Will always be too soon
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
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The '05 Illini were crazy good for a reason. Deron was a huge part of that. Not sure all the negging. Dude had a massive year and went Number 3 in the Draft for reasons beyond just good workouts.
I had to miss the game for a grad class that night. I told people not to spoil it if they were getting updates. After class was over a buddy goes I won’t tell you the score but it’s not close and Deron Williams has hardly played because of foul trouble.
I was so mad. Then I watched it and I was glad again.
Deron Williams is far superior in the objective measure of not punching opposing players in the nuts.
Checkmate.
For the record, I am not ripping the 05 Illini. 2nd best team in the history of Illini Basketball.
2nd, I did not realize that saying Deron worked his way into a lottery pick based on his natural abilities and good prediction skills of an employee of an NBA team, was so controversial.
Deron is an all-time great Illini.
2nd, I did not realize that saying Deron worked his way into a lottery pick based on his natural abilities and good prediction skills of an employee of an NBA team, was so controversial.
Deron is an all-time great Illini.
Apologies if it’s been mentioned but our good friend Gary Parrish has us #23 in his Top 25+1
#2 Purdue
#4 FAU
#5 MSU
#6 Marquette
#2 Purdue
#4 FAU
#5 MSU
#6 Marquette
I mean this team definitely has top 25 talent.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
And Tennessee in the top 15…gonna get real quick in non-conference.
I’m throwing this up here because frankly I forgot to post it a day ago when we were discussing Weber’s X’s and O’s…and the 2005 run.
Some of you that are somewhere, kinda high on the “Bruce was a good X’s and O’s coach” will probably enjoy this;
If you haven’t already seen it…I think you’ll dig it. Illinois vs UNC starts approximately around the 10 sec. mark.
Some of you that are somewhere, kinda high on the “Bruce was a good X’s and O’s coach” will probably enjoy this;
If you haven’t already seen it…I think you’ll dig it. Illinois vs UNC starts approximately around the 10 sec. mark.
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The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Think of it as research.
Or something to do until the next bit of practice news finds it’s way to the forum. Lol.
Paul was a much better nut puncher.
Deron was a consensus AA at Illinois - Frank never was - both were all time great Illini and an argument can be made for both as best Illini PG of all time, but Deron clearly gave up some of his role for the better of the team- and he led the best Illinois team in Illini history.
Convincing him to come to Illinois with Dee already committed as a McD AA PG was Selfs greatest gift to the Illini
The absurdity of the argument is that Deron didn’t blossom at Illinois - which is just crazy- he was one of the best players in college basketball and 3rd pick in the draft
If you think Deron was just a "very good" college player, I don't know what to tell you. He wasn't as flashy as Frank but he was better than Frank in pretty much every respect. There's a reason Deron was the best player on a 37-2 team and the #3 pick in the draft.
Still love TSJ
the national
- the Front Range
However, College Deron was a shell of what Pro Deron was.
Yes, because he was very good. Thanks for proving my point. That along with what others thought he could become projected him to be the 3rd overall pick. Once in the NBA he transformed his body and became one of the top PGs of his era.
Frank was 2nd Team All-American by NABC mad a 3rd team All-American by the AP.
He was also 2001 Big 10 player of the year, and he was better in 2002 when he was inexplicably overlooked for the overly deserved 2peat.
If this even remotely came close to evolving(offensively), BU and staff should be considered the greatest developmental staff in the country.
I love SH's intensity and effort on defense, but it's 4 on 5 on the offensive end.... right now.
I've always thought of Illinois as something of a "Point Guard U", which is the reason everyone disagrees about who was our best - there are lots of options.
Deron, Frank, Dee, Ayo, Harper, Garris, Douglas, Demetri..all among the B1G's best point guards in their time.
One of four schools to have multiple Cousy award winners.
We have a pretty proud heritage at that position.
WRT to Deron, he was preseason POY in 2004. So everyone was aware of how great he was. But he wasn't 3rd pick because he was setting the world on fire in college. He was drafted that high because of how well his game and body would translate to the next level if handed the keys. He was kind of the inverse of Kofi in that regard but not to the same extreme - His game was better suited for the pros than college.
I think he could've dominated more than he did but chose to defer to Dee and Luther because that was better for the team. Which is just another sign of his greatness. But I think there's a bit of revisionist history happening regarding his performance AT ILLINOIS. I don't have a problem with a person calling him our best pg ever but it's definitely not as cut and dry as some make it out to be. At the time, many people didn't even consider him to be the best player on his own team.
Deron, Frank, Dee, Ayo, Harper, Garris, Douglas, Demetri..all among the B1G's best point guards in their time.
One of four schools to have multiple Cousy award winners.
We have a pretty proud heritage at that position.
WRT to Deron, he was preseason POY in 2004. So everyone was aware of how great he was. But he wasn't 3rd pick because he was setting the world on fire in college. He was drafted that high because of how well his game and body would translate to the next level if handed the keys. He was kind of the inverse of Kofi in that regard but not to the same extreme - His game was better suited for the pros than college.
I think he could've dominated more than he did but chose to defer to Dee and Luther because that was better for the team. Which is just another sign of his greatness. But I think there's a bit of revisionist history happening regarding his performance AT ILLINOIS. I don't have a problem with a person calling him our best pg ever but it's definitely not as cut and dry as some make it out to be. At the time, many people didn't even consider him to be the best player on his own team.
Thank you. That is exactly what I said.
Kilgore Trout
- Driftless Region
I think this thread might need a new title...
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Never thought I would see the day where a non-Basketball Recruiting thread would be the most off topic, but here we are.
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