperience and a glaring hole in it. This year Kofi is inexperienced but that defensive and rebounding hole should be less obvious and likely as strengthtalond side GB. I font think I am drinking too much kool aid. I think we really have a solid top 8 players and a great group of starters to challenge any team.
One thing that i hope changes is when we try to force so many steals and get beat that GB and Kofi make it much more difficult for our opponents to get easy baskets and second chance points. If we can do that it can have a big impact. We finished pretty well last season without Kofi. I expect us to be a a solid top B10 and tourney team this year. If I look at our line up this year and not last years record then I honestly think we will be a really good team. Ayo, GB and Trent all have a good chance to make an all B10 team. Kofi may be the B10 top incoming player. There are reasons to be excited.Last years starting unit had inexperience and a glaring hole in it. This year Kofi is inexperienced but that defensive and rebounding hole should be less obvious and likely as strengthtalond side GB. I font think I am drinking too much kool aid. I think we really have a solid top 8 players and a great group of starters to challenge any team.
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Deleted member 554798
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Man seriously . Anybody else tired of reading and chatting about this next season. I need to see Kofi dunk on someone asap. Basketball can’t get here soon enough!
Yes but I'm just glad to really think we will actually be good instead of just chucking kool aid and ignoring major weaknesses in our squad. I'm ready for it because the train is finally headed in the right direction.
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Has anyone seen Kofi play during practice/scrimmages? While expectations are high - we have to remember he is a 1st year - and they typically have a lot of trouble defending and keeping out of foul trouble early. Losing Kane really hurt our depth down low re: knowledge of BU's offense and defense (assuming normal growth Fr-> So). And we can only play GB so many minutes.
It's possible, for the first 1/2 of the season - GB may be at the 5 more than the 4. Here's hoping Tev becomes a monster.
Kathy, did you change your handle?
We might (and I emphasize "might") get some relief in about a week. I read somewhere why it is difficult to release a schedule for the Italy trip. Apparently many teams are going over there. Three other B10 teams and Illinois State plus others. They are probably getting confused about the difference between Illinois and Illinois State. "Um, there is an Illinois and an Illinois State? I don't understand. Did we book the right one?" I don't know why Syracuse already has their schedule posted but with so many teams over there the next few weeks according to the article I read it is difficult to create a schedule any length of time in advance.
Sports Illustrated article:
Big Ten Offseason Report: Power Rankings and Burning Questions for 2019-20
Big Ten Offseason Report: Power Rankings and Burning Questions for 2019-20
Man, I'm on a roll.
Summer work beneficial to Illini’s progress
“We’re way ahead,” Underwood said. “That’s why this trip is exciting. We’ve got a group of guys that basically know what we’re doing. We’re able to tinker with some things and fine tune some things.
“Last year was just teach, teach, teach. We couldn’t make a fundamental defensive play or offensive play last year at this time because there were so many new guys. That’s all ingrained now.”
Summer work beneficial to Illini’s progress
“We’re way ahead,” Underwood said. “That’s why this trip is exciting. We’ve got a group of guys that basically know what we’re doing. We’re able to tinker with some things and fine tune some things.
“Last year was just teach, teach, teach. We couldn’t make a fundamental defensive play or offensive play last year at this time because there were so many new guys. That’s all ingrained now.”
I think we all are anxious to get out of the nearly 15 year Funk, while you can still enjoy it, time for some new jams!!! Enjoy Both!!
Some of us have followed players like Chris Gandy, Warren Carter, James Griffin, George Montgomery and seen Scott Meents make it to the gilded NBA for cripes sake...why do you think an agile near 7' ft er isn't a decent option for 10 or so minutes down low with the usual learning curve for bigs making Jr and Sr years productive?.
Don't get me wrong I love the makeup of this team and am optimistic going forward but Eboigan sp. or Kane would be nice IMO unless another last minute Giorgi or Mike Davis esque player appears we will miss them
. I...L...L...
I know all of the players you are referring too. We had season ticketsxstarting in 1972.. To compare Sambas skill level to those guys just is silly. Meents used to handle the ball in high school. Samba us big, agile, and can run but was a long way skill wise from playing meaningful minutes. That's is likely why he left and also why his offers mentioned so far are what they are. Teams and coaches know who he is dont youbthink? A D3 shooter we are after has great options. I wish Samba the best. However why after a year on a B10 squad doesnt he have top tier D1 offers. That says a alot imo. The D3 kid has some Notre Dame, us, Crieghton and others. Because he has skills. I wish him the best but I see more skill from BK and others. I think in a few years he could develop that. Other power 5 coaches it diesnt appear are after Samba and it is due to his lack skills imo not his size or agility.
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Deleted member 236589
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Do the capital letters signify that you really mean it? You REALLY mean it?
Deleted member 554798
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Lol. Was just using that as an example. I’m just ready for some Illini B Ball
the national
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fair comment. Mostly it was just the body position. Kemp always had his off hand splayed out.
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