Italy Tour

#379      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Not good to see the team lay up the last game. JMHO.


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#381      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
1. I made a previous post comparing Damonte to AG and TJ. I love Damonte, we know he can score, pass, rebound, and is one of, if not our best perimeter defender. But, that’s what makes him frustrating to watch at times. He has all the tools to be a breakout player. We all believe in him and know what he’s capable of, is it too much to ask to see Damonte score the ball?

2. AG and Tev IMO are trying to show out right now. There’s a lot of expectations for them to make that jump. I think they are both using this trip to show the staff, and the fans that they are ready for big time minutes. That being said, I would take these games with a grain of salt. Not just because the competition hasn’t been great, but because I think these guys see these games as a tryout. They are both competing with Damonte for that 3 spot. Going back on my previous statement, Damonte has all the tools and anyone with eyes can see that. Damonte knows what he can do, and I expect big things from him, but I need to see him prove in games that he can be that guy.

3. The managers, from what I’ve seen, have gone above and beyond expectations. From the ground up, this program is in good hands. This is the year we make a jump and they deserve credit for getting us there!


I have to disagree with your statement above as I have replayed numerous games and saw he is one of the worst defenders letting numerous players drive by him or being completely overmatched and allowing his opponent to score at will....i like damonte and hope for the best from him but we have more talented players such as TJ and AG that need more minutes this year.....
IMHO, DW should be the 8-9th player off the bench this year as he brings little on offense and as I stated above his defense is overrated to say the least....

Watch some of the games last year and I would think my opinions might have some merit...If not, then so be it....

I want all the Illini players to be all B1G but reality is some are never going to be stars no matter how much we want them to be....

My starting 5 this year is....

Ayo
Trent
Alan G.
Giorgi
Kofi

Then you have Dre , Tev, Kipper, DW etc....
 
#382      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Verdink looks as tall as GB and stronger.

For a euro frosh, who's been in the program for ~2 minutes, Verdonk looks verdonkulous. If his game matches his physique, look out. Very bullish on the kid right now (well aware, it's super early).
 
#384      

foby

Bonnaroo Land
A lot of positives here. To play the way they did in the first 3 and hold on in the last one while missing 2 of their top 6, and playing 4 games in 5 days with only 7 scholarship players and 3 walk-ons. I think this is extremely positive for team building and bodes well for the season. Really excited.
 
#386      
Maybe because of flying overseas, 4 games in approx 6-7 days, not sleeping in own beds, just a guess.

Well if they played it again tomorrow, it would be 5 games in 7 days and still not sleeping in their own beds, so not sure why one day would make a big difference. :cool:
 
#387      

Deleted member 746471

D
Guest
What gives you that opinion? Just interested to know.

It was hot and uncomfortable for both teams.

No doubt, same conditions for both trams. I felt yesterday the fourth game being so close to the 3rd would be a bit of a tough go. Just from a conditioning standpoint and I do feel that a bigger squad would have made a difference. A day of rest instead of travel and play from day before could have had an impact as well.
 
#388      
I have to disagree with your statement above as I have replayed numerous games and saw he is one of the worst defenders letting numerous players drive by him or being completely overmatched and allowing his opponent to score at will....i like damonte and hope for the best from him but we have more talented players such as TJ and AG that need more minutes this year.....
IMHO, DW should be the 8-9th player off the bench this year as he brings little on offense and as I stated above his defense is overrated to say the least....

Watch some of the games last year and I would think my opinions might have some merit...If not, then so be it....

I want all the Illini players to be all B1G but reality is some are never going to be stars no matter how much we want them to be....

My starting 5 this year is....

Ayo
Trent
Alan G.
Giorgi
Kofi

Then you have Dre , Tev, Kipper, DW etc....

I agree with your starting 5 and then Dre and Tev next up. But after that I think it’s DMW ahead of Kip until Kip proves otherwise. Even Verdonk could be ahead of Kip at this point.
 
#389      
Yikes. GB 5 of 14 and AG 3 of 11. That’s the game right there. If we had Kofi, Verdonk, or Feliz as options to take some of the pressure off those 2 we’d have won the game.
 
#391      
Yikes. GB 5 of 14 and AG 3 of 11. That’s the game right there. If we had Kofi, Verdonk, or Feliz as options to take some of the pressure off those 2 we’d have won the game.

