Illini Basketball 2020-2021

FeelYourPaign · Dec 11, 2020

It's super early and a lot can change, but. . .

Ayo Dosunmo is currently #3 in Ken Pomeroy's stats based Player of the Year rankings!

And to prove the point that the B1G is loaded, he's behind Garza and Jackson-Davis.

ILLINIShox24 · Dec 11, 2020

Check in on 2021 NBA prospects:

Ayo:
#35 ranked prospect (#12 SG) in ESPN Top 100 (12/10) LINK
#56 prospect in SI Top 60 (12/8) LINK
#41 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30) LINK

Adam:
#63 ranked prospect (#20 SG) in ESPN Top 100 (12/10)
Unranked in SI Top 60 (12/8)
#97 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30)

Kofi:
Unranked in ESPN Top 100 (12/10)
Unranked in SI Top 60 (12/8)
#77 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30)

the juiceman cometh · Dec 11, 2020

ILLINIShox24 said:
Check in on 2021 NBA prospects:

Ayo:
#35 ranked prospect (#12 SG) in ESPN Top 100 (12/10) LINK
#56 prospect in SI Top 60 (12/8) LINK
#41 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30) LINK

Adam:
#63 ranked prospect (#20 SG) in ESPN Top 100 (12/10)
Unranked in SI Top 60 (12/8)
#97 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30)

Kofi:
Unranked in ESPN Top 100 (12/10)
Unranked in SI Top 60 (12/8)
#77 prospect in nbadraft.net Top 100 (11/30)

Not surprised Miller is ranked so high already. Kind of the opposite of Kofi, in that his skill set seems to translate pretty easily to the NBA. Don't think he'll have to be dominant in order to improve his draft stock - just keep showing off that 3 point shot and overall scoring ability.

TheFameProtector · Dec 11, 2020

the juiceman cometh said:
Not surprised Miller is ranked so high already. Kind of the opposite of Kofi, in that his skill set seems to translate pretty easily to the NBA. Don't think he'll have to be dominant in order to improve his draft stock - just keep showing off that 3 point shot and overall scoring ability.

Definitely agree, though I think he'll need to show he can be somewhat of a facilitator to crack the first round, particularly given his smaller size for a NBA 2. If everything goes well, my guess is he comes back next year and occupies Ayo's role and shows a bit more of his playmaking ability, and then goes pro.

the juiceman cometh · Dec 11, 2020

TheFameProtector said:
Definitely agree, though I think he'll need to show he can be somewhat of a facilitator to crack the first round, particularly given his smaller size for a NBA 2. If everything goes well, my guess is he comes back next year and occupies Ayo's role and shows a bit more of his playmaking ability, and then goes pro.

Agree, don't think he makes it to first round this season unless he really breaks out, and don't think he leaves after this year just to be a second round pick. Always seen him as a likely 2-year guy and the ESPN ranking kind of lines up with that I think.

JJB · Dec 11, 2020

the juiceman cometh said:
Agree, don't think he makes it to first round this season unless he really breaks out, and don't think he leaves after this year just to be a second round pick. Always seen him as a likely 2-year guy and the ESPN ranking kind of lines up with that I think.

Yeah, Miller just won't get much opportunity to demonstrate his ball-handling and facilitation/combo guard skills this year since he's behind Ayo, Trent and Curbelo in the pecking order there. Next year should open up for him to show he can be a secondary, or ocassional primary, playmaker.

TheGMan · Dec 11, 2020

This may have been discussed already, but do we know the current status of Austin Hutcherson? Last I head was that he had gone back home to get more treatment and/or a second opinion. Have we heard anything about that? Is he still back home or is he with the team again?

JJB · Dec 11, 2020

TheGMan said:
This may have been discussed already, but do we know the current status of Austin Hutcherson? Last I head was that he had gone back home to get more treatment and/or a second opinion. Have we heard anything about that? Is he still back home or is he with the team again?

In today's coach presser for the Border War game, via the link below, Underwood said there is no update (which indicates he's probably not back soon, if at all).

