Great! Watching that gets me excited about the coming year.
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
- Status
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I love the idea of
1. Curbelo
2. Trent
3. Grandison/Hutcherson
4. Hawkins
5. Payne
with significant bench play from Williams and Plummer for our primary 8 rotational players.
I'm just not sold on Payne being our only center for 30+ minutes and I don't like Verdonk or Lieb as our primary/only backup options behind Payne.
I guess we technically have two (2) remaining scholarships to give in 2021 so we'll see how this shakes out.
Agree with your starters. Don’t like Hawkins at the 5 but that is my guess for Payne’s backup at this point. Hopefully Verdonk is also a capable rotation player but we certainly haven’t had a chance to see that at this point. Maybe some indication when he came in rather than Hamlin near the end of the season. More size at the 3 will help but Kofi leaves a big hole.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Darn, I missed the terms introduction, or did you just coin it?
Deleted member 747840
D
Guest
Underwood himself said he plans to use all the scholarships. Question will be how much usage next year will we get out of those scholarships?
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I love Hawk and what he brings to the floor but I'll be very surprised if he's playing much at the 5. IF we don't add any other frontcourt players (I'd be surprised by that too) I see Payne averaging at least 25 at the 5 with BBV taking the bulk of the remainder. As you mentioned, we saw BU start going to him (a tad) down the stretch last season. I think you'd want to have Hawk on the floor in those BBV minutes though just to provide some rim protection.
illini80
- Forgottonia
There may be some opportunities once guys drop out of the draft. However, there will be plenty of competition for those guys as well. In the past our late signings haven’t had a great track record, but it is a new recruiting landscape. Looking for both a 4 and a 5 this late in the game is not ideal, but it is what it is and at least we know where we stand with Kofi instead of waiting another month. Maybe the mind blowing final coaching piece will bring someone to the table.
Without additions we will be playing two 4’s which will be tough to defend but also a defensive liability against teams like PU and UM with big centers. Losing Kofi will require a change in the defensive system. That why coaches get the big money.
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Brandon Lieb would like a word with you.
blackdog
- Champaign
He can have a word next year which is probably the earliest he will be ready to see real minutes
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illininutt
- Tinley Park
Pod Player of the Year!
Brandin Podziemski 2020 - 2021 WISCONSIN BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brandin won the 2020 - 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in Wisconsin for Boys Basketball
playeroftheyear.gatorade.com
Wow, I'd almost forgotten how amazing his stats were. Great stuff !
Really like the rebounding stats. Even though it was against subpar competition, tells me he was playing hard and not just sitting outside chucking it.
Playing hard and shooting both translate. I think Melendez has the highest ceiling of the 3 incoming FROSH, but Podz is my pick to crack the rotation this year.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I can't tell if this is a joke or if you're Kool Aid drunk. I don't see him being a reliable contributor yet but would love to be proven wrong.
Deleted member 746826
D
Guest
I certainly think lieb can be a reliable contributor.
Think about it..... all we need for him to do is come in for our starter to get a blow.
Two minutes each half without looking lost would be an immense help.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I guess we have different definitions for "reliable contributor" and expectations of our starting 5. Our All-American center still only played 27 mpg last year. I'd be extremely surprised to see Payne averaging 36 mpg. I love Lieb's long-term potential, but we need somebody that can reliably give us at least 15 mpg of B1G-level post defense this year and be capable of handling a larger load if/when Payne gets into foul trouble. What we've seen of Lieb so far doesn't suggest that's going to be the case (yet!), but like I said, I'd love for him to prove me wrong.
Kofi averaged 2.5 fouls in 27 mins. Omar averaged 2.4 in 12.7 mins. Kofi was amazing (per Giorgi) in avoiding fouls. Not going to get 25 mins from Omar. We are going to see a lot of mins with two 4’s. Have no idea how it will break down between Hawk, Verdonk, Grandy, and Melendez but think it will be a lot of mins with Hawk and Verdonk and no center.
I am glad to see him progressing nicely but I will still keep my expectations lowered for him for the first few months . I don't think hes played a regulation game since Feb. 2019 so hopefully everyone will give him a month or two of games to get his feel and timing back .
Will Hawk, Payne, Verdunk sp, (Lieb) be better at kick out passes than Kofi? I am assuming yes.
Hawk has played and practiced 2 full years with Andre C. and probably ran as many minutes as anyone in practice. I feel he will benefit greatly from the Curbelo assists. BBV I feel will be a lean on, on D and get open down low on O player from what little I have seen. If he has any kind of outside shot he will be able to draw opposing 5 out to the perimeter and allow working room for Coleman Hawkins. With Frazier and Damonte lurking for kickouts and Grandison ready to slash I feel our O will be fine.
With Trent and Damonte known defensive abilities and if Andre C and Jacob can raise their ball pressure and help D our guard perimeter defense should be tremendous. this would greatly help our inside defenders who though mobile are not the most physical. This is where BBV will earn some tick hopefully.
Hutch appears to be a true triple threat, pass, drive shoot and has a nice float game...as did Mr. Ayo...
More 3's and more turnovers on D is where hope for continued success can be found. IMHO.
Any contributions from the 3 to 5 (6 )Hutch?)newcomers will allow for more consistency.
Hawk has played and practiced 2 full years with Andre C. and probably ran as many minutes as anyone in practice. I feel he will benefit greatly from the Curbelo assists. BBV I feel will be a lean on, on D and get open down low on O player from what little I have seen. If he has any kind of outside shot he will be able to draw opposing 5 out to the perimeter and allow working room for Coleman Hawkins. With Frazier and Damonte lurking for kickouts and Grandison ready to slash I feel our O will be fine.
With Trent and Damonte known defensive abilities and if Andre C and Jacob can raise their ball pressure and help D our guard perimeter defense should be tremendous. this would greatly help our inside defenders who though mobile are not the most physical. This is where BBV will earn some tick hopefully.
Hutch appears to be a true triple threat, pass, drive shoot and has a nice float game...as did Mr. Ayo...
More 3's and more turnovers on D is where hope for continued success can be found. IMHO.
Any contributions from the 3 to 5 (6 )Hutch?)newcomers will allow for more consistency.
If we would use our last 2 schollies for bigs we would be better balanced as a team, we have the guards, we have talented wings waiting for seasoning + Grandison/Hutch give us some bigs please.
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