This is what I was thinking. It's easier to get wide open looks from 3 than midrange because the help defense is further away.Distance of course matters. But getting guys open is more important.
This is what I was thinking. It's easier to get wide open looks from 3 than midrange because the help defense is further away.Distance of course matters. But getting guys open is more important.
Now if Kouma comes in looking like this he will be "Special K2".
Um, not even close.
Thought I'd give my 2 cents about this team. A while back I shared that I thought this team was the best collection of talent I have seen in C U for many years.
- Gorgi is a consistent jump shot away from being a pro.
- Kofi is a freshman and will need time and Antigua coaching to be all he can be (so be patient)
- Ayo is the best guard to grace C U since Deron and expect a big year.
- Frazier will be the quiet assassin and will start to get national attention with his play making.
- Andre is far better than we give him credit for and will be responsible for the Illini winning a ton of games.
- Tevian is a rhythm shooter and if defense steps up he will have a monster year.
- AG will establish a defensive presence and will be a knock down shooter.
- Kipper will find consistency and his contribution will move this team to vie for the top spot in the B1G.
- Samba (if he stays) will surprise with his defense and shot making ability (his hands during freshman year remind me of Egwu his freshman year)
- Other freshmen will be...well freshmen..with the kid from Norway or Belgium being more ready to contribute.
I like this team y'all.
I can appreciate the optimism but Ayo is no Dee Brown my friend. Ayo may end up being the better pro, but college ball, I'd take Dee every day of the week.Thought I'd give my 2 cents about this team. A while back I shared that I thought this team was the best collection of talent I have seen in C U for many years.
- Gorgi is a consistent jump shot away from being a pro.
- Kofi is a freshman and will need time and Antigua coaching to be all he can be (so be patient)
- Ayo is the best guard to grace C U since Deron and expect a big year.
- Frazier will be the quiet assassin and will start to get national attention with his play making.
- Andre is far better than we give him credit for and will be responsible for the Illini winning a ton of games.
- Tevian is a rhythm shooter and if defense steps up he will have a monster year.
- AG will establish a defensive presence and will be a knock down shooter.
- Kipper will find consistency and his contribution will move this team to vie for the top spot in the B1G.
- Samba (if he stays) will surprise with his defense and shot making ability (his hands during freshman year remind me of Egwu his freshman year)
- Other freshmen will be...well freshmen..with the kid from Norway or Belgium being more ready to contribute.
I like this team y'all.
Um, not even close.
What players do you expect to shoot over 35 or even 30% for the season from further back this year? I have not looked at least season but the new distance could hinder a players improvement,, So who do you expect to take 100 threes this year with the new added distance? I think Trent is our best bet for both. I hope AG, Tev, and Ayo improve. I do like the corner threes though.
Not worried about them playing together, just about their backups.I'm not so worried about Giorgi's shot, or how the minutes split across the 4/5. I think the best lineup potential has Giorgi and Kofi playing together. Ideally, the two of them require 2+ defenders.
It will be critical they can play off each other and the defensesive rotation. I liked reading Giorgi's comments that he's played with another big his whole career and feels comfortable doing so. I think that is going to be the key to the season.
If Giorgi and Kofi can read each other and the defense well enough to dictate the defensive rotation this team is setup for success on offense. They have the cutters and shooters to exploit poor or slow rotations. They have the two big guys capable of exploiting 1:1 matchups. As a team they just need to move the ball to the right place at the right time; pieces are there imo.
Obviously, easier said than done, but I enjoy the question being execution rather than talent or physical attributes for once heading into a season.
What? Da'Monte gets no love?
Let us hope only on the court Mr Kemp had 9 kids with 8 different women, wow now that is a player------
Not worried about them playing together, just about their backups.
OK, LOL'd. Well played.Luther will be pay his child support.
The tourney is such a crap shoot. Match-ups/upsets/whistles blown and not blown, if a team can make the S16, they can make F4. The key is getting in and winning the first game.Fair enough, but to what end? If the goal is Final Four, then yeah I completely agree. I think for a sweet 16 ceiling we're fine. When I look at the rosters for other teams there are very few who have more than 2 reliable bigs. Texas Tech for example had 2 guys taller than 6' 5" who averaged more than 5 mins, 2 pts per game. There are plenty of similar teams, imo.
I agree that forward depth is a weakness, but I don't think it's limiting unless expectations are elevated.
The tourney is such a crap shoot. Match-ups/upsets/whistles blown and not blown, if a team can make the S16, they can make F4. The key is getting in and winning the first game.
Shooters will definitely still shoot over 30% from 3. I'm not expecting the % to change much, maybe 1 or 2 %With the line being moved back i think if more than a few are taking a lot of shots from that distance they will not shoot 30% unless they are wide open. I would still have my doubts. I also think a strong mid range open shot like Malcolm hill or Maverick Morgan had later in his career is a better than 45\% shot. contested maybe i agree but a good look these guys will shoot better than that if they are a focal point in our offense. Even more so if they are open. I hope to see a lot of GB from, 8 to 10 feet on a smaller player this season. I cant see Kofi not drawing the our oppositions big man. I expect a lot of offensive boards and dunks if that is the case.
I expect us to shoot 15 threes or so a game. and a bunch at the basket and inside of 12 feet. The shots that i would call MID RANGE that we take i expect to be great looks by good shooters and will be better than a 3 by the wrong player.
I’m pretty sure I heard that Piper is making the trip, so there should be a lot of information available.Do we need a separate thread for the Italy trip/games? I'm wondering if they'll be much coverage....
And where's Tyler?
Fletch. F. Fletch.
yes, and I'm assuming far less mobile. If he was, he'd have been a top 5 recruit.That's true, Kofi is taller and thicker.
But the competition?V
Verdonk shot over 35% from that distance last season.