Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
wasn't that Wimpy?
Illini Basketball 2016-2017
- Status
wasn't that Wimpy?
Rough news but hopefully that doesn't have much of an effect on his season. Glad it's just 8 weeks. Also glad that we don't have anyone blaming the staff for this.
Its early. Lol.
I got to Ubben a little before two yesterday. When I arrived, Meyers Leonard was working with Black and Nichols in a drill. He was very vocal and stopped the drill to show them different things he had learned in the NBA.
I saw Brian Randle, Gene Cross, Kendall Gill, Lou Henson on the sidelines at various times.
The scrimmage was divided into 6 minute periods with a 2 minute break in between. Each period one team won or lost.
Lucas and Morgan did not play during the scrimmage. Lucas did hit five straight NBA threes while shooting around. And, of course, JCL did not play.
Recruits report: Recruiting Thread
Current team:
Hill: Best player on the court by far. Could do anything he wanted and score from wherever he wanted.
Thorne: only played in the first couple of sessions. He looked to be in really good shape. Scored a couple of times on his little hook and set some good screens. Wilkes ran into him once and sort of bounced off.
Abrams: he looked better than I thought he would at this point. They made sure that he was with the recruits the first few times, and he made sure Wilkes got the ball in places to score. Looks leaner than I remember but it is definitely muscle.
Jordan: he left me wanting more. Had three or four open threes that did not drop. He also left a couple of shots on the drive a little short. I know he can shoot it since I saw him do it in high school, but I guess I expect him to be more of a pure shooter than he has shown.
Finke: new hair style. lol. He hit some outside shots, made a couple of nice moves in the lane and had one really good dunk in traffic. He worked hard trying to defend Thorne. My favorite group was the time with Abrams, Finke, and the three recruits.
Nichols: my most pleasant surprise. He is really put together although a bit shorter than I thought. Shorter than Black, for example. He showed a nice shooting touch at all three levels and had one very spectacular drive where he used good body control to finish at the rim. He did have one short stretch where he took a bad shot, got beat on defense and had a turnover, but overall he was very good. Really worked hard on defense and used his strength to frustrate his man. (except for Hill who nobody could stop).
Black: sporting a little beard and looking very well conditioned. He rebounded well and had a few short jump shots. Finished a couple around the rim, too. Best rebounder out there yesterday.
Tate: usual Tate. Handled the ball, scored on a couple of drives, but then shocked everyone with a swished three. He still kicks his legs back on his jumper and that form is going to be inconsistent.
DJ Williams: didn't notice him too much early, but then he got on a roll. Hit a three, drove for a bucket, hit a short jumper. Had the game winner in one session. He looks much different with his short haircut. lol
Austin and three walkons also played.
It was just one scrimmage, so it is hard to take too much away from it. Obviously, the current team made sure to make the recruits feel like they were part of the team and made sure they got the ball quite a bit, especially Wilkes.
Of course, Dee was everywhere. Playing one on one with one of the Wilkes siblings. In Wilkes ear a lot. Talking to Williams and Pickett on the sideline when they were not in.
During the scrimmage, the coaches disappeared per NCAA rules. Groce was on the court before and after the scrimmage. He spent ten minutes or so with Henson and took a picture with Lou in the middle and Groce and Dee on each side.
I saw Brian Randle, Gene Cross, Kendall Gill, Lou Henson on the sidelines at various times.
The scrimmage was divided into 6 minute periods with a 2 minute break in between. Each period one team won or lost.
Lucas and Morgan did not play during the scrimmage. Lucas did hit five straight NBA threes while shooting around. And, of course, JCL did not play.
Recruits report: Recruiting Thread
Current team:
Hill: Best player on the court by far. Could do anything he wanted and score from wherever he wanted.
Thorne: only played in the first couple of sessions. He looked to be in really good shape. Scored a couple of times on his little hook and set some good screens. Wilkes ran into him once and sort of bounced off.
Abrams: he looked better than I thought he would at this point. They made sure that he was with the recruits the first few times, and he made sure Wilkes got the ball in places to score. Looks leaner than I remember but it is definitely muscle.
Jordan: he left me wanting more. Had three or four open threes that did not drop. He also left a couple of shots on the drive a little short. I know he can shoot it since I saw him do it in high school, but I guess I expect him to be more of a pure shooter than he has shown.
Finke: new hair style. lol. He hit some outside shots, made a couple of nice moves in the lane and had one really good dunk in traffic. He worked hard trying to defend Thorne. My favorite group was the time with Abrams, Finke, and the three recruits.
Nichols: my most pleasant surprise. He is really put together although a bit shorter than I thought. Shorter than Black, for example. He showed a nice shooting touch at all three levels and had one very spectacular drive where he used good body control to finish at the rim. He did have one short stretch where he took a bad shot, got beat on defense and had a turnover, but overall he was very good. Really worked hard on defense and used his strength to frustrate his man. (except for Hill who nobody could stop).
Black: sporting a little beard and looking very well conditioned. He rebounded well and had a few short jump shots. Finished a couple around the rim, too. Best rebounder out there yesterday.
Tate: usual Tate. Handled the ball, scored on a couple of drives, but then shocked everyone with a swished three. He still kicks his legs back on his jumper and that form is going to be inconsistent.
DJ Williams: didn't notice him too much early, but then he got on a roll. Hit a three, drove for a bucket, hit a short jumper. Had the game winner in one session. He looks much different with his short haircut. lol
Austin and three walkons also played.
It was just one scrimmage, so it is hard to take too much away from it. Obviously, the current team made sure to make the recruits feel like they were part of the team and made sure they got the ball quite a bit, especially Wilkes.
