Illini Basketball 2018-2019

[PlayAZ]

Gill - 3.7 pts
Nick Anderson -15.9
Bardo -3.8
Liberty 8.4
Hamilton 3.7
Battle 20.0 at NIU and 15.6 as junior ILLINI
Smith couldn't locate, he would not have scored a lot though.

So Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys...btw outside of Battle double listing, all Pts are averages as freshman.

I think ALL of our current class could outscore this group with exception of Battle this year. If not we will probably finish 12th in the B1G as projected already.

Projections: 89 team would have averaged approx. 52 pts per game as freshman with Battle as a Junior (large margin of difference there).

Ayo 7 pts per game
Jones 9 pts per game
Kane 8 Pts per game
Higgs 7 Pts per game
Griffin 4 pts per game
Feliz 6 pts per game
G-Vili 5 pts per game

45 total points per game with Frazier and company getting another 30 per game for a 75 average as a team.

 

[TheGMan]

Gill - 3.7 pts
Nick Anderson -15.9
Bardo -3.8
Liberty 8.4
Hamilton 3.7
Battle 20.0 at NIU and 15.6 as junior ILLINI
Smith couldn't locate, he would not have scored a lot though.

So Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys...btw outside of Battle double listing, all Pts are averages as freshman.

I think ALL of our current class could outscore this group with exception of Battle this year. If not we will probably finish 12th in the B1G as projected already.

Projections: 89 team would have averaged approx. 52 pts per game as freshman with Battle as a Junior (large margin of difference there).

Ayo 7 pts per game
Jones 9 pts per game
Kane 8 Pts per game
Higgs 7 Pts per game
Griffin 4 pts per game
Feliz 6 pts per game
G-Vili 5 pts per game

45 total points per game with Frazier and company getting another 30 per game for a 75 average as a team.

Kane, Higgs, and Jones numbers just feel like they are high. Jones has the best bet, in my opinion, to come close, but I'm not expecting those numbers from Kane and Higgs, especially since they won't be on campus this summer. But I would definitely love to be wrong.

 

[Newman]

Gill - 3.7 pts
Nick Anderson -15.9
Bardo -3.8
Liberty 8.4
Hamilton 3.7
Battle 20.0 at NIU and 15.6 as junior ILLINI
Smith couldn't locate, he would not have scored a lot though.

So Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys...btw outside of Battle double listing, all Pts are averages as freshman.

I think ALL of our current class could outscore this group with exception of Battle this year. If not we will probably finish 12th in the B1G as projected already.

Projections: 89 team would have averaged approx. 52 pts per game as freshman with Battle as a Junior (large margin of difference there).

Ayo 7 pts per game
Jones 9 pts per game
Kane 8 Pts per game
Higgs 7 Pts per game
Griffin 4 pts per game
Feliz 6 pts per game
G-Vili 5 pts per game

45 total points per game with Frazier and company getting another 30 per game for a 75 average as a team.

They could very well end up averaging the same as those players on the Flying Illini team but those guys did it on a loaded team that went 23-8 and finished 11th in the country. I'm not really sure what you're trying to point here..

 

[bert1991]

See attached for Ervin Small highlights...

 

[EJ33]

They could very well end up averaging the same as those players on the Flying Illini team but those guys did it on a loaded team that went 23-8 and finished 11th in the country. I'm not really sure what you're trying to point here..

I guess he's trying to say that since these freshman will outscore the Flyin' Illini as freshman that these players are better than the Flyin' Illini players and moreover since they are roughly the same height as the Flyin' Illini but since Samba is taller than Lowell Hamilton and Tevian Jones is taller than Nick Anderson then Sean Higgins won't be able to go over Tevian like he did Nick and therefore we will win the NCAA this time since this team is going to be better than the Flyin' Illini. Good argument. Makes sense.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I think I'll wait until this new group has at least played in an NCAA tourney game before I even worry about making comparisons.

 

[Foggy Notion]

I guess he's trying to say that since these freshman will outscore the Flyin' Illini as freshman that these players are better than the Flyin' Illini players and moreover since they are roughly the same height as the Flyin' Illini but since Samba is taller than Lowell Hamilton and Tevian Jones is taller than Nick Anderson then Sean Higgins won't be able to go over Tevian like he did Nick and therefore we will win the NCAA this time since this team is going to be better than the Flyin' Illini. Good argument. Makes sense.

Anything less would be a disappointment.

 

[tpbradley]

See attached for Ervin Small highlights...

I can't get them to download. Maybe, the files are in the computer?

 

[dbeverly26]

See attached for Ervin Small highlights...

He gave big minutes in the Sweet 16 game against Louisville, IIRC. Battle was hurt.

Also, he hit a three against Iowa on senior night the next year. I've never been at another sporting event with that much hostile energy as that game in my life.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I've never been at another sporting event with that much hostile energy as that game in my life.

The night IDKWTI came to Champaign.

 

[PtownIllini8]

Not caught up on this thread, so maybe it's been mentioned already.. If Higgs had played in Chicago he would be top 100, 150 at worst. Similar game to Zion Griffin, who is in the 120 range. Am I wrong on this?

No, plus he has a couple inches on Griffin.

 

[dbeverly26]

The night IDKWTI came to Champaign.

