Thought I would check it out myself. Last year Lucas was only around 59 per cent. Finke was just over 50 per cent (54, I think) and Black was around 70. Jordan didn't really put up many free throws. Nichols was around 61 per cent. I am guessing that BU has been having a lot of free throw practice.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
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Thought I would check it out myself. Last year Lucas was only around 59 per cent. Finke was just over 50 per cent (54, I think) and Black was around 70. Jordan didn't really put up many free throws. Nichols was around 61 per cent. I am guessing that BU has been having a lot of free throw practice.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
I'm okay with 9+ out of ten if a 10 is last year's OSU. I think we may be at that 10 level by the end of the year because we should be a more balanced team. He may have tried to temper expectations slightly perhaps because he knows these guys are young and there will be growing pains, but he will be the kind of coach who will demand perfection which should allow his teams to at least achieve greatness while trying. We'll see.
I love when "9+ out of 10" is tempering expectations.
Really though, what coach is going to say something like "probably a solid 6 out of 10"?
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
:thumb:
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I was imagining that question going to JG and I heard in my head "we'll do our best and expect to get better as the season progresses, with toughness and togetherness". But no specifics, like "9 out of 10". I liked the straightforward answer. nervously optimistic about the reign of BU
Very true. Speaks his mind and believes in what he says. You're absolutely right. Thanks for opening my eyes
Well I think he could have tempered expectations by saying around "8" and we all would have probably found that reasonable and agreed. Would have kept the pressure manageable on him and his players. Butat's not what he expects or demands from them, regardless of how good OSU was last year. He expects to be in that tier again. Love it, even if we do end up around that "8" level. Shooting for greatness instead of settling for mediocrity.
OurMottoisOskeeWowWow
- Illinois
Finke rocking the man bun on BTN!
Also said Oklahoma State last year being 10, so we are a little behind the team that lost their first 6 conference games. Not to be a downer, we will get there, but probably are wise to be cautiously optimistic.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
He was referring to their offense. They weren't losing because of points scored as much as due to points allowed. That is why he changed the defense.
DaMonte will rebound and defend his way back to the lofty ranking caliber he once had. I firmly believe he will, when all is said and done, be just as good if not better as far as career than any other guard we have currently. Yes possibly Mark Smith also. DaMonte I like a lot, as long as he stays engaged and works to constantly get better. He is the real deal.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Pardon me if this is already posted. If so, I missed it.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...nois-greenstein-spt-1020-20171019-column.html
Just adding fuel to the fire of my man crush
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...nois-greenstein-spt-1020-20171019-column.html
Just adding fuel to the fire of my man crush
EfremWinters84
- S. Carolina
So the one thing that still bothers me.......
We're picked to finish 12th (bottom three in Big Ten) this year. I believe that prediction from the Big 10 coaches. Presumably they know the conference talent better than anyone else. They also know that Underwood is our new coach.
Alstork leaves and Ayo replaces him in a year. How much better than 12th will we be in 2018-19?
Obviously, there needs to be a "giant leap" at some point. Hoping maybe that leap occurs this year!
We're picked to finish 12th (bottom three in Big Ten) this year. I believe that prediction from the Big 10 coaches. Presumably they know the conference talent better than anyone else. They also know that Underwood is our new coach.
Alstork leaves and Ayo replaces him in a year. How much better than 12th will we be in 2018-19?
Obviously, there needs to be a "giant leap" at some point. Hoping maybe that leap occurs this year!
:faint:illinifan87
- The Windy City
An objective, slightly dare I say pro-Illini piece from Teddy Wildcat? It is the end of times.
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Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Illini_1979
- Oregon
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Those were my thoughts as well. I agree. Let's just hope they finish higher than 12th and make the tournament.
So, Underwood wasn't just blowing smoke when he said that the UofI was his dream job. Nice!
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Illinois section at the game at Wake Forest
Here I am, a misplaced Midwesterner, looking for tickets for the B1G/ACC Challenge Illinois/Wake Forest game in Winston-Salem on November 28. Is there any way to insure that I am buying tickets that will have me sitting with like-minded folks?
Thanks
Here I am, a misplaced Midwesterner, looking for tickets for the B1G/ACC Challenge Illinois/Wake Forest game in Winston-Salem on November 28. Is there any way to insure that I am buying tickets that will have me sitting with like-minded folks?
Thanks
Well... they haven't finished 12th in 2017-2018 yet, so I don't think that's the finishing place we'll compare 2018-2019 too.
Just enjoy the ride, with these low preseason picks there's nowhere to go but up. Maybe we do finish 12th (I doubt it, I'm thinking 7-8 and a tourney birth), but it is guaranteed to be a fun offensive team to watch.
Deleted member 631370
D
Guest
The preseason pick means nothing right now. We have waaaaaay too many new faces and unknowns for anybody to state with confidence where we're going to finish.
That said, at this moment, this is my hunch for how I see it playing out:
2017-18: We go 20-12 (or something like that) and finish somewhere around #8 in the Big Ten. We'll be squarely on the bubble.
If everybody then returns.....
2018-19: We are a preseason top-25 team (somewhere around #20 or #21), and go something like 24-9 and finish around #4 or #5 in the Big Ten. Get into the tourney as a 4 or 5 seed.
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