Illini Basketball 2020-2021

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#1      

Dan

Admin
Welcome to the Illini Basketball & College Basketball 2020-2021 thread

Illinois in the 2020 Emerald Coach Classic (Nov. 27-29th)


Roster
Trent Frazier
Andre Curbelo
Adam Miller
Jacob Grandison
Coleman Hawkins
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk
Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Da'Monte Williams
Austin Hutcherson
Jermaine Hamlin

NBA Draft Early Entrants
Kofi Cockburn
Ayo Dosunmu
 
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#2      
Seeing a lot of the pie in the sky thoughts of Ayo and Kofi returning met with the not enough minutes criticism.. As it stands now, I don't see it being something that can't be worked around. (If Brown were to become a thing that would complicate things but I don't see him coming if Ayo would stay)

1: Fraizer 30 minutes
2: Ayo 32 minutes
3: Miller 25 minutes
4: Giorgi 25 minutes
5: Kofi 25 minutes

DMW: 20 minutes
Curbelo: 20 minutes
Grand: 10 minutes
Hutch: 10 minutes
BBV, Hamlin, Hawkins: ~3

DMW could always slide in at the 4 I'd we wanted to go small

Now there are a million ways this can move around and I can already hear the complaints but the reality is that while deep, there are only 5 proven B1G contributors above. There will be guys that reach the potential we say they have now and there will be guys that don't and the minutes will move accordingly but with that roster I think I would definitely tune in to watch it all unfold
 
#3      
Seeing a lot of the pie in the sky thoughts of Ayo and Kofi returning met with the not enough minutes criticism.. As it stands now, I don't see it being something that can't be worked around. (If Brown were to become a thing that would complicate things but I don't see him coming if Ayo would stay)

1: Fraizer 30 minutes
2: Ayo 32 minutes
3: Miller 25 minutes
4: Giorgi 25 minutes
5: Kofi 25 minutes

DMW: 20 minutes
Curbelo: 20 minutes
Grand: 10 minutes
Hutch: 10 minutes
BBV, Hamlin, Hawkins: ~3

DMW could always slide in at the 4 I'd we wanted to go small

Now there are a million ways this can move around and I can already hear the complaints but the reality is that while deep, there are only 5 proven B1G contributors above. There will be guys that reach the potential we say they have now and there will be guys that don't and the minutes will move accordingly but with that roster I think I would definitely tune in to watch it all unfold

I agree that Brown likely won't come if Ayo does unless he has a sit-out. If he has a sit-out then he could fit in easily with Miller (probably), Curbelo, Hutch, and Goode in 2021.

This roster is easily a top 15 in the country, possibly much higher. The amount of flexibility is amazing. DMW probably plays a bit less throughout games, but is in at the end along with Trent to protect leads. Agree that he probably grabs some minutes at the 4. Grandison could take over significant minutes at the 4, especially if Giorgi struggles again. Hutch would look to have a hard time grabbing more minutes.
 
#4      
Seeing a lot of the pie in the sky thoughts of Ayo and Kofi returning met with the not enough minutes criticism.. As it stands now, I don't see it being something that can't be worked around. (If Brown were to become a thing that would complicate things but I don't see him coming if Ayo would stay)

1: Fraizer 30 minutes
2: Ayo 32 minutes
3: Miller 25 minutes
4: Giorgi 25 minutes
5: Kofi 25 minutes

DMW: 20 minutes
Curbelo: 20 minutes
Grand: 10 minutes
Hutch: 10 minutes
BBV, Hamlin, Hawkins: ~3

DMW could always slide in at the 4 I'd we wanted to go small

Now there are a million ways this can move around and I can already hear the complaints but the reality is that while deep, there are only 5 proven B1G contributors above. There will be guys that reach the potential we say they have now and there will be guys that don't and the minutes will move accordingly but with that roster I think I would definitely tune in to watch it all unfold

I think we may see more time from Grand at the 4. Kind of a blind guess on my part based on the reports that he was great in practice last year. Don’t know if that means shooting, defense, rebounding or what. Unless Giorgi improves a lot or BBV or Cole are BIG ready, that is our weakness IMO. BU said Grand added 20 lbs last year so he has Kipper size.
Too many unknowns on the rest of the roster. Will DaMonte finally become a scorer? Will DreC be a lockdown defender? Will Hutch’s athleticism translate to defense? Believe minutes will be more determined by defense than offense. Just hope Kofi is back and will look forward to the season.
 
#6      
I expect there will be a logjam at guard if Ayo returns. We have a lot of talent, none of which look like they are good candidates to defend the opposing SF. That makes it hard to play 3 of them at once. Frazier has the attitude. He gives up a lot of height. I also like how he can really slow the opposing offense by defending the PG..

PG / SG
Ayo: 32
Miller: 10
Frazier: 23
Curbelo: 15
As the season progresses, Curbelo or Miller may start taking minutes from Frazie or each other. I expect their defense will be the determining factor.

G / SF
DMW: 25
Hutchinson: 15
If DMW gets his shooting confidence back, he likely gets 30m. If not it may drop to 15m. The team struggled on offense last year when Alan wasn't on the floor to help spacing. Maybe Grandison will be enough, and we get DMWs stud defense, with or without the shoorting.

F
Grandison: 30 This is trusting the practice reports. It is also a lack of clear alternatives. From the team perspective, Giorgi's top priority is backing up Kofi.
Giorgi: 10

C
Kofi: 27 He was playing more than this down the stretch
Giorgi: 13

I have not seen or heard enough on the others to see them playing significant minutes after the powder-puffs.
 