Pregame: Illinois at Missouri, Saturday, December 12th, 7:00pm CT, ESPNU

SlingTV has a 3-day free trial. Sign up for the Orange Plan, add the Sports Package (SEC Network included in that). Stream on your phone or computer, or if you have the ESPN app you can input your Sling account details into the app and watch from there. Cancel after the game, and you have a free...

www.illinoisloyalty.com

TheGMan · Dec 11, 2020

JJB said:
In today's coach presser for the Border War game, via the link below, Underwood said there is no update (which indicates he's probably not back soon, if at all).

Pregame: Illinois at Missouri, Saturday, December 12th, 7:00pm CT, ESPNU

SlingTV has a 3-day free trial. Sign up for the Orange Plan, add the Sports Package (SEC Network included in that). Stream on your phone or computer, or if you have the ESPN app you can input your Sling account details into the app and watch from there. Cancel after the game, and you have a free...

www.illinoisloyalty.com

Thank you! That's a shame. I would have loved to see if he could be a great story coming from DIII. Hopefully there is still a chance for that next year, at least.

sacraig · Dec 11, 2020

JJB said:
In today's coach presser for the Braggin' Rights game, via the link below, Underwood said there is no update (which indicates he's probably not back soon, if at all).

Pregame: Illinois at Missouri, Saturday, December 12th, 7:00pm CT, ESPNU

SlingTV has a 3-day free trial. Sign up for the Orange Plan, add the Sports Package (SEC Network included in that). Stream on your phone or computer, or if you have the ESPN app you can input your Sling account details into the app and watch from there. Cancel after the game, and you have a free...

www.illinoisloyalty.com

FIFY

The Border War is the Kansas/Mizzou (lopsided) rivalry.

TCTORNADO · Dec 11, 2020

TheGMan said:
This may have been discussed already, but do we know the current status of Austin Hutcherson? Last I head was that he had gone back home to get more treatment and/or a second opinion. Have we heard anything about that? Is he still back home or is he with the team again?

He was in California for Doctor evaluations last week. Supposedly, stress fracture involved, which cannot be good. Hope he gets well. He really could help this team this year.

JJB · Dec 11, 2020

sacraig said:
FIFY

The Border War is the Kansas/Mizzou (lopsided) rivalry.

Dang, it's been that kind of week. Time for beer, obviously.

RockfordIllini · Dec 11, 2020

TCTORNADO said:
He was in California for Doctor evaluations last week. Supposedly, stress fracture involved, which cannot be good. Hope he gets well. He really could help this team this year.

I was actually wondering if Underwood got Hutch and BBV mixed up there. I have never heard of a stress fracture in the back, which I think is Hutch's issue. BBV has had a stress fracture in his foot. Either way, sadly looking less and less likely Hutch sees the floor this year.

sacraig · Dec 11, 2020

JJB said:
Dang, it's been that kind of week. Time for beer, obviously.

Preach.

logjam · Dec 11, 2020

RockfordIllini said:
I was actually wondering if Underwood got Hutch and BBV mixed up there. I have never heard of a stress fracture in the back, which I think is Hutch's issue. BBV has had a stress fracture in his foot. Either way, sadly looking less and less likely Hutch sees the floor this year.

I was surprised BBV didn't get any tick vs Duke, and didn't hear anything about him after game.

illini80 · Dec 11, 2020

logjam said:
I was surprised BBV didn't get any tick vs Duke, and didn't hear anything about him after game.

Information is difficult to come by and with limited media access we probably won’t know much until we see him on the court or back in street clothes.

EyeoftheIllini · Dec 11, 2020

logjam said:
I was surprised BBV didn't get any tick vs Duke, and didn't hear anything about him after game.

I’ll be surprised if he plays more than 100 minutes this year.

WhiteHorseWings · Dec 11, 2020

EyeoftheIllini said:
I’ll be surprised if he plays more than 100 minutes this year.

If you redshirt a free year I think it increases your eligibility by the power of 2.

