I want to say Kudos to Kofi, welcome back! Also much love for Coach Underwood. Looks like he's aged 20 years, I am looking forward to this Team/ 2021! And keep rocking Coach Chet!!
Experience, IMO there will a big step from Andre, Hawk and BBV. Trent can go back to being 1st option as 2 position a bit more. I feel he will fill the clutch minutes/plays Ayo held at least at 75% Ayo did. Hope Payne, Kofi and Plummer pick up slack. Hutch wild card. Any growth from Grandison will be tremendous as he proved to be a bit better than I expected last year. With Coach saying Hawk most improved...that is huge...who else steps up with the heart of a champion?Just curious, what makes this team so particularly deep over last yearās when we basically sub out Miller and Giorgi for Plummer and Payne? I agree that we do have a deep team, and Iām not saying that our bench isnt good by any means, just curious why weāre getting so much excitement for a bench that hasnāt really upgraded that much over last yearās.
Guessing since coach says Hawk is most improved player he will get tick...BBV will get tick...fyi. Hutch is more questionable for me, yet some say sure fire starter so guess he will get tick... Start of season Kofi, Andre, Trent, 25 minutes plus barring injury or odd circumstance. DaMonte, Jake, Hawk ??? Plummer, Payne Hutch ??? BBV !!! so that takes us to 10 deep without counting any of the three top 100 frosh. DaMonte 50%, Jake 50%, Hawk 34%, Hutch 33% Payne 16% Plummer 16% is how I am calling starting 5 barring injury.I was waiting for a reply like this from you given no one was really answering the question in you post. As someone did mention, Hutch is a big reason that people are high on depth/bench. Then there is Hawk taking a step forward, giving BU more useable depth. And of course the 3 incoming freshmen. Some even think BBV will finally be fully available and earning some real minutes. I have real doubts on the latter.
But Iāve noticed that fans tend to overrate depth during the pre-season. Outside of games against far lesser opponents and blowouts, teams use 6 to 8 players. The lllini basically used 8 players last year ā 8.5 if you want to include Hawkins. So if basically Hutch, Payne and Plummer divvy up Ayo, Giorgi and AMās minutes in some manner weāve got a first 8 again, so not a lot of minutes left for Hawk to get more than last year let alone for the 3 freshmen and BBV except for blowouts and lesser teams in noncon. I do think that if Hawk has made a nice jump from FR to SO then there is probably room to find him some more minutes ā maybe up to 12 to 15 mpg. Going to be interesting how BU navigates all this. So you wonder why BU is always calling players elite and making comparisons to players that donāt make sense? Itās not for the media or fansā benefit. I think it is his way of showing love to the guys nearer the end of the bench since he wonāt always be able to find them much playing time. And it is nice to have them if injuries do happen.
This story and his bounce last year make me so excited for him.Class Act:
āColeman had planned to take other visits, including DePaul, āone Final Four participantā and three or four other high-major schools, according to Rodney. But Coleman, who visits his family in Chicago multiple times per year, told his father after the Illinois visit that "it can't be better than this" at any other school and that he wanted to cancel the visits so that he didn't waste anyone else's time ā or anyone else's opportunity.
āHe said, āDad, why would I waste that visit? Thatās one less visit for someone whoās praying to go to that school, and Iām taking it just to make a trip,ā" Rodney said. "I said, āDamn, I got a great son, man. Mature as hell.ā Literally, he turned down major players.āā
The long game: Hoops upbringing prepares Hawkins for B1G role
Coleman Hawkins was a willing learner, eager to take in his dadās lessons and learn the intricacies of the game from someone who has lived it247sports.com
winner of Hawk, Hutch, Payne battle royale perhaps...I have a feeling Damonte and Grandison won't both start. I think BU will start one of them plus more of an offensive-minded/shooter/scorer as the other.
Hutch and Plummer 25 minutes ...wow...a lot of minutes for players who have played a grand total of zero minutes for U of I. I am willing to bet neither averages that in the Big and a beach house in Utah both do not.Unfortunately that is a real possibility. Iām sure BU realizes that and will do what he can to get them minutes, but he likely also realizes this team has a real chance at national championship or at least real far in tourney. Heās not going to jeopardize that just to keep a frosh from transferring down the line.
