Illini Basketball 2019-2020

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#1      

Dan

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Monday, June 10th: The fist day of summer practice.


Italy Trip (Aug. 4-14)
3-4 games and 10 practices. Full schedule/details to be released at a later date.


Schedule
The full non-conference schedule is typically release in late July/early August, the full schedule typically released in late August.

@Arizona (Sunday, November 10th)
@Grand Canyon (likely close to Arizona game date)
Home vs Miami FL (Monday, December 2nd in B1G/ACC Challenge)
Home vs Old Dominion
vs Missouri in St. Louis

B1G home & away opponents:
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Purdue
Rutgers

B1G home-only opponents:
Indiana
Minnesota
Nebraska

B1G away-only opponents:
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin


Roster
Ayo Dosunmu___________So.___G
Trent Frazier_________Jr.___G
Andres Feliz__________Sr.___G
Tevian Jones__________So.___G
Alan Griffin__________So.___G
Da'Monte Williams_____Jr.___G
Kipper Nichols________Sr.___F
Giorgi Bezhanishvili__So.___PF
Samba Kane____________So.___C
Kofi Cockburn_________Fr.___C
Bernard Kouma_________Fr.___PF


Commits
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (2019 F)
 
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#5      
Predicitions for the season anyone?
Still too early. As the roster stands, I see a leap, NIT would be a good middle point. I could see this roster making the tourney, but guys like Jones and Griffin will have to step up hard. I'm confident in Trent, Ayo, Andres, and Giorgi, but everyone else is either too inconsistent or too inexperienced to really say they can provide valuable minutes (yes even Kofi).

If we add a scoring wing, then I like our chances at a bigger leap, top 6ish B1G finish. I think Holyfield is more ideal than Tomas, but purely based on the fact that he takes a load off Giorgi if he can't guard 4s, and also Kofi if he struggles (Giorgi can slide back into the 5 spot). He's a scorer who doesn't seem to rely on volume to get his points, which will only benefit him going from a clear number 1 option to maybe the 3rd or 4th.

If Kofi was entering his Sophomore year instead, I could see this team + Holyfield being a top 20 team nationally, but I have a feeling Kofi will not dominate enough to push us into that category.
 
#8      
Easier schedule, freshmen becoming sophomores, almost all starters returning, Top 50 recruit coming in at position of greatest need....and a trip to Europe giving us 10 more practices and 3 games...Yep.

I added to your thoughts! This should be a very fun season. The worm is finally turning.
 
#10      
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#11      
Predicitions for the season anyone?
Too early to say. Waiting on Holyfield decision, if Kipper stays or transfers, Kouma signing the NLI, and what happens to Higgs scholarship. And lastly how hard these guys workin the offseason. How good they look against the competition in Italy will be a good barometer of how good this team will be in 19-20
 
#12      
Predicitions for the season anyone?

It's so hard to say, given all of the variables still out there. However, I expect pretty significant improvement. Our ceiling (at any given time) should be slightly better than our hot streak, and our floor should be slightly better than our woeful times this year. That sounds minimal to some, I'm sure, but it likely is the difference between no postseason and a fairly secure Tournament berth. The lack of crazy schedule at the beginning to knock a young team down will help a lot, IMO ... that schedule planted the seeds of preparation for THIS year as much as it did any turnaround from last year. I was at the UC game vs. Iowa and the one in Iowa City ... the Hawkeyes just clicked both games, and we couldn't claw back. That loss did not leave the bitter taste in my mouth for next year that past season-ending losses had, so I am pretty excited for next year. After a 4-12 start that included losses to the likes of #3 Gonzaga, Iowa State, Xzvier, Notre Dame, #19 Ohio State, #21 Indiana and #2 Michigan, we finished the season fairly well, all things considered, taking down #13 Maryland in NYC and #9 Michigan State (a Final Four team). I think we have the potential to win 20+ games, and in the Big Ten I think that sends us dancing.
 
#18      
His successful we will be will ride on Ayo, GB and Kofi. I think Ayo can be a great leader and clearly needed to come back. I'm watching the Portland vs Nuggets game and I hope and think Ayo could become a finisher like CJ Mc of the Blazers. If Ayo works hard he can be that type of player one day and help us greatly this upcoming season.
 
#19      
Looking at the roster we have coming in the 2019-20 season, I think the biggest unknown is whether we have someone that can be a consistent impact scorer from the SF position. Now I see some potential returning candidates in TJ and AG, but it would be really nice to have a consistent scoring threat from that position. Gentlemen, your table is set...
 
#24      
Looking at the roster we have coming in the 2019-20 season, I think the biggest unknown is whether we have someone that can be a consistent impact scorer from the SF position. Now I see some potential returning candidates in TJ and AG, but it would be really nice to have a consistent scoring threat from that position. Gentlemen, your table is set...
Am not worried about that position. Hopefully Jones steps up but also have Kipper, Alan, and DaMonte. We will be at least good at defense and scoring will not be our problem.
 
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