#7      

DB11Headband

Chicago Burbs
I expect there will be a logjam at guard if Ayo returns. We have a lot of talent, none of which look like they are good candidates to defend the opposing SF. That makes it hard to play 3 of them at once. Frazier has the attitude. He gives up a lot of height. I also like how he can really slow the opposing offense by defending the PG..

PG / SG
Ayo: 32
Miller: 10
Frazier: 23
Curbelo: 15
As the season progresses, Curbelo or Miller may start taking minutes from Frazie or each other. I expect their defense will be the determining factor.

G / SF
DMW: 25
Hutchinson: 15
If DMW gets his shooting confidence back, he likely gets 30m. If not it may drop to 15m. The team struggled on offense last year when Alan wasn't on the floor to help spacing. Maybe Grandison will be enough, and we get DMWs stud defense, with or without the shoorting.

F
Grandison: 30 This is trusting the practice reports. It is also a lack of clear alternatives. From the team perspective, Giorgi's top priority is backing up Kofi.
Giorgi: 10

C
Kofi: 27 He was playing more than this down the stretch
Giorgi: 13

I have not seen or heard enough on the others to see them playing significant minutes after the powder-puffs.
I’ve seen a lot of crazy things said on this board, but a proposed 10 minutes per game for Miller might take the cake
 
#8      
This is my take. Hutchinson and Grandison being discounted because I've never seen them play. If they "steal" minutes away from any of the other players, then that's just dandy because this is the Merry Ann lineup - it's stacked.

G / SG
Ayo: 30
Miller: 25
Frazier: 30
Curbelo: 25

G / SF
DMW: 20
Hutchinson: 10
Grandison: 10

F
Giorgi: 10

C
Kofi: 27
Giorgi: 13
 
#9      
Likely Brown decides before Ayo.
typically the transfers are headed somewhere in a couple weeks. Ayo has at least until early June.
 
#10      
I'll just leave this here. 15 triple doubles!! Yikes


Screen Shot 2020-05-02 at 3.10.38 PM.png
 
#11      
I remember when HRF was here. Dick Vitale said we could pull all 5 starters and still have a top-25 team, and I'm not sure it was hyperbole. We routinely went 9-10 deep. Way too many weapons for most teams.

It's hard to say what the team will look like given we could lose 2 guys to the pros, but if both stay, we could see some different looks and flexibility that we haven't before. You never know how guys are going to react, but I suspect the winning culture is going to be thriving, and guys will be more willing to take on their roles. Hope I'm not being too optimistic on that.
 
#12      
I remember when HRF was here. Dick Vitale said we could pull all 5 starters and still have a top-25 team, and I'm not sure it was hyperbole. We routinely went 9-10 deep. Way too many weapons for most teams.

It's hard to say what the team will look like given we could lose 2 guys to the pros, but if both stay, we could see some different looks and flexibility that we haven't before. You never know how guys are going to react, but I suspect the winning culture is going to be thriving, and guys will be more willing to take on their roles. Hope I'm not being too optimistic on that.

That is why coaches get paid the big bucks.
 
#14      
This is my take. Hutchinson and Grandison being discounted because I've never seen them play. If they "steal" minutes away from any of the other players, then that's just dandy because this is the Merry Ann lineup - it's stacked.

G / SG
Ayo: 30
Miller: 25
Frazier: 30
Curbelo: 25

G / SF
DMW: 20
Hutchinson: 10
Grandison: 10

F
Giorgi: 10

C
Kofi: 27
Giorgi: 13
I think your projection is about spot on if Ayo and Kofi return
 
#15      
I think your projection is about spot on if Ayo and Kofi return

I think it is a little off. I see a little less minutes for Giorgi at the 4, a little less minutes for Trent, a little less for Curbelo and Miller, and about 5 minutes less for DMW. I think Grandison would play a lot more at 4 if practice reports about him are true. Also, Brad seeks to rave about Hutch athletic ability and shooting.
 
#18      
This is my take. Hutchinson and Grandison being discounted because I've never seen them play. If they "steal" minutes away from any of the other players, then that's just dandy because this is the Merry Ann lineup - it's stacked.

G / SG
Ayo: 30
Miller: 25
Frazier: 30
Curbelo: 25

G / SF
DMW: 20
Hutchinson: 10
Grandison: 10

F
Giorgi: 10

C
Kofi: 27
Giorgi: 13

Very solid projection, but may need to be readjusted if another piece joins the fold.

Chaundee ain’t gonna come here to sit...
 
#20      
Has Illini ever had player with 10 steal game? We probably wont see that...but cant wait to see Curbelos impact and particularly the enhanced ball movement next year. Curbelo may not be the stat machine he's been, but he's one of those players that raises the bar for the whole team...expect to see/hear this alot....

" Curbelo drives...kicks to Miller (or Frazier) in the corner...DRAINS THE THREE!"
 
#22      
Has Illini ever had player with 10 steal game? We probably wont see that...but cant wait to see Curbelos impact and particularly the enhanced ball movement next year. Curbelo may not be the stat machine he's been, but he's one of those players that raises the bar for the whole team...expect to see/hear this alot....

" Curbelo drives...kicks to Miller (or Frazier) in the corner...DRAINS THE THREE!"

SMACK!
 
#23      

altenberger22

South Carolina
Things change weekly as Covid events unfold but as of May 3, I'm going with the following likelihood that Ayo/Kofi return to Champaign:

Ayo - 25%
Kofi - 55%
 
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