kcib8130
- Parts Unknown
Without even looking I can darn near guarantee DMW had more minutes last year the slim Jake once he got in the starting lineup.
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
- Status
And we should pursue an additional 4 because that is the one position we lack depth. If we bring in someone that starts over Hawkins, we will have a comfortable rotation of 9 guys.
Kofi
Belo
Grandison
Hutch
Trent
Monte
Hawkins
Plummer
*mystery 4
And that’s not even getting to the freshmen. I’m not much into throwing out crazy expectations, but our team has the potential to be good again. It’s been awhile since we have had 3 consecutive good seasons.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Hell, it had been awhile since we had one consecutive good season.
Why do we have to be the one changing our lineup?
We should be forcing others to change. We are EXTREMELY deep with guards/small forwards. Keep running in fresh looks, pressing, pressure D, and blow-bys from our guards and force others to change personnel.
Also Omar Payne.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
I think Omar and Kofi are going to really benefit from their practice battles.
100%. Make the other team prove they can shoot it over our shorter lineup and contain our guards. If then can, then we can adjust. If Kofi is indeed coming back this group has a lot of versatility. I've heard Hutch is a good ball handler/facilitator too right? Maybe toss in a lineup of Hutch, Monte, Grandison, Payne and Kofi and see how teams respond to that size. If it sucks, don't use it again. I think the thing Loyola taught us is we shouldn't get stagnant in our approach to the game, and I think we have a lot of versatility in the roster (especially with the 2 free scholarships this year only).
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
I like the idea of going into this season with Cockburn and Payne in the lineup.
But if we're truly committed to keeping the intimidation factor up, we absolutely need to add Fears in 2023. Just a no-brainer, really. As a bonus, I hear he's also pretty good at this basketball thing.
But if we're truly committed to keeping the intimidation factor up, we absolutely need to add Fears in 2023. Just a no-brainer, really. As a bonus, I hear he's also pretty good at this basketball thing.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Seems hunger from that one NCAA game might serve us very well this coming year. And the SFC crowds!
Trent/Belo22> Trent/Belo21
Trent/Alf ? Ayo/Trent
DaMonte/Hutch > Miller
JacG/Hawk22>JacG/DaMonte
Kofi/Payne > Kofi/ Giorgi
If Kofi returns we should be stronger at every position except Ayo’s replacement. Think we proved that was even replaceable in the three games he was absent. Not sure of rotation but more important than starters. If Hutch lives up to the hype we will have at least five players capable of scoring big in Kofi, Belo, Alf, Trent, and Hutch. It will be a fun season.
Trent/Alf ? Ayo/Trent
DaMonte/Hutch > Miller
JacG/Hawk22>JacG/DaMonte
Kofi/Payne > Kofi/ Giorgi
If Kofi returns we should be stronger at every position except Ayo’s replacement. Think we proved that was even replaceable in the three games he was absent. Not sure of rotation but more important than starters. If Hutch lives up to the hype we will have at least five players capable of scoring big in Kofi, Belo, Alf, Trent, and Hutch. It will be a fun season.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I also think we got a snippet of what Super Senior Trent can do off the ball when Ayo went down.
He's an....*ahem*...elite scorer and has shown he can take on a role similar to Ayo at the end of close games. Between Trent and Curbelo, I think Ayo's loss can be tempered. They just aren't as un-guardable as Ayo.
He's an....*ahem*...elite scorer and has shown he can take on a role similar to Ayo at the end of close games. Between Trent and Curbelo, I think Ayo's loss can be tempered. They just aren't as un-guardable as Ayo.
Curbelo was fairly un-guardable as an out of control freshmen. Now with a year of experience and a full offseason on campus to harness that raw talent? My mind wanders with possibilities.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I don't disagree, I just think the difference is isolation, or 1v1 with the ball in hand. Ayo was/is an ice cold killer, and really un-guardable one on one.
