I'm not convinced that Groce is the man for the job yet but, the end of this season has a much better feel than the end of last season. Regardless of what happens today... or tomorrow. Even though last season was arguably better over all the way we bowed out of the B1G tournament and the NIT left some serious questions for me. To see us finish with some fight this year gives me hope that Groce could turn things around.
Illinois Basketball 2016-2017
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I'm not convinced that Groce is the man for the job yet but, the end of this season has a much better feel than the end of last season. Regardless of what happens today... or tomorrow. Even though last season was arguably better over all the way we bowed out of the B1G tournament and the NIT left some serious questions for me. To see us finish with some fight this year gives me hope that Groce could turn things around.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Nice interview with TA1.3
Says he's 85-90% now, but "a long way to go"
Guess he's referencing the fact that the last part is the toughest to get.
Says he's 85-90% now, but "a long way to go"
Guess he's referencing the fact that the last part is the toughest to get.
You can just feel the fire and competitiveness with Tracy. These guys are athletes so they are all competitive, but guys like Tracy take it to another level. This team needs his leadership and more personalities on the floor like his. That's why I don't mind guys like Kevin Garnett who yell and scream because those are guys who you hate playing against, but love on your side. They despise the opposition, but will do everything for their team and serve as the rallying cry when things are not ideal.
The 2015-16 Illini actually played a pretty respectable pace considering the conference they are in. The defense was if anything too aggressive leading to open looks when they didn't get a turnover. They were pretty good at defensive turnover rate but obviously abysmal at scoring defense. I would also say on the whole shot selection wasn't bad. Scoring was not a problem for the 15-16 Illini on most nights.
A lot next season will depend on a lot of non-basketball actions. Tate and Black have their legal cases while Tracy, Thorne, and Kipper all have dates with the NCAA. Even if all of those cases go negative and the staff does nothing in the transfer market to fill the gaps (unlikely) I think the team ends better than this season.
A lot next season will depend on a lot of non-basketball actions. Tate and Black have their legal cases while Tracy, Thorne, and Kipper all have dates with the NCAA. Even if all of those cases go negative and the staff does nothing in the transfer market to fill the gaps (unlikely) I think the team ends better than this season.
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I am sure you're right, but I really want that sentiment to mean getting to the Elite 8 or Final Four (or, dare I say it, even farther), not just making it to the tournament or even having a winning record.
I don't mean to sound overly pessimistic, but "wait until next year" has become too regular a mantra over the last several years. Let's hope next year the phrase becomes "I can't wait for next year" because we see nothing but success on the horizon.
I wouldn't hold your breath if your standards of improvement are to go from below .500 to surefire elite 8 material. I expect next year's team to be upper half of the B1G, solidly in the tournament, then anything could happen.
Oh, I have no illusions about next year, I mean someday it would be fun to see Illini basketball like we had in the '80's.
Next year, making it to the tourney would be a big step from where we are now.
Even the early 2000s were fun. Those teams leading up to 2004-2005 were pretty great.
Agreed, I'm just getting to be an old fart who looks back with a great deal of nostalgia for my years as a student and fan. Still a fan, but now I'm a teacher.
Thorne is the one thats up in the air. Like I said , I hope the NCAA at least looks at it. Abrams is a no-brainer and Black should be if he's here.
They will seek one, but there's almost no chance it's approved, and the staff is preparing for that to be the case.
Abrams, on the other hand, should be a clear cut yes.
If Thorne is back, great. If not, oh well. It would be nice to have him but at least Mav has shown that he is a capable big man now. Finke will be another year experienced we can have Kipper and Djw for small ball if you will. What we really need is Leron back. Back healthy and to European tour form or better.
2016 Holiday Tournament
Have the Illini committed to a 2016 or 2017 tournament? I noticed they are not in the 2016 or 2017 Maui Invitational fields.
Have the Illini committed to a 2016 or 2017 tournament? I noticed they are not in the 2016 or 2017 Maui Invitational fields.
Dan
Admin
2016 NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, NY)
Illinois, West Virginia, Florida State & Temple
Thursday & Friday of Thanksgiving
http://espnevents.com/nit-tip-off/
Not a bad field. ESPN seems to love West Virginia and fsu lately so that could
Be some good pub if we get some wins.
Be some good pub if we get some wins.
Him, a healthy Thorne, a matured Black, and an experienced Finke is a pretty solid frontcourt. Enough depth that Thorne doesn't have to worry about taking up minutes and some interesting combos can be made that would be tough to match up against.
On the other hand, Mav, no Thorne, a suspended Black, and unimproved Finke would be pretty rough.
Agreed. The line between pretty darn good and almost awful is not very wide, is it?
I asked Coach Groce back in November when they were going to Maui again and he thought it would be 2018. Wisconsin is the B1G team in Maui this year and Michigan is there in 2017.
Plus regardless, when we get to 2017 season, Mav & Thorne are gone. Which is also why I think we still work hard to get a 2016 big in the mix + Kipper likely being a 4 next year (if/when he plays).
The worst case is pretty much this year & it has been rough.
I think a transfer big(not a 5th year) is more likely than getting a 2016 recruit, but either one would be nice. I agree with Kipper playing the 4, but it's a matter of when he plays not if.
Fingers crossed XRM is gone.
Never mind. I was thinking this tourney was played earlier in the week, but in 2015 it was played on Thanksgiving Day and the day after.
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Agree on the regular transfer, at this point we are past the point of being picky on a big & I still think we focus on someone that is available in 2017 & ideally a true 5 type.
Kipper will be interesting, outside of the trivial case where he turns out to be to good to sit, he could play in the next 2 years if he fills a couple needs or he could play because we are weak at big and we need minutes; with various shades of gray in between those limits . In addition to reports he was practicing at 4 (but this year who else did we have left to play the 4 in practice?), his strength is supposed to be versatility which leads me to believe the staff sees him as a 3 as well. We desperately needed rebounding this year, we had Austin playing some minutes for defense, and we were desperately short on bigs. If he is playing because he adds rebounding and/or defense or just turns out to be a hidden gem that is good, if he plays just because of a situation like this year with bigs then it isn't so good.
Likely if he is playing the 3 it will be because he earned the minutes, the 4 good only if he is playing over Black/Finke, if he is playing because Finke/Black are playing the 5 or hurt/missing then it likely is because our big woes continue.
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