Illini Basketball 2018-2019
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Just listened to Tupper where he says the staff is surprised that Giorgio is more athletic and a better shooter than they thought. Also thought DaMonte may have breakout season. Not sure what credibility as this point (remember the MS comments) but the season will be interesting. Not sure anyone including the staff knows who will be the largest contributors this year. Just hope we are not as disappointed this year as last.
AJ will be a slightly better version of himself than last year....both the good and the bad.
DLR will likely be another Mike Thorne after Thorne's injury? With his size and weight he will be lucky to get around and do the basics by end of the year.
Let me start by saying, I really don't disagree with anyone on the BPI overrating but I am somewhat amazed how 'realistic' I guess, our fan base has become. When I first started following Illini boards years ago, no question it was the total opposite. Even the slightest suggestion by media of anything less that a dominant season was completely ripped apart. Now, suggestions of possible success by ESPN and CBS are considered mostly unrealistic by the majority.
I guess thats what years of Weber and Groce will do to a fan base. I really think/hope we're on the right track and do not think CBS is that far off to suggest this years team will be in the NCAA discussions throughout the BIG season. I guess I'll continue to be the eternal optimist!
I guess thats what years of Weber and Groce will do to a fan base. I really think/hope we're on the right track and do not think CBS is that far off to suggest this years team will be in the NCAA discussions throughout the BIG season. I guess I'll continue to be the eternal optimist!
It is quite difficult to look at this team and see the future of this coming season. Guard play has a 5* and two four stars with experience, I proven JC guard, and two guys with some size...one a proven threat from the arc and an even bigger frosh who, though unknown, has a pretty good pedigree and recent high success in high school. Add in Jones and Kipper who reportedly both have the talent to succeed, and you can fill 4 positions with a pretty high level of talent...albeit lacking in experience. The real question will be the play of the 4 new bigs and how the team defends. If anyone can tell us what they will bring to the court they are simply lying. At least they have some size and athleticism, and the one now playing with the team evidently can pass and shoot.....and who knows if he can defend? Hoping to see growth in all four over the season. It seemed to me that the staff understands the KISS method for young bigs based on how they brought Ebo along so successfully. My guess, for those who love the game and watching kids with talent and potential learn and perform better game to game, it will be a riveting season to watch. For those wanting a B1G title and FF.....don't bother.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
He's projecting AJ to have basically the same role as last year, but to get maybe 5 more minutes a game. That seems very plausible to me. I do think that he's radically overestimating De La Rosa's contribution, though. There's no way he plays 25 minutes a game over the season just due to his injury recovery alone.
Thing is, neither of those guys are really driving his initial ranking. It really boils down to how much the numbers like Frazier and Nichols, and what Ayo is projected to bring to the table. Specifically, the numbers like Kipper *a lot*. His line looks similar to Malcolm Hill's at the same stage of his career, with the real difference being Kipper's lack of minutes betraying a lack of engagement on D. If he works through that and gets his 30 minutes a game, he'll be in the conversation for all-conference recognition this year.
We've not had a 1-2 combo like Frazier and Nichols since Rice/Hill in 2015. That team wound up around 60 in Pomeroy's rating despite a couple of absolute howlers to end the season. They would have been hovering around 50 had they just showed up for those games, and that's where Torvik has them right now. Granted that this team doesn't have an Egwu hanging around, but it's also not going to hand 50 minutes a game to Lewis, Cosby, and Tate.
We can beat to death the things that we're not going to see from this team, but that shouldn't obscure the value of the pieces we have at the top end. Guys who can score efficiently while using 25-plus percent of a team's possessions don't grow on trees.
My guess on the whole thing is that the computers will have us ranked around the last of the at-large teams at the end of the season, but we just won't have enough wins to get in due to the nasty schedule and tough conference. I suppose we could always get lucky for once, though...
If we get a full season of the good versions of Frazier and Kipper and can duct-tape-and-popsicle-stick together the big man situation, there may be some reason for optimism.
I'm more confident in Trent than Kipper on that score.
But the fact still remains we have exactly 1 guy on the roster that's a proven high-end B1G player...Trent Frazier. We want Kipper to get to that Rice/Hill level but he hasn't done it yet. We want Damonte to make that big sophomore leap, but will he actually do it? We want Ayo to come in and make an impact right away, but you never know how freshmen will adapt. These are the same things we've been wanting/hoping to happen for the past 8+ years. It has to come together at some point right?
Kipper has produced at that level already, to the extent that he gave enough effort to stay on the court. When I took a look at his numbers from last year I was genuinely surprised at how good they were. It's an open question as to whether or not he's going to show up every day and warrant 30 minutes on a consistent basis. It's not an open question as to whether he can produce at that level when he does, though.
I'm not saying that he's not an X factor for this team, but he's capable of playing the part.
In last year's B1G, there were eight teams that had at least two guys who posted an offensive rating of 100 or greater while taking at least 25% of the team's possessions. Those include the top six, plus Minnesota, who sure looked like they belonged near the top until Lynch got kicked off the team. The other was Illinois. I think that means that you're not guaranteed success if you have guys like that on the team, but it sure does help.
As for the other blanks on the roster, it's going to be tough to replace Black and to a lesser extent Finke. But it's going to take effort for whoever comes in to take the minutes that Alstork, Lucas, and Smith to produce much less. Kipper is the guy who can backfill Black's high-volume possessions. He just has to show up.
With so many unknowns, shouldn't there be just as much optimism as pessimism? There is no doubt that historically, teams with experience have done better in the BIG than those who have not had it. But imo, there are so many variables in the players, teams, coaches, competition, schedule, on and on.... that history is not a good predictor of this team, this year. An infusion of talent, another year of experience and practice in the system for the players that returned. I know we were 4-14 in conference, but we played competitively with almost all of them for most of the game. I just don't think there is really that much difference between the 4th team in conference projections than the 12th team. Some of the better teams last year, lost a lot of players also. That's why they play the games. If Gonzaga scores at will in the lane, it won't be a good sign, but even then, coaches are paid to fix those type of problems.
It is not really just lack of experience. If lack of experience was the main factor, teams like UK, Duke, etc. would be ranked low in most years. As far as realistic projections, it has also little to do with optimism or pessimism. What analysts and independent observers see is an inexperienced 4-14 team that also lost Leron Black (mainly), Finke and Ebo in what was already a very thin frontcourt. As far as the infusion of talent, they see Ayo, and some lower ranked recruits (especially in the frontcourt). So most believe that Illinois will be improved at guards but may struggle mightily in what was already a weak frontcourt last year.
As far as fans, most fans are generally optimistic of their team as it is much more enjoyable to see their team win than lose. But that goes for every other team as well.
Hope he just tears it up!
Ebo is a good pickup for Northeastern...will be missed.
What makes you think Feliz was brought in as a backup? The coaches love his point guard skills. He has a great shot at being the starting point guard this year.
Damonte can handle the ball but he is behind at least three others as far as running the point is concerned.
Agreed, DaMonte will never be the pg for the ILLINI imo, he will however be a combo guard with Bardo type defensive ability and length.
Me too.....but all you have to do is look at where our former players have transferred to recently to realize the talent level on our rosters
Ayo and Trent
Feliz likely starts at the point with Frazier and Ayo on the wings.
I am going to be like Oprah giving out beach houses if this actually happens.
Ayo and trent can be dangerous on the wings, as well as running point. Got to pove the versatility.
I can definitely see all of them playing together at some point, but Frazier starts at the point going in until someone proves better than him at running PG.
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