[emoji106] Only a couple of stinker games. I thought 7 second offense was overhyped though. Didn't see it much.
Illini Basketball 2018-2019
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I've got two words to describe trent frazier:amazing
On the upside....Tupper stated that the coaches to the man are surprised with Georgi. He is a much better shooter, passer, and athletic than anyone knew. I like hearing that. But can he defend....we certainly won't know for some time as there is no one on the team over 6'6" to defend. Hope Samba can do that so Georgi can get some time at the 4 spot with him when Illini need to go big.
True that
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I don't know. Maui his first year was pretty fun. And beating #1 IU. Other than that, yeah.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining than Underwood's 1st year. Everything about the Maui tourney, beating #1 ranked IU, the Brandon Paul buzzer beater vs. Minny in the B1G Tourney, beating Colorado in the Tourney, the game against Miami to go to the sweet 16.
I am hopeful Underwood gets this train rolling, but debating the "excitement" level or "entertainment" level of years 1 under Groce vs. Underwood is unbelievable. Year 1 was Groce's peak, and it was a breath of fresh air after the end of the Weber era. That was the last time Illinois basketball was genuinely enjoyable on any tangible level. Every experience since has been a hope and a prayer.
Posters suggesting that the cringe-worthy experience of last year could touch the excitement of the first year under Groce is unbelievable to me. That doesn't mean, in any way, that we were wrong to part with Groce or wrong to hire Underwood. It's just that Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining (an understatement) than the 1st year of the Underwood tenure. Optimism ABOUND after year 1 of Groce. Fingers crossed on Underwood, if he had the momentum Groce had after year 1, we would be sitting so pretty right now.
(and I know you are agreeing Banana, I am primarily building off your post here)
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Groce's first year team was a pretty darn talented group -Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson, Egwu, pre-injury Abrams, etc. that sniffed the top 10 at one point, iirc, certainly ranked most, if not all year...no way could any coach have gotten that level of output from the hodgepodge lineup UI had last year. Not really arguing your point here, just pointing out that those are 2 very different squads that we're comparingGroce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining than Underwood's 1st year. Everything about the Maui tourney, beating #1 ranked IU, the Brandon Paul buzzer beater vs. Minny in the B1G Tourney, beating Colorado in the Tourney, the game against Miami to go to the sweet 16.
I am hopeful Underwood gets this train rolling, but debating the "excitement" level or "entertainment" level of years 1 under Groce vs. Underwood is unbelievable. Year 1 was Groce's peak, and it was a breath of fresh air after the end of the Weber era. That was the last time Illinois basketball was genuinely enjoyable on any tangible level. Every experience since has been a hope and a prayer.
Posters suggesting that the cringe-worthy experience of last year could touch the excitement of the first year under Groce is unbelievable to me. That doesn't mean, in any way, that we were wrong to part with Groce or wrong to hire Underwood. It's just that Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining (an understatement) than the 1st year of the Underwood tenure. Optimism ABOUND after year 1 of Groce. Fingers crossed on Underwood, if he had the momentum Groce had after year 1, we would be sitting so pretty right now.
(and I know you are agreeing Banana, I am primarily building off your post here)
Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining than Underwood's 1st year. Everything about the Maui tourney, beating #1 ranked IU, the Brandon Paul buzzer beater vs. Minny in the B1G Tourney, beating Colorado in the Tourney, the game against Miami to go to the sweet 16.
I am hopeful Underwood gets this train rolling, but debating the "excitement" level or "entertainment" level of years 1 under Groce vs. Underwood is unbelievable. Year 1 was Groce's peak, and it was a breath of fresh air after the end of the Weber era. That was the last time Illinois basketball was genuinely enjoyable on any tangible level. Every experience since has been a hope and a prayer.
Posters suggesting that the cringe-worthy experience of last year could touch the excitement of the first year under Groce is unbelievable to me. That doesn't mean, in any way, that we were wrong to part with Groce or wrong to hire Underwood. It's just that Groce's 1st year was 20x more entertaining (an understatement) than the 1st year of the Underwood tenure. Optimism ABOUND after year 1 of Groce. Fingers crossed on Underwood, if he had the momentum Groce had after year 1, we would be sitting so pretty right now.
(and I know you are agreeing Banana, I am primarily building off your post here)
Going to the Kennel and sticking it to the Zags was pretty awesome too!
Always keeping an eye out for slivers of upside news like this. Keep it coming!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Starters may not be totally young if DeLaRosa (Sr.), Kipper (Jr ), AJ (Sr), TF (soph.) and Ayo. This actually would be a reasonable balance. If some of these are beat out by freshmen, even better. Just not confident DeLaRosa will be 100% any time in the season and afraid could be another Thorn.
I don't think his seat is even a little warm. Fans tend to be fickle, so you'll see plenty of negativity if things go badly.
We have a tough schedule, a young club, and are coming off a rough transition from the Groce days. So we should benefit from lower expectations. We're not going to be expected to win against our tougher opponents. And yet, if our guards are having a good day, we should be in a lot of games simply because we have some strong shooters.
We're not deep, and I'd guess our talent level is probably going to be middle of the conference overall. If we have another bad season, it will probably get attributed to being young, especially if we're getting beat defensively in the paint, then to recruiting, and then to a lesser extent, coaching.
Year 3 he'll have another season of his recruiting, and more indication of whether his guys are buying into the system and executing. If we get MIF players in this cycle, that should be a huge positive step towards returning to relevancy, and year 3 would be a fairer year to evaluate him. Even then it will depend on progress. I don't think he'll have excuses by year 4, if it takes that long to turn it around. My 2 cents. This is not a short rebuild.
IF that happens, I will be impressed. Liddell isn't happening and a good big in the fall is sketchy.
We will see, everyone is tired of losing. Its beyond ridiculous its been this long, so patience should be running thin.
Preposterous and unforgivable if true.
Needed better players for it to work.
7 second offense was overshadowed with the foul within 7 second defense. School record 22.6 fouls per game.
I'm taking this with a huge grain of salt. This staff seems way more prone to pump up the team through the media (paraphrasing but using quotes) "Mark Smith is the most advanced freshman I've coached" and "We're a tournament team". This is a refreshing change from prior regimes who might come in and say something like "Illinois is a top 30 job in the country" back when it was a top 10 job.
I like hearing it, but I don't put a lot of stock in it until I see it for myself.
We'll see how this season goes. I love what Frazier brings back, of course. I'm intrigued by all of the freshmen. I'm sure at least 1 of them won't end up panning out (just by sheer size of the class) but I'm excited to see what they look like this season.
Come to this or any other board during the summer and you'll find oodles of similar comments. Optimism tends to run deep prior to the start of the season.
Just wait for the practice reports to start flowing.:thumb:
Yep...wasn't Alex Legion making like 90 out of 100 shots from beyond the ark during pre season workouts????....how'd that work out???
DudeIllini
- Malibu
And he had to shoot those over two of every animal!
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