Does he actually have a 7 foot wingspan? Isn't he like 6'5"? that's an insane discrepancy.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
- Status
Does he actually have a 7 foot wingspan? Isn't he like 6'5"? that's an insane discrepancy.
I've only seen him listed at 6'2-6'3 which would make it even more insane
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Google has him at a 6'8 wingspan which is still very impressive for his height
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have a 6'2 player with a 7'0 wingspan. Have no idea how these things happen but they do. I hope it's true on monte. If he loses a bit on his jump or layers quickness from his ACL injury, maybe he can use that length to make up for it a bit. That said, I full trust fletch to work him back after a month or so of solid lifting, building off his rehab.
Is Michigan really in a position to be a top 25 team? They lost 3 great players. It'll be interesting to see if Wagner, Matthews, Robinson and that Ohio transfer can step up and produce. Simpson and Poole are intriguing guards and I dont doubt they could make the tourney but I really doubt they are even a borderline top 25 team.
kaptain80
- STL
Can we please never play Austin Peay again ever while I'm alive? Thanks.
I'll go 10-3 non-con, 8-10 B1G, 18-13 headed into the BTT without an outside shot of playing into the NCAAT.
Basically, a repeat of last season but with the arrow towards the future pointing up.
Basically, a repeat of last season but with the arrow towards the future pointing up.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Honestly, I would find that disappointing. But, I am usually too optimistic, so, my 22-9, going into the B1G tourney prediction is likely a bit aggressive.
Eh, I think I would say expected. I would like to see us end the season on a high note, regardless of record. For me, a new coach, for the first year or two(ish), should be more measured by recruiting and team trends. This is a young and vastly inexperienced team going forth with a new head coach.
In FB I like to give a coach until his third year to see real improvement in the team. BB I guess I would say 2, though I really only start doubting them if their 4th years are disasters.
If we can emulate how OSU ended it's season last year under BU, even if it doesn't mean the meteoric rise, I'll be over the moon. I don't expect that either. I guess you can put me in the spoil sport bin
That was supposed to be "WITH an outside shot of playing into the NCAAT..."
Deleted member 46511
D
Guest
I get wanting to play a tougher non-conference schedule (if you're looking for the 3 seed instead of the 5 seed. Or the 6 instead of the 9.)
But when the committee looks at the end of the year (tourney vs no tourney)...
20-12 or 21-11 vs weak non-con
Gives you a much better chance of sneaking in than
18-14, but wow, what a tough non con...
We get in... we get better recruits... we have more talent to work with... getting in becomes a non-issue... THEN give me some tough non-con for seeding argument's sake.
If it happens sooner, great, but asking for tough non-con this year would be a bad move, IMHO.
But when the committee looks at the end of the year (tourney vs no tourney)...
20-12 or 21-11 vs weak non-con
Gives you a much better chance of sneaking in than
18-14, but wow, what a tough non con...
We get in... we get better recruits... we have more talent to work with... getting in becomes a non-issue... THEN give me some tough non-con for seeding argument's sake.
If it happens sooner, great, but asking for tough non-con this year would be a bad move, IMHO.
I'd like to know where you see 3 losses against a schedule that soft. I think the BIG will be challenging, but I'm expecting a pretty dull start to the season. BIG/ACC Challenge should get us fired up, as should Mizzou, but past that, I'd be surprised.
WF and Mizzou are both games we could lose. In fact I would say most unbiased "experts" would say they are either toss ups or we are underdogs in both those games. I could see us losing both and that is by no means a stretch.
As for the third loss, even teams like MSU lose to low major schools. Three losses is not far fetched, I think its more likely we lose 3 compared to only 1. 2 seems like the right amount.
WF, Mizzou, and UNLV. Not a stretch, but of course we all hope for better. Probably more accurate to say that these are feasibly "losable" games and all of the rest are quite winnable (and most are should win).
Eh, I think I would say expected. I would like to see us end the season on a high note, regardless of record. For me, a new coach, for the first year or two(ish), should be more measured by recruiting and team trends. This is a young and vastly inexperienced team going forth with a new head coach.
In FB I like to give a coach until his third year to see real improvement in the team. BB I guess I would say 2, though I really only start doubting them if their 4th years are disasters.
If we can emulate how OSU ended it's season last year under BU, even if it doesn't mean the meteoric rise, I'll be over the moon. I don't expect that either. I guess you can put me in the spoil sport bin
Between Finke, Black, and Alstork...I think we have more than enough professional leadership. We just have to see how many of guys fit in BU's system. On paper we have a big mix of players all with different skill sets so I think a good coach should be able to get us at least on the bubble going into the B1G tourney.
But I'm holding BU to a different standard because of what he did at OSU last year. If he can take that OSU team to the tournament then he can definitely take this Illinois team to the tournament.
Those are the ones I pegged. There's some "inexperienced team with new coach" assumption that they'll drop one or two they shouldn't in there, too.
I may have rounded up a bit. But his wingspan is a legit 6'10" (no exaggeration)
why is that because we have a lot of young players + new system that it is a forgone conclusion we lose to Mizzou - they have even more new players and new system - we have more vets (Black, Finke, Alstork) ...
I do expect both to be highly inconsistent and really struggle in a game here and there and who knows what will happen in the game ...
but I dont think there aren't any non-winnable non-con games. And yes, the most challenging games = on road at WF and neutral games with Mizzou and UNLV
Our biggest non-con struggles last year were due to stretches of minutes with lack of mental focus :: sloppy/careless with ball = too many pick 2's and poor clock management decisions etc etc (and shouting at the TV)
I am expecting (hoping) we can keep mental focus this year ... because it sounds as if focus is demanded in practice ...
I do expect both to be highly inconsistent and really struggle in a game here and there and who knows what will happen in the game ...
but I dont think there aren't any non-winnable non-con games. And yes, the most challenging games = on road at WF and neutral games with Mizzou and UNLV
Our biggest non-con struggles last year were due to stretches of minutes with lack of mental focus :: sloppy/careless with ball = too many pick 2's and poor clock management decisions etc etc (and shouting at the TV)
I am expecting (hoping) we can keep mental focus this year ... because it sounds as if focus is demanded in practice ...
People are projecting as if its going to be more of the same. As if it will be no different than the last decade. Now, maybe it wont be, but it should be. People are so used to hoe bad we have been, they cant even imagine how good we are going to be. The thought of us scoring 80-90ppg and just out running teams up and down the court is completely foreign. Well, people should get used to that thought because thats exactly whats going to happen.
I think it's mainly because of how Groce's tenure started and ended. He hit the ground running when he got here. Everyone was in love with his press conferences and public speaking skills. The team won Maui easily, beat Gonzaga @ their place (which was considered nearly impossible), and went on to make the tournament. Of course he was getting in close with a bunch of big time recruits as well.
I remember people legitimately arguing whether it would take us 2, 3, or 4 years to make the final 4. And so many people wanted him to get a huge extension to keep him from going to another school. The majority of people on here (myself included) were crazy for some JFG. I think most people that experienced that craziness are taking a wait and see approach for BU.
The JFG madness was definitely real at first. Boy did that go downhill.
- Status