Illini Basketball 2019-2020

[ILLHangOut]

I feel like its common for this board to anoint a few preseason favorites and stick with those players regardless of play. Ayo's performance this year reminds me of Abrams back in the day. I think he's a featured player who has been a weakness this year.

He leads the team in minutes and is 2nd in points, but he's taken over 20% of the team's FGAs.

Looking at the pace adjusted and advanced statistics he ranks as follows, and IMO it shows on the court.

PER	7th
TS%	8th
eFG	7th
PProd/40	4th
USG%	2nd
WS	4th
WS/40	8th
OBPM	9th
DBPM	9th
BPM	10th
BPM/40	10th
ORtg	10th
DRtg	8th

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Our opting for a slower, less frenetic pace really limits Ayo's ability to do what he does best.

 

[Ga65]

Against Arizona and Miami it stood out to me that we were one long athlete away from changing some things.

Missing more than that. Miami doesn’t have better players.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Our opting for a slower, less frenetic pace really limits Ayo's ability to do what he does best.

I think it also makes it easier for other teams to prepare for us. That was one advantage of playing the way we did before, was that nobody really played anybody else like us. I feel like playing D like we did last year also would have shown greater success than before given better length and experience with it. It also helped our O because we got far more opportunities in transition. More open looks.

 

[Truffaut]

If you are going to play Kofi and Gyorgi together, I think you have to give up on last year's frenetic strategy. If you bench one in favor of a speed-up, you've just benched one of your three best players. I am not sure there is a good alternative here.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

If you are going to play Kofi and Gyorgi together, I think you have to give up on last year's frenetic strategy. If you bench one in favor of a speed-up, you've just benched one of your three best players. I am not sure there is a good alternative here.

Yeah, it's not easy. Fortunately, we have decided to pay several people millions of dollars to solve exactly this conundrum. Unfortunately, they're not figuring it out.

 

[pruman91]

If you are going to play Kofi and Gyorgi together, I think you have to give up on last year's frenetic strategy. If you bench one in favor of a speed-up, you've just benched one of your three best players. I am not sure there is a good alternative here.

My idea is to start the following....

Trent
Ayo
Alan G.
GB
Kofi

Bring Dre in for a quick start on O,
BBV, DW to spell starters
KN, only if we need him for 5 players on the court

We REALLY need Tevian playing right now....and stop sending rim defenders 30 feet out on the court

 

[Ol Dirty Gamer]

My idea is to start the following....

Trent
Ayo
Alan G.
GB
Kofi

Bring Dre in for a quick start on O,
BBV, DW to spell starters
KN, only if we need him for 5 players on the court

We REALLY need Tevian playing right now....and stop sending rim defenders 30 feet out on the court

1000% agree with this lineup. Ayo and Dre really don’t need to be on the court together because they are basically the same type player. Bring in Dre to charge the second wave. The 3 guard lineup really doesn’t look that good out there.

 

[AZis]

Yeah, I get that BU is trying to enforce team rules and all, but unless Tevian committed a felony or something, there's a point where keeping him out too long becomes bad coaching.

We gonna start this up again??? Tevian is sitting because of Tevian, not Coach Underwood. When Tevian corrects what got him benched, then he will be back, not before then.

 

[ILLHangOut]

Our pace, measured by possessions, is slightly higher this year; 73 and change last year to 75 this year.

I know there are a number of factors that make this impossible, but if winning a basketball game is the only thing that mattered I have Felix starting over Ayo right now.

Realistically, I think Ayo’s usage needs to drop at least until he learns to be more efficient, and spends more energy on defense. Trent has stepped up. Kofi is a beast. Alan really looks like he wants and deserves to be on the court. I think the pieces and the talent is there this team just wastes far too many possesions.

