Illini Basketball 2019-2020

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#326      

Illwinsagain

Cary, IL
I think everyone is a bit high on Samba's block numbers. Only 5 players last year in all of the NCAA averaged even 3 blocks a game last year and they played 24+ minutes each (only one of them played on a P5 team). Tacko Fall at 7'6" only averaged 2.6 blocks in about 25 minutes per game. The idea that Samba is going to get 2 per game is a bit far fetched for me in 10-15 minutes. He did average a block every 8.7 minutes, but the sample size (10 blocks in 87 minutes) is small to extrapolate for about 4 times the amount of playing time. The best block/min average last year for qualifying players was Kylor Kelly of Oregon State at 1 block/7 min.
You are likely right, but if I was going to be overly optimistic on something, it would be blocks. I would think he would get challenged more than a 7"6" dude in the middle.
 
#327      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Samba needs what the whole team needs, which is Giorgi's jumper to have developed enough to be able to play alongside another true big.

It will be tough for Samba to see the floor if Giorgi and Kofi are in front of him for one spot, as I suspect they would be.
 
#328      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Samba needs what the whole team needs, which is Giorgi's jumper to have developed enough to be able to play alongside another true big.

It will be tough for Samba to see the floor if Giorgi and Kofi are in front of him for one spot, as I suspect they would be.

Giorgi will see the bulk of his time as a 4. Assuming Kane is ready, quite possibly the vast majority.
 
#330      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Giorgi will see the bulk of his time as a 4. Assuming Kane is ready, quite possibly the vast majority.

Well if he can't shoot we're going to be bad on offense in a lineup like that. Good luck driving into a cloud of defenders, Ayo.
 
#334      

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#335      
I'm sorry but at this point, regardless of the impact you think Samba could have made, I think you just have to laugh about life as an illini fan (especially a fan dedicated enough to be involved on this board all the time). Last night a random conversation about samba blooms out of a random positive article, and then this news is dropped out of nowhere. I love my alma mater but this is pure schadenfreude now
 
#336      
I'm sorry but at this point, regardless of the impact you think Samba could have made, I think you just have to laugh about life as an illini fan (especially a fan dedicated enough to be involved on this board all the time). Last night a random conversation about samba blooms out of a random positive article, and then this news is dropped out of nowhere. I love my alma mater but this is pure schadenfreude now

Yup. The timing on this is hilarious. This program desperately just needs to start winning ball games.
 
#340      
Just when it started to look like we could have some decent frontcourt depth for the first time in a long time.....classic Illinois

He'll probably be immediately eligible wherever he ends up.
 
#342      
I was looking at this season with two scenarios:
1) Samba is one of our nine best players, plays back up at the 5 (behind Kofi) Trent/Ayo/Feliz get most of the 1 and 2 minutes. Giorgi/TJ/KN/DW/AG get the 3 and 4 minutes (and a couple at the 1/2)... but one of those five guys doesn’t make the nine man rotation.
2). Samba isn’t one of our nine best. In this scenario, Giorgi plays ~20 minutes at the 5, KN and TJ play majority of the 4, DW and AG get minutes at 3 (along with potentially TJ/KN getting minutes there as well).

Long story short, I think we are far more likely to have a nine man rotation than ten. This news solidified the nine unless Verdonkulous or Kouma surprise.

I personally think it’s a good thing for Giorgi to get serious minutes at an offensive position where he excelled last year. I think this guarantees Kipper a spot in the rotation, but probably keeps most of his minutes at the four, which is probably not great for him.

Even tough it’s a few dominoes down the line as it relates to the rotation, I think this puts the most pressure on Griffin to perform for us to succeed.

Go Illini. Good luck Samba.
 
#343      
Samba Kane transferring.

Really interesting timing after the trip home, positive article & just before the Italy trip/Late summer...
so does he not see playing time/spot, did he have an epiphany on his trip home, or a some under the table issues or fit. Or do we have someone else coming that is taking his spot.

disappointing, I wasn't convinced he would find a role this year, but did expect him to contribute before his career was over and if nothing else it was our best chance to fill a back end of the rotation big which I think was significantly higher this year than Kouma.
 
#345      
I'm sorry but at this point, regardless of the impact you think Samba could have made, I think you just have to laugh about life as an illini fan (especially a fan dedicated enough to be involved on this board all the time). Last night a random conversation about samba blooms out of a random positive article, and then this news is dropped out of nowhere. I love my alma mater but this is pure schadenfreude now

I came here to post something along these lines but you beat me to the punch (and were better at it than I was going to be). So I'll just QFT.
 
#348      
Kind of a shame. I was rooting for him to grow and do well here. On the other hand, I suspect we’ll have a better player in his place. Hope he finds a place where he can play and grow.
 
#350      

foby

Bonnaroo Land
I think everyone is a bit high on Samba's block numbers. Only 5 players last year in all of the NCAA averaged even 3 blocks a game last year and they played 24+ minutes each (only one of them played on a P5 team). Tacko Fall at 7'6" only averaged 2.6 blocks in about 25 minutes per game. The idea that Samba is going to get 2 per game is a bit far fetched for me in 10-15 minutes. He did average a block every 8.7 minutes, but the sample size (10 blocks in 87 minutes) is small to extrapolate for about 4 times the amount of playing time. The best block/min average last year for qualifying players was Kylor Kelly of Oregon State at 1 block/7 min.
At this point, I'm gonna have to say his block numbers for us will be far lower than I expected.
 
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