Illini Basketball 2018-2019
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It was the food.
Good luck, Matic. Now all that had gone , can fill his slot. Unfortunately he came into a situation which he was behind the game before he could get started. Hopefully it will go well for and glad he made the effort. Next man up?
Interview with HCBU
Got a few post-mortem questions concerning the season that was just finished, as well as some forward-looking ones. Worth reading, some very direct and blunt questions with some equally direct and blunt answers.
https://theloopsports.com/2018/04/2...cusses-last-seasons-struggles-backourt-depth/
Got a few post-mortem questions concerning the season that was just finished, as well as some forward-looking ones. Worth reading, some very direct and blunt questions with some equally direct and blunt answers.
https://theloopsports.com/2018/04/2...cusses-last-seasons-struggles-backourt-depth/
kcib8130
- Parts Unknown
4-14 in conference with notable wins over Nebraska, Indiana, and Rutgers twice and people are concerned with players we've lost? What do you imagine would be our record this next season with all the same personnel and swapping Alstork-Ayo? Changes had to occur.
On one hand, we would bring back the same players. The downside is we would bring back the same players.
I heard all season how much time it takes to gel and learn a new system. Now we have to start all over again to gel and learn a new system. If they had stayed, we would have a roster with a year's experience with this system.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Having a roster with a year's experience, yet the same deficiencies in speed, length, defensive awareness and lack of passing ability, is not progress.
We now have coaches with a year's experience in the offense, and 4 main cogs, Trent, DMW, Kipper and AJ, that have experience, along with Tyler Underwood, to help the guys that hopefully have the speed, length, defensive awareness and passing ability that will help in this system.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
This, this and this.
Don't forget Spicy G. They won't all be in the starting lineup but we have a player in each position, 1-5, that has a year of experience in the system.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Of course!!! Sorry to omit Spicy G. While many think he's just a place holder until Kane or possibly Okoro get up to speed, I think he'll make a big jump this offseason and provide valuable minutes and points/rebounds and defensive stops for the Illini next season.
I'm not sure he'll become a competent offensive force, but his defensive abilities showed in small flashes last year. His athleticism will take him far. I find it hard to believe Kane will uproot him without major improvement on Kane's end. Ebo should, at minimum, be serviceable as a 5 this year.
I don't think people are implying that the coaches couldn't learn the system in a year, just that the more times you teach something, the better you get at it. The idea is that they'll be better at implementing the offense the 2nd time through, and better again the 3rd, etc...
Not learning, but teaching would be more of the effort. Our core returnees will be a better teaching group with a staff to reinforce. Wondering if BU showed any recruits the treadmill?
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I didn't say they needed a year plus to learn our system, just they have a year's experience working with it and with Underwood. That should help them in their teaching it to the incoming players more easily than the beginning of last season.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
When he's beating wings and guards down the floor, he'll have a place in this offense!
When he's beating wings and guards down the floor, he'll have a place in this offense!
Ebo and DMW both will make major strides, I don't understand why many sell them short. Both showed flashes towards the end of the season, and I only see up sides. Defense and offense they both provide good minutes, and alot of rim rattling.
Govoner Vaugn Fan
- New Orleans
Ebo and DMW both will make major strides, I don't understand why many sell them short. Both showed flashes towards the end of the season, and I only see up sides. Defense and offense they both provide good minutes, and alot of rim rattling.
I'm looking for a lot from DMW this year. Before his HS senior injury he was a top candidate for Mr basketball. These knee injuries take the better part of a year to fully heal, then you have to rebuild leg strength. Then there is the psychological impact of the injury... favoring the knee to avoid a repeat injury. I suspect all of last year he was at far less than 100%. If Jordan makes the same strides as we saw last year, he will also be an impact player this year. I don't expect any of the freshmen (aside from perhaps Ayo) to make a major impact. It seems player development in college is inversely proportional to the size of the player. Big guys take longer to adapt. There are always exceptions, but guards are the most likely to perform at high level as freshmen, wings usually take a year or so and big men often are juniors before they reach their potential.
Not sure of definition of impact but believe Jones and Kane will play significant minutes. My pick for the surprise player is GBez because he has size and skills to be the perfect pinch post player and can match up defensively with some teams. Was impressed with his development from the early videos to the later ones.
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I've played this game too many times over the last decade, but I guess I'm the schmo who's still on the corner thinking I'll pick the red card...I think next year is going to be both fun, and surprisingly successful.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
:thumb: you're never alone
Thanks.
Good read, even though there's a lot of coach-speak in it. He says he didn't know why Smith transferred, for example. It's the right answer, as there's nothing to be gained from talking about it, and I'm sure he tried to counter the influence that led him to leave.
One thing I like in this article is how he's talking about passing, bball IQ, and the style of player he needs. I think those are a big part of why we struggled, and it's good to see him address it. We'll be young, but if we're moving in the right direction, I can live with it.
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