I care a lot less about growing the brand (read: money) than watching a good season of competition in the conference. I think the spirit of college conferences broke when the conferences became too large for football to play a full round robin, and basketball to play a double round robin. It is time for the NCAA to show some backbone and restrict conference sizes to 10.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
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I care a lot less about growing the brand (read: money) than watching a good season of competition in the conference. I think the spirit of college conferences broke when the conferences became too large for football to play a full round robin, and basketball to play a double round robin. It is time for the NCAA to show some backbone and restrict conference sizes to 10.
My apologies, but that bottle is broken on the round robin schedule.
Good luck with that NCAA thing as well, they are struggling as we speak with UNC trying to take them to the woodshed because the UNC cheating is an academic issue, not an athletic issue. If the NCAA can't win that one, showing backbone and restricting conference size is not even in discussions to even get to on the table to get quickly dismissed.
Maybe the good news in all of this if growing the brand and better product aren't mutually exclusive.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Holy crap, anybody see Underwood sing the 7th inning stretch at the Cub's game? I hope Ayo wasn't watching.
Hey, cheers when he was introduced and cheers after he said "Go Illini!" Better than a certain Notre Dame coach's reception at Wrigley.
MA looks to be have game very similar to Malcolm Hill with better hops (when he is able to gather himself) and much better court awareness. I expect significantly less point production from MA than MH since offense will not start/stop with him as opposed to our "offense" of the last few years.
The fact that you don't hand the ball to your top scorer, say go one on one in lane, MA will get the ball on the move without defenders alot of times, to wide open dunks. Kick outs with quik spot up 3's , will happen alot too. Think many really don't understand how the offense works, this is wide open because of defense, turnovers, and ball movement. Time to play ball.
The fact that you don't hand the ball to your top scorer, say go one on one in lane, MA will get the ball on the move without defenders alot of times, to wide open dunks. Kick outs with quik spot up 3's , will happen alot too. Think many really don't understand how the offense works, this is wide open because of defense, turnovers, and ball movement. Time to play ball.
Agree with your assessment and very much look forward to a real offense as opposed to the last few years. Not a knock on MA or our offense, just think he will average fewer points than Hill because others will be involved and will not rely on one player at the end of the shot clock. I like Alstork's shot and passing better than his athleticism and driving ability (limited) in a one on one situation. Feel like the opportunities to score will be much more spread out this year and think his passing will be more of an asset than we might realize. Hope to watch in person in Vegas!!!
Underwood has a plan to get MA to 20 points a game. This means a couple things:
1) He thinks Alstork can score 20 ppg in high major play (read: is good enough)
2) He wants Alstork to score 20 ppg (read: wants him to be aggressive looking for his shot on all 3 levels)
Skillwise Alstork is a guard who can post. Absolutely what BU wants. Same way he wants a big who can play perimeter, he wants guards who can play low. It creates mismatches and forces defenses to make tough decisions. Alstork is not coming here to average 11ppg. He is here to lead us in scoring and showcase what a multifaceted player can do in with BU. He is here to be our Jeffrey Carroll.
1) He thinks Alstork can score 20 ppg in high major play (read: is good enough)
2) He wants Alstork to score 20 ppg (read: wants him to be aggressive looking for his shot on all 3 levels)
Skillwise Alstork is a guard who can post. Absolutely what BU wants. Same way he wants a big who can play perimeter, he wants guards who can play low. It creates mismatches and forces defenses to make tough decisions. Alstork is not coming here to average 11ppg. He is here to lead us in scoring and showcase what a multifaceted player can do in with BU. He is here to be our Jeffrey Carroll.
I hope I'm correct saying this, but I think Mark Smith has a better chance of averaging more than Alstork. Hopefully 20 and 19ppg hahahahahaha.
I stated long time ago, we will have multiple double digits scores, per game. More shots, more points, just stands to reason. Alstork, Smith, Black seems to be logical candidates.
With the counters BU has to get 3 pointers from his HP guy, defenses are gonna have a lot to think about when it comes to covering the cutters or Finke.
cabmaker
- eastern IA
I am so looking forward to watching a good motion offense again! If played right its poetry in motion, and fun to watch. with BU i believe that can be workable. its comes down to the players being in postion at all times. To make it work all the players on the floor have to fit this stile of play. the right fit for the offense is way more important then just high ranked players. The players that we have this year i think we can do well.
GO ILLINI!
GO ILLINI!
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
I thought I read somewhere that there will be no exhibition games this year. Can anyone confirm one way or another?
Dan
Admin
Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Day will be held on Thurs. Oct. 19 at Madison Square Garden. Details to follow in coming weeks
https://twitter.com/BMcWethy_B1G/status/898548360956727301
https://twitter.com/BMcWethy_B1G/status/898548360956727301
If Mark Smith can average over 12 points per game I think this recruiting business will start to take care of itself.
Dee Brown averaged 12.0 ppg as a freshman and Frank Williams 11.4 ppg as a frosh.
Alstork scored 30% of his points last year from FT's. One of the leaders in D1 BB.
The guy who just put up more points than all of em averaged 4.4 his freshman year. People seriously need to pump the brakes.
I remember watching BP3's first game as an Illini or maybe it was an Exb. but it was against SIUE. He was drilling threes and i was so excited for him the next 4 years.
At the time i thought it would be shorter than that.
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