Malcolm is just a great guy!Ignoring their playing contributions for a hot second...these are hands down two of the finest....people....to ever wear Illinois Orange and Blue.
Congrats Malcolm! Keep rising!
Agree Malcolm deserves all this and more. Disagree that his rosters lacked talent. It was his coach that lacked that.I just feel fantastic for Malcolm. He worked his tail off and carried our entire team on his shoulders while surrounded by a roster that was... not great. It was appalling that he never got to play in the Big Dance. I am so happy to see him finally get his.
3 players does not a basketball team make. I didn't say the roster was devoid of talent. But as a whole, it was not a great roster.Agree Malcolm deserves all this and more. Disagree that his rosters lacked talent. It was his coach that lacked that.
We had Nunn, Rice, and Hill on the same team and didn’t dance. That’s criminal.
And the PG and the Center?Agree Malcolm deserves all this and more. Disagree that his rosters lacked talent. It was his coach that lacked that.
We had Nunn, Rice, and Hill on the same team and didn’t dance. That’s criminal.
Grandpa Abrams had to be on that team, no?And the PG and the Center?
Agree Malcolm deserves all this and more. Disagree that his rosters lacked talent. It was his coach that lacked that.
We had Nunn, Rice, and Hill on the same team and didn’t dance. That’s criminal.
I think you're both right! A better coach could have done more with that roster. But that roster paled in comparison to what we have now, and even what we had under Weber. Particularly the inability to land legit PGs or centers.3 players does not a basketball team make. I didn't say the roster was devoid of talent. But as a whole, it was not a great roster.
You said he had a not great surrounding cast. I suppose it depends on the season, but for at least one Rice and Nunn were in that cast. The former was probably the best transfer the program has outside of Kenny Battle and the latter finished second in the NBA ROY voting. Egwu was an All B10 defender that year.3 players does not a basketball team make. I didn't say the roster was devoid of talent. But as a whole, it was not a great roster.
Don't remind me of the PG problems we had under Groce... Jaylon Tate and Te'jon Lucas *shudders*And the PG and the Center?
Tate plays in the G-League for Memphis & Lucas is averaging 10 points a game for BYU. Are you sure the problem wasnt with Groce instead of them?Don't remind me of the PG problems we had under Groce... Jaylon Tate and Te'jon Lucas *shudders*
I think Ayo would end up around the top 5-7 if he got enough playing time. But once the Bulls heal up, he'll be back to 20-25 mins a game. Still an incredible accomplishment considering where he got draftedAyo is #10 in ESPN's latest rookie ranking ($). Getting some respect on a national level
You said he had a not great surrounding cast. I suppose it depends on the season, but for at least one Rice and Nunn were in that cast. The former was probably the best transfer the program has outside of Kenny Battle and the latter finished second in the NBA ROY voting. Egwu was an All B10 defender that year.
Any competent coach gets that team in the dance.
I'd argue that, while it's still early, Plummer is better than Rice. That's not meant to be a knock on Rice, either.You said he had a not great surrounding cast. I suppose it depends on the season, but for at least one Rice and Nunn were in that cast. The former was probably the best transfer the program has outside of Kenny Battle and the latter finished second in the NBA ROY voting. Egwu was an All B10 defender that year.
Any competent coach gets that team in the dance.
Could be, yet Plummer has a lot of defensive work to do, he got beat a couple times badly on backdoor cuts by PU.I'd argue that, while it's still early, Plummer is better than Rice. That's not meant to be a knock on Rice, either.
Also, what I said was "surrounded by a roster that was... not great." The rosters underachieved but were mostly still bottom of the Big Ten caliber, middle at best.
Rice took a lot of plays off on D and could be very selfish with the basketball.Could be, yet Plummer has a lot of defensive work to do, he got beat a couple times badly on backdoor cuts by PU.
2 shooting guards and a wing isn't getting you too far in the B1GAgree Malcolm deserves all this and more. Disagree that his rosters lacked talent. It was his coach that lacked that.
We had Nunn, Rice, and Hill on the same team and didn’t dance. That’s criminal.
But 2 NBA players and a 19ppg scorer should. I think it’s fair to say that team was less than the sum of its parts. Either way, it’s all moot and in the past. The important thing is Malcolm and Ayo are Chicago Bulls and it’s oodles of fun.2 shooting guards and a wing isn't getting you too far in the B1G
My biggest problem with Groce, was when he called a time out at the end of the half or end of the game to set up a play....that play usually resulted in one player dribbling beyond the 3pt arch until the clock ran down to the 3-4 second mark and then launching a 3pt shot with a defender in his face.....made me want to :Tate plays in the G-League for Memphis & Lucas is averaging 10 points a game for BYU. Are you sure the problem wasnt with Groce instead of them?
2014-2015 we definitely had better talent on our roster than Iowa and probably better than Purdue and Indiana, all of whom made the tourney that year, while we got bounced in the first round of the NITI'd argue that, while it's still early, Plummer is better than Rice. That's not meant to be a knock on Rice, either.
Also, what I said was "surrounded by a roster that was... not great." The rosters underachieved but were mostly still bottom of the Big Ten caliber, middle at best.
Going back much further I'd argue for Derek Holcomb as a great transfer for our program. We could use a center like him to transfer in when Kofi is done.I'd argue that, while it's still early, Plummer is better than Rice. That's not meant to be a knock on Rice, either.
Also, what I said was "surrounded by a roster that was... not great." The rosters underachieved but were mostly still bottom of the Big Ten caliber, middle at best.
I don't know. That was a really thin roster. They went 8 deep at best, 7 during the last third of the season that Cosby was gone. Outside of Rice, Nunn and Hill, you had...2014-2015 we definitely had better talent on our roster than Iowa and probably better than Purdue and Indiana, all of whom made the tourney that year, while we got bounced in the first round of the NIT
I’d rather have another transfer big like Marcus Griffin when Kofi is doneGoing back much further I'd argue for Derek Holcomb as a great transfer for our program. We could use a center like him to transfer in when Kofi is done.