Cool. What else you got?
Alex Legion,Jr is shooting the ball in practice very well.
Finke and Black should both turn into double-double machines.
Interesting that through the first 2 games, we haven't heard a peep about Alstork or Smith. I wonder if the staff is limiting what stats they give to the public, or maybe those 2 are off to slow starts.
Interesting that through the first 2 games, we haven't heard a peep about Alstork or Smith. I wonder if the staff is limiting what stats they give to the public, or maybe those 2 are off to slow starts.
Perhaps an indication that 11th/12th in the Big 10 is not such a bad guess for this season?Mark Smith shot 2-15 vs Indiana St and really struggled, also missing a wide open layup at end of the game he probably should have dunked. I don’t anticipate this being the norm. Not real sure how he shot vs Vandy but I know it was better. Haven’t heard much on Alstork, but not super aggressive yet in practice. I think he is adjusting to not having to carry all the load and passing more than he has in previous years.
Perhaps Mark Smith should lead the rotation squad this season rather than start. It gives him more control of the ball game and faces slightly worse opponent. When Mark can consistently kill the opponents sub guards, he starts.
Perhaps an indication that 11th/12th in the Big 10 is not such a bad guess for this season?
(If so, I won't be satisfied.)
I would like to see him with TJL most of the minutes he gets. Think they complement each other really well. Same with TF and DMW. TJL Smith Alstork Black (or Kipper) and Finke is my starting 5. I expect lots of subs, hopefully better packages than the Groce era gave us.
Perhaps an indication that 11th/12th in the Big 10 is not such a bad guess for this season?
(If so, I won't be satisfied.)
I'm probably going to wait to see the games with my own two eyes before jumping to conclusions like some on here.
I don't think Kipper will start because they need his defense in the post too much to spell Black and or Finke.
I have recognized in myself an odd and yet deep-seated desire for Underwood to continue his streak of NCAA tourney bids, and his "takes each new team to the tourney in year 1" streak. Part of that, certainly, is that I simply want our team to do well, but I also want to be able to have pride in the coach himself, and have this amazing standard that "he ALWAYS makes the tournament". And I don't want Illinois to be the team that he couldn't make the tournament with.
I know, I should prepare to be disappointed, but I don't want to. It's more fun being guardedly optimistic than being realistic and mellow.
I have recognized in myself an odd and yet deep-seated desire for Underwood to continue his streak of NCAA tourney bids, and his "takes each new team to the tourney in year 1" streak. Part of that, certainly, is that I simply want our team to do well, but I also want to be able to have pride in the coach himself, and have this amazing standard that "he ALWAYS makes the tournament". And I don't want Illinois to be the team that he couldn't make the tournament with.
I know, I should prepare to be disappointed, but I don't want to. It's more fun being guardedly optimistic than being realistic and mellow.
My opinion of Smith is that he is still the biggest scoring threat we have, possibly Alstork could be better as he keeps getting more comfortable. There are not many Big Ten guards that can guard Mark Smith going to the basket, he is that strong. He can pull-up from 8-10 feet as well as finishing at the rim. I don’t see any way he doesn’t start unless BU just wants to take some pressure off him to start the year.
I'm with you man. I'd honestly be shocked if we finished in that 10-12 range.