The Illini have certainly got longer and more athletic then they were a year ago, but realistically the size we have is not ready to play at the Big 10 level and will need time to develop as will most of the freshman. The arrow is pointing up compared to a year ago but it will still be an uphill battle to make the tournament this year. Big thing is to look for improvement and development of our young players this upcoming season. 19-20 is the big test for Underwood and the Illini. He will have a roster of his players and a much more veteran team that will need to make the tournament and compete in the Big 10
Illini Basketball 2018-2019
- Status
Are you serious? or just dont know what you are talking about? AJ shot over 45% from three last year. (2nd in B1G) he was 1st in the B1G in True shooting percentage (do i need to explain that one) and eFG percentage. He was in the top 5 in almost every stat on the team that matters (and was 1 or 2 in most of those) :tsk:
Last edited by a moderator:
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
This is a good summary from where I sit. We look like we have overall better talent and athletes, but they are mostly freshmen and that is historically a challenge. I expect to be volatile, with regular but not quite steady improvement. Things will probably look good for 19-20 by the end of the season. That's a development plan that I can get ready for.
I think if TTC had left AJ and maybe Finke out of "open shot" discussion, he would have been more on point. Overall we weren't good on coverting from the perimeter.
Sent from my VS500 using Tapatalk
:thumb:
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
The only comparison that I hope to see this year to the 1989 Flyin' Illini is what Stephen Bardo referred to as "junk-yard-doggish". If these guys are a bunch of junk yard dogs, like the 89 Illini, then I'll be extremely happy, regardless of their skill level.
RC, please excuse some of the baseless comments. You forgot to mention AJ led the nation in 3 pt shooting for a couple of months. But biggest contribution is staying true to the university through adversity, character matters!
I'm really excited to see what Underwood and Co. can do with guys like Giorgi or Higgs that have a couple skills that should translate but likely need (a lot of) coaching and development to compete at a high level right away.
I think of a guy like Tyler Griffey who was pretty highly rated (comparatively) and was just not a very good B1G-level basketball player. There's no reason Giorgi and Higgs can't be significantly better than that.
No...The most important thing I forgot was his Selection to B1G Academic ALLAmerican team (2nd time)
Its funny reading these comments during the non basketball window. Everyone is anxious to see some basketball and wild things come out of the woodworks. Just remember last year around this time....go back and read some of those comments. We had players going to the NBA after their freshman year...smh. Just let the guys figure it out. Reading some of the assessments/expectations from some of you guys.....looks like last year all over again. Let them learn the coaches system before you tag them NBA ready or even making the starting lineup.
he's too short to guard most guys playing the 4 in the NBA and probably too slow to guard the 3.
How's this for a hot take?
Next year's team is probably very comparable in ability to the Flyin' Illini. Perhaps even better. And they'll finish near the bottom of the Big Ten. That's how much basketball has changed and improved since 1989.
CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Ervin Small was a package deal with Nick Anderson. Ervin could not jump or really shoot outside of a layup. He was a roll player and helped as needed. To say that he would be the highest rated big man in 2018 is funny to me. I would take a couple of our new big men over Ervin any day. Actually there is no player on this team that I would trade for Easy E period. Jens on the other hand would fit on this team. It would have been interesting to see what the 1989 team would have been like if he stayed for his senior season. I remember towards the end of his junior year he cleared a rebound at Michigan on the defensive end and dribbled all the way down the court for a huge dunk.
I agree wit this notion, but you also have to remember that college basketball as a whole doesn't have those same players who are McDAA's who stick around for 3 and 4 years. UI 18-19 doesn't need to have the same rankings as UI 88-89 because college basketball is a different animal.
Count me in the optimistic group as well....but part of that is probably because I'm in the "can't wait for basketball if we went 0-30 camp" as well.
As far as forecasting any kind of won/lost record for this upcoming season, I am going to say let's start the season and see where we wind up, one game at a time. With all the upheaval this team has gone through this off season, it just doesn't make any sense to me to predict a final record. So with that being said, in BU I certainly trust!! I cannot wait for this season to start.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I hope you're right, that would be a big boost if he is.
Worked out well. Better talent and able to contribute sooner than Braun or any of our other recent targets.
Deleted member 10500
D
Guest
Ervin Small was one of the strongest players the Illini ever had on the blocks. I had the chance to watch him up close multiple times at IMPE playing against football players and it was like nothing I ever saw. From a defensive standpoint, someone like him would IMHO be a huge positive for this coming year. I will concede fully that outside of 3' having him shoot was NOT a good idea!
I think this team will be interesting to watch...but the beginning of the season will be difficult because 1) we have a lot of new players trying to figure out the system, how to play defense at this level, how to play together offensively and figuring out college life in general...and 2) our non-conf. schedule will be pretty tough.....so I can see a team that will struggle early on to win games...but hopefully by the time B10 schedule rolls around we'll see improvement and surprise some people.
You can't be serious... You are comparing the ability of this team to the 1989 Flyin' Illini? Not only was the 1989 the greatest collection of talent, with 3 McD AA (current team has none), one of the best PF's who ever played for the Illini and the epitome of hard work and tenacity (i.e., Battle), arguably the best wing who ever wore the Illini uniform (i.e., Anderson), one of the best SG's who ever played for the Illini, etc. etc. but the 1989 was also a team of proven ability that culminated years of successful recruiting and on-court performances. The 1989 was no fluke, neither was a delusional shot in the dark.
Are some fans losing their minds here? People have gone from arguing ad nauseam whether this team can be better or worse than last year, a discussion that in meaningless IMO given that last year's season was on of the worst in modern history, to comparing the "ability" of this team to the Flying Illini 1989 team.
Lets make it simple - they have the ability to be athletic and run the court and entertain us...all of which the 89 team did as well. My god, seriously?
Long term ability and type of player is what I am comparing. Athleticism is closer to the 89 team, than any other probably since 2005.
It is not that hard to fathom that the athleticism and the way it is trending now with our current class is closer to 89 than any other class, thus the comparision.
It amazes me that many on here only see the black and white of things...the gray is what will show through eventually, yet none can see it. By the way what recruiting success immediately followed the 89 success up until the 93 season (4) years...Thomas and Garris with an outside of Bennett/Michaels? Not hardly successful considering how high of regards we hold that team....same thing happened again in 05 also?
So to make this even simpler...I am not comparing the ability NOW to the 89 team, I am simply stating that I can see this class end up with some of that ability long term. If so, then we are closer than we have been in a long time.
I would rather have that optimistic approach rather than the lets get the next Kujawa or Griffey, or even Smalls.
Last edited:
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Oh, it's hot takes and hyperbole today! Cool!
The 1988/89' Flyin' Illini is the greatest team in college basketball history.
Well, duh.
- Status