Illini Basketball 2016-2017

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#1,051      
Bomb Squad 217
He wasn't just a flat level, if you will, bad player. There's been gradual increase in his game over the course of his time. Which really stared coming together in conference play last season. He's got the chance to be pretty good this year. We shall see.
 
#1,052      
blackdog
Tevo said:
I guess better late than never, but I have a hard time looking at two and a half years of no progress, six months of meeting the standard performance, and then saying, "Hey, good work the past three years." At work, that would not fly.
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The fact is he came is as a player who could not play at this level and now is a solid contributor. That is exactly what it means to develop.
 
#1,053      
Illiniguy13
Tevo said:
I guess better late than never, but I have a hard time looking at two and a half years of no progress, six months of meeting the standard performance, and then saying, "Hey, good work the past three years." At work, that would not fly.
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Methinks you're being real harsh. There was definitely progress made in those 2.5 years. I don't think it's crazy to say Mav may exceed expectations when it's all said and done. He'd start on at least a few other BIG teams & will be one of the better bigs coming off the bench in the conference. Bet plenty didn't expect him to have that kind of ceiling.
 
#1,054      
Adnarel
Oh, is this the Mav Discussion again?

Here's the summary: Mav used to be a total liability in conference play. He is now a solid asset in conference play. That is the definition of development. The staff has done a good job with him, and I'm impressed.
 
#1,055      
BIzzy
Adnarel said:
Oh, is this the Mav Discussion again?

Here's the summary: Mav used to be a total liability in conference play. He is now a solid asset in conference play. That is the definition of development. The staff has done a good job with him, and I'm impressed.
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Yes, what this guy says!!!
 
#1,057      
illiniknight
Adnarel said:
Oh, is this the Mav Discussion again?

Here's the summary: Mav used to be a total liability in conference play. He is now a solid asset in conference play. That is the definition of development. The staff has done a good job with him, and I'm impressed.
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Agreed. He was taken as a project and he developed like a project. Fans would have been more patient if we had other bigs ahead of him. He developed as well as you could project given how he was rated out of high school. The staff and Mav have done a good job.
 
#1,058      
Poe's Law
Illiniguy13 said:
Methinks you're being real harsh. There was definitely progress made in those 2.5 years. I don't think it's crazy to say Mav may exceed expectations when it's all said and done. He'd start on at least a few other BIG teams & will be one of the better bigs coming off the bench in the conference. Bet plenty didn't expect him to have that kind of ceiling.
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Well I for one expected Mav to be the second coming of Shaq... in that Rennie would show up and dunk on him.

But let me be the tenth (ish) person to say I'm comfortable using Mav as a positive example of this staff developing a big. However a counter point is their failure to develop Mike LaTulip into a rotation worthy big.
 
#1,060      
TCTORNADO
tjjohnso said:
Well I for one expected Mav to be the second coming of Shaq... in that Rennie would show up and dunk on him.

But let me be the tenth (ish) person to say I'm comfortable using Mav as a positive example of this staff developing a big. However a counter point is their failure to develop Mike LaTulip into a rotation worthy big.
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You Sir win the POTY. :thumb: Very well played....
 
#1,061      
WesterveltVictoryCigar
Official word on Nichols:

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#1,062      
kuhl84
Expected, but disappointing. Will make it difficult to for him to contribute significantly this year.
 
#1,064      
illini8507
If you would have told me in may that we wouldn't get kn eligible, but as a consolation we'd get Mike Thorne I'd have taken that trade
 
#1,066      
TCTORNADO
Disappointed to say the least. Kipper has overcome a lot of adversity and this is just a minor setback. Look forward to seeing him in the UC on 12/17.
 
#1,067      
Adnarel
It just wouldn't be in character for the NCAA to give us 3/3 (even if TA was a slam dunk case). I'm happy with what we got.
 
#1,071      
Adnarel
Hey, it means he'll be scouted less thoroughly come conference play. He'll be a secret weapon!

For, like, two or three games.
 
#1,073      
whovous
I'd expect exhibition games to be limited to full members of the team. Sure would like to see him play though.
 
#1,074      
alaskaillini
kuhl84 said:
I agree, in general, that Groce is ultimately accountable this year.

A coach is hired to win, sell tickets, and represent the school well. If Groce himself was doing a performance appraisal, I am sure he would agree that he hasn't won enough and ticket sales are going in the wrong direction.

JG personally is a good representative of the school, but the program has obviously has had its share of problems off the court. He owns the behavior of those in his program as well.

He now owns the roster. It represents a collection of personnel decisions he alone has made...coaches, players, administrators... everything. He is a tireless worker, has a good class coming in, and is a likable guy. It is difficult to turn a ship, and all reasonable people agree the program was in a horrible place when he arrived, but this year the wins and attendance numbers must start going the right direction.

Back to the discussion at hand, I hope TA plays at his sophomore level for 22-25 mpg and TJL learns and develops enough to be able to hold his own defensively in the B1G for 10-15 mpg or Tate suddenly develops a jump shot and the ability to keep a PG in front of him. Hope, however, is not a strategy.

TC says if Tate plays 18mpg in the B1G we are in trouble, I agree. IlliniSC & Second & Chalmers say he simply needs to win with this roster, I agree. Zip says he wants Hill at the 3, but can play PG if necessary, I agree.

The bottom line is Groce has to win this year. Hill wants to win this year. Our roster 2-5 if healthy, is arguably as good as any in the B1G. Groce will have to be ready to play with 3 wings and no real PG if and when the above "Hope" strategy doesn't pan out. Ultimately, it's his roster, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of all of the individuals, he needs to figure it out.

I think he can do it. I hope he does it. But either way, he owns it.
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I think if you distilled all the diverse opinions of the Illini faithful, this is as close to what you would get as anything I have seen posted.

I would differ on expectations of Tate. I don't expect him to start hitting 40% from 3 but I look for an improved version of the guy we saw his Soph year before he when down sick. Last year with the finger about tore off in game 1, I'm not sure we ever really saw him full strength. Regardless, I am rooting for him - despite the off court allegations, he seems like a good kid.
 
#1,075      
Illinijose
Disappointing on Kipper considering he never played a game with Tulane, looking forward to seeing him in exhibition games. Which I believe he will be eligible since they don't count.

Regarding the PG situation, I agree with getting more of our impact players on the court. We can no longer be 4 vs 5 on offense. Would like to see Hill or TCL at the point if our offense stalls with our current PG. But Abrams and Tejon should hold their own.
 
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