I have a lot of faith in his jumper getting much better by sophomore year. He's got great form, shoots free throws extremely well, and his turnaround in the paint is reliable. And like you said, when that clicks, he's going to make a huge jump. That kids ceiling is so high.
Illini Basketball 2020-2021
- Status
Is it me, or does it seem like Curbelo is rubbing off on Ayo? In the Wisconsin game, Ayo was picking apart his defender with the dribble. Ayo's been great in transition, and good with that hesitation move, but it seemed like he was doing something different vs Wisconsin.
Does anyone have any actual justification as to why Michigan is allowed to pick their games?
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
My guess is both women's and men's UM basketball had a choice. The women were playing the worst team in the B1G and the men were playing the best. They don't want this smoke on 3 days of practice.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
I'll get over this eventually, but Howard confirmed that there were never any positive cases in the men's basketball team, so the postponement of our game was not due to any outbreak in Michigan's team.
'A great day': Howard elated after Michigan basketball returns to practice
Howard spoke about the two-week pause and his team returning to practice on Monday's radio show.
www.detroitnews.com
The best we've been given is a statement by Michigan's SID that our game was postponed as part of Michigan's "return to play planning."
And then there's this:
So short answer, Michigan doesn't want to play us yet. They want a little more time to prepare and they're going to get it, because no one stepped in and told them no. The repercussions of that decision are that it is highly unlikely that Michigan will get to 20 games, which will potentially impact how the conference title is awarded this year. Strategically, it is favorable for Michigan to play fewer games, since they currently sit atop the conference standings and have the best win percentage.
I'll get over this eventually, but Howard confirmed that there were never any positive cases in the men's basketball team, so the postponement of our game was not due to any outbreak in Michigan's team.
'A great day': Howard elated after Michigan basketball returns to practice
Howard spoke about the two-week pause and his team returning to practice on Monday's radio show.www.detroitnews.com
The best we've been given is a statement by Michigan's SID that our game was postponed as part of Michigan's "return to play planning."
And then there's this:
So short answer, Michigan doesn't want to play us yet. They want a little more time to prepare and they're going to get it, because no one stepped in and told them no. The repercussions of that decision are that it is highly unlikely that Michigan will get to 20 games, which will potentially impact how the conference title is awarded this year. Strategically, it is favorable for Michigan to play fewer games, since they currently sit atop the conference standings and have the best win percentage.
Hopefully we get the game with Michigan in at some point, but playing on Thursday was almost lose-lose for Illinois anyway. Beat Michigan and people could chalk it up to them not being as ready for the game due to the pause. Lose to Michigan and it could make Illinois look worse because Michigan won despite the pause.
Not sure I'd want to see Michigan in an unusual situation again either (think 2017 Big Ten Tournament where the Michigan team miraculously didn't die in a plane crash and then went on to crush Illinois in their warmup uniforms and win the whole thing).
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has anyone seen any official word from the conference? So far all I’ve seen is statements from Michigan’s athletic department. I’m curious what the conferences position is here or if they have even taken one. Unless the B10/NCAA has a rule in place allowing teams to skip games without any positive tests, this should be a forfeit.
While I get what you are saying, I don't see it as a lose/lose. If we win, that is huge, because Michigan needs the losses if we are going to catch them in the standings.
I guess, from your point of view, you are talking about the optics of "well they beat them, but..." but I think that only matters if we were most concerned with trying to jump them in the rankings. We don't care about jumping in the rankings, but rather jumping in the standings.
Deleted member 747840
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Guest
I sure haven't, I think you're assuming Warren is a competent commissioner. I know this year's been absurdly abnormal for sports, but it's a freaking joke this guy comes after Delany. I'd be shocked if they came out with a statement that directly calls out why Michigan is allowed to do this. Perhaps it was agreed upon by the teams prior to the season, but I'd honestly have to say through the football and majority of the basketball season, the Big Ten has really handled the pandemic poorly, perhaps not the worst power conference, but it's pretty darn close.
