Illini Basketball 2017-2018

Illini Resurgence · Nov 20, 2017

It seemed to me that this year we had the worst non-conference schedule I could remember. So just for the heck of it I looked at KenPom ratings and non-conference strength of schedule since 2002:

Year / NCSOS / Final Overall Ranking

2018 302 98
2017 158 66
2016 176 125
2015 287 61
2014 278 53
2013 185 39
2012 219 76
2011 68 18
2010 103 57
2009 239 25
2008 70 51
2007 156 36
2006 268 9
2005 157 2
2004 89 13
2003 257 5
2002 32 8

Andman94 · Nov 20, 2017

After watching the B1G so far this year, I feel like Illinois will be competitive for the most part.

Calvin · Nov 20, 2017

Just looking at stats through 4 games, and I'm happy to see that we're going 9 deep. Minutes:

104 Finke
102 Smith
92 Black
83 Alstork
76 Te'Jon
76 DMW
73 Jordan
71 Kipper
====
22 Spicey G
23 Rest of team

Other stats of note:
Mark Smith is 20-20 on FTs
Leron has an A/T of 2.0
Te'Jon is picking pockets with 6 steals
Jordan is 50% from 3, while the rest of the team has been ugly, hitting under 23%.

alaaji · Nov 20, 2017

Calvin said:
Just looking at stats through 4 games, and I'm happy to see that we're going 9 deep. Minutes:

104 Finke
102 Smith
92 Black
83 Alstork
76 Te'Jon
76 DMW
73 Jordan
71 Kipper
====
22 Spicey G
23 Rest of team

Other stats of note:
Mark Smith is 20-20 on FTs
Leron has an A/T of 2.0
Te'Jon is picking pockets with 6 steals
Jordan is 50% from 3, while the rest of the team has been ugly, hitting under 23%.

Aren't you missing Trent?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Peoria Illini · Nov 20, 2017

Calvin said:
Just looking at stats through 4 games, and I'm happy to see that we're going 9 deep. Minutes:

104 Finke
102 Smith
92 Black
83 Alstork
76 Te'Jon
76 DMW
73 Jordan
71 Kipper
====
22 Spicey G
23 Rest of team

Other stats of note:
Mark Smith is 20-20 on FTs
Leron has an A/T of 2.0
Te'Jon is picking pockets with 6 steals
Jordan is 50% from 3, while the rest of the team has been ugly, hitting under 23%.

Where's Frazier?

alaskaillini · Nov 20, 2017

Peoria Illini said:
Where's Frazier?

Down goes Frazier.

Sorry couldn't help myself.

ForWhomTheBellTolls · Nov 21, 2017

The games against Wake and NU will give us a good gauge as to where we are - usually, freshmen-heavy teams tend to underperform on the road in non-conference play, and over the past few years, we have struggled on the road in general. It will be important for our tourney chances to win at least 1 of the 2 on the road, and if we can only win 1, I would prefer NU simply because it is a conference game and we will need all of the help we can get in conference. On the other hand, if Wake doesn't start winning some games soon, it may be a "bad loss" if we lose to them.

Of course, "por que no los dos?"

Also, through 4 games, Frazier has 78 minutes - for those wondering, season stats are posted after every game at fightingillini.com

JIllini · Nov 21, 2017

UNLV is quietly having a great start to their season. They've whooped each of their 4 opponents so far, scoring a minimum of 91 points per game. That could be a tougher game than anticipated for us. GCU also seems like they could be dangerous.

Kathy · Nov 21, 2017

ForWhomTheBellTolls said:
The games against Wake and NU will give us a good gauge as to where we are - usually, freshmen-heavy teams tend to underperform on the road in non-conference play, and over the past few years, we have struggled on the road in general. It will be important for our tourney chances to win at least 1 of the 2 on the road, and if we can only win 1, I would prefer NU simply because it is a conference game and we will need all of the help we can get in conference. On the other hand, if Wake doesn't start winning some games soon, it may be a "bad loss" if we lose to them.

Of course, "por que no los dos?"

Also, through 4 games, Frazier has 78 minutes - for those wondering, season stats are posted after every game at fightingillini.com

Help me with the translation please: "Why don't you both"?

IlliniKat91 · Nov 21, 2017

Kathy said:
Help me with the translation please: "Why don't you both"?

That's a clumsy, super direct translation into English (as Google is wont to do). It's just a Spanish phrase meaning, "Why not both?" It gained traction/meme status when it was featured in an Old El Paso commercial.

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hodgesonfire · Nov 21, 2017

What I take from 4 games...we are going to see a lot of zone unless our 3 point shooting gets better.

We have a very deep but young team.

We have good composure which I think is a credit to Underwood and his composure.

Positionless basketball is going to be the rule not the exception.

Kathy · Nov 21, 2017

IlliniKat91 said:
That's a clumsy, super direct translation into English (as Google is wont to do). It's just a Spanish phrase meaning, "Why not both?" It gained traction/meme status when it was featured in an Old El Paso commercial.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

Thank you

foby · Nov 21, 2017

JIllini said:
UNLV is quietly having a great start to their season. They've whooped each of their 4 opponents so far, scoring a minimum of 91 points per game. That could be a tougher game than anticipated for us. GCU also seems like they could be dangerous.