 

[illini62707]

Many on the board overestimate the talent level of the Illini. I'm not saying they don't have any talent, but like all fan bases they believe the talent of their team is better than most rivals. When in fact often times fans are just more familiar with their own players and have little knowledge of their opponents roster and talent level, except for 2-3 players.
This team is not greatly superior to any B10 team, behind 2-4, but right there with the rest. More talent than NW and Minny, yeah. I know this is debatable, but if you think this team is more talented than most B10 teams; well just watch. I can hear some of the posters now, i could tell IL had more talent than team X, but we're not playing together or the like.
If this team is going to make the NCAA's they are gonna have to defend home court (failed first test) and learn how to play some defense. I've seen 2 years plus of Underwood's defense and regardless of which type he plays it's been bad. Illini are not going to make NCAA unless this greatly improves.

 

[BMoreIllini]

Many on the board overestimate the talent level of the Illini. I'm not saying they don't have any talent, but like all fan bases they believe the talent of their team is better than most rivals. When in fact often times fans are just more familiar with their own players and have little knowledge of their opponents roster and talent level, except for 2-3 players.
This team is not greatly superior to any B10 team, behind 2-4, but right there with the rest. More talent than NW and Minny, yeah. I know this is debatable, but if you think this team is more talented than most B10 teams; well just watch. I can hear some of the posters now, i could tell IL had more talent than team X, but we're not playing together or the like.
If this team is going to make the NCAA's they are gonna have to defend home court (failed first test) and learn how to play some defense. I've seen 2 years plus of Underwood's defense and regardless of which type he plays it's been bad. Illini are not going to make NCAA unless this greatly improves.

I don't disagree with the fact that most of us on here definitely overestimate our talent level, but experts who are paid to cover the B1G and national college basketball consistently had us in the 5-7 spots in the conference. They saw talent here as well, it wasn't just us with our orange tinted glasses. I still think this is a top half, even if just 7th, B1G team.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I would just like to finish at least 1 game above .500 in the B!G for the first time in a decade.Pretty low bar, but hey, decades aren't all that long.

 

[Deleted member 4333]

I would just like to finish at least 1 game above .500 in the B!G for the first time in a decade.Pretty low bar, but hey, decades aren't all that long.

I'd be satisfied with a 10-10 record. I'd be happy with 11-9. Really can't see anything better than that, unless we do a football like turnaround.

 

[illini62707]

One of the criteria reporters use is points returning from the previous years team. Illinos, stacks up well in that deparment. Then there is Ayo and the addition of Kofi. What i don't think was taken into consideration was this teams bad defense. Two games against power conference opponents yielded shooting % in the mid 50's i believe in 2's and 3's. I wouldn't bang this drum except i saw the same type numbers the previous 2 years. There's a lot of time to get better and i'm really hoping they do.
What i was trying to say is finishing in the top 7 will be a fight. And i hope they do. That 1st half the other night tells me these guys don't get it, yet. Your not that good and you better show up to play.
My other point is some posters seem to believe games like Rutgers, Indiana, Iowa, Minny NW should be guaranteed wins. Just some things i've read on the board. Indiana with Green is going to be a tough team, Iowa with Bohanon, Garza, Weitkamp will be very tough, if you don't think Rutgers will be tough you didn't see the game last year. Minny and NW both won their games by big margins, they are getting better and will not lay down. Penn St. beats us twice last year. Some folks (not all) were looking at these as wins before the season.
I think this team lacks a killer mentality. I don't think there "tough". Hope to be wrong.

 

[ILLHangOut]

It doesn't seem like they put forth a great team effort. It doesn't seem like the coaches or the players treat every possession with respect which refers to effort, decisions, shot selection, and turnovers.

I get the sense that a few players are taking turns getting their looks on offense regardless of who else is hot, or open. I don't know if that's poor coaching, or the players being greedy.

This team can't afford to let guys struggle through their funks. Trent started the season 0 for 7 from three, but has since gone 16 for 29.

For example, regarding 3 pointers...
Trent, Alan, and Giorgi are combined 32/74 for 43% (Trent has shot 55%! since the 2nd game)
Everyone else is combined 15/64 for 23%

There are 3 guys who should always have the green light right now, and Ayo isn't one.

 

[PtownIllini8]

Missing more than that. Miami doesn’t have better players.

Does SF Austin have better players than Duke? How about Evansville, picked to finish 7th in a bad MVC, do they have better players than UK?

