Illini Basketball 2023-2024

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#676      

Navy_illini

N
Navy_illini
These all time roster brings back some good memories. However without knowing if that roster had to play across multiple eras ie no shot clock no three point line it is hard to judge. Or do you want the best players or would you want a certain style. If you wanted a running team Kofi would not be on it.
However if you want the best team I would put the 05 roster plus Kofi Ayo Nick Anderson against anyone else. The 05 team had great chemistry and needed a big.
 
#677      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
BretMyBeachHouse said:
He was. But this was a ridiculously low talent year for the B1G. Cook at 24 was the highest draft choice. Here's your other all B1G team. Would any of these other guys made even the second team last year?

Kirk Penney
Willie Deane
Rick Rickert
LaVell Blanchard
Jeff Newton
Brian Cook
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That's true but you can't really help who you play against. And where you're drafted isn't always the best indicator of how good a player was in college. Look at Ayo and Kofi. But, he did stick in the league for like 10 years if you're using NBA career as part of your evaluation (not how I approached it).

Anyway, I still haven't heard anyone give a better option for a face up four. While I'm a decently well versed historian of Illini hoops, I only started watching games in 2000. So, genuinely curious which player others would choose to fill that role.
 
#678      

Illini90

I
Illini90
DF8E2296-5A5D-4B2F-9263-EBFB0D1403FD.jpeg
 
#682      

nichi

N
nichi
21ChampaignSt said:
So, genuinely curious which player others would choose to fill that role.
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Eddie Johnson basically played the 4 in college. There was no three point shot then, but he displayed that skill in the NBA. If you want a stretch 4, he could play the role.

Bogie Redman was a stretch four 35 years before the position was invented.
 
#683      

Mike55

Mike55
Mike55
3 point girl said:
Ayo couldnt hold a candle to Frank Williams, Derek Harper, Nick Anderson, Deron Williams, & others. Cracks me up to see him, on the starting 5s.
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All of you have mentioned Awesome players from the past. We all create our starting 5 based on who we liked, for all sorts of different reasons. Instead of making a starting 5 and stating it's the best, we're better off having a top 25 players list. JOMO.
 
#684      

blackdog

blackdog
Champaign
blackdog
3 point girl said:
Ayo couldnt hold a candle to Frank Williams, Derek Harper, Nick Anderson, Deron Williams, & others. Cracks me up to see him, on the starting 5s.
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You mean the guy who won the Bob Cousy, Award, was consensus First Team All-American, averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in his last season (only Deron had more assists and only Anderson had more rebounds, nobody scored more) while also recording two triple doubles and being one of the most clutch players we have seen put on an Illini uniform? Yea definitely doesn't deserve a mention at all.
 
#685      

BRucks

BRucks
BRucks
nichi said:
Derek Harper gives Gill a run for his money.

Nick Anderson was a top 10 McD AA. Then after 2 years of college ball, he was the #11 pick in the NBA draft. Nick was the most graceful, talented, polished, and skilled of the Flying Illini. He had the floor game and the above the rim hang time. Battle launched, Gill flew, Nick floated.

From way back in the day:

Slush fund casualty Rich Jones could have been the best. After transferring to Memphis State his career was sidetracked by off court issues and a knee injury. He was still a good player in the old ABA.

SG Don Freeman was a star in the pre-merger ABA.

C Skip Thoren did well in the ABA, before a knee injury ended his career.

PG Tal Brody said no the NBA to start basketball in Israel.

CG Jim Dawson left the Pacers to pursue more lucrative business opportunities.

SG/SF Dave Downy told Marty Blake not to waste a draft pick.
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Andy Phillip.
 
#686      

21ChampaignSt

21ChampaignSt
21ChampaignSt
nichi said:
Eddie Johnson basically played the 4 in college. There was no three point shot then, but he displayed that skill in the NBA. If you want a stretch 4, he could play the role.

Bogie Redman was a stretch four 35 years before the position was invented.
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Did not have Bogie Redmon on my bingo card. Appreciate the response, Nichi.
 
#687      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
Question for our insiders: are the current players confident still with our roster or are they thinking “here we go again.”?
 
#688      

WyattEarp

WyattEarp
WyattEarp
blackdog said:
You mean the guy who won the Bob Cousy, Award, was consensus First Team All-American, averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in his last season (only Deron had more assists and only Anderson had more rebounds, nobody scored more) while also recording two triple doubles and being one of the most clutch players we have seen put on an Illini uniform? Yea definitely doesn't deserve a mention at all.
Click to expand...
shade smile GIF by Robert E Blackmon

Well, Ayo obviously played against inferior competition…said the random old-timer(s)

…….just foolin’…Ayo was def. a stud…
So hard to compare eras IMO.
 
#689      

blackdog

blackdog
Champaign
blackdog
WyattEarp said:
shade smile GIF by Robert E Blackmon

Well, Ayo obviously played against inferior competition…said the random old-timer(s)

…….just foolin’…Ayo was def. a stud…
So hard to compare eras IMO.
Click to expand...

Yea don't mean to dismiss the others because they were also great but its pretty silly to dismiss Ayo not being in their company. He was a dominant player in his own time.
 
#690      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
blackdog said:
Yea don't mean to dismiss the others because they were also great but its pretty silly to dismiss Ayo not being in their company. He was a dominant player in his own time.
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IDK if the stat is kept, but I’d guess Ayo has to be close to the most game winners doesn’t he? Maybe that’s a recency bias too. I’m sure Frank had number of them.
 
#691      

Shockey19

Shockey19
Shockey19
blackdog said:
You mean the guy who won the Bob Cousy, Award, was consensus First Team All-American, averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in his last season (only Deron had more assists and only Anderson had more rebounds, nobody scored more) while also recording two triple doubles and being one of the most clutch players we have seen put on an Illini uniform? Yea definitely doesn't deserve a mention at all.
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Not even just a consensus First Team All-American, he was a UNANIMOUS First Team All-American. He was the consensus second best player in the nation that year. If Luka Garza didn’t exist he’d have one hell of a collection of awards. Anyone saying he doesn’t belong in the discussion with those other guys is kidding themselves.
 
#693      

BretMyBeachHouse

B
BretMyBeachHouse
21ChampaignSt said:
That's true but you can't really help who you play against. And where you're drafted isn't always the best indicator of how good a player was in college. Look at Ayo and Kofi. But, he did stick in the league for like 10 years if you're using NBA career as part of your evaluation (not how I approached it).

Anyway, I still haven't heard anyone give a better option for a face up four. While I'm a decently well versed historian of Illini hoops, I only started watching games in 2000. So, genuinely curious which player others would choose to fill that role.
Click to expand...
Well, you define it as a face up four as opposed to say a volume rebounding 4.

If your 5 is Kofi I'd pick Deon, Snake, Downey, Spoon, and EJ ahead of Cook at the 4.
 
#697      

Illini231

I
Illini231
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like everyone hated Skyy and to a lesser extent Epps. And I get the vibe that everyone liked Mayer and I don't sense there were any issues with RJ either.
 
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