I'd left by then, but I'd imagine it was about the same. I got there a half hour before tip and it was already so nasty I got goosebumps just walking into the seating bowl.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Gill - 3.7 pts
Nick Anderson -15.9
Bardo -3.8
Liberty 8.4
Hamilton 3.7
Battle 20.0 at NIU and 15.6 as junior ILLINI
Smith couldn't locate, he would not have scored a lot though.

So Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys...btw outside of Battle double listing, all Pts are averages as freshman.

I think ALL of our current class could outscore this group with exception of Battle this year. If not we will probably finish 12th in the B1G as projected already.

Projections: 89 team would have averaged approx. 52 pts per game as freshman with Battle as a Junior (large margin of difference there).

Ayo 7 pts per game
Jones 9 pts per game
Kane 8 Pts per game
Higgs 7 Pts per game
Griffin 4 pts per game
Feliz 6 pts per game
G-Vili 5 pts per game


45 total points per game with Frazier and company getting another 30 per game for a 75 average as a team.

I'd bet my virtual beach house that Ayo will average more than 7 ppg this year. On the other hand, if Jones, Kane, and Higgs average that much respectively I'm thinking we'll all be jumping for joy.

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

I'd bet my virtual beach house that Ayo will average more than 7 ppg this year. On the other hand, if Jones, Kane, and Higgs average that much respectively I'm thinking we'll all be jumping for joy.

My memory is not 100% but I imagine the team was pretty good when those guys arrived as freshmen back then. Some of these new freshmen will have much more opportunity to play and therefore should score more points but then again who really knows? Some of the front court guys will play significant minutes I imagine. As will Ayo and Feliz

 

[PlayAZ]

They could very well end up averaging the same as those players on the Flying Illini team but those guys did it on a loaded team that went 23-8 and finished 11th in the country. I'm not really sure what you're trying to point here..

So you are saying a team of (outside of the listed players) consisting of Wysinger, Norman, Altenberger, Hamilton, Kujawa is a "loaded" team?

Outside of Norman, who went on to do anything?

Don't take out of context either about Altenberger, he was always a favorite of mine.

Hamilton only averaged roughly 10 Pts and didn't even get to 15 pts per game at any point of his career...hardly loaded? His rebound best was 5.7 per game, hell I think DaMonte could get that this year.

The point is for comparision only...the numbers are what they are. That team when this group were freshman outside of Norman were not loaded, and one could argue the best new player that year for them was Battle and he helped Norman and his average as well with his play.

Either way I loved the Flyin ILLINI, and I very much want to see this group of young players do something special which they are capable of.

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

That actually may very well be spot on! I hope not however.

No Illini team is comparable in ability or could play like the 89 team. The game changing or not they would win today as well as back then. They would likely do better because the B10 hasnt been that strong since.

 

[Ga65]

Hamilton, Anderson, and Liberty all burger boys. Not as many this year.

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

Hamilton, Anderson, and Liberty all burger boys. Not as many this year.

And lLiberty was #1

 

[Rap73]

I'd bet my virtual beach house that Ayo will average more than 7 ppg this year. On the other hand, if Jones, Kane, and Higgs average that much respectively I'm thinking we'll all be jumping for joy.

Anderson did not play as a freshman

 

[PlayAZ]

I truly don't get your point. Let me make a few.

First, point totals for players on bad teams need to be discounted. Someone is going to score on any team and mediocre players often have inflated numbers because of this. Likewise, top talent can often have mediocre numbers on good teams because the team is stacked.

Second, of course anything can happen. We might be looking at 7 NBA hall of famers in this recruiting class. But that's an absurd way of having a discussion. Objectively, the players we are bringing in don't compare to the players that made up what we conventionally understand to be the Flying Illini.

You're over the top optimistic. I get that. Be happy. But don't try to convince people with a more realistic attitude that they're wrong. We're all just going to have to wait.

Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys.

My point is actually rather simple...comparable stats can be expected, actually may be even better, abilities and opportunity both play a part as they did then as well.

I don't think that 45 Pts a game from 6-7 freshman on a team that can barely scrimmage presently is over the top, however, good conversations from all and yes I am optimistic, because I think the talent being amassed right now is comparable and downright encouraging. Considering the black tunnels we have seemingly been buried in with no light at the end, well hell I will take this!

 

[Dan]

See attached for Ervin Small highlights...

[5m20s]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbrmeqQI2Rc

 

[TCTORNADO]

29 years ago today, Nick Anderson and Kenny Battle were selected in the 1st round of the NBA draft.

 

[IlliniinIowa]

No Illini team is comparable in ability or could play like the 89 team. The game changing or not they would win today as well as back then. They would likely do better because the B10 hasnt been that strong since.

The '89 team would beat this '18 team by 50 points. Men against boys talent wise.

Hell, they led a nationally ranked Iowa team by about 50 back then!!

 

[breadman]

I think this team will be interesting to watch...but the beginning of the season will be difficult because 1) we have a lot of new players trying to figure out the system, how to play defense at this level, how to play together offensively and figuring out college life in general...and 2) our non-conf. schedule will be pretty tough.....so I can see a team that will struggle early on to win games...but hopefully by the time B10 schedule rolls around we'll see improvement and surprise some people.

OK. To really take the measure of this year's team and compare it to last year's team, BU better schedule Eastern Illinois this year so that we can put this argument to rest.

 

[Obelix]

Obelix and others are saying the "ability" of this freshman class cannot be compared to these guys.

Continuing to support the idea that this current team resembles the Flying Illini as far as ability has to be one of the most absurd arguments I have ever read in any Illini message board. Congrats!