Illini Basketball 2020-2021

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#451      

Deleted member 747671

D
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Totally random morning thought, and I probably could do some research on it but don't really feel like it. I feel like Kofi is extremely underrated nationally. To me, he is a surefire 1st team All B1G and I think he should be first team All-American as well. He's putting up ridiculous numbers, but is getting overshadowed media-wise by Ayo (same team) and Garza (same conference and position). In B1G play he's averaging 18.9 and 11.4, for the season 17.6 and 10.3. Those are huge college numbers. It's very difficult to average a double double in college, and rare to do it while scoring that much. If he finishes the season averaging 18 and 11, for a top 5 team, how is that not 1st team B1G and AA?
 
#452      
Totally random morning thought, and I probably could do some research on it but don't really feel like it. I feel like Kofi is extremely underrated nationally. To me, he is a surefire 1st team All B1G and I think he should be first team All-American as well. He's putting up ridiculous numbers, but is getting overshadowed media-wise by Ayo (same team) and Garza (same conference and position). In B1G play he's averaging 18.9 and 11.4, for the season 17.6 and 10.3. Those are huge college numbers. It's very difficult to average a double double in college, and rare to do it while scoring that much. If he finishes the season averaging 18 and 11, for a top 5 team, how is that not 1st team B1G and AA?
100% agree. The fact that he's gotten better during conference play too is mind boggling. Most guys -- including Garza -- do the opposite.
 
#455      

Deleted member 747903

D
Guest
Ridiculous that Garza won the weekly Naismith award after Ayo drops a triple double on the road against one of the toughest home teams in the conference. That is all.

It's really only because he became the all time scoring leader at Iowa. I say he deserves it just based on that..quite an accomplishment.
 
#457      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
Has anyone been given more than one weekly honor this season? Maybe they wanted to give Luka one before giving Ayo his second (not that I necessarily agree with that decision).
 
#458      

Dan

Admin
Has anyone been given more than one weekly honor this season? Maybe they wanted to give Luka one before giving Ayo his second (not that I necessarily agree with that decision).
Ayo Dosunmu is a 2-time Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, and 2-time Big Ten Player of the Week. (Or a 4-time Big Ten Player of the Week if you look at it that way :D )
 
#459      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
Ayo Dosunmu is a 2-time Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, and 2-time Big Ten Player of the Week. (Or a 4-time Big Ten Player of the Week if you look at it that way :D )
Should have specified the Naismith. Yeah, I know Ayo is destroying Luka on the B1G weekly honors (and rightfully so).
 
#460      
Totally random morning thought, and I probably could do some research on it but don't really feel like it. I feel like Kofi is extremely underrated nationally. To me, he is a surefire 1st team All B1G and I think he should be first team All-American as well. He's putting up ridiculous numbers, but is getting overshadowed media-wise by Ayo (same team) and Garza (same conference and position). In B1G play he's averaging 18.9 and 11.4, for the season 17.6 and 10.3. Those are huge college numbers. It's very difficult to average a double double in college, and rare to do it while scoring that much. If he finishes the season averaging 18 and 11, for a top 5 team, how is that not 1st team B1G and AA?
I agree - I was just looking at the season stats for Kofi vs. Garza, and if you take the names off, you'd be able to make a case for Kofi as the best center in the league, depending on what you value most in that position. If you look at them on a per 40 basis, I don't even think it's close.
This is such a talented team.
 
#461      

Dan

Admin
Should have specified the Naismith. Yeah, I know Ayo is destroying Luka on the B1G weekly honors (and rightfully so).
Oops ah ok.. Ayo was a 1-time NCAA.com Player of the Week (on Feb. 1st) that's it I believe.
 
#463      
Garza and Washington given Co-Player of the Week honors.

Dickinson given Freshman of the Week honors.


That is jacked up. Can't believe they're overlooking Ayo with his second triple-double on the road.
As long as it inspires Ayo to go out and spend the rest of the week torching our opponents like they're made of dryer lint, I'm OK with the snub...but it is definitely a snub.
 
#464      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
As long as it inspires Ayo to go out and spend the rest of the week torching our opponents like they're made of dryer lint, I'm OK with the snub...but it is definitely a snub.
Reminds me of the SI article about how Ayo will store away little comments others have made about limitations to his game and use them as motivation in practice to get better. "Can't go left." "Can't shoot from deep."

Time to add "runner-up to Garza" to the list. The way things are developing, I could see us playing Iowa a second time in the BTT. Personally, I would hesitate to give NPOY to someone who lost twice to a projected runner-up. But maybe that's just me.
 
#465      
#466      
Reminds me of the SI article about how Ayo will store away little comments others have made about limitations to his game and use them as motivation in practice to get better. "Can't go left." "Can't shoot from deep."

Time to add "runner-up to Garza" to the list. The way things are developing, I could see us playing Iowa a second time in the BTT. Personally, I would hesitate to give NPOY to someone who lost twice to a projected runner-up. But maybe that's just me.
Exactly. If the slight(s) motivates him to open up a ginormous can of whoop a** in the tournament, then keep em coming. I feel pretty confident in saying that Ayo would rather be in the Final Four than NPOY.
 
#467      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
Take a look at MSU's remaining schedule if you want to feel a little bit better about our's:

2/23 Illinois
2/25 Ohio State
2/28 @Maryland
3/2 Indiana
3/4 @Michigan
3/7 Michigan

Compact and brutal.
 