In competitive games, I could easily see the breakdown of minutes something like this:
AC 35
TF. 32
Kofi. 28
Hutch. 25
Grandy. 20
DMW. 18
Plummer. 25
Payne. 15
Thatās 198 of 200 minutes and doesnāt include Hawk. Blowouts and games against lesser opponents opens up minutes, and foul trouble may move minutes down to end of bench. But where do you see any real significant being found for the freshmen outside of the opportunities Iāve mentioned?
Plummer was great in the PAC12 last year, he could probably play closer to 30 if anythingHutch and Plummer 25 minutes ...wow...a lot of minutes for players who have played a grand total of zero minutes for U of I. I am willing to bet neither averages that in the Big and a beach house in Utah both do not.
nope...Plummer was great in the PAC12 last year, he could probably play closer to 30 if anything
But I totally agree with your point that a taller, perhaps quicker player could defend better in certain matchups. We definitely could see that play out with a guy like Payne and CoHawk.
Why do you feel Plummer will average closer to 30 or 25 minutes a game and who will he take those minutes from? Trent? AC? Grandison? DaMonte? please tell me just because he averaged 13 points a game at Utah you think he is one of Illinois top 3 in minutes a game. Even if he can beat out Trent at the 2, which I highly doubt Illinois will not run too much with a 3 small guard lineup...or just post a goofy gif rather than back up your guesswork.
The guy played 28 minutes per game and shot 38% from three in what proved the be one of the best conferences last year. Averaged almost 14 ppg too. Frankly, I donāt think he came here to play less than 25 per. Trent is going to have to play some pg when Curbelo does sit which opens up time at the 2. I love Damonte, but he canāt create his own shot like Plummer can. Not to mention heāll get most of his minutes at the 3. Weāre all guessing here, but it seems clear to me Plummer will be playing a lot, first guy off the bench. We need his floor spacing and shot creatingWhy do you feel Plummer will average closer to 30 or 25 minutes a game and who will he take those minutes from? Trent? AC? Grandison? DaMonte? please tell me just because he averaged 13 points a game at Utah you think he is one of Illinois top 3 in minutes a game. Even if he can beat out Trent at the 2, which I highly doubt Illinois will not run too much with a 3 small guard lineup...or just post a goofy gif rather than back up your guesswork.
This. Everyone is guessing so people need to relax. I have heard a lot of predictions that have very little backing them.Weāre all guessing here
Fair enough, my point still stands for other players when compared to what we have seen from CH in games I just can't see him starting. I am sure he has improved. We just have a larger need at the 4 so i see Jacob playing there.. The eye test of what I've seen in granted non B10 games of Hutch and DMW too that one of them will start. I just haven't seen that from CH yet. Hutch and the other 3 freshman are exactly the kind of players that BU seems to want at the 3. Long, athletic, quick release shooters, that can handle the ball. Hutch was working out with NBA guys like Noah Vonleh and others who told him he is ready for the B10. I dont think NBA guys would be working out with vastly inferior talent. I realize he hasn't played a B10 game yet so we will have to wait and see what happens in the game. Not just what happens in practice but in the game. I've seen DMW and CH in games and the eye test of Hutch in games too. I think Hutch will play starters minutes and he or DMW will start along with Jacob at the 4. But if CH has improved by leaps and bounds and can give us a more physical presence and shooting at the 4 that would be amazing and I would be excited too. I just need to see it in the games to believe itWho said Jacob would be benched ?
Kofi
Hawkins
Jacob
Trent
Belo
I pitty the fool that thinks otherwise! Go Illini!I have a prediction for the rest of the B1G....
'Paign, Payne, pain.....
Everyone is guessing
How many chest bumps with Chet average this season??? I'm thinking he'll step it up once we're in conference
I want to say Kudos to Kofi, welcome back! Also much love for Coach Underwood. Looks like he's aged 20 years, I am looking forward to this Team/ 2021! And keep rocking Coach Chester!!