Foolishness. Look at the value Ayo had as a freshman. Miller is similarly ranked, and won't have the pressure Ayo had.
Illini Basketball 2020-2021
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IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Been thrown out there, but a lot of this season rides on how well the staff can utilize the weapons it has. The talent this team has is clearly top 25 (obviously), but can we find lineups (that probably will have at least 3 guards out there at a time) that are effective?
Somewhat sleeper/hot take pick is DMW. One of my favorite strokes on the team, he got it going late last season offensively. He's already a good/great defender, one who can guard above his weight/height class, and someone with PG skills. Not asking for a ton of production, but efficiency offensively would help this team tremendously. Same with Trent. He went from the focal point on offense, to perhaps the third option. He's gotta get more efficient to truly unlock this teams potential.
If those two can take steps forward, I see this team living up to the top 5/10 projections. Of course, there's other routes to that, but it seems doable and perhaps likely.
Somewhat sleeper/hot take pick is DMW. One of my favorite strokes on the team, he got it going late last season offensively. He's already a good/great defender, one who can guard above his weight/height class, and someone with PG skills. Not asking for a ton of production, but efficiency offensively would help this team tremendously. Same with Trent. He went from the focal point on offense, to perhaps the third option. He's gotta get more efficient to truly unlock this teams potential.
If those two can take steps forward, I see this team living up to the top 5/10 projections. Of course, there's other routes to that, but it seems doable and perhaps likely.
He also won’t have the clear path to time and emphasis on utilization that Ayo had. I think Adam will be an important part of team’s success this year, but it isn’t guaranteed he has same impact as Ayo early because of the overall talent of the two teams being different.
I really don’t pay much mind to the pre-season rankings and such. In my mind right now the Illini are a top 25 team. That’s not to say I don’t expect more out of them, but I’ll wait to see the team on the floor against competition. After all that is where what matters will happen. They perform there and rest takes care of itself. But boy oh boy am I excited to see them in action.
Typically, this time of the year we are mocking preseason rankings
illinimike
- Wheaton, IL
It would be so nice to have some three-point production from Damonte this year. He does everything else so well.
It’s nice to see Curbelo pass and Da’Monte shoot... but that was just a defensive breakdown by #3. That can’t happen against Baylor or Dook
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Curbelo will be the best point guard we’ve had since Deron, without question. Kid is going to be special
This is our middle-income trap year. The team has been built on the promise of playing time and growth via ascension. I think that those opportunities are no longer driving the talent level growth for the team, and this is evident in the recruiting misses.
BU needs to win this year, but more importantly get guys in the league in order to break out of the trap.
BU needs to win this year, but more importantly get guys in the league in order to break out of the trap.
There were games last year when it seemed like the other team wasn’t even guarding him. Being able to hit an unguarded 3 with regularity would improve his game so much in my own worthless opinion.
Believe major reason for success last year was willingness of players to accept their roles. For DaMonte that meant playing defense and rebounding not shooting. He never took enough shots to get in a rhythm so I’ve never been sure he couldn’t shoot or he wasn’t supposed to in his role. Trent also was focused on defense and getting Ayo his shots. Not sure what their role will be this year but believe it will be based on defense not offense and necessarily so as that what brought their success last year. If it was offense, Hawk would be starting at the four.
iLL 89ers
- Dallas,TX , Born and raised in Alton,Illinois
Hear you captain on the "Music to my ears"
IMO if the "fresh" on this team can contribute and be very effective , and everyone stays healthy.I really think this Illinois team is top 5 no doubt , really anxious to see in anyway how much better this team can be defensively . If they do then watch out , this could be a very special team IMHO......
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
anyone heard anything on whether or not tickets will be available for our big matchups (Baylor, Duke)?
18 games or 20?
Interesting that if you look at Vitale’s projected All-American teams (1-5). We have a first and third member, Villanova has a second and fourth member and Gonzaga has a third and fifth. Also like the positions of the two at PG and Center. Seems like they could just declare us National Champions if something happens to the season.
ILLINI76
- Springfiled, IL.
I hope we could do something like this.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
We should hold auditions to see who can yell the loudest to make up for the lack of numbers lol.
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