Da'Monte Williams returns for fifth season at Illinois

#28      
If he shot 67%, that would be better than 100% on 2's.

Youre Not Wrong Sign Language GIF by Sainsbury's
 
#31      
Monté, welcome back!!! This is the absolute best news.

Well, that and the fact you're going to shoot over 100% next season, which is also super exciting news. No pressure. Remember to have fun.
 
#37      
Will be an interesting year. There are a lot of bodies looking for time. Replace Ayo and Miller with Hutch and Plummer, and that basically fills the entire guard/wing rotation from last year. Then there are still 3 freshman to fit in there.
 
#38      
Will be an interesting year. There are a lot of bodies looking for time. Replace Ayo and Miller with Hutch and Plummer, and that basically fills the entire guard/wing rotation from last year. Then there are still 3 freshman to fit in there.
Guess we will see who are competitors and who are not. Practice should be intense!
 
#39      
Will be an interesting year. There are a lot of bodies looking for time. Replace Ayo and Miller with Hutch and Plummer, and that basically fills the entire guard/wing rotation from last year. Then there are still 3 freshman to fit in there.

Hutch and Plummer are unlikely to play 60 minutes per game. My guess is their combined minutes are closer to 40.
 
#44      
Yes. Ayo's departure can only make us better. That's why Underwood played him so little.
It's so obvious, remove the single best player, possibly in the history of the school, and we are going to be better than 3rd in the nation. I think removing Ayo's lack of selfishness will make the players better...
 
#45      
Will be an interesting year. There are a lot of bodies looking for time. Replace Ayo and Miller with Hutch and Plummer, and that basically fills the entire guard/wing rotation from last year. Then there are still 3 freshman to fit in there.
Playing time could become an issue.
 
#46      
I am definitely the minority here but I would rather play the kids. Monte is a glue guy but he will take away minutes from the new players. I hope that Monte will keep being a team player and teaching the kids and then take a back seat to them as the season moves forward.
 
#47      
I am definitely the minority here but I would rather play the kids. Monte is a glue guy but he will take away minutes from the new players. I hope that Monte will keep being a team player and teaching the kids and then take a back seat to them as the season moves forward.

If they want his minutes they can take them by being better than him in practice, then carrying over that productivity to the game. Monte is a consistent known quantity. If the freshmen overtake a consistent known quantity super senior, we'll be in a good place. If they don't, they are normal freshman who aren't better than an upperclassmen yet. And that's fine too. We have options. Options breeds competition. Competition is the best possible thing you can have within a roster.
 
#48      
It’s definitely a double edged sword with developing talent vs. winning now, but I feel like we need to keep momentum with the program as best we can. With Monte and Trent, we should still be a tournament team next year. Without, we aren’t a tournament team unless one of the freshmen is an instant contributor. I think all 3 will be good players for us eventually, but based on their rankings the odds are against any of them contributing right away. Assuming BU can keep everyone happy, think this is better for long term program stability.
 
#49      
I am definitely the minority here but I would rather play the kids. Monte is a glue guy but he will take away minutes from the new players. I hope that Monte will keep being a team player and teaching the kids and then take a back seat to them as the season moves forward.
What? No way monte takes a back seat to anyone down the stretch! I can see him playing multiple positions again, but he will be on the floor
 
#50      

Future Walk-On

Peoria, IL
It's so obvious, remove the single best player, possibly in the history of the school, and we are going to be better than 3rd in the nation. I think removing Ayo's lack of selfishness will make the players better...

If we thought we would never be as good again then we would be miserable, I vote that we will be better every year forever and ever.