Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
An important milestone in their road to recovery. Still gotta take it easy, yet I like what I see.
Illini Basketball 2016-2017
- Status
First thing I saw with these tweets was Leron Black (knee), my heart skipped a beat.
ILLINIFAN2
- Des Moines, IA
Cosign on that, I am like "what happened now" 
Great news. Let's hope we land on the right side of health-luck this year, and our guys have learned from last season's complete debacle on and off the court. With so much returning talent, this upcoming season could be special.
I'll say it: 25 wins and a Sweet 16 (or more!)
"I believe that we will win!"
I'll say it: 25 wins and a Sweet 16 (or more!)
"I believe that we will win!"
That's probably not too farfetched of a ceiling. I'd count a S16 as an overachievement season and a success.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Making the first round of the NCAA Tournament does wonders for a program, because anything further is gravy.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Nothing of concern. Rothstein usually does that to specify the injury the player had incurred during the season.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
Pre season academic casualties already starting to pop up. Starting to spot a trend with Prime Prep.
[FONT="]Jeff Borzello Verified account @jeffborzello [/FONT]
[FONT="]UCLA incoming freshman Kobe Paras has withdrawn from the university "due to academic conditions of his admission not being met," per release[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN [/FONT]
[FONT="]Terrance Ferguson is headed overseas instead of going to Arizona, school announces. Prime Prep kid — same school that produced Mudiay.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jeff Borzello Verified account @jeffborzello [/FONT]
[FONT="]UCLA incoming freshman Kobe Paras has withdrawn from the university "due to academic conditions of his admission not being met," per release[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN [/FONT]
[FONT="]Terrance Ferguson is headed overseas instead of going to Arizona, school announces. Prime Prep kid — same school that produced Mudiay.[/FONT]
Elijah Thomas=Prime Prep
The Brandon Paul game against Ohio State was just on the BTN, it got me all excited for the upcoming season! ... But I'll be really disappointed if they can't pull off the victory at home against the buckeyes this year considering how close those games were last year, despite the injuries.
Illinois only won three home and two road games in conference play last year which was brutal. Although, looking at these match-ups for next year, I have to believe that 10 conference wins for this group would be an optimistically reasonable goal (of course assuming that Abrams, Black, and Thorne Jr. will be able to give solid production coming off those injuries). I feel like their ceiling is 13 wins and their floor is 7 wins. Tell me what you guys think.
Home: IOWA, MD, MICH, MSU, MINN, NU, OSU, PSU, WIS
Away: IND, IOWA, MD, MICH, NEB, NU, PSU, PUR, RUT
Illinois only won three home and two road games in conference play last year which was brutal. Although, looking at these match-ups for next year, I have to believe that 10 conference wins for this group would be an optimistically reasonable goal (of course assuming that Abrams, Black, and Thorne Jr. will be able to give solid production coming off those injuries). I feel like their ceiling is 13 wins and their floor is 7 wins. Tell me what you guys think.
Home: IOWA, MD, MICH, MSU, MINN, NU, OSU, PSU, WIS
Away: IND, IOWA, MD, MICH, NEB, NU, PSU, PUR, RUT
So out of the sophomore class, who would you want to see make a significant leap and see more productive PT? In other words between AJ, DJW, JCL, and Finke, who would benefit the team most by improving their game?
AJ turning into a consistent threat to spread the floor? DJ for more versatility in our lineups? Finke holding his own better down low? JCL improving as a lead guard?
My money is on JCL. But the more I think about it, I'd say a leap from DJ would be great for us. Having 3 guys in Malcolm, DJ & Kipper in that 6'7 range w/ their skill set gives Groce a lot of options.
AJ turning into a consistent threat to spread the floor? DJ for more versatility in our lineups? Finke holding his own better down low? JCL improving as a lead guard?
My money is on JCL. But the more I think about it, I'd say a leap from DJ would be great for us. Having 3 guys in Malcolm, DJ & Kipper in that 6'7 range w/ their skill set gives Groce a lot of options.
I want significant leaps from all of them, of course. DJW is the one I think could make the biggest difference. JCL is already very good. AJ is one of my favorites, and I expect he will be much improved, but he will be bringing the 2-3 skillset that the team already has. Finke should improve all four years, but with Big Mike and Savage back, the need for him is not as great as it was last year.
Black & for what it is worth I think he is/will be most improved player this year.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Big leaps for all of them, including Black, save JCL (already had his big leap). If the sophs come through, we are going to be a very deep squad, with little drop off when subs are in.
If Finke counts, Black does as well. If he has a sophomore jump, this year is when it will show up.
Understand the sentiment on JCL, he had a great freshman season and will be valuable this year even if he doesn't improve, but he has room to become more than a jump shooter this year. I think the target for him is to move up where he is in the player of year conversation going into his junior year.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Oh, I fully expect JCL to improve. But big leap? Don't think so. More of a continuation of the goodness he exhibited the 2nd half of last season. But better.
Absolutely right and absolutely obvious. Hence my SMH for never letting it cross my mind.
JCL has exhibited great shooting skills. But he has a lot of room for improvement in the rest of his game.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Most definitely.
AJ. It would be great to have another threat from 3 and there's time to be had at the 2 with Nunn gone. His biggest improvement needs to be on the defensive side.
blackdog
- Champaign
He hasn't shown much of a floor game besides spot up shooting and I think he has the skills to develop that. More attacking off the bounce to add to his shooting.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Definitely. As with Malcolm, JCL needs to work on his explosion. Kid's a worker, and with Fletch on his back, he's bound to improve, hopefully significantly. If opponents fear his ability to penetrate, he'll be that much more lethal.
Deleted member 10005
D
Guest
Yeah, I'm hoping for big things, especially when you consider that JCL was out for all the practices prior to the start of the season last year
- Status