Illini Basketball 2020-2021

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#155      
I hope that he is right. Iowa scares me.

I go back to a story I heard years ago. Frank Williams was at Manual and Joey Range and that Thompson kid who both went to Iowa were at Galesburg. During the game, Frankie turned to Range and said, "Man, I'm glad y'all are going to Iowa, cause y'all don't play no defense." That point remains true about Iowa today. They have to out score you to win. I like our chances. No team scares me this year.
 
#156      
I go back to a story I heard years ago. Frank Williams was at Manual and Joey Range and that Thompson kid who both went to Iowa were at Galesburg. During the game, Frankie turned to Range and said, "Man, I'm glad y'all are going to Iowa, cause y'all don't play no defense." That point remains true about Iowa today. They have to out score you to win. I like our chances. No team scares me this year.
Iowa would scare me a lot less if we still had Frank.
 
#157      
Put me in the group that doubt's Hawkin's ability to make a significant Freshman impact though. I expect a maximum of 8 minutes per game - the majority of which are as a backup to Giorgi/Grandison at the 4. I think it will all come down to Hawkin's ability to defend and not commit turnovers/silly fouls and I just think he's going to need 3/4 of this season to figure some of that stuff out at the college level. All that being said, I'm a total supporter of Hawkins long term and think that he'll make a serious impact on our team in 2021-22.

Also, I don't think anyone on the team will match Griffin's Stats per Minute... But that many of our players will still exceed Griffin's overall contribution to the team. Griffin was incredibly efficient offensively but had some defensive liabilities that don't show up in the 'stats'.
I am in the camp of not missing Griffin. He was a huge defensive liability, always out of position and could not create. He was a good rebounder and shooter but his liability on D was apparent. I think we can overcome his liabilities with other players.
 
#160      
With Hutch out I think Coleman will be Griffin’s role replacement. Griffin was an amazing good rebounder for his size but Hawkins has a big size advantage but be very happy for him to manage Griffin’s stats per minute.
Kipper’s role will be filled by Grandison and Dre’s role by Adam. Curbelo will be new and different piece and curious to see how he is utilized. Suspect Ayo may be the second leading rebounder on the team. Appears to play much bigger than last year. May depend on Giorgi’s role this year. Will he just be Kofi’s sub or will they play together? Believe it will depend on matchups but pure supposition at this point.

You watch a lot of practice? What makes you say that is appears that he is playing much bigger?
 
#162      
You watch a lot of practice? What makes you say that is appears that he is playing much bigger?
Just the clips. Pretty limited but also the weight gain which doesn’t seem to affect his speed but helps his strength.
 
#163      
Put me in the group that doubt's Hawkin's ability to make a significant Freshman impact though. I expect a maximum of 8 minutes per game - the majority of which are as a backup to Giorgi/Grandison at the 4. I think it will all come down to Hawkin's ability to defend and not commit turnovers/silly fouls and I just think he's going to need 3/4 of this season to figure some of that stuff out at the college level. All that being said, I'm a total supporter of Hawkins long term and think that he'll make a serious impact on our team in 2021-22.

Also, I don't think anyone on the team will match Griffin's Stats per Minute... But that many of our players will still exceed Griffin's overall contribution to the team. Griffin was incredibly efficient offensively but had some defensive liabilities that don't show up in the 'stats'.
Yeah pretty optimistic as Griffin higher than Ayo per minute but believe Cole fits a needed role. Teams like Wisky with two skilled bigs will be tough for a combo of Grandison and Giorgi. If Jermaine has significantly progressed so he rests Kofi may be different story. Thought BBV would have fit this role and Hutch the shooter role but if both out with injuries think it opens a role for Cole. Only willing to bet your beach house on this not mine.
 
#166      
Think the other day I saw 170 as incoming freshman to 207 now. That may be slightly off..based off memory.
So that’s like 10 lbs from start of last season then? (Since I think the word was he put on 20 leading up to his second season)
 
#171      

illini80

Forgottonia
We have the same, thus the "I fear no team" attitude.
Indeed we do have the same. Perhaps I misread the post, but anyone discounting the Hawks is not being realistic. Hopefully we play them twice and I expect a war both times.
 
#172      

illini80

Forgottonia
I go back to a story I heard years ago. Frank Williams was at Manual and Joey Range and that Thompson kid who both went to Iowa were at Galesburg. During the game, Frankie turned to Range and said, "Man, I'm glad y'all are going to Iowa, cause y'all don't play no defense." That point remains true about Iowa today. They have to out score you to win. I like our chances. No team scares me this year.
FWLIW I had very mixed feelings about Range when he spurned Illinois and went to Iowa, but for anyone who cares, he has been a great at giving back to the community and being someone kids look up to many years later.
 
#174      
In the early Bracketology by Joe Lunardi, he has us at a 4 seed. With Wisky, MSU and Iowa above us and even with OSU. I am not sure as tough as the conference is, I can see 5 teams in the top 16 but us as a 4 is low
 
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