IlliniTime · Dec 11, 2020

Watching Iowa/Iowa St. Understand why we got rid of players like Jalen Coleman Lands. He hangs out on the perimeter waiting for a pass. Just wants to catch and shoot. He doesn’t generate any kind of offense. We had a whole team of guys like that for many years. It doesn’t work. Need to have guys that pass, dribble, rebound, shoot, and defend. We have that now under Underwood management. So relieved. Enjoying basketball again.

RockfordIllini · Dec 11, 2020

IlliniTime said:
Watching Iowa/Iowa St. Understand why we got rid of players like Jalen Coleman Lands. He hangs out on the perimeter waiting for a pass. Just wants to catch and shoot. He doesn’t generate any kind of offense. We had a whole team of guys like that for many years. It doesn’t work. Need to have guys that pass, dribble, rebound, shoot, and defend. We have that now under Underwood management. So relieved. Enjoying basketball again.

I noticed that too. I actually went down a little Iowa State rabbit hole seeing as how we recruited and lost several players to them. To wit:

JCL- really highly rated out of HS, maybe the highest rated recruit Groce landed? Had a great freshman year for us at 42% from 3, and I think broke Bradford’s record for 3’s by a freshman. But hasn’t come anywhere close to that level of success since.

George Conditt- Started 7 games last year as a sophomore and averaged 7 and 5. Appears to play a limited role as an upperclassman

Zion Griffin- transferred to UIC. Averaging 9 ppg so far.

Both Conditt and Griffin were considered big misses by the staff. Neither has really panned out. We wound up settling for some 2 star kid who was mainly known for dribbling around chairs. Makes you wonder why we follow recruiting at all!

sacraig · Dec 11, 2020

RockfordIllini said:
I noticed that too. I actually went down a little Iowa State rabbit hole seeing as how we recruited and lost several players to them. To wit:

JCL- really highly rated out of HS, maybe the highest rated recruit Groce landed? Had a great freshman year for us at 42% from 3, and I think broke Bradford’s record for 3’s by a freshman. But hasn’t come anywhere close to that level of success since.

George Conditt- Started 7 games last year as a sophomore and averaged 7 and 5. Appears to play a limited role as an upperclassman

Zion Griffin- transferred to UIC. Averaging 9 ppg so far.

Both Conditt and Griffin were considered big misses by the staff. Neither has really panned out. We wound up settling for some 2 star kid who was mainly known for dribbling around chairs. Makes you wonder why we follow recruiting at all!

That's only kind of fair, though. It's impossible to know how these kids would have developed in a different environment under different coaches.

altenberger22 · Dec 11, 2020

logjam said:
I was surprised BBV didn't get any tick vs Duke, and didn't hear anything about him after game.

I'm not sure we'll ever see much of BBV on the court.

logjam · Dec 11, 2020

altenberger22 said:
I'm not sure we'll ever see much of BBV on the court.

Thought or good sources, no offense intended. Heard he was getting close to coming back.

CentralILifer · Dec 12, 2020

sacraig said:
That's only kind of fair, though. It's impossible to know how these kids would have developed in a different environment under different coaches.

If you think about it, this is a crazy pervasive idea to consider in many situations in life. It's a good reason not to regret decisions too harshly.

Ga65 · Dec 12, 2020

RockfordIllini said:
I noticed that too. I actually went down a little Iowa State rabbit hole seeing as how we recruited and lost several players to them. To wit:

JCL- really highly rated out of HS, maybe the highest rated recruit Groce landed? Had a great freshman year for us at 42% from 3, and I think broke Bradford’s record for 3’s by a freshman. But hasn’t come anywhere close to that level of success since.

George Conditt- Started 7 games last year as a sophomore and averaged 7 and 5. Appears to play a limited role as an upperclassman

Zion Griffin- transferred to UIC. Averaging 9 ppg so far.

Both Conditt and Griffin were considered big misses by the staff. Neither has really panned out. We wound up settling for some 2 star kid who was mainly known for dribbling around chairs. Makes you wonder why we follow recruiting at all!

Always wondered if considered big misses by staff or just this board. It seems the stars are more valued here than by the staff.

Illini Basketball 2020-2021

Orange Krush '04 & '05