best part of this win, is they can FINALLY show our current guys and recruits results of this system against a power-5 team.
other observations:
Ayo Dosunmu is not only the best illini freshman i’ve ever seen, but literally is one of the best players i’ve ever seen wear the orange and blue (started watching in 2005). Sure we had good players like BP3, Leonard, Rice, Hill etc. but none of them were as gifted of a player as this kid. If our record didn’t stick so much, he’d be a contender for FOY and POY in the big ten. If he comes back next year he’s a first-team all-big ten guy.
Trent: Really nice bounce back from him the last 1.5 games. Those finishes at the rim in the second half were great and loved his emotion. It is straight up scary to think how good this backcourt can be next year if we return everyone. He’s an all-big-tencplayer next year if he wants to be!
Griffin: Getting better each game, still makes a ton of little mistakes but love his game and potential. Will need to work on ball control over the offseason but should be a nice piece off the bench next year as a guy who brings energy, athleticism, length and a shot. Hope he continues to see more minutes.
Jones: MAN! This kid is just dying to stay on the court. He, like Griffin, needs to work on his dribbling and ball security, but he’s going to be such a great player down the road. His “coming out party” seems to be games away, if he can stay on the floor without fouling he brings so much more to this team. It’s almost like we’ve had this secret on our bench all year, but Im telling y’all, once he figures it out he will be a MAJOR piece to our rebuild and success in the coming years. LOVE LOVE LOVE his potential and attitude.
Kane: Soooo raw. Love his upside as well though, has decent footwork, has good shot blocking instincts, is long and can run. I don’t think we realistically see a ton of minutes from him until his junior year, but he’s going to be good as well.
*this post is making me realize how good of recruiters we have on this staff
Georgi: Boy, oh boy. This kid is a stud. Not only diamond in the rough on this team, but the best since Mike Davis, and he could be better. Reminds me of Mitch McGary at times and thinking of him, Kofi, January, Kane, Nichols manning the 4 and 5 next year is so exciting and would be a special frontcourt.
AJ: Good to see him knock down shots. He better buy Ayo a drink at Kams this weekend, because Ayos ability to drive and kick, finish, shoot opens up so many options offensively and tonight AJ shined in his role.
Kipper: Same ol Kip but starting to think that’s okay. The fact is, this roster and next year’s roster will have better players at the 3/4 spots. But that’s the point. We are over recruiting, he is still a fine players and young man, but don’t expect him to do much anymore. However; he has done it before, so I guess nothing would surprise me anymore from this kid. Maybe he scores 20 on Sunday, but if he does, i’d assume we’d lose the game.
Feliz: Did exactly what he needed to do tonight. Played hard, finished a the rim, ran the offense well, played good defense. Need that from him every night, he’s starting to understand the system more too.
Hope i’m not forgetting anyone, but I am stoked for the remainder of the year and next season. Obviously it’s easy to say these things after our first conference win in forever, but tonight was EXACTLY what we should see from this system and roster. Everyone flourished and played their role. Now it’s time to build build build. I-L-L
! Just have to be patient!!!
