Illini Basketball 2019-2020

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#1      

Dan

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2019-2020 Schedule

Single game tickets on sale October 23th

Braggin' Rights tickets-
Available first to season ticket holders
Illinois sometimes (but not always) releases a block of tickets in mid-November
Arena-wide Ticketmaster availability typically in early December (the on sale date has not been announced yet)


 
#6      
I might be in the minority here, but I think a big key to this year is going to be whether we get anything out of Kipper. We need confident Kipper to take time at the 3/4 spots and allow us to be flexible with our front court minutes.

I am with you. If KN returns to 2017-2018 level we will compete for the B1G title.
 
#8      
I haven't seen anything yet. right now ill take top 9.
On the bubble until I see otherwise. The pieces are in
place but a 7'-300 lb big man who's never played a
college game and as of right now two proven quality
big ten players doesn't tell me anything.

Kipper has the body of a 4 and hasn't consistently shown
me the game of a 3. Tevian has one break out game. Frazier
can light it up but is tiny and inconsistent. Feliz can help but
why is he on the floor if Ayo is the man? Damonte and Grif
need to step up. Lots and lots of questions.

show me I'm wrong, please...
 
#9      
I haven't seen anything yet. right now ill take top 9.
On the bubble until I see otherwise. The pieces are in
place but a 7'-300 lb big man who's never played a
college game and as of right now two proven quality
big ten players doesn't tell me anything.

Kipper has the body of a 4 and hasn't consistently shown
me the game of a 3. Tevian has one break out game. Frazier
can light it up but is tiny and inconsistent. Feliz can help but
why is he on the floor if Ayo is the man? Damonte and Grif
need to step up. Lots and lots of questions.

show me I'm wrong, please...
I'd say 3 proven players with Frazier, Feliz is proven and is in for continuity and rest, agree with most else. And I hope you are proven wrong also.
 
#10      
I'd say 3 proven players with Frazier, Feliz is proven and is in for continuity and rest, agree with most else. And I hope you are proven wrong also.
I say 4. Ayo, GB, Trent, amd Feliz all played well last season. We just had a major hole in our line up down low that baring an injury should be much better. Feliz arguably out played Trent last season.
Towards the latter half of the season last year after getting some experience we were playing very well despite that void at the 4/5. I would not be shocked if we exceed all expectations. Beating MSU shows what that group is capable of and now we have added 2 new big guys that i am confident will be fine after a little experience too.
Three of our players are ranked in the top 25 in the B10! i think we will be very good!
 
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#14      
Don't understand the vote for Underwood. It's certainly possible that the rebuild shows up this year, but it seems premature after the first two seasons.

I think the logic is something like, "If Illinois finishes Top 3 in the conference Then it's an indication that Underwood turned a dumpster fire into a respectable team." So it's probably that guys way of saying he's a believer in us this season.

I'm more surprised that no one put Matt Painter up as potential Coach of the Year. And I really don't understand why Greg Gard is a potential Coach of the Year.
 
#15      
Don't understand the vote for Underwood. It's certainly possible that the rebuild shows up this year, but it seems premature after the first two seasons.

If Underwood gets Illinois to finish top 5 in conference and makes a run in the tourney, that would be the biggest turn-around of any other program in the conference. He would be in the discussion for sure. Whether it actually happens remains to be seen.
 
#16      
Don't understand the vote for Underwood. It's certainly possible that the rebuild shows up this year, but it seems premature after the first two seasons.

Preseason projections are, by their nature, premature.The voter thinks, as I do, that Illinois will be a very good team this year. The fact that we have 3 players ranked in the top 25 bodes well for the leap forward.
 
#17      
I haven't seen anything yet. right now ill take top 9.
On the bubble until I see otherwise. The pieces are in
place but a 7'-300 lb big man who's never played a
college game and as of right now two proven quality
big ten players doesn't tell me anything.

Kipper has the body of a 4 and hasn't consistently shown
me the game of a 3. Tevian has one break out game. Frazier
can light it up but is tiny and inconsistent. Feliz can help but
why is he on the floor if Ayo is the man? Damonte and Grif
need to step up. Lots and lots of questions.

show me I'm wrong, please...

