Illini Basketball 2022-2023

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#276      

john1952

john1952
john1952
WizardBill said:
Like THAT’S a possibility! 🙄
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saturdaytradition.com

Way-too-early 2022-23 Big Ten basketball power rankings

With the NBA Draft deadline in the rearview mirror, Saturday Tradition looks ahead with way-too-early Big Ten basketball power rankings.
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1. Indiana (21-14, 9-11 Big Ten in 2022)​

What I like: Indiana returns 78.1% of its production from last season, which is 2nd-best among power-conference programs. Likely Big Ten preseason Player of the Year Trayce Jackson-Davis is the biggest chunk of that production, which helps even further.On top of that experience, Mike Woodson signed the nation’s 8th-ranked recruiting class.What I don’t like: Indiana’s returners weren’t particularly adept at shooting. The Hoosiers were 200th nationally in 3-point shooting and 233rd in free-throw shooting. Someone has to step up from outside.

2. Illinois (23-10, 15-5)​

What I like: Brad Underwood isn’t content to let this be a rebuilding season in Champaign. The Fighting Illini were aggressive in the transfer portal, adding Texas Tech guard Terrence Shannon Jr. and Baylor wing Matthew Mayer. The Big 12 was the best top-to-bottom conference in the nation last year, so those guys will boost the IlliniI also like Illinois’ potential with Coleman Hawkins as their primary big. Kofi Cockburn was a dominant force as a traditional post, but Hawkins can score from all over the floor. This could be a very exciting offense to watch.What I don’t like: Underwood hasn’t shown himself to be all that fond of freshmen, but a freshman will hold the keys to Illinois’ ceiling. 5-star point guard Skyy Clark will be entrusted with replacing Trent Frazier and Andre Curbelo running the Illini offense. It’s a big ask. His adjustment will determine whether the Illini compete for the B1G title or fall down a few notches.

3. Rutgers (18-14, 12-8) What I like: Yeah, that’s right. Rutgers. Other than Indiana, the Scarlet Knights are the only Big Ten team returning 3 players who were all-B1G honorable mention or better last season.One of those players, Paul Mulcahy, will be better suited as Rutgers’ primary point guard than he was playing off the ball with Geo Baker. Mulcahy and alley-oop machine Clifford Omoruyi will have all-B1G seasons. Caleb McConnell is likely to repeat as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Look for incoming transfer Cam Spencer to also have a major scoring impact shooting from long range.What I don’t like: Baker and Ron Harper Jr. were 2 of the best players in program history. Replacing just 1 of them would have been tough. Steve Pikiell has to replace both. Clearly, I’m betting that he will.​


4. Michigan (19-15, 11-9)​

What I like: The Wolverines were a cut above everyone else in the league heading into next season — until freshmen Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan both decided to stay in the NBA Draft. There’s a chance Michigan’s fall will be even more precipitous than I’ve indicated, but having Hunter Dickinson back should prevent that.
 
#278      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
john1952 said:

3. Rutgers (18-14, 12-8) What I like: Yeah, that’s right. Rutgers. Other than Indiana, the Scarlet Knights are the only Big Ten team returning 3 players who were all-B1G honorable mention or better last season.One of those players, Paul Mulcahy, will be better suited as Rutgers’ primary point guard than he was playing off the ball with Geo Baker. Mulcahy and alley-oop machine Clifford Omoruyi will have all-B1G seasons. ​

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This is not good for pruman's rage.....

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#279      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
skyIdub said:
This is not good for pruman's rage.....

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Yes Dr. , I'm still taking my anti- cry-baby meds..........I only cry and whine 10 times a day now........I really really do........



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Hah , but my attention span is only dis much,,,,,,,,It's spooky doc....spoooooooooooooooo-kyyyyyyyyyy.....I don't need my Midol any more......
 
#287      

Orangetool

O
Orangetool
I think its fine that some seem to place RJ less than first row. Go ahead and piss him off.

I'm sticking with my prediction that his rise will be what we are talking about most as this season progresses.
He is really good and the NBA prototype.
 
#288      

1970 John

1970 John
1970 John
theNewGuy said:
Mickey Mouse Smile GIF

All aboard the hype train!

The starting 5 (SC TSJ RJ MM CH) will all be in the NBA next season and this team will go 32-0 and win that National Championship.

In all honesty, I love how much POTENTIAL this team has. I love the depth. A lot of teams have 1 or 2 superstars to rely on but this team could have different ones each game. That also means we could have all our players go off or none.

