Illini Basketball 2020-2021

[FollowMeDontFollowMe]

It’s obvious Michigan was afraid of losing against us today. This is a similar situation to Duke cancelling a few games after we destroyed them to buy themselves time to improve. No one bought the Duke excuse, and no ones buying the Michigan one.

They’ll definitely make-up at least 2 of their 5 postponed games on either side of the Indiana game, and may squeeze one in between Wisconsin and Rutgers.

That gives them 8 or 9 games in a 21 day period. If they’re concerned about playing us today then I’m not sure the extra 2 days of practice will really help them much.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Just a quick refresher on why Ayo came back for year 3:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1289369330606469120

Lead the way, Ayo.

 

[pruman91]

Illini's Miller no longer playing like a freshman

Underwood is happy with the role Miller has found on the team as he adjusts to the college game.

www.stltoday.com

By Matthew Flaten Decatur Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Adam Miller is no longer a freshman.
That's how Illinois head basketball coach Brad Underwood views his young guard who is 18 games into this first season of Big Ten basketball.
Miller, who has started each game this season, has averaged 8.6 points, but his improvement on the defensive side of the ball has won Underwood over.
"His true growth has been on the defensive side. He's become one of those guys that I trust and a very good defender," Underwood said. "(Adam) is going to be a great two-way player in his career. He is a great passer and has great vision. He's no longer a freshman. He is blossoming into a veteran college basketball player."


As the No. 6-ranked Illini head to Nebraska on Friday, Miller will take the defensive lessons learned from Illini teammate Trent Frazier to the court.
"Trent is a great defender and he is one of the best defenders in the country. He holds me accountable. Every time I mess up or do something wrong, he tells me about that and that I have to be better," Miller said. "We've gone head-to-head sometimes and gone back and forth on offense. I try to go with him and he tries to go with me. We have really built a bond with each other and we have made each other better."

------------------------------------------

Great leadership by TF.....

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Okay, I guess my previous detective work on the Illinois/Northwestern game time is kind of thrown up in the air, lol. In a hilarious display of hypocrisy and favoritism, the Big Ten has sent Nebraska to Maryland for two games in two days and 6 games in 10 days overall. Meanwhile, Michigan recovers at their own pace, lol.

Anyway, point being that Maryland/Nebraska is at 6:00 pm CST on BTN on Tuesday 2/16, meaning Illinois/Northwestern cannot be at 7:00 pm. I would assume this means we're playing after that game at 8:00 pm for a doubleheader on BTN, but I have not looked at the various schedules again.

 

[TheFameProtector]

Granted, AC is more talented than these guys. Maybe his timeline will be shorter, but one offseason might be pushing it. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

Right now, he looks like he doesn't want to shoot. Changing that mindset may be as big of an obstacle as actually making the shots.

I think your last point is spot on. Just based on his upper body form at the free throw line, he looks capable of shooting from further out. He seems like he just doesn't practice shooting them enough (in scrimmages, etc.) and has a bit of the mental barrier going on, a la Ben Simmons. His form and body position changes pretty drastically shot-to-shot (on 3s, of those I've seen) and that just screams 'lack of repetition' to me.

I really hope he can become more consistent and start shooting A LOT more 3s. I don't want him to get to this level of shot happiness, but he reminds me of Trae Young without the deep trigger (great passer, small frame, great penetration and ball handling). If he can get above 35% with a much higher volume, I think the lotto talk is very realistic.

 

[TheFameProtector]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1359972396749438982

Good thread.

Except for some of our fans' comments Ugh. Embarrassing. He's a high-level recruit that has bought into playing a very defined role on a top 10 team. Has been a huge asset and hasn't been greedy for a bigger role. Makes few mistakes, particularly when you consider his age. Just crazy to me that anybody in their right mind would think he's been a disappointment, and then go voice those opinions on a public forum that recruits and players use all the time.

Edit: this ire is not directed at you, Fanview.

 

[Fanview]

Except for some of our fans' comments Ugh. Embarrassing. He's a high-level recruit that has bought into playing a very defined role on a top 10 team. Has been a huge asset and hasn't been greedy for a bigger role. Makes few mistakes, particularly when you consider his age. Just crazy to me that anybody in their right mind would think he's been a disappointment, and then go voice those opinions on a public forum that recruits and players use all the time.

Edit: this ire is not directed at you, Fanview.

Agreed on all the above. I also don't understand the need to pit Miller and Curbelo against each other. Having to choose one and say, "X is better" is super weird.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360278121048666113

 

[Illwinsagain]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360278121048666113

Can't we get a weeknight game at 6 or 7?

 

[Point-Illinois]

Can't we get a weeknight game at 6 or 7?

This is working out great for me on the west coast.

 

[CubsIlliniFan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360278121048666113

We cannot let up as we need to take care of business before going to Minny on the 20th. Winning these three games are crucial. Getting closer to Michigan in the standings and putting more space between us and Iowa, Wisky OSU and Purdue will make getting into the top 4 easier than last year as we had to block a Garza shot at the buzzer to grab 4th.