Of course, Dee was everywhere. Playing one on one with one of the Wilkes siblings. In Wilkes ear a lot. Talking to Williams and Pickett on the sideline when they were not in.
During the scrimmage, the coaches disappeared per NCAA rules. Groce was on the court before and after the scrimmage. He spent ten minutes or so with Henson and took a picture with Lou in the middle and Groce and Dee on each side.
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Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
With his new hair style, Finke looks like Dirk Nowitzki.
Why did Morgan not play? Did he have an injury or something?
Thanks for your awesome report combes. Question: Has Hill's athleticism improved? I knew that was one of the things he was working on.
I'm looking forward to watching Kipper play. Like Hill, I think he's going to be a beast.
Why did Morgan not play? Did he have an injury or something?
Thanks for your awesome report combes. Question: Has Hill's athleticism improved? I knew that was one of the things he was working on.
I'm looking forward to watching Kipper play. Like Hill, I think he's going to be a beast.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Thanks for the report, Combes. By the way, was Hill noticeably stronger, quicker, and more athletic? Curious since so much has made of his gains under Fletch this summer.
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Awesome report, barring injuries it sounds like our problems at PG and PF/C should be solved. My biggest concern was getting Abrams, Thorne, and Black below what they were before the injuries. It sounds they are back to full strength.
An improved Morgan, Finke, Hill, JCL along with contributions from Kipper, Lucas, and DJ should give us an NCAA tourney team. Great to here that Damonte was assertive and physical. I think Jordan is going to be give us some great minutes as well. No problems with Kipper being shorter than Black, since Kipper I think will play SG/SF which is more his position.
Interesting that Fletch spoke so much to the parents. Wilkes has a big frame IMHO, they type that can add muscle. Surprised to hear he looked thin and Damonte was actually more physically developed.
An improved Morgan, Finke, Hill, JCL along with contributions from Kipper, Lucas, and DJ should give us an NCAA tourney team. Great to here that Damonte was assertive and physical. I think Jordan is going to be give us some great minutes as well. No problems with Kipper being shorter than Black, since Kipper I think will play SG/SF which is more his position.
Interesting that Fletch spoke so much to the parents. Wilkes has a big frame IMHO, they type that can add muscle. Surprised to hear he looked thin and Damonte was actually more physically developed.
I feel much more comfortable with Thorne than I do Tracy. I need to see him playing meaningful minutes before I stop stressing about about PG play this season.
Wilkes has a longer frame, but if you really look at him, his legs and arms are pretty thin. Da'Monte's frame is much thicker.
HoopCity
- Huntsville, AL
Morgan told me he tweaked his ankle a bit and just precautionary not playing.
I'm guessing more than 8 weeks.... Primarily because no one in the history of NCAA athletics has ever returned to 100% in the time frame originally announced.... NEVER...
JCL's leg stress fracture went longer than the original 10 week estimate.
Stress fractures are the most difficult to predict especially in the leg. I don't expect JCL to be 100% game ready in exactly 8 weeks but I doubt he'll be far from it. Let's not forget that Kendrick Nunn returned well before his estimated date. FWIW, I've seen plenty of hand specialists after having a couple of surgeries on my wrist, and I feel pretty confident about him returning in the 8 weeks (+/- a week or two).
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Good move on his part. I thought he played until I read combes' post. It would have been nice to see how much better he's gotten in this offseason.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
With JCL out, this is Aaron's turn to shine. AJ can shoot the ball like JCL, so shooting shouldn't be a problem, unless he's icy cold like the one time I put so many ice cubes in my mouth in front of my former girlfriend at Meatheads (never doing that again).
I think AJ's more versatile as Rob mentioned a while back. That will certainly help. I expect Austin to get backup minutes. It also makes me wish Kipper was eligible at the start of the season. Just sucks he has to wait until December to play. Or you can insert Te'Jon in there.
Decisions....decisions....
I think AJ's more versatile as Rob mentioned a while back. That will certainly help. I expect Austin to get backup minutes. It also makes me wish Kipper was eligible at the start of the season. Just sucks he has to wait until December to play. Or you can insert Te'Jon in there.
Decisions....decisions....
Like Malcolm's Clark Kent look. Hope he turns into Superman for the games this year.
Well shooting has been the problem for Jordan even if you say it shouldn't be. I expect him to do better but he needs to be so much more consistent than what he's shown in the past and in the scrimmage over the weekend. I have hope that he can get there but JCL is the guy we need at the 2 for Illinois to be successful this year. I expect Abrams or Austin at the 2 if JCL needs more time.
Way to early to write of AJ for the year. His increase in strength and athleticism off season should translate to improved lateral quickness. That and a year in the program to understand his defensive responsibilities should result in substantial improvement defensively.
I have to believe that puts him ahead of Austin. I don't see Abrams playing any minutes at the 2 because we need all of his healthy minutes at the 1. If Abrams plays the 2, you are basically saying that Tate and TJL are ahead of AJ...I find that hard to believe.
AJ should have an opportunity at the 2 for the beginning of the season, for significant minutes. Hopefully he makes the best of his opportunity.
I don't think Newman was totally writing him off, but I'm also not all that worried about AJ. Spot minutes last year & typical freshman woes can definitely make a plus shooter appear average. Wouldn't look too hard into that scrimmage, either. I have a hard time believing he won't be a vastly improved defender. Those gains are no joke.
Me either. Season to season early in their career, players can change quite a bit. AJ has a pretty good stroke, so I would think that once he gets comfortable out there, he'll see his production go up.
If JCL needs more time, I have a hard time believing Austin will get those minutes over AJ.
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