Easy, we have 3 players in the top 25 according to this article, so I'm not sure how you get that we only have two proven B1G players. Ayo, Trent and Giorgi are 3 of the top 10 returning scorers, and Feliz has definitely shown me he's a B1G player. How inconsistent could Trent be and still be a top 10 returning player in the league? 6'1" or 6'2" isn't tiny and he's certainly more muscular this year than he was last season. His stats last year were probably a tick above what they were his freshman season.

So yeah, I don't think you have this right at all.
 
#18      
EFzaLh1WsAAFEFE


Consistently inconsistent.
 
#19      
Don't understand the vote for Underwood. It's certainly possible that the rebuild shows up this year, but it seems premature after the first two seasons.

here's what CBS sports says about us in picking the Illini for 5th in the B1G:

5. ILLINOIS
9153633.jpg
(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Illinois has not been ranked in three seasons or had a Big Ten winning record since 2009-10. Is Brad Underwood the man to change that this season? He welcomes increased expectations for a program that has missed six straight NCAA Tournaments.
“It’s nice to have those. It’s something that we should never run away from. I think he’s very, very confident in his teammates. The guys that are back, the future, he knows how hard we’re working and how well we played at times late in the season. I think there’s tremendous optimism there, and that expectation is something not only he wants but I want, and we should accept that.”
CBS Sports says, “The conference's biggest wild card lies in the hands of coach Brad Underwood in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini have the weapons to be dangerous, but can they go from a 12-win team last season to a conference title contender? The buzz this offseason surrounding sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu doesn't make this scenario seems farfetched. He averaged 24 points per game on the Illini's trip to Italy earlier this summer and seems primed to be the Big Ten's breakout star in his second season.”
EFzaLh1WsAAFEFE


Consistently inconsistent.
4,5,6 and 7.....at least they are all in the top 1/2 and 4 is about as high as I've seen for us.
 
#20      
I might be in the minority here, but I think a big key to this year is going to be whether we get anything out of Kipper. We need confident Kipper to take time at the 3/4 spots and allow us to be flexible with our front court minutes.
I am in this camp as well. The thing about Kipper is that he was never a bust from the get-go. He had a pretty good sophpmore year but regressed as a junior. I hope he can regain his form - he could provide meaningful minutes and help us make the dance.
 
#21      
EFzaLh1WsAAFEFE


Consistently inconsistent.

There's definitely some consistency.
* Nebraska and Northwestern are consensus Bottom 3.
* Rutgers and Minnesota are consensus Bottom 5.
* MSU, Maryland, Purdue, and Ohio State are consensus Top 5.
* Illinois is the only other school in the Top 5 from 2 different people.

Also if you assign 14 points for 1st and 1 point for 14th Illinois is pretty solidly the 5th ranked team from these preseason predictions.
MSU
56​
Maryland
50​
Purdue
48​
Ohio State
44​
Illinois
39​
Wisconsin
33​
Michigan
31​
Indiana
27​
Penn State
26​
Iowa
24​
Rutgers
14​
Minnesota
14​
Northwestern
8​
Nebraska
6​
 
#22      
5th-8th place in the B1G is definitely a good goal and absolutely attainable. Can Kofi be an average 5 in the B1G? I see us having a top 3 backcourt, probably a slightly below average 3 spot, and probably a slightly above average 4 (assuming giorgi plays there most of the time). That would probably see us right about that range, and I think depth is a plus in the 1-3 position.

Maybe crazy to say, but I think this teams true potential hinges on Kofi. If he is at least the 7th best center in the B1G, I think we make the tournament. Him being there alievates so much pressure off of the tweener guys. I guess I should say I'm assuming moving Giorgi at the 4 is at worst a lateral move in terms of his value (which would mean a major upgrade at the 4 for the overall team). If Kofi can't perform to those standards, it degrades two positions on the court.
 
#23      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
Have to say I agree with Palm's projection the most, considering all B1G teams.
 
#24      
So glad we got Kofi, he had the worst Official Visit. I believe he came when the students were on break, weather was horrible, and we lost to a 250+ rankef team. That day was ine of the lowest points in the BU era.
 
#25      
So glad we got Kofi, he had the worst Official Visit. I believe he came when the students were on break, weather was horrible, and we lost to a 250+ rankef team. That day was ine of the lowest points in the BU era.

Yup, just glad that Kofi and his handlers had their priorities straight and didn't view the outcome of that FAU game as a factor.
 
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