Adding Black and Nichols eventually to the lineup will definitely have a positive effect on the team and game results.
Illini Basketball 2016-2017
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
Bold prediction! I think you might be right.
Yeah, I think we'll see how much we miss both Black and Nichols once they're back and able to contribute.
Not sure if this was posted --there's a linked article on the Illini which is more favorable.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2653463-predicting-the-2016-17-big-ten-college-basketball-standings/page/3
Has Illinois in the basement dwellers. "the Illini could have a strong six-man rotation anchored by Malcolm Hill. There's potential here, but when is the last time this team met or exceeded expectations?"
Great question, and one I hope we manage to answer.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2653463-predicting-the-2016-17-big-ten-college-basketball-standings/page/3
Has Illinois in the basement dwellers. "the Illini could have a strong six-man rotation anchored by Malcolm Hill. There's potential here, but when is the last time this team met or exceeded expectations?"
Great question, and one I hope we manage to answer.
These preseason predictions are silly. They rightfully talk a lot about Malcolm, Tracy, and Thorne, but JCL is a throw-in and no one's even thinking about Leron. Those two guys were top-40 players and in the McDAA discussion as preps. If all goes well, they'll probably be our 2nd and 3rd (or 4th) best players and well above replacement level in the B1G.
Maybe I'm hitting the kool-aid too hard with the season arriving, but here's how I see it (assuming no major injuries):
PG - Abrams - around 8th best starter in the conference at his position
SG - Coleman-Lands - 4th or 5th
SF - Hill - 1st; one of the top 4 overall players in the B1G and a potential All-American
PF - Black - around 6th
C - Thorne, Jr - 4th or 5th
Bench
PG - Tate/Lucas - average backups compared to the competition
SG/SF - Jordan/Nichols/Williams - average
PF - Finke - above average
C - Morgan - above average
Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I think we're running average to slightly below average at PG and way above average everywhere else. We're loaded on the wing and we've got lots of scoring and rebounding down low. I'm really only worried about shooting off the bench and defense in the lane. Otherwise, we're an obvious top-7 team.
I think fans and pundits alike are subconsciously correcting toward the negative based an irrational expectation of bad luck. It's like a gambler getting skittish after a series of bad hands.
Maybe I'm hitting the kool-aid too hard with the season arriving, but here's how I see it (assuming no major injuries):
PG - Abrams - around 8th best starter in the conference at his position
SG - Coleman-Lands - 4th or 5th
SF - Hill - 1st; one of the top 4 overall players in the B1G and a potential All-American
PF - Black - around 6th
C - Thorne, Jr - 4th or 5th
Bench
PG - Tate/Lucas - average backups compared to the competition
SG/SF - Jordan/Nichols/Williams - average
PF - Finke - above average
C - Morgan - above average
Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I think we're running average to slightly below average at PG and way above average everywhere else. We're loaded on the wing and we've got lots of scoring and rebounding down low. I'm really only worried about shooting off the bench and defense in the lane. Otherwise, we're an obvious top-7 team.
I think fans and pundits alike are subconsciously correcting toward the negative based an irrational expectation of bad luck. It's like a gambler getting skittish after a series of bad hands.
Based on what we've seen, probably 10th or so. I don't think Groce is an abysmal coach, though. I think he can win with talent.
I was blown away with the turn-around he produced in his first season. Thought he did well in his second season as well, despite the missed tourney. Third and Fourth, not so much, to say the least. It's an alarming trajectory, but all indications say we're set up for a return to the dance. Would I put him around 10th? Yeah, based on overall results, I would. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what coach to expect this year.
Given how well he recruits, we should see his stock rise. And if the early indications about Tracy are right, I feel a lot more confident we'll be above .500 in conference and headed back to the dance.
Agree with everything except our frontcourt. Black is too unproven to be instantly better than half of the other 4 starters in the league. Similarly with Thorne, but the one two punch of him and MM is something I really look forward to seeing at the 5. That I would rank 4/5th in the league.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Pre-season bracketology and Illinois is nowhere to be seen. Not even in the last four byes, last four in, first four out, next four out. 7 B1G teams.
Going to have to prove a lot of people wrong, or a lot of us are going to be proven wrong.
Pre-season bracketology and Illinois is nowhere to be seen. Not even in the last four byes, last four in, first four out, next four out. 7 B1G teams.
Going to have to prove a lot of people wrong, or a lot of us are going to be proven wrong.
Well yeah, most have us as 9th or 10th in the conference. We have to earn their respect on the court before we get preseason love.
bracketology? It's freaking November 3rd. Throw it in the trash where it belongs.
I think this would be a good post to rethink right before the start of the Big Ten when we have had a chance to see a lot more games. I do think TJL gives us something we haven't had for a good while , and that's a kid who can really pass the ball. It could be a good or bad thing depending on if guys can adjust to the fact he will get them the ball at any time.
C'mon, give Tate credit for the one thing he's REALLY good at
illinitrav
- NW Suburbs
Samson Oladimeji is apparently on a "tryout" for a walkon spot. He's a 6'4" forward from Fremd High School
They have
3 MSU
3 Wisconsin
4 Purdue
4 Indiana
9 Maryland
10 tOSU
11 Michigan
Seems entirely reasonable for a preseason guess. I'm guessing we're in though.
Lucas made a couple of passes I have never seen Tate make. However, they were not handled by the receivers.
Tate is a good passer, no doubt. Lucas will be better, imo.
It may take time for the scoring to come, but it's promising to see the court vision and passing already on display. Cory Evans said TJL was a top 5 passing point guard in the 16' class :thumb: looking that's definitely his strength.
And his jump shot is already light years ahead of Tate regardless of what we'll see in game this year
I don't think he's taken a jump shot yet.
Exactly
Touche
Seriously though, I'm sure he is in fact a very capable shooter, but still want to see it actually happen. Tate allegedly hit 50% of his threes in HS and makes a bunch in practices, so...
Exactly
Fair, but Lucas is way more potent offensively than Tate ever was up until this point. Those Simeon/Meansteeets teams were stacked but Tate only averaged 8ppg his senior year and even less on meansteeets.
While this comment is premature on TJL, I think it's worth noting that bball is in many respects a game of efficiency, and efficient players take higher percentage plays. Another way people say it, is that a guy plays within himself. If TJL plays within himself, that should serve us well. Plenty of experienced players to work the ball to mean he can be an opportunistic scorer.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
I would have no problem at all if TJL's ppg and apg were identical, as long as it's 5 or better.
Well, Tate played within himself and his efficiency wasn't so much the problem as his extremely low usage rate. It was in single digits last year and that hampers things even more than his shooting woes. I'm not expecting TJL to be too aggressive right away as a freshman, but he does need to be a threat to score.