 

[CentralILifer]

I like the late games. Kids are nearly to bed by then.

 

[O&B4Ever]

Okay, I guess my previous detective work on the Illinois/Northwestern game time is kind of thrown up in the air, lol. In a hilarious display of hypocrisy and favoritism, the Big Ten has sent Nebraska to Maryland for two games in two days and 6 games in 10 days overall. Meanwhile, Michigan recovers at their own pace, lol.

Anyway, point being that Maryland/Nebraska is at 6:00 pm CST on BTN on Tuesday 2/16, meaning Illinois/Northwestern cannot be at 7:00 pm. I would assume this means we're playing after that game at 8:00 pm for a doubleheader on BTN, but I have not looked at the various schedules again.

Terp fans have to be happy. Two gimme games vs Nebby will certainly enhance their chances of making the Tourney. I realize it doesn't help them with KenPom, NET or anything like that, but will pump up their win total. Unless, of course, they choke one of those gimme games. Lol

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Anyway, point being that Maryland/Nebraska is at 6:00 pm CST on BTN on Tuesday 2/16, meaning Illinois/Northwestern cannot be at 7:00 pm. I would assume this means we're playing after that game at 8:00 pm for a doubleheader on BTN, but I have not looked at the various schedules again.

You nailed it. Nice job!

 

[O&B4Ever]

I think your last point is spot on. Just based on his upper body form at the free throw line, he looks capable of shooting from further out. He seems like he just doesn't practice shooting them enough (in scrimmages, etc.) and has a bit of the mental barrier going on, a la Ben Simmons. His form and body position changes pretty drastically shot-to-shot (on 3s, of those I've seen) and that just screams 'lack of repetition' to me.

I really hope he can become more consistent and start shooting A LOT more 3s. I don't want him to get to this level of shot happiness, but he reminds me of Trae Young without the deep trigger (great passer, small frame, great penetration and ball handling). If he can get above 35% with a much higher volume, I think the lotto talk is very realistic.

I doubt it's due to lack of shooting them in practice. I imagine all the guys get up tons of shots, whether in practices or on their own. JMO.

 

[FollowMeDontFollowMe]

My guess is Illini vs Mich will be on the 18th if it’s to happen before the end of the season.

The Michigan/Rutgers game could be moved up to the 16th.

Edit: That would mean Michigan playing @WI, IL, RU, @OSU in 8 days.

 

[WizardBill]

Big, big, big Miller fan. I was not sold until I read this:

“Being on a heater is good, but they can be on a heater too and it could be back and forth, you don’t know,” Miller said. “When you’re stopping them and they can’t score and you see them exhausted, that’s probably the best feeling … I feel like stops are the best thing because they can’t score. We’re going to score. We’re going to find ways to score. We’re going to do that anyway. We’ve got Kofi, Ayo, we’ve got too many pieces.”

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Big, big, big Miller fan. I was not sold until I read this:

“Being on a heater is good, but they can be on a heater too and it could be back and forth, you don’t know,” Miller said. “When you’re stopping them and they can’t score and you see them exhausted, that’s probably the best feeling … I feel like stops are the best thing because they can’t score. We’re going to score. We’re going to find ways to score. We’re going to do that anyway. We’ve got Kofi, Ayo, we’ve got too many pieces.”

That was awesome. When this team is playing top-level D and is dialed in, we are VERY tough to beat.

 

[ILLINI76]

They just scheduled Nebraska for back to back days at Maryland next week. February 16 and 17. So they might make Michigan do it.

 

[Dre]

It has been said that they hope to schedule the Nebraska home game during the first week of March. That would make a PERFECT senior night. I think an all out effort should be made to get some fans in to see that game. We are the ones that really got shut out this season. Why couldn't we at least have fans in the old B and C sections? Nobody should be on the floor except the teams. It would mean so much to our team, and it would give us the only chance we have had to say "thank you" to this special group of guys. How can we get this done??

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Some nice stats on Kofi's performance thus far:

• He leads the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging more than 10 rebounds per game.
• He averages a double-double per game, with 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds entering Friday’s contest.
• Cockburn hasn't had fewer than 10 rebounds since Dec. 23 against Penn State, and has finished with fewer than 10 boards just four times all season.
• Cockburn has over 80 dunks in his career, an Illini record — and his 40+ this season is near the tops in the NCAA.

Dosunmu’s heroics help No. 6 Illinois fight off scare from Nebraska

The Illini manage to make it five in a row.

www.thechampaignroom.com

Kofi already has the Illini record for career dunks and he hasn't even finished his sophomore year yet. Wow.

 

[CentralILifer]

I love that Kofi dunks the ball so much. It seems to me our big guys of the past had aversion to it even when it was an option.

 

[texillwek]

After last night's game, Kofi is now the nation's Dunkmaster Supreme

 

[CentralILifer]

I love how Kofi is dunking. I feel like I've been yelling at TVs for years about Illini big men dunking the ball more often.

 

[texillwek]

I love how Kofi is dunking. I feel like I've been yelling at TVs for years about Illini big men dunking the ball more often.

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