Belo's quickness and instincts can make him a difficult matchup, but he needs a deep threat like Trent to keep guys honest in a late game iso situation.
Also, neither of them have the physical attributes that made Ayo such a tough matchup. Length, stride, strength, and probably the best finisher at the rim we've ever had along with Nick and Frank W.
I love Ayo and what he did for this team, but what that stretch showed is we have others who are capable scorers that stepped back to let Ayo do his thing. Without Ayo, this team will move the ball a lot and put up a TON of points. Should work in Kofi’s favor too should he decide to come back.
Any idea who they are even targeting? Not really a whole lot left. Certainly not any “top flight proven” 4s that I am aware of.
Interesting but I would be surprised if we started that lineup because I dont Coach Underwood trying to duplicate last years offense . You have two players now on the team that are very good using screens , Belo in the pick and roll and Plummer off the ball so I think you almost have to have more size in the lineup to make the screen game more viable .
Kofi
Payne or Hawkins
Grandison
Plummer
Belo(Trent is the backup PG )
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
IMHO......There's zero % that Trent doesn't start....that , to ME , is the biggest no brainer on the makeup of this coming season's team ......Brad won't start a transfer over an every day guy like Trent who has been here for a long time and has a team first mentality and is an ELITE (yep,I said it ) defender as evidenced by his B1G award last year.....
The " who's starting " conversation is just like any year and as brad has stated numerous times . It's not who's starting , but who's finishing the games...
It's such a different mindset for me to see what the roster show's now with many talented freshman on the squad backing up many talented upperclassmen who have demonstrated their skills and are worthy of many minutes on the court......I love this dilemma compared to previous years of crying " where or who is our PG "...???
We will be a load this coming season without Kofi and a top 5 with Kofi.........I anxiously await Friday , but I will enjoy this season coming up no matter what we hear Friday....
I also am anxious to see what the Illini FB team will do this season .....It's a great time to be an Illini fanatic with both teams in capable hands now......
The " who's starting " conversation is just like any year and as brad has stated numerous times . It's not who's starting , but who's finishing the games...
It's such a different mindset for me to see what the roster show's now with many talented freshman on the squad backing up many talented upperclassmen who have demonstrated their skills and are worthy of many minutes on the court......I love this dilemma compared to previous years of crying " where or who is our PG "...???
We will be a load this coming season without Kofi and a top 5 with Kofi.........I anxiously await Friday , but I will enjoy this season coming up no matter what we hear Friday....
I also am anxious to see what the Illini FB team will do this season .....It's a great time to be an Illini fanatic with both teams in capable hands now......
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
We were quite literally at our best last year once Jake was inserted into the lineup at the 4.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Curious why you think that. We played really well after he entered the starting lineup last season. If he’s playing 35 minutes a game, thats probably not great, but he is a smart player and aside from some defensive matchups he won’t be able to handle, there’s no reason to think he hasn’t been working on his game too.
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
Wow. Trent coming off the bench. That is a bold prediction. Not a good one, but…bold.
illini80
- Forgottonia
TC seems to be the most plugged in on that. Unfortunately we are 0-fer on the guys we’ve been after and some think we may leave the spot open if Kofi returns. It’s surprising how Underwood has struggled to recruit that position when he’s had success at a high level for every other slot. Hawkins is going to do great things, but we need more depth and it’s very possible Hawkins needs another year to develop his full potential. We won’t know the answer to that until November. Grandison/Hawkins could work out fine, but man what a Mitchell/Obanor/Garcia/etc. would add.
We had Ayo to help with rebounding last year. I agree that he can help in certain situations. But a small 4 won't work with our 3 small guards
illini80
- Forgottonia
You are correct that Ayo pulled a ton of boards in. I think Belo will do a lot of that too. He just has a knack for finding the ball. I could be wrong, but I think if get Kofi back we will be fine on the boards. Brad will make that an emphasis if guys want to be on the court.
- Status