Illini Basketball 2016-2017

#232      

IlliniBrave75

IlliniBrave75
IlliniBrave75
Bossi's Best: Ten seniors who have exceeded expectations

Malcolm Hill

High School: Known as a tough wing who had a very good mid-range game, Hill's ranking slipped some in high school over concerns about his deep shooting and overall athleticism. He chose Illinois over Xavier, Missouri and Kansas State at the beginning of his junior season and stuck with the Illini when John Groce took over for Bruce Weber.

College: As a junior, Hill was the only player in the Big Ten to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists while earning All-Big Ten second team. Most impressive is that he has played all over the floor for the Illini and turned himself into a tough matchup because of his skill and ability to play multiple positions. Looking back, his ranking isn't that far off, but he probably should have stayed in the national top 50.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/bossi-s-best-10-seniors-who-have-exceeded-expectations
 
#233      

IlliniBrave75

IlliniBrave75
IlliniBrave75
Duke, Kentucky, Kansas top CBS Sports' 1-351 college basketball rankings

The most rigorously delightful, detail-oriented, all-in-one college hoops preview you'll find


ILL.png
65. Illinois

Potential abounds here. Gotta stay healthy. Gotta have guys not get suspended. Malcolm Hill is a star. Jalen Coleman-Lands and Tracy Abrams are ready to help right now. This is your upset-the-apple-cart team in the Big Ten.


So they have us 9th in he B1G and behind Illinois State!

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...cbs-sports-1-351-college-basketball-rankings/
 
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#236      

SampsonRelpenk

SampsonRelpenk
Edwardsville, IL
SampsonRelpenk
I can't recall a season where I thought things could go so, so right just as easily as they could go so, so wrong. Maybe just recency bias. We've certainly got some pieces though. Groce has to get them to gel.
 
#237      

Captain Bubbles

Captain Bubbles
Fairfield, IL
Captain Bubbles
IlliniBrave75 said:
Duke, Kentucky, Kansas top CBS Sports' 1-351 college basketball rankings

The most rigorously delightful, detail-oriented, all-in-one college hoops preview you'll find


ILL.png
65. Illinois

Potential abounds here. Gotta stay healthy. Gotta have guys not get suspended. Malcolm Hill is a star. Jalen Coleman-Lands and Tracy Abrams are ready to help right now. This is your upset-the-apple-cart team in the Big Ten.


So they have us 9th in he B1G and behind Illinois State!

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...cbs-sports-1-351-college-basketball-rankings/
Click to expand...
Actually, I think Illinois is more of a top 7 team in the Big Ten instead of 9th, yet the reason to be optimistic remains. Good, quick summary of the team.

Illinois State returns three out of their top four scorers from a year ago, and could possibly be the most talented team in the MVC. Redbirds are gonna be good this year.
 
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#239      

GameOfThrows

G
GameOfThrows
I'll take 7th in the BIG and be content with that.

This team has the potential to be the deepest team in the history of the program. Heck, our 13th guy, Alex Austin, is capable of playing meaningful minutes as a spot defensive stopper. We have size which will help our rebounding. Thorne and Mav are both decent to plus back to the basket post players on offense. Finke is a plus passer at the stretch 4 which will help with ball movement when he is in the game. JCL is one of the best shooters in the BIG. Malcolm is the clear alpha dog on offense. Everyone will know that which should help with team chemistry We should get something out of the PG position which hasn't happened since... McCamey? DJW, AJ, Kipper, Tate, Black, Tajon. Our bench should equal or outproduce opposing benches.

With all of our upside I see 23-8 and a dangerous tourney team.
 
#240      

Firet92

F
Gurnee, IL
Firet92
I don't think I will put much confidence in an article written by a gentleman who doesn't understand "too" and "to"
 
#241      

BananaShampoo

B
Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
BananaShampoo
Captain Bubbles said:
Actually, I think Illinois is more of a top 7 team in the Big Ten instead of 9th, yet the reason to be optimistic remains. Good, quick summary of the team.

Illinois State returns three out of their top four scorers from a year ago, and could possibly be the most talented team in the MVC. Redbirds are gonna be good this year.
Click to expand...
I'd still pick us to beat the Redbirds 9 times out of 10.
 
#243      

Vermilion Slim

V
Vermilion Slim
IlliniBrave75 said:
Duke, Kentucky, Kansas top CBS Sports' 1-351 college basketball rankings

The most rigorously delightful, detail-oriented, all-in-one college hoops preview you'll find


ILL.png
65. Illinois

Potential abounds here. Gotta stay healthy. Gotta have guys not get suspended. Malcolm Hill is a star. Jalen Coleman-Lands and Tracy Abrams are ready to help right now. This is your upset-the-apple-cart team in the Big Ten.


So they have us 9th in he B1G and behind Illinois State!

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...cbs-sports-1-351-college-basketball-rankings/
Click to expand...


If you break this down and look at our schedule here is how things would end up if (big if) this is accurate:

Overall: 16-15
Non-Conf: 8-5
BIG: 8-10

We'd Start the Season 5-0
lose 5 of the next 8
start the BIG 0-7
and then finish off by winning 8 of our final 11
 
#245      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
Vermilion Slim said:
If you break this down and look at our schedule here is how things would end up if (big if) this is accurate:

Overall: 16-15
Non-Conf: 8-5
BIG: 8-10

We'd Start the Season 5-0
lose 5 of the next 8
start the BIG 0-7
and then finish off by winning 8 of our final 11
Click to expand...

That is pretty interesting, as I thought you were first making a prediction just based on our schedule and our team. This seems to be a pattern for us.

I really think we'll be better than that this year, but interesting nonetheless.
 
#246      

WesterveltVictoryCigar

WesterveltVictoryCigar
WesterveltVictoryCigar
Vermilion Slim said:
If you break this down and look at our schedule here is how things would end up if (big if) this is accurate:

Overall: 16-15
Non-Conf: 8-5
BIG: 8-10

We'd Start the Season 5-0
lose 5 of the next 8
start the BIG 0-7
and then finish off by winning 8 of our final 11
Click to expand...

And that's about what you'd expect if we have the same team as last year with only slight improvement from the guys we get back. I happen to think they'll have a bigger impact, but I'm not surprised at all that the preseason projections disagree.
 
#247      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
WesterveltVictoryCigar said:
And that's about what you'd expect if we have the same team as last year with only slight improvement from the guys we get back. I happen to think they'll have a bigger impact, but I'm not surprised at all that the preseason projections disagree.
Click to expand...

Switch two games from both of those losing stretches and you're 20-11 (10-8) and well on the good side of the bubble.
 
#248      

BirdDog9048

BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
Chicago, IL
BirdDog9048
It seems most of the "experts" are picking us fairly low, but always add the disclaimer that we could be a B1G dark horse. We won't win the conference by a long shot, but we'll probably beat some teams that people think we have no business beating.
 
#249      

Calvin

C
Calvin
Give it to Greene said:
8 - MSU
10 - IU
12 - Wisky
20 - Pur
39 - OSU
42 - Mary
43 - scUM
64 - Ped St.
65 - UI
85 - Iowa
86 - NW
107 - Neb
118 - Minny
253 - RU (lost in the shuffle)

:D
Click to expand...

If accurate, we'll have an impressive conference. No one looks elite, but we only have 1 dog in Rutgers, and 11 teams in the top-90. Not gonna have any nights off. We're kind of lucky with who we play twice:
NW
Ped St
Iowa
scUM
Mary