I would absolutely put Kendall Gill or Kenny Battle in that lineup over Dee.
Illini Basketball 2020-2021
- Status
Retro62
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I’m cherry-picking this portion of your post, but in a good way...I hope. Pure speculation/conjecture, but Kofi must see the same thing you are suggesting. It’s not like all the talk about his improvement after only a few years of organized play; his upside and learning curve; not to mention being FOTY in the best conference in the country, is news to him. I truly believe he is going to come back with the sole purpose of dominating. The great thing is, he has the ability and we have the staff to ensure that happens...not to mention Ayo and a very good to great roster of teammates.
billybaroo
- Pebble Beach, CA
I loved Dee, but have to agree, especially when you consider Dee was a shooting guard (mostly). At the very least, I'd put Kendall in over Ayo. He wasn't the closer that Ayo is, but was a more complete basketball player when he left the program. Kendall was a top 5 draft pick for a reason.
Kendall was a consensus second team All-American and the #5 pick in the 1990 NBA draft, whereas Ayo currently is a fringe 2nd rounder. Let's see where Ayo is in a year; right now he is quite a ways away from what Kendall achieved at Illinois.I loved Dee, but have to agree, especially when you consider Dee was a shooting guard (mostly). At the very least, I'd put Kendall in over Ayo. He wasn't the closer that Ayo is, but was a more complete basketball player when he left the program. Kendall was a top 5 draft pick for a reason.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
A very interesting exercise and I agree it's totally subjective. Ayo could potentially crack the starting line-up with a superior junior season. However, I'm going with a starting 5 of:I loved Dee, but have to agree, especially when you consider Dee was a shooting guard (mostly). At the very least, I'd put Kendall in over Ayo. He wasn't the closer that Ayo is, but was a more complete basketball player when he left the program. Kendall was a top 5 draft pick for a reason.
G - Dee Brown
G - Deron Williams
G - Kendall Gill
F - Nick Anderson
C - Kofi Cockburn
We'd win 6 national titles out of every 10 played with this team. Nearly unstoppable!
Great discussion and solid points....but all are overlooking the biggest question of all. In another 16 years, will Loren Tate still be covering the Illini on a daily basis or retired and playing golf daily? My money is on the former.
I hope Dee’s lack of NBA career isn’t causing anyone to forget what an amazing player he was for the Illini. No way I leave him off the all-time starting lineup.
- Sporting News College Player of the Year(2005)
- Consensus first-team All-American (2005)
- Consensus second-team All-American (2006)
- Bob Cousy Award (2006)
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (2006)
- Big Ten Player of the Year (2005)
Also, no mention of Brian Cook for these all time rosters? I think he deserves to be in the conversation.
billybaroo
- Pebble Beach, CA
Nothing against Cookie, but I think the OP was pulling strictly from the 89, 05, and current rosters only.
What is everyone expectations now as far as loss total? 3-5? 5-7? Given how tough the conference will be, and that we will have a handful of tough non conference games, I’m thinking 7 or 8 losses going into the BTT. 2 non conference L’s and 5-6 conference L’s. Which could be drinking kool aid
I love Dee, but with Deron to run the point I think it has to be:
1) Deron
2) Kendal
3) Nick
4) Kenny (no way he does not start)
5) Kofi
Then give me these three off the bench:
6) Kenny Norman
7) Eddie Johnson
8) DerIck Harper
that gives you 2 points (Deron and Derick)
2 shooting guards (Kendal and Nick)
2 small forwards (Eddie and Kenny)
2 power forwards (Kenny and Kenny)
2 Centers (Kofi and Norman)
Side note, I would of loved to have Lucas Johnson on the 2005 team. He would have gotten under the skin of May and made him lose his mind.
I know it is never “right” to say this but Sean Pruitt was on the 2005 team. When Augustine got his second foul, I would have put Pruitt In with one goal. Break Mays arm, I mean really hard foul. Sean was not going to play anyways so why not make the refs pucker up. If Sean got ejected so what?
The dome would have been wild and the refs would have changed at that moment what May was allowed to get away with. There were 45,000 crazy Illinois fans. I know it is wrong to think that way, but we needed the one sided interior officiating to change and that would have done it.
Great idea about Pruitt on May.
And Lucas was always a hefty thorn in the side of our opponents, and was always a motivator for our guys. Really fun to watch.
Does he have kids who play? Grandkids?!
UNDEFEATED.
sacraig
- The desert
This may sound a bit strange, but I think the way for Kofi to dominate is to do less individually. Sure, he could work on his post play and positioning, but I think the way he dominates is to use his head more, draw players to him, see weaknesses in the opponent's D, and pass. I'd love if he got a touch nearly every time we're in the half-court.
I can't tell you how many times I watched him last season and thought how much deadlier he'd be if he could recognize when he's attracting too much attention and found a cutter or open man. Not trying to second guess his development in any way --he's been VERY efficient, tough around the bakset, and good with the ball generally. Just saying I think his arc to the NBA will take better recognition and passing.
All true, but Dee isn't the only legendary PG that's worn the uniform. FWLIW, Deron is the only PG I'd take over HRF, and I don't want to show even a little disrespect to either. Just shows what a tough choice it is and how good we've had it as fans. All of them are deserving players.
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
Agreed. I think this is where Kofi develops this year.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Good post. I also remember hearing that Dee, Deron and Luther shot something like 1,000 three point shots in a time span to get better at shooting so that they could make a run ... uh, 2021 squad, TAKE NOTE! Seriously, if our three point shooting improved a bit (which isn't that crazy with a junior Ayo, Frazier bouncing back a bit, Williams continuing to gain confidence and the new guys), this team would be SO scary to run into.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
I seem to recall a Robbie Hummel interview years ago in which he said that figure (for him) was 1,000 shots per day during the off-season.
So do you think kofi is better than Myers Leonard?
Agree. Nobody is going to feed Kofi in the post in today’s nba. He should focus on awareness/passing, screening and rolling to the rim, help defense/blocking shots, and grabbing every rebound in sight. A reliable jumper 18-20 feet as well. All doable.
illini55
- The Villages, FL
Meyers gave us virtually nothing his freshman year. If that is the comparison, there is no comparison. If you're talking about potential, I think it's simply too early to tell.
Per my memory there is no comparison as college players, Kofi is superior. Actually think Augustine was also.
Freshman Kofi and Sophomore Meyers had remarkably similar stats.
- Status