Kofi is a great player, but I think in the NBA, you have to play the entire floor. I know he's not a Deon Thomas that planted himself at the net but I still think that Kofi needs to be more versatile. People like Deron Williams, they can do alot. Read the floor, 3 pointers point guard, Leader and play maker. That's the NBA. But i also think that anymore the NBA is like a slam dunk contest. I think college players are much more talented while in college. If they go pro, the play is not near as exciting to watch.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Quite certain that Curbelo is our starting PG over the next 4 years.....starting next fall.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Nope. 2023 lottery pick.
Dan
Admin
Officially official, the Big Ten Tournament is relocated to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
bigten.org
STATEMENT ON RELOCATION OF THE 2021 BIG TEN CONFERENCE’S MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
STATEMENT ON RELOCATION OF THE 2021 BIG TEN CONFERENCE’S MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
bigten.org
3 point girl
- texas
I like him as a player, but it will take a lot of work for that to happen.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Yes, he has some work to do, but I don’t think the assertion is hyperbole. He has a high Bball IQ and has lots of raw talent. I fully expect him to declare next year just to get some feedback and then go pro after his junior year. It’s just a matter of time until the game fully slows down for him and everything “clicks.” JMHO.
There is a lot more needed than the game slowing down for him to be a lottery pick. He is 3-18 from 3 this year. There aren't a ton of examples of 6'1 175 lb point guards getting drafted with zero range. Nor are there a ton of examples of kids that size increasing their volume and production that much in 1 or 2 years when already playing over 20 mpg.
Ayo might not even be a lottery pick after his junior year and you don't think it's hyperbolic to say that Curbelo is going to be a better NBA prospect than Ayo? We have had exactly 1 lottery pick in the last 15 years.
vs
That Steve Nash comparison didn't come out of nowhere. I'm at least willing to entertain the idea of him working himself into an NBA lottery pick going off the freshman stats....IF he develops his three point shot.
40% on 4 attempts per game is an incredibly significant difference from 17% on 1 attempt per game. Add in that Nash was an elite FT shooter which made his shot even more positively projectable.
The OP specifically mentioned the game slowing down. There is a lot more than just that that needs to happen for Curbelo to be a lottery pick. And Nash was not even technically a lottery pick, was he?
That's an interesting point, don't think I've ever thought of Curbelo's NBA prospects until now. Ayo, hate to say it, while as good as he is, differentiates only on his mental toughness, offensive prowess when going downhill, and lockerroom/culture guy. Curbelo definitely brings something that is unique and tangible to the NBA. While his size is a negative, his vision, ball handling, ability to facilitate an offense, creativity are clear differentiators and could be valuable to a team. I think Melo or a Nash might be comparisons...kid just needs to mature his body and game and I think that will at least take a couple more years.
Weird hill to die on, but OK. Ask any single team in the NBA today if they would take a HOF lock in the lottery. Was he a lottery pick? No. Neither was Kobe Bryant - in the same draft-.
Belo's also shooting significantly more free throws per game, scoring at a higher % inside the arc, and producing -twice- the assists per game in the 2021 B1G (note the SOS comparison) vs. the WCC in the early 90's. On a metrics basis, he compares favorably with Nash as a freshman against competition that's an order of magnitude better.
Also, "IF he develops his three point shot." - pretty sure I said that, did I not?
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Sorta hope you're right. Just don't see it tho. (Then again I thought Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin were better than Michael Jordan.)
Weird hill to die on that Curbelo isn't a likely lottery pick? The odds are way against him ever ending up in the lottery. He has to do A LOT more than develop a 3 point shot. That is another hill I will die on. It being incredibly unlikely for him to jump from 17% on 1 attempt per game to 40% on 7 attempts per game is another hill I will die on.
Without a reliable jump shot, he is more like a short Rickey Rubio or Lonzo Ball. Those guys are 6'3" and 6'5" respectively. Their length at least provided the illusion that they had the potential to defend NBA guards. Belo's NBA future or lack there of is going to come down to how his shot develops. He should just be following DMFW around and doing whatever he is doing.
I'm not sure his growth plates are open...
- Status