#468      
Take a look at MSU's remaining schedule if you want to feel a little bit better about our's:

2/23 Illinois
2/25 Ohio State
2/28 @Maryland
3/2 Indiana
3/4 @Michigan
3/7 Michigan

Compact and brutal.
Almost everyone has a brutal finishing stretch. Michigan has Iowa, Illinois, @Indiana, and twice against MSU. Ohio State has Iowa, Illinois and @MSU. Wisconsin has Illinois, Iowa and @Purdue. Iowa has @Michigan, @OSU, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Indiana has @Rutgers, @Purdue, @MSU and Michigan.

Pretty much the only teams that have breaks right now are Purdue (@PSU, Wisconsin and IU) and Minnesota (NW, Rutgers, @PSU and @Nebraska).
 
#469      
To the poster with the Illini / Purdue winning percent and record in your sig (sorry can’t remember who exactly it is)...

According to the numbers on sports-reference.com the Illini will have the highest winning percentage all-time in Big10 if they win out (next 5 games), and Purdue drops 1 more before the end of the regular season (4 games).

Edit: Illini would edge out Purdue by 0.0001, or 0.01%.
 
#470      
I'll say it again, Curbelo will be the next Illini to notch a triple-double. In fact, I think he may have 2 or 3 before it is all said and done. That bodes well for him, as does the quality of the team around him.
This could still end up being technically accurate.
Although I could see Kofi getting one of those big-man-triple-doubles (points-boards-blocks) vs. some unfortunate 16 seed in the tourney.

Hoping Neil Patrick Harris GIF
 
#471      
Please understand I am not tooting my own horn here. That said, I suggested 7 games ago that I would be starting either Hawk or Grandison, and likely Grandison, because this team simply needed a bigger defender and rebounder who could score. Starter 3 guys 6'3" or shorter with a true perimeter player (Ayo) as the fourth (listed at 6'5" but I would bet a lot of $ he can't touch that with a bare head and feet) puts the team at a disadvantage at both ends. Kofi can only have a chance at 1/3 of the boards max. Getting more minutes for Grandison and Hawkins would, IMHO, prove a big lift to the team.........if they could defend and we know they can both score.

Well, next game out comes JG for the tip and they have not lost since. Total coincidence....but my point is that he has been solid, especially on offense, and Hawk has been pretty much a break even with a plus game or two or three while he climbs the learning curve. Kudos to Jacob for his solid play. Along with being a great kid, he is only beginning to realize of what he is capable to contribute to this team. Even though he is a starter, he needs more minutes.
 
#472      
Please understand I am not tooting my own horn here. That said, I suggested 7 games ago that I would be starting either Hawk or Grandison, and likely Grandison, because this team simply needed a bigger defender and rebounder who could score. Starter 3 guys 6'3" or shorter with a true perimeter player (Ayo) as the fourth (listed at 6'5" but I would bet a lot of $ he can't touch that with a bare head and feet) puts the team at a disadvantage at both ends. Kofi can only have a chance at 1/3 of the boards max. Getting more minutes for Grandison and Hawkins would, IMHO, prove a big lift to the team.........if they could defend and we know they can both score.

Well, next game out comes JG for the tip and they have not lost since. Total coincidence....but my point is that he has been solid, especially on offense, and Hawk has been pretty much a break even with a plus game or two or three while he climbs the learning curve. Kudos to Jacob for his solid play. Along with being a great kid, he is only beginning to realize of what he is capable to contribute to this team. Even though he is a starter, he needs more minutes.
before the season started there was a poll about the starting 5. I had the current 5 at the beginning, so better late than never.😁
 
#473      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
I'm under the impression that the only thing limiting Grandison's minutes right now is his defense. His offense helps us avoid the sluggish starts, but his defense is a liability in a contested mid-game or in critical late-game situations. As his defense continues to improve, I'm sure we'll see his minutes go up. I'm pretty sure BU is itching to add to our depth. He knows he'll need more bodies to grind through our remaining schedule.
 
#474      
When Ayo has his sequences of greatness I sometimes wonder why he isn't even more assertive than he is. With a 7-game win streak however, you can't say he is making bad decisions. Those moments where he is content with getting his teammates involved take away from the "volume of points wow factor" even if he's getting assists. I feel like that unselfishness benefits the team and makes him better than Garza but will surely be overlooked. If Garza wins though, his numbers are great. I truly think Ayo is better.
 
#475      
Please understand I am not tooting my own horn here. That said, I suggested 7 games ago that I would be starting either Hawk or Grandison, and likely Grandison, because this team simply needed a bigger defender and rebounder who could score. Starter 3 guys 6'3" or shorter with a true perimeter player (Ayo) as the fourth (listed at 6'5" but I would bet a lot of $ he can't touch that with a bare head and feet) puts the team at a disadvantage at both ends. Kofi can only have a chance at 1/3 of the boards max. Getting more minutes for Grandison and Hawkins would, IMHO, prove a big lift to the team.........if they could defend and we know they can both score.

Well, next game out comes JG for the tip and they have not lost since. Total coincidence....but my point is that he has been solid, especially on offense, and Hawk has been pretty much a break even with a plus game or two or three while he climbs the learning curve. Kudos to Jacob for his solid play. Along with being a great kid, he is only beginning to realize of what he is capable to contribute to this team. Even though he is a starter, he needs more minutes.

TOOT! TOOT!

There, I did it for you. ;)
 
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