Imagine a world where KJ, Will, Tomi, and Rez play four years of college basketball for Illinois.
I'm all tucked in and ready to hear this story. LFG!!!
Illinois 90, SIU Edwardsville 58 Postgame
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I'm all tucked in and ready to hear this story. LFG!!!
Also it's difficult to read too much into player contributions in two blowout buy games, but so far the only player that hasn't really clicked yet offensively has been Boswell. Defense has been there, though.
Riley, KJ, Humrichous and Ivisic have clicked in both games. DGL clicked in game 1, Tre White clicked in game 2. Morez has been there defensively both games, not really contributing much offensively but isn't really expected to at this point. Booth has done a bit, nothing spectacular. Jake Davis hasn't done much, but he's probably the 10th guy at this point, there for an occasional quick spot up 3 when needed.
Riley, KJ, Humrichous and Ivisic have clicked in both games. DGL clicked in game 1, Tre White clicked in game 2. Morez has been there defensively both games, not really contributing much offensively but isn't really expected to at this point. Booth has done a bit, nothing spectacular. Jake Davis hasn't done much, but he's probably the 10th guy at this point, there for an occasional quick spot up 3 when needed.
I think this team is really good. Better than last years
Let’s wait until we play a real team …
Imagine a world where KJ, Will, Tomi, and Rez play four years of college basketball for Illinois.
I didn’t have a Rollerball reference on my bingo card for tonight. Noice.
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SIU slowed the game down with their 3/4 court zone press. Pretty sure they realized that was their only chance of keeping up with us.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I don’t know if it’ll end up being better than last year’s team, but they’re better right now than last year’s team was at this point.
Side note: Ole Miss beat Grambling State tonight by two — 66-64. Do with that what you will.
All things are possible and you may be correct. But three guys on All-B1G is hard to see at this time. But that is not important. What this bunch needs to do to be a contender is all doable with hard work. Defend, rebound, make FTs, share the ball, and shoot with confidence and anything is possible for this group.
And they seem to have a great locker room and cohesion of purpose...and those are the cornerstones and biggest building blocks upon which talent can grow. There is huge potential, and confidence and purpose can take a huge blow when they get punched in the face...and that may happen...soon enough. Or.. they can also punch back!!!
It has been a long time since we have had two Illini Basketball teams back to back who are as exciting to watch...never in my memory which goes back to the days of Govoner Vaughn and Manny Jackson. And it sure is heart warming for me to see the original Assembly Hall once again filled with crazy Illini fans supporting teams of talented young basketball players. Thank you Brad Underwood!
After watching Illini basketball teams for 70 years, I have always anticipated waiting to see the first national title banner raised to the AH rafters. But, with all the talent and excitement Brad Underwood and his teams have provided to Illini Nation, my cup runneth over already! I may not live long enough to see that banner raised, but to see quality teams take the floor in Champaign year after year seems to keep my basketball Jones satisfied.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Way too early to say that, but username checks out.
A sobering thought was on display tonight. Ole Miss, who ran our guys out of the gym in Oxford, eked out a 66-64 win tonight over Grambling in a come from behind effort. What I wonder is how confident the Rebels would be if offered a rematch in C-U next week. I would expect the result just might be reversed. But that game in Oxford was a valuable experience for many reasons. Thanks to Chris Beard and the Rebels and good luck unless we meet again!!!!
Final 4. Book it.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
They will. Combined.Imagine a world where KJ, Will, Tomi, and Rez play four years of college basketball for Illinois.
Disrespectful to legendary Illini point guard Marcus Domask.
Last year was a weird year.
You basically had 3 unicorn type college players that you don't generally see every year.
Clingan was a generational rim protector that completely erased teams inside.
Edey was a freak of nature 7'4 300+ lb center that could play 30+ minutes score and pass and the refs generally gave him a friendly whistle.
TJ is just the type of perimeter player/athlete that you don't see stay in college longer than a year or two. Basically, no wing thats that big, strong, and athletic while still being fairly skilled stays in college for 5 years. !!!!, if he decides to play football Al Davis probably would have made him a top 10 pick without playing in college.
All 3 of those guys could have carried a team to a championship a lot of years but they all lined up with each other last year and Clingan had the best all around team and coach.
To see how we're doing on cupcakes compared to the rest of the Big Ten, I ran the numbers in this table. Only teams in yellow have played 2 games, so I just doubled the differentials for teams who played 1 game. As you'd guess, Illinois is near the top. (The rankings are hiding after the team names, if those matter to you.)
Boxing out....
It’s been said before, but Bardo is embarrassingly bad. Can’t even pronounce the name of the Illini’s star player … and laughs about it?!
I see you big fella
I preferred these two announcers to the ones for the EIU game. I muted the EIU game within the first 5 minutes.
Rez is not good about sharing rebounds. I suspect SIUE also noticed that.
Like you, I was glad we weren't turning the ball over. Except for defensive rebounding, which was awful, I liked everything I saw. Kasparas is going to be a load for anybody. And he's certainly not put together like most freshman (Riley for example). We got a pretty good look at Ben's capabilities. At timess BU had Dra and Kylan on the floor at once. They lack size, but not defensive tenacity.
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