We’ve had three 1st team all Americans in the last ~75 years and you’re bumping two down the list?
Illini Basketball All-21st Century Team
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We’ve had three 1st team all Americans in the last ~75 years and you’re bumping two down the list?
Yes. With those 2 first team all Americans playing together what was the farthest they made it in March? Being an all American is one factor but doesn’t decide who is better. Certain years it is harder to be an all American than other because of the competition
The 04-05 team had Dee and Luther on the second team and Deron on the third team all American. Only reason why one of them that year wasn’t higher is how balanced that team was and Dee was a 2nd team the following year. Deron was the best player on the 05 team.
Augustine was underrated because the guards were that good. Look at his career FG percentage, rebound total, assist, and free throw percentage compared to Kofi. Kofi was really good but struggled when he was doubled and struggled at the line. Few teams could expose that weakness. Other than some phantom fouls in the national championship game Augustine played very well as a center
TSJ legal issues probably affected him only being 3rd team. TSJ as a senior was better than Ayo junior year. However if my team was down and I someone to take over Ayo did that more than any player I remember in college
Our tempo in 2005 was lower than kofis last 2 years though
This is a fun exercise.. Putting together the best team on the court is tough so I'm going to go by production and program impact..
1st Team:
Dee
Ayo
TSJ
Cook
Kofi
2nd Team:
Frankie
Deron
Luther
Malcolm
Augie
3rd Team:
Demetri
Trent
B. Paul
Roger
Meyers (I know - one good year, but our one and only 1st round pick a 17-18 year span , and centers are tough..)
Honorable Mention:
Cory Bradford
Rayvonte Rice
Sergio
Marcus Griffen
Mike Davis
All Bench Team:
Freshman Curbelo
Andres Feliz
Will Riley
Damir Krupailjia
Big Z
The What If Team
Curbelo
Jamar Smith
Podz
Jereme Richmond
Morez
Who am I missing??
1st Team:
Dee
Ayo
TSJ
Cook
Kofi
2nd Team:
Frankie
Deron
Luther
Malcolm
Augie
3rd Team:
Demetri
Trent
B. Paul
Roger
Meyers (I know - one good year, but our one and only 1st round pick a 17-18 year span , and centers are tough..)
Honorable Mention:
Cory Bradford
Rayvonte Rice
Sergio
Marcus Griffen
Mike Davis
All Bench Team:
Freshman Curbelo
Andres Feliz
Will Riley
Damir Krupailjia
Big Z
The What If Team
Curbelo
Jamar Smith
Podz
Jereme Richmond
Morez
Who am I missing??
I love TSJ, but you can't do this. Ayo was a consensus 1st team All American.
Same reasoning but different order. Deron was a quiet assassin that took over games sparingly. Scored all but a couple buckets in the historic come back that got us to the FF. We don't go undefeated and #1 through all but the last regular season game without him. Great defender.
Frankie was other-worldly most of the time, but if the game didn't come to him, he would sometimes struggle to assert himself. I'm a huge HRF fan since he was so fun to watch.
TSJ deserves to be higher in my estimation. The way he powered the post-season runs to the BTT championship and E8 set him apart, nevermind how he handled the immense distraction hanging over him.
I don't like that reasoning. We know why TSJ suddenly fell off the map for AA honors. What he managed to do was arguably every bit as impressive.
In fairness, Terrence was absolutely first team worthy if it weren't for the charges.
Augustine above Kofi is wild though.
He was NPOY candidate for sure and mentioned on broadcasts for it prior to the allegations.
That's fair.
I'd argue though that what Ayo did for the program over 3 seasons was more impactful than what TSJ did over 2. But I do think you can make a solid argument that TSJ had the better single season (think I'd still give the nod to Ayo but it'd be much closer).
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Not sure if those AA teams are correct but agree with your point on the balance of that team.
My favorite player (and I loved all three) was Luther, who I always feel was underrated when we hear about "Dee & Deron's" team from 2005.
How I'd break this down is that there's nine guys who have to be on either the first or second team:
Dee, Deron, Luther, Ayo, Terrance, Kofi, Augustine, Frank, Cook.
How I'd order that grouping:
First team: G Dee Brown, G Ayo Dosunmu, G Terrence Shannon Jr, F Brian Cook, C Kofi Cockburn
Second Team: G Frank Williams, G Deron Williams, G Luther Head, C James Augustine
The other six spots are kind of interchangeable and can be subjective.
Dee, Deron, Luther, Ayo, Terrance, Kofi, Augustine, Frank, Cook.
How I'd order that grouping:
First team: G Dee Brown, G Ayo Dosunmu, G Terrence Shannon Jr, F Brian Cook, C Kofi Cockburn
Second Team: G Frank Williams, G Deron Williams, G Luther Head, C James Augustine
The other six spots are kind of interchangeable and can be subjective.
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That’s why they both should be 1st team.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I would argue Malcolm Hill deserves to make that an even 10.
He is the only player on the list who never got the chance to play even one season with a single other player on the list. He did incredible things with absolutely zero help and deserved so, so much more from his Illini career.
I just think it's hard to push TSJ's one transcendent season (and his other season was very good, no doubt) over the deep and sustained impact Deron (or Frank) had on the program over the course of their careers.
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Both were total studs, workaholics, and students of the game. In my mind it's a coin toss.
Single season I'd give to TSJ; career probably Ayo.
This will sound crazy, but I think Keaton has a place in this conversation IF (big if) we have a elite 8 type run. Only 3 teams in this timeframe have made that run -- 2024, 2005, 2001 -- and the best player on all those teams are first or second team.
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Do you move Frank up the list for fathering Damonte?
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
It always surprises me (but probably shouldn't) when I look back at the stats and see Luther was the leading scorer on that team
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
I probably start him a little lower than others here, so yes, I like the way you're thinking. Extra credit for the second generation.
Cook also may be a little high for me, but much like your comment on Luther, I'd probably be surprised if I went and looked up his numbers.
My biggest takeaway from this exercise is wondering where all the forwards are after 2000. Thinking back pre-2000 to Deon, Nick, Spoon, etc.
If he can get Damonte to in turn father another future Illini great, it'll be like an infinite money hack.
If Leron Black stays for his Senior year and plays with freshman Ayo, could he have cracked this list (3rd team, don't think any shot at 1st or 2nd)? He put up really good numbers in his one year with BU, so if you give them more time together and add him to that roster maybe they make a little more noise, who knows.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The only season in the last 25 years that didn't feature any players on my list (or that has even been mentioned in the thread) was 2006-07.
Warren Carter was 2nd team All-B1G that year and *gulp* Shaun Pruitt was 3rd team.
I don't think you are representing Dee correctly. Here are his accolades from the '05 team. I think this is easily the most decorated year of an Illini player this century and he's Illinois' all time winningest player with 114 wins
2005: Consensus First-Team All-American, Sporting News National Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
And Ayo was soooo clutch. If we are tied or down 1,2, or 3 with the ball and holding for the last shot, I want the ball in Ayo’s hands. Period.
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