Underwood has also called him the best athlete and shooter on the team.
This plus a few media types that had access to practices confirmed such.
Underwood has also called him the best athlete and shooter on the team.
Pretty simple--NimariSo with RJ committed, who is our next biggest target or a guy who is leaning Illini? Sorry, I’ve been much too focused on this season to pay much attention to recruiting
Just like Alex Legion.This plus a few media types that had access to practices confirmed such.
Calm down.
Yeah I mean let's be honest, if we lose Ayo, Kofi, DMW and Trent, we could potentially be right back into the Big Ten cellar next year. Just losing Ayo is going to be a colossal challenge, it is difficult to overstate how much he has meant to this team in his three years here.
Just like Alex Legion.
Just like Alex Legion.
If you were really paying attention, the Alex Legion Experience was a graduate-level seminar in the way college sports works. Both competitively and media-wise.Ugh. Why?
The key phrase being "recruited over them". They are here in the first place because we missed on more valued recruits. At this point in the season pickings are pretty lean though there are likely still some decent players that will become available.My point is just that we haven’t seen anything from BBV/Hutcherson/Hamlin/Lieb at this point. It seems like sunk cost fallacy to cling to them in the hopes they will produce. If any of them leave, I’m not convinced we really lost anything. Hutcherson I still really hope recovers and sticks with us and of course I hope Lieb develops, but if we recruited over them and they leave knowing we have other players who will start over them, so be it.
Might not have the same meaning to the program given Ayo got the ball rolling, but I don't think this is at all crazy to say. Has some on-ball skills from his background playing PG, high-level shooter, great defender, highly touted yet hard worker -- kind of guy worth betting on. I don't think he'll ever have the at-rim finishing ability of Ayo -- few do -- but he has the potential to make up for that from deep. I'll be interested to see how much he improves his handle over the offseason. That seems, to me, to be the determinant of how much more workload he'll be able to handle. But he's had a great opportunity to see what parts of his game are holding him back at the next level without having to let those flaws prevent him from seeing the floor. Really the perfect situation for a freshman.Miller can absolutely rise to Ayo's level, maybe higher.
Miller can become a star, he has loads of talent, but there is legitimate National Player of the Year talk about Ayo. I don't care if a guy is the #1 recruit in the country, you don't blithely project that. Not fair to Miller or Ayo.Might not have the same meaning to the program given Ayo got the ball rolling, but I don't think this is at all crazy to say. Has some on-ball skills from his background playing PG, high-level shooter, great defender, highly touted yet hard worker -- kind of guy worth betting on. I don't think he'll ever have the at-rim finishing ability of Ayo -- few do -- but he has the potential to make up for that from deep. I'll be interested to see how much he improves his handle over the offseason. That seems, to me, to be the determinant of how much more workload he'll be able to handle. But he's had a great opportunity to see what parts of his game are holding him back at the next level without having to let those flaws prevent him from seeing the floor. Really the perfect situation for a freshman.
Well put. Not having to be "the guy" right away was really the best chance for him to adjust to the college game without all the pressure. Defensively he's been a surprise as a frosh. Really can't wait to see how he develops as he gets more minutes and figures out how to effectively drive in college and expand his offensive repertoire.Might not have the same meaning to the program given Ayo got the ball rolling, but I don't think this is at all crazy to say. Has some on-ball skills from his background playing PG, high-level shooter, great defender, highly touted yet hard worker -- kind of guy worth betting on. I don't think he'll ever have the at-rim finishing ability of Ayo -- few do -- but he has the potential to make up for that from deep. I'll be interested to see how much he improves his handle over the offseason. That seems, to me, to be the determinant of how much more workload he'll be able to handle. But he's had a great opportunity to see what parts of his game are holding him back at the next level without having to let those flaws prevent him from seeing the floor. Really the perfect situation for a freshman.
Hamlin & Lieb are projects, who may be able to contribute off the bench as upper classmen. BBV has had guys in front of him that were more ready than him, plus injuries set him back bigtime. Hutch's only issue is his back, otherwise he'd be in the rotation. I don't think they deserve to be labeled as washouts just yet.My point is just that we haven’t seen anything from BBV/Hutcherson/Hamlin/Lieb at this point. It seems like sunk cost fallacy to cling to them in the hopes they will produce. If any of them leave, I’m not convinced we really lost anything. Hutcherson I still really hope recovers and sticks with us and of course I hope Lieb develops, but if we recruited over them and they leave knowing we have other players who will start over them, so be it.
Saying somebody can reach a certain level is not the same as projecting they become that.Miller can become a star, he has loads of talent, but there is legitimate National Player of the Year talk about Ayo. I don't care if a guy is the #1 recruit in the country, you don't blithely project that. Not fair to Miller or Ayo.
None of the above are anything you can reasonably count on for 2021-22, I think that's probably the best way to put it.Hamlin & Lieb are projects, who may be able to contribute off the bench as upper classmen. BBV has had guys in front of him that were more ready than him, plus injuries set him back bigtime. Hutch's only issue is his back, otherwise he'd be in the rotation. I don't think they deserve to be labeled as washouts just yet.
Not if they remember Lucas Johnson LOLI guess they're called this for a reason, but some on this board have a tough time understanding intangibles.
I hope not. The numbers for that scheme were terrible. IMO it is a gambling system that you play when you know you are hopelessly outmatched. An team of unusual speed, length and experience may be able to succeed with it.If Kofi leaves it would not surprise me if Underwood goes back to his pressure defense, which means more players seeing the floor.
Battle was a "full of heart" player never giving up for loose balls and rebounds ,,, he didn`t care if you was 7` or 6`..one of best defenders coach Henson could ask for and would dunk on you ever attempt he caught the rock in the paint (played way bigger then his size)if Melendez is even half what Battle brought to the table that is a very good thing....looking forward to watching him continue his career as a Illini` and glad he wants to be a Fighting Illini`...is Melendez our modern day Kenny Battle ?
is that a fair comparison ?
DocMorgan with the most prescient post in a long time.Nice. This tidbit will lead this board to a thousand page thread on who it could/might be transferring.
Maybe in his leaping ability but you would be hard pressed to ever find someone who played with the tenacity and will to win that Kenny Battle did. Andres Feliz is one of the very, very few Illini I’ve seen who came close, which is probably a big reason both guys are so beloved by the fan base.
Ha! Thanks. Have to admit I needed a dictionary!DocMorgan with the most prescient post in a long time.
Miller can become a star, he has loads of talent, but there is legitimate National Player of the Year talk about Ayo. I don't care if a guy is the #1 recruit in the country, you don't blithely project that. Not fair to Miller or Ayo.
And Miller has a ways to go at both ends of the floor. He's still piecing it together. Ayo was too at the same age, but he arrived more fully-formed in terms of what his game was I think.
Miller can become a star, he has loads of talent, but there is legitimate National Player of the Year talk about Ayo. I don't care if a guy is the #1 recruit in the country, you don't blithely project that. Not fair to Miller or Ayo.
And Miller has a ways to go at both ends of the floor. He's still piecing it together. Ayo was too at the same age, but he arrived more fully-formed in terms of what his game was I think.