GCU and NMS were 1 and 2 in their conference, and could both be tough. Although some think the NCS is too weak, it does have it's moments.

TheGMan · Nov 21, 2017

UNLV play Utah tomorrow. Could be a good gauge as to how good UNLV is.

CAHALL15 · Nov 21, 2017

Chieftain13 said:
I know there has been discussion somewhere about ignoring KenPom ratings until mid-season, but I was just looking at the current rankings through 11/19 and our remaining schedule before January. Illinois is currently #98. I think just the fact that Wake Forest remains #77 with a 1-4 record confirms that these likely take a bit of time to catch up. The rankings of the opponents who beat them do suggest that they have played tougher competition than us (#63, #87, #168, #199). Just food for thought.

W -#332 - Southern
W -#255 - UT-Martin
W- #126 - Depaul
W -#202 - Marshall

#294 - NCC
#77 - @ Wake Forest
#52 - @ Northwestern
#35 - Maryland
#317 - Austin Peay
#140 - UNLV
#343 - Longwood
#103 - NM State
#72 - Missouri
#129 - Grand Canyon

Have they played tougher competition than us if their opponents ratings have also “not caught up?” Maybe they’re somewhat tougher, but Liberty, Georgia Southern, and Drake don’t seem to strike fear in the hearts of most Power 5 teams.

Calvin · Nov 21, 2017

foby said:
GCU and NMS were 1 and 2 in their conference, and could both be tough. Although some think the NCS is too weak, it does have it's moments.

I guess it depends on your aspirations. This year, we just want time to get Underwood's system in place, and see if he can clean the stains from the jersey after so many years of mediocrity.

We haven't played a tournament team yet, but it's alarming that there may not be a single one on our entire 13 game non-conference schedule.

Missouri, despite their incredible recruiting class, has already lost to Utah, and beat Emporia State by 5 points. It's astounding to me that A.) There's still a team I'd never heard of after all my years as a fan, and, B.) this touted Missouri team almost managed to lose to it

Wake isn't going to the dance. That leaves maybe 2 other teams that might make the dance*

ILLHangOut · Nov 21, 2017

hodgesonfire said:
What I take from 4 games...we are going to see a lot of zone unless our 3 point shooting gets better.

We have a very deep but young team.

We have good composure which I think is a credit to Underwood and his composure.

Positionless basketball is going to be the rule not the exception.

One thing I appreciate about this year’s offense compared to previous years is that pushing the ball in transition should help us against the zone even when then 3 isn’t falling.

Ga65 · Nov 21, 2017

Teams with great size and depth will be difficult for us. Teams like NW with little depth are going to have a hard time with us. MSU and Minn would be the former. Will be competitive with all the others IMO. Get Happ into foul trouble and WI is done.

hodgesonfire · Nov 21, 2017

ILLHangOut said:
One thing I appreciate about this year’s offense compared to previous years is that pushing the ball in transition should help us against the zone even when then 3 isn’t falling.

Totally agree, additionally we get lots of freethrows with the driving

hodgesonfire · Nov 21, 2017

Transition basketball is one of the main reasons positionless basketball works. Big guys don't handle transition as well, so it negates their size as long as you get rebounds with a smaller line up.

FeelYourPaign · Nov 22, 2017

Really early and things could change, but right now Mark Smith is ranked in the top 5 in the nation in FT%

Rank Player Team Ht Wt Yr FTM FTA FT%
1 Yante Maten Georgia 6-8 243 Sr 23 23 100.0
2 Harald Frey Montana St. 6-1 150 So 20 20 100.0
2 Mark Smith Illinois 6-4 225 Fr 20 20 100.0
4 Nick King Middle Tennessee 6-7 225 Sr 19 19 100.0
4 Levi Bradley Northern Illinois 6-7 210 Jr 19 19 100.0

Of course, at this point, you have to be shooting 100% to make the list

PtownIllini8 · Nov 22, 2017

Right now it looks like MSU, Minnesota and Purdue will be the top 3. After that it's a dog fight that we can be in the middle of.

Portillos · Nov 22, 2017

PtownIllini8 said:
Right now it looks like MSU, Minnesota and Purdue will be the top 3. After that it's a dog fight that we can be in the middle of.

I was just saying the same exact thing.

Ga65 · Nov 22, 2017

PtownIllini8 said:
Right now it looks like MSU, Minnesota and Purdue will be the top 3. After that it's a dog fight that we can be in the middle of.

:thumb:

ratdawg · Nov 22, 2017

Portillos said:
I was just saying the same exact thing.

YAY. Out of all the losers , we can come in 3rd or 4th!!!!

(Actually I'm very happy with the improvement if we can accomplish this. just like quoting Seinfeld every chance I get) :shield:

Illini Basketball 2017-2018

ratdawg