I think a lot of our success this season lies on the coaches. Can Brad adjust to opposing teams quick enough? With so many buttons to push, can he push the right ones at the right time? I feel much more confident that we have a team that plays BU's style of basketball! I just still think about the Loyola game way too often.

I don't think making the sweet 16 AND winning a B1G regular season championship is unreasonable for this team.
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It’s more likely that a team with one or two superstars will suffer if that superstar(s) has an off night. A team with distributed talent would be less vulnerable to a single player being off.
 
#289      

3310

3
3310
Not sure where to put this, but hope it is OK here: I just watched Illinois vs LSU 1990 Classic recorded off of BTN a while ago (Rennie dunked on Shaq ;-). Who was Scott Pierce and why did he transfer to Okla State? He Played admirably off the bench as a freshman guarding Shaq. And the announcers kept referencing the sanctions and how Lou had to kick 3/5 commits off their promised schollys. I know the two we brought in in 1991 were Robbie Bennett and Scott Davidson. Were their really 3 other commits (Juwan?) and if so, who were they? Another other old timers who were insiders with more info? Anyway, it was fun to watch, great crowd, vibe, and basketball even though we were banned from the tourney that year. Larry Smith balled out.
 
#290      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
illini0440 said:
Just catching up on this thread….I wouldn’t take Curbelo back…and I don’t think the coaching staff/players would either. Also getting caught up on the whole true PG thing…..there are plenty of ball handlers on the team.
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The whole idea and premise of positionless basketball has me not worried about the PG position......I remember last year when we had to have DMW as the PG was a time to worry and caused great concern for the Illini Nation......

Now having SC , JE , SH , TR , or anyone else on the squad that the coaching staff deems worthy of handling the ball gives me great relief on this matter....

On the other hand I am concerned with with the post play , but i want to see what Dain can do down low before I would consider being worried......As I posted yesterday , I am so excited to see a different set of new players , with unique skills that will allow us to play a more up tempo pace of play and with so many talented players on the roster i can see us wearing down a lot of teams this year with our finally having a great amount of depth with such a small drop off of talent......................

It should be an exciting year and I can't wait to see how the team does .....I think the Skyy's the limit (pun intended) for us to contend for a B1G title and hopefully an advancement to at least the Sweet 16 in the Dance..........I really really am............................

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braving new world's ...........seeking out new hardware...............boldly going where no Illini team has gone before,,,,,,,,,,Natty anyone ??....anyone ???

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I L L ........
 
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#294      

EyeoftheIllini

EyeoftheIllini
EyeoftheIllini
blackdog said:
Not very fond of freshman? We've had freshman starters every year but last year...
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Maybe a bit too emphatic a statement, but not totally inaccurate. Outside of Miller, the other freshmen were head and shoulders above others at the position and started out of necessity. Look at game threads from last few years and they’ll be full of comments about why isn’t AJ, Tev (when wasn’t suspended), CoHawk, RJ, Goode and even Podz playing more — some a lot more.
 
#296      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1574449849038245889

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1574450838948306944
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loosiers @ # 7 ???????...........................................Granted , i don't have a clue how good the two 5 * frosh are , but if this is based solely on TJD , then I think the loosiers tribe will be very disappointed at season's end.......I have watched a lot of loosier games since TJD has been there and so many times he has missed bunnies within 3-4 ft of the basket and most of the time it looks like he just throws the ball at the rim with no touch at all......

But i am an almost 71 year old hippie with poor vision so what do I know .......I know what you're thinking .........pru , you don't know squat.....you might be right ..........................you really really might .........................................

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#297      

Calvin

C
Calvin
blackdog said:
Not very fond of freshman? We've had freshman starters every year but last year...
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Super nitpicky, but RJ started a game last year, at least according to the game logs I'm looking at. I mention it because he likely would've had a few more had he not had his appendectomy just as he was breaking out.

I think you can make a case that Underwood plays his best players regardless of class, just as much as saying he prefers veteran 'everyday' guys.
 
#300      

BretMyBeachHouse

B
BretMyBeachHouse
EyeoftheIllini said:
Maybe a bit too emphatic a statement, but not totally inaccurate. Outside of Miller, the other freshmen were head and shoulders above others at the position and started out of necessity. Look at game threads from last few years and they’ll be full of comments about why isn’t AJ, Tev (when wasn’t suspended), CoHawk, RJ, Goode and even Podz playing more — some a lot more.
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Sure. And every football board of a team blow 500 is filled with demands to play the second string quarterback.
 
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