 

[AZis]

If Ayo needs an ESPN draft board as motivation to dominate, that's... not good.

Let's just call it an 'Additional' motivating factor then!?!?

 

[PtownIllini8]

It doesn't seem like they put forth a great team effort. It doesn't seem like the coaches or the players treat every possession with respect which refers to effort, decisions, shot selection, and turnovers.

I get the sense that a few players are taking turns getting their looks on offense regardless of who else is hot, or open. I don't know if that's poor coaching, or the players being greedy.

This team can't afford to let guys struggle through their funks. Trent started the season 0 for 7 from three, but has since gone 16 for 29.

For example, regarding 3 pointers...
Trent, Alan, and Giorgi are combined 32/74 for 43% (Trent has shot 55%! since the 2nd game)
Everyone else is combined 15/64 for 23%

There are 3 guys who should always have the green light right now, and Ayo isn't one.

Right, that type of coaching will get you real far......all the way to the unemployment line.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

ESPNs updates draft board has Ayo at 64. Pretty sure that’s last pick in draft? Gotta improve on that.

Someone already touched on this, but our season is basically going to swing based upon Ayo's understanding of what will maximally benefit his draft position. Individual stats? Team record? Making the tournament? Facilitating a cohesive offense? Something else?

And if there is ever a conflict between what is good for Ayo and what is good for the team, he will have to figure out how to resolve it. It's a difficult position to be in. I feel for him.

 

[skyIdub]

Someone already touched on this, but our season is basically going to swing based upon Ayo's understanding of what will maximally benefit his draft position. Individual stats? Team record? Making the tournament? Facilitating a cohesive offense? Something else?

And if there is ever a conflict between what is good for Ayo and what is good for the team, he will have to figure out how to resolve it. It's a difficult position to be in. I feel for him.

There is no doubt he has family, handlers, evaluators, etc...in his ear about this.

 

[Double ACL]

I gotta say that article on the front page about the fake come backs is hilarious and spot on. The amount of times we go down by like 15 and fight our way back to down like 3 is unreal.

 

[illinitiger]

I don't disagree with the fact that most of us on here definitely overestimate our talent level, but experts who are paid to cover the B1G and national college basketball consistently had us in the 5-7 spots in the conference. They saw talent here as well, it wasn't just us with our orange tinted glasses. I still think this is a top half, even if just 7th, B1G team.

I agree that we should qualify as top half of B10 this year...both in talent and results. If we fall below that, will certainly drive more forum debate... "are coaches meeting expectations?".

Disappointed so far in chemistry given we got more summer practices and Italy. Perhaps BU is spending too much time chatting with recruits and not working out chemistry kinks?.

 

[Halloweenie]

We have seen little evidence we are a good team this year. A decent half at Arizona. A decent half vs. Miami. Middling performances vs lower level teams. Not saying we are a bottom half Big Ten team. We can improve. Based on what I have seen so far we are behind Purdue, Ohio State. Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana. We are maybe even with Iowa, Wisconsin, and Penn State. We should be better than Rutgers, Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota. This is based on performance, not necessarily talent. So, finish somewhere between 7 to 10 based on what I have seen so far. Indiana has only played one game of any consequence (FSU). Purdue has played much tougher schedule and plays like a team. I hope for 6th but think 8th is more likely.

 

[azillini1]

We should get better as the year goes on, but we could finish anywhere from 9th to 6th in the conference. The defense has too get much better and we need to play through Kofi.

We have seen little evidence we are a good team this year. A decent half at Arizona. A decent half vs. Miami. Middling performances vs lower level teams. Not saying we are a bottom half Big Ten team. We can improve. Based on what I have seen so far we are behind Purdue, Ohio State. Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana. We are maybe even with Iowa, Wisconsin, and Penn State. We should be better than Rutgers, Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota. This is based on performance, not necessarily talent. So, finish somewhere between 7 to 10 based on what I have seen so far. Indiana has only played one game of any consequence (FSU). Purdue has played much tougher schedule and plays like a team. I hope for 6th but think 8th is more likely.