AG and Trent were both cold (or maybe overheated), and Giorgi had as many turnovers as Rebounds+assists.

Let’s chalk it up to tired (and overheated) legs, and over 20% of our rotation minutes not available.
 
#392      
Well if they played it again tomorrow, it would be 5 games in 7 days and still not sleeping in their own beds, so not sure why one day would make a big difference. :cool:
Don't you think that could contribute? Sorry ahead my glass is half full. We all are welcome to our own opinion. I look forward to exchanging thoughts absolutely and think we will agree on alot.
 
#393      
I agree with your starting 5 and then Dre and Tev next up. But after that I think it’s DMW ahead of Kip until Kip proves otherwise. Even Verdonk could be ahead of Kip at this point.
I hope we get hungry Kipper, it's his last season so I think he knows too.
 
#394      

IllFanInMi

I
Guest
Yeah, DePaul beating this team really means nothing. These are exhibition games - 1) teams (on both sides) can use them for different purposes, and 2) unless you analyze the box score or watched both, you really can't make a judgement from score only - missing players, depth each team played, who is actually coaching the team, etc. Glad the young men had this experience and a few of our sophs got a chance to break out.

DePaul has a pretty impressive roster this year, if Charlie Moire is eligible/Markese Jacobs is fully recovered, they have chance of being quite good. I think their handling of Netherlands is more of an indication of their potential than Illinois potential when missing very important pieces.
 
#395      
DePaul has a pretty impressive roster this year, if Charlie Moire is eligible/Markese Jacobs is fully recovered, they have chance of being quite good. I think their handling of Netherlands is more of an indication of their potential than Illinois potential when missing very important pieces.

They play Netherlands again on Monday in Rome. JCL is still hurt, too.
 
#396      

Deleted member 236589

D
Guest
Maybe because of flying overseas, 4 games in approx 6-7 days, not sleeping in own beds, just a guess.
But 4 games in EIGHT days would have assured that we flipped the game by 20 points?

I personally view that as an excuse to make the fans feel better about a thumping. This is absolutely just an exhibition. It means nothing in the big scheme of things, but I'd be very disappointed if BU writes this off to travel fatigue. These aren't 40 year old guys playing at the local YMCA. These are scholarship athletes, of a high D1 program, that will be playing MUCH(I can't capitalize that enough) stiffer competition which will include a rigorous practices, games and study schedules.

In the day and age where kids are playing 45 games a day, 5 days a week, all summer long in AAU ball....I don't buy the too many games in too many days theory. Those excuses need to be left at the door. A team with top 25 goals, needs to not lose to a team comparable to Hofstra....I don't care if the game is played on Pluto!
 
#397      

Deleted member 236589

D
Guest
Well if they played it again tomorrow, it would be 5 games in 7 days and still not sleeping in their own beds, so not sure why one day would make a big difference. :cool:
You laid this out much more eloquently than I did and I could not agree more!
 
#398      
But 4 games in EIGHT days would have assured that we flipped the game by 20 points?

I personally view that as an excuse to make the fans feel better about a thumping. This is absolutely just an exhibition. It means nothing in the big scheme of things, but I'd be very disappointed if BU writes this off to travel fatigue. These aren't 40 year old guys playing at the local YMCA. These are scholarship athletes, of a high D1 program, that will be playing MUCH(I can't capitalize that enough) stiffer competition which will include a rigorous practices, games and study schedules.

In the day and age where kids are playing 45 games a day, 5 days a week, all summer long in AAU ball....I don't buy the too many games in too many days theory. Those excuses need to be left at the door. A team with top 25 goals, needs to not lose to a team comparable to Hofstra....I don't care if the game is played on Pluto!
Agreed, BUT without Kofi, Verdonk. and Feliz even if AG and Tev have gotten better without the new addition and no Feluz this is more like last years end of the ccx season squad than what we will see on e these men are added back to complete our ccx roster. So, this lose doesnt mean much to me.
 
#399      
The gym looked small. But bottom line a tired team in a hot/ small gym with a depleted roster loss.

In a real game 3 walkons don't play. Griffith was playing instead of Kofi. Underwood instead of Feliz.