Alan Griffin transfers to Syracuse

#226      

TheFameProtector

TheFameProtector
Champaign
TheFameProtector
Curse word. Another curse word. Multiple-curse-words-strung-together.

Anybody trying to sugar coat this right now is way off. We lost a bird in the hand. Miller may be coming here and theoretically able to replicate a lot of what AG does, but AG has proven he is capable on the big stage. For all the talk of Ayo's jump from Year 1 to Year 2...AG's was just flat out better. By several metrics, he was our best offensive player this year. This will hurt.
 
#228      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
No way AG should have been starting over DMFW. BU knew exactly what he was getting with DMFW. Coaches dream of players they don't have to worry about. AG wasn't there yet.

Of course it's a "loss" and it "stings", but Trent off the ball and Weaponized DMFW.....(pretty good down the stretch)...makes up for AG's shooting.
Now add in the transfer sits...Hutch and Grand......this team will be a better passing team from Day 1....and that will equal better shooting % right out of the gates.
 
#230      

illinijimbo

I
illinijimbo
When in doubt...go w/ the legacy recruit with his father's jersey in the rafters. Griffin's brother was a Duke commit. I'm sure these factors played into things as well....
 
#231      

TheFameProtector

TheFameProtector
Champaign
TheFameProtector
skyIdub said:
Of course it's a "loss" and it "stings", but Trent off the ball and Weaponized DMFW.....(pretty good down the stretch)...makes up for AG's shooting.
Now add in the transfer sits...Hutch and Grand......this team will be a better passing team from Day 1....and that will equal better shooting % right out of the gates.
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No doubt we have a lot of depth that will ease the blow. But you don't lightly give up the player on your team that is the best at scoring more points than the other team. That's the whole point of basketball.
 
#232      

PtownIllini8

P
PtownIllini8
TheFameProtector said:
Curse word. Another curse word. Multiple-curse-words-strung-together.

Anybody trying to sugar coat this right now is way off. We lost a bird in the hand. Miller may be coming here and theoretically able to replicate a lot of what AG does, but AG has proven he is capable on the big stage. For all the talk of Ayo's jump from Year 1 to Year 2...AG's was just flat out better. By several metrics, he was our best offensive player this year. This will hurt.
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You need to watch more basketball if you believe Griffen was better than Ayo offensively. Alan couldn't generally get his own shot, Alan was good with feet set, after being set-up by one of our guards. Alan didn't win game after game with huge clutch shots, Ayo did. Stats don't tell the tale of who is the best offensive player, not even close. Kofi was also better.

Also, Alan was the worst defender in our rotation, which is why he didn't get more minutes. Defense was why we won. Wood wasn't going to put our worst defender out there more often. We came within an Ayo slip (and an Alan block out of Tilman when Kofi was already going to block Winston's shot) from winning the B1G.

In any case, it doesn't sound like he left due to PT issues or issues with the Staff.
 
#233      

illini0440

illini0440
illini0440
Braveheart said:
AG's Mom is crazy? Last year how many people on here were going nuts about TU getting in games ahead of AG? I couldn't believe it either. I felt like DW and AG's roles should have been reversed this year. AG should have been the starter. You can spin it how ever you want, but I think this is going to hurt big time. This team needs shooters and we lost a good one.
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She thinks he should play point guard....
 
#234      

skibdaddy

skibdaddy
skibdaddy
Bleedorangeandblue44 said:
Everyone is worried about replacing Griffin's 3-point shooting, and for good reason, but I'm going to miss the way he rebounded. It was so fun to watch Illinois rebound the basketball this year. They came away with so many tough rebounds that they didn't get in the past, winning plays. Sure, Kofi made a huge difference there but I loved watching the way guys you wouldn't always expect to come down with the board did like Griffin, especially Feliz, and Ayo later in the season seemed to grab some key boards. They all rebounded so well for their position and made plays at key times that helped turn games. Now Alan, Feliz and Ayo will probably all be gone, and I'll be curious to see who steps up next year to really keep Illinois rebounding at a high level.
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I agree ... we will miss many things about Griffin. His 3's, his hustle, his grit and way of getting under the opponents skin, rebounding, nose for the ball, etc. His defense was improving too.

Good luck Allen!
 
#235      

spillini

spillini
spillini
illini0440 said:
She thinks he should play point guard....
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#237      

ILL in IA

ILL in IA
Iowa City
ILL in IA
Everyone wants to get to the league. If you need to show that you can play PG, you better find a school that will let you play PG.
 
#244      

Deleted member 646108

D
Guest
Deleted member 646108
illini0440 said:
He’s a 3 and D guy in the league and has been told that by guys in the NBA.
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Doesn't the "D" part of 3 & D imply you are playing because you're a defensive stopper?

I'm not sure Duke and Coach K are known for teaching elite defense - they had to switch to zone last year because their defense was so bad...seems like Underwood and crew are better defensive teachers than most programs.
 
#245      

illini0440

illini0440
illini0440
boneyardcreek said:
Doesn't the "D" part of 3 & D imply you are playing because you're a defensive stopper?

I'm not sure Duke and Coach K are known for teaching elite defense - they had to switch to zone last year because their defense was so bad...seems like Underwood and crew are better defensive teachers than most programs.
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Coach K doesn’t teach a whole lot of stuff year in and year out because of turnover. More of a role the ball out and let’s go win.
 
#246      

BackThatPassUp

B
BackThatPassUp
illini0440 said:
He’s a 3 and D guy in the league and has been told that by guys in the NBA.
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It's crazy because we have seen an influx of these guys both get drafted and legitimate UDFA contracts over the years. Those guys don't need to be "featured" to be found. Ask Duncan Robinson and just about 67% of the villanova guys in the league.
 
#248      

TheFameProtector

TheFameProtector
Champaign
TheFameProtector
PtownIllini8 said:
You need to watch more basketball if you believe Griffen was better than Ayo offensively. Alan couldn't generally get his own shot, Alan was good with feet set, after being set-up by one of our guards.

Also, Alan was the worst defender in our rotation, which is why he didn't get more minutes.
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I don't, and I didn't say that. I said by some metrics he's our best offensive player. That is an undeniable fact -- all you have to do is look.

Part of the reason those metrics rate him so high is because his spacing makes the game easier for others. You think it's easy for Ayo to drive when he has Kofi, GB, DMW, and AF on the floor? No, the floor is clogged. Those metrics account for AG's impact on the entire game, not just what he does on his own in putting the ball in the basket.

It's funny to me that the people who wrote this during the season...
"Totally agree on AG. I have said before that he is the key to this team. We need his 3 point shooting, rebounding and general energy."
...are now all 'he's expendable and wasn't even that good anyways' now that he's transferring.
 
#250      

ILL in IA

ILL in IA
Iowa City
ILL in IA
BackThatPassUp said:
It's crazy because we have seen an influx of these guys both get drafted and legitimate UDFA contracts over the years. Those guys don't need to be "featured" to be found. Ask Duncan Robinson and just about 67% of the villanova guys in the league.
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This was my first thought as well. I am completely guilty of overhyping Illini guys and what their path to the NBA is, but AG finding an NBA roster didn't seem that outlandish with his ability to shoot, athleticism, size...And having a Dad in the NBA ranks doesn't hurt.