I agree that Finke/Black/Kipper will likely split the 80 minutes. My guess is that you start Kipper/Finke, and see where Black is needed. I'd hate to start Black at the "4", and then need to move him to the 5 as he is starting to tire. That feels like a recipe for foul trouble. By the reports, Finke is getting better at running. I still expect him to be the first to tire. He is bigger, has further to run, and has to defend the paint.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
- Status
There's a new sheriff in town. Going off the Weber/Groce history makes no sense at all to me. They talked the talk about giving guys PT, but both preferred to keep the best players on the court to the detriment of guys who may have earned some time but weren't generally at the level of the starters.
Underwood runs a VERY different system, and played 10 guys last year in double digit minutes. I won't argue we go 10 deep this year, but I'm expecting 9, and could make a case for 10 (no beach house though). Underwood likes to play a relentless, up tempo style. He builds teams for it. We may not be there this year, but he's going to try to have a deeper rotation than we've had for a long time.
Actually 9 deep, still good. Shine got injured after 6 games and redshirted. I think the core 8 is almost guaranteed: Smith, TJL, Frazier, Alstork, Kipper, Finke, Black, and Ebo. But a quicker pace will allow more, especially at SF with AJ being a very serious candidate.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
Agree here. Also can't forget about Matic who is a total wildcard for most of us in terms of where he is at as a player.
AJ will obviously have a huge shot to play. Damonte has the potential to be one of our best freshmen, I just don't know if he will be ready from his injury. It could be just enough to keep him out of that top 9-10 with AJ fighting for the same spot. As a result, wouldn't be shocked if he redshirted but would obviously prefer him to be ready to go and contribute this year. Not saying he should redshirt, just that all things considered with his injury, it wouldn't shock me if it happened.
Dan
Admin
We've got time & TV for the Gavitt Tipoff Games vs. @DePaulHoops at @StateFarmCenter.
Friday, Nov. 17
7:30 pm CT
@BigTenNetwork
https://twitter.com/IlliniMBB/status/907635969683312641
Friday, Nov. 17
7:30 pm CT
@BigTenNetwork
https://twitter.com/IlliniMBB/status/907635969683312641
Difficult to project playing time when all the scholarship players seem to have some ability. You are probably correct but we could be surprised by the improvement of some players. Who would have guessed last year that the best defensive players would be freshmen. My guess is it will depend on the match ups after the first five. Like to see the same contribution from the freshmen they are getting in football.
When I first saw Damonte's name on these boards back during the past season, people were mentioning that he was the son of a great Illini player but no one and I mean no one mentioned a first name. So I had to think, uh, Deron? But he seemed a little too young to have a 17 or 18 year old. Then I remembered Frank (albeit he too seems a bit young, 37, to have a 17 or 18 year old) but finally had to google it to make sure.
I'm not going off of Groce/Weber history. I'm going of college basketball history in general. It's unlikely we have a 10 man rotation. Players seperate themselves and coaches want to keep the best players on the court as long as possible.
Overall he might have played 10 guys double digit minutes, but a lot of those minutes might have been against cupcakes and expirementation with a new team he is unfamiliar with. What did he do late in the season when I'm assuming he settled on a rotation? Here are the last 4 games of last season...
@ Iowa St - 7 players with 10+ min
vs. KU - 7 players with 10+ min
vs. Iowa St - 8 players with 10+ min
vs. Michigan - 6 players with 10+ min
We probably will see many lineups early in the season, but how fast can BU find those core guys that need to be in the game? That was probably Groce's biggest weakness. The sooner BU can cut the rotation down to 7 or 8 guys with a 9th thrown in sporadically, the more games we will win IMO.
And this is kind of my point. How can Smith, Frazier, and Ebo be locks for the rotation when they haven't even stepped foot on a college court yet?
Because there are only 11 scholarship players and there are 6 newcomers. Math dictates that if there is a 9 or 10 man rotation, at least 3-4 newcomers will be in it.
Also, watching a little practice, it is obvious that Smith, Frazier and Ebo will be factors.
I find it hard to think that Illinois Mr. Basketball will not have a chance to play & contribute to team that is needing scoring, big guard play and a team approach ...I've watched a lot basketball (college) and I don't think being a freshman, soph or whatever class has anything to do with a kid/player being able to play....some of you act like the Fighting Illini is the first college to play freshman significant minutes & "actually Win!" It's happened at some of the best programs in the country...
I agree, and also positional reasons. In the front-court, we will definitely need one more real big in addition to Black and Finke in the main rotation. I have heard good things about Ebo and he is currently ahead of Matic Vesel. I saw Matic play in U20 this summer (only his last game live, but the rest on youtube).
At positions 1-2, with the departures of Abrams, Tate, and JCL, there will definitely be 2 more players who can play PG, while also giving the flexibility of playing off-guard. Smith and Frazier are the obvious candidates. I think DW is talented, but probably behind in conditioning, having stayed away from basketball all last year to rehab his injury.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Now that our entire team is on campus, any new reports about practices? Team coming together, offensive flow, defensive style, top performers? I know their time together is limited, just wondering
Finke and Black will start. Kipper will back up at multiple positions. Ebo will play rotation minutes.
Glory Days
- Palmetto, FL
If Mark Smith progresses as much this year as he did last year, he could end up in the NBA next year. Remember, he went from the 3rd best player on his high school team to the best player in the state.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Agreed. I think Mark is going to be a special player for us, and hopefully he performs so well that he is able to leave early-but I think he'll be here all four years.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
No doubt he has a very high ceiling. I find it really hard to project him out with as little as I've seen. His intangibles are excellent, he has good size, and his range is very exciting. I just don't know how athletic he is compared to other future pros, and how well his game translates at this point. I could see him getting more explosive and polished in a year or two, but I could also see him taking longer. Sure am glad we get to watch him in an Illini uniform.
IbleedOandB2014
In BU we trust
- Chattanooga
I am in dire need of more info on this years team. I want player and coach interviews, practice videos, news gazette articles, and strength/conditioning gains.
Dan
Admin
Mark Alstork 1-on-1: 'Everybody wants to win'
http://scout.com/college/illinois/Article/Mark-Alstork-1-on-1-Everybody-wants-to-win-107366183
Alstork 10,000
http://illinireport.info/2017/09/alstork-10000/
http://scout.com/college/illinois/Article/Mark-Alstork-1-on-1-Everybody-wants-to-win-107366183
Alstork 10,000
http://illinireport.info/2017/09/alstork-10000/
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
We never did get a single report from that open gym? What's up with that?
Deleted member 8213
D
Guest
Alstork definitely has the smooth coach-speak down.
There was no open gym. It turned out to be an hour and fifteen minute practice. Lots of drills. No scrimmage.
I'd be happy to answer any of your questions about the practice.
1) What drills did you see, fundamental or more system based (if so which ones specifically)?
2) Do they do a big/guard breakdown type deal?
OR
3) Have you seen it be more like everyone works on "guard skills" and everyone works on "post moves/big man stuff?"
As I think of more questions I will ask. This can also be about any practice you've seen, not just the most recent.
- Status