I think 20 mpg for TJL would be ideal.
Illinois 88, NC State 74 POSTGAME
I think 20 mpg for TJL would be ideal.
Maybe but since we're here in 2016, play the guy who's already there, not the guy who might get there.
great win for the team. still wouldnt mind seeing djw at the 4 for small ball lineups. i think if anything tonight proved how we can wear folks down with depth.
also, the orange krush seemed a little....meh. the biggest excitement i saw was when we finally went up 7 in the second half. the home team deserves that energy early in games as well.
also, the orange krush seemed a little....meh. the biggest excitement i saw was when we finally went up 7 in the second half. the home team deserves that energy early in games as well.
Clearly an 8-man rotation is emerging:
1-2: Abrams, JCL, Lucas
3: Hill
4: Black, Finke
5: Thorne, Mav
Even without playing a minute, Kipper is probably emerging as the most likely candidate to complete the 9-man rotation. Not sure what is happening with DJW, but besides the inexperience or even Hill playing his natural position, it seems he is not getting the opportunities.
1-2: Abrams, JCL, Lucas
3: Hill
4: Black, Finke
5: Thorne, Mav
Even without playing a minute, Kipper is probably emerging as the most likely candidate to complete the 9-man rotation. Not sure what is happening with DJW, but besides the inexperience or even Hill playing his natural position, it seems he is not getting the opportunities.
brokensaphire
- Arizona
My God did we need this W.
I was very glad to see Te'Jon handle the rock late. The kid is smooth, always under control and can bounce pass with his left hand. What an attribute! Nice win for my guys and I expect more against the Rams.
Love my Illini,
P.S. I was shaking my head after the Winthrop loss, knew the Illini were gonna lose by 30 or more five minutes into the game against WV and expected a loss to FSU. With all that behind us, I did catch the commentator on tonight's game mention something I think is very relevant. He stated that this group has not had a lot of games to mesh. Think about that for a second. With their talent and veterans they should get better as the season progresses. One can only hope, right?
I was very glad to see Te'Jon handle the rock late. The kid is smooth, always under control and can bounce pass with his left hand. What an attribute! Nice win for my guys and I expect more against the Rams.
Love my Illini,
P.S. I was shaking my head after the Winthrop loss, knew the Illini were gonna lose by 30 or more five minutes into the game against WV and expected a loss to FSU. With all that behind us, I did catch the commentator on tonight's game mention something I think is very relevant. He stated that this group has not had a lot of games to mesh. Think about that for a second. With their talent and veterans they should get better as the season progresses. One can only hope, right?
Last edited:
Replay already available on ESPN3 (free)
DJW is tough to figure out for me. He is the most talented player on the team, but the BBIQ just doesn't seem to be there. He disrupts the flow of our offense more than Tate, yet he is able to make something out of nothing when you least expect it. I don't think he should be getting 20 mpg like some here are saying but I think 10 mpg will be enough to get some good experience while still sending a message that he needs to learn our offense better (if we have one lol)
Agree, but I wonder if Groce sticks to this lineup even when it's not working. Does he trust this group to play out of funks? Or does he think DJW, AJ, and/or Kipper can be spark plugs to get us back into games or pull ahead?
I don't see AJ leaving. But I do wonder about DJW. For whatever reason he has a very short leash and when he does finally get on the court he gets the hook quickly. His mom isn't too happy about this either
I agree. You can really see the difference in his feel for the game. That jumpstop reverse along the baseline is a prime example of that. And it's not the first time this year he's slowed, let the game speed up around him, and made a simple play.
People are concerned about AJ who I think is the complete opposite of Abrams right now. He appears to be going faster than necessary, but I really believe he will be a valuable piece once it comes together. DJW concerns me because of how short his leash is and how pissed his mom is.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
That's more like it. This team can get a lot better. As other have said, Abrams was excellent. Lots more good than bad. Our depth wore them down. Lucas over Tate: yes, please. On to VCU.
Their offense was decent, but their defense is nearly as porous as ours, and they were sloppy with the ball. Hard to say if they'll be a tournament team.
I suggested the same thing a few hours earlier. Glad to see it made official
But with further thought, I guess I have three questions:
1) How can Kipper be the most likely candidate for anything when he has not seen a second of playing time? Practice and the real thing do not always mesh.
2) Does this mean Malcolm plays 40 minutes every night? Of course it doesn't, but if we really do give the bulk of the minutes to these eight, which lineups do we play when we rest Malcolm?
3) The biggest one for me is this: Is Tate really gone? I understand that the entire board (except me and a very few others) would prefer he not even suit up. But he started and played nine minutes in the first half. I saw no clue he was injured, yet he never removed his warmup in the second half. Now, I know a coach should make adjustments at the half, but did Groce adjust Tate from a starter to a complete non-factor at halftime? That just strikes me as an enormous decision to make at the half.
He is the most likely candidate because neither AJ nor DJW have emerged. If Kipper doesn't, we will simply play a shorter main rotation.
You are misreading the post. 8-player or 9-player rotation means main rotation. Does not mean that no other players will play the rest of the season, neither that it means that Tate disappears. Multiple players will see minutes during the season but not significant minutes to crack the main rotation. As for Malcolm's position, you will see Kipper, DJW, and AJ, even if none makes the main rotation.
Last edited:
I am aware that I exaggerated. Still, AJ and DJW got 4 minutes combined. And Tate did go from starterin in the first to wearing warmups in the second. I don't expect him to continue to play zero minutes, but I do wonder if a major decision was made at the half. Did he go from starter to maybe 5-8 minutes per game just like that? Could he have been injured?
Groce is aware of Tate's limitations and criticism. Hard not to, when you have a 3-game losing streak and your own writers specifically use harsh words against specific players (IMO it was inappropriate). So I believe he started Tate more for psychological reasons, but when Abrams was having one of his best games and Lucas had some quick points and was steady upon entry, it was hard for Groce to play Tate and risk losing the game.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
Glad I was wrong on this one. They've proven they can beat a Power 5 team, and a pretty good one. I'll continue to pick against them, since that seems to be the key.
I'm pretty dubious of that.
I think he could be a good player, but we've already got three of him, all of whom are older and more experienced.
We've got three Kippers already? I am not sure he will crack the main rotation because I have never seen him play, but where have you seen him play to know that we already have 3 of him?
Deleted member 533939
D
Guest
I don't know if I should hate on Groce for continuing to play Tate or if I should give him props for finally pulling the trigger in the 2nd half.
It's the same idea as Hill, DJW, and AJ.
You don't hear the term "swingman" much anymore, but that's what all of them are.
Maybe Kipper is the best of the lot. I doubt we're going to find that out when he's a freshman trying to break into a crowded rotation in the middle of the season.
Deleted member 533939
D
Guest
Sorry, but NC State isn't good at all.Glad I was wrong on this one. They've proven they can beat a Power 5 team, and a pretty good one. I'll continue to pick against them, since that seems to be the key.