Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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Regarding Plummer's minutes, he had a pretty low A:TO ratio even for a scoring guard, as well as a questionable defensive rating. I can see why an offensively challenged team would need a volume shooter like Plummer to get a lot of minutes. At Illinois, unless he makes a jump in his ball handling, and is more focused defensively, I wouldn't project starters minutes. I could see him light a fire with his shooting, or come in late game situations given he's an excellent FT shooter. Of course, projecting based on the past is a crap shoot --guys are always improving.
Yeah I think we’re loaded this year. The combos the staff can (and will) use is insane. Attrition is going to be a huge plus for us.
Do we have a shortage of 3s? Why would we move our taller players to play 1-3 when our shortage is 4s and 5s? Are you making room to play Lieb?
I'm a CoHawk hype man. He needs to be on the floor in situations that will give us the best chance to win. Small ball, throw him at the 5. Spread them out with Kofi inside - CoHawk stretch 4, engaged. Go all out with a long lanky athletic lineup, Kofi (5), Payne (4), CoHawk (3), Hutch (2), Belo (1) and leave all teams crying with defending that death lineup of athleticism and playmaking.
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True. Context is also relevant in trying to predict how someone will translate. AP took a lot of shots for Utah last season. He was basically their 2nd option scoring the ball. He actually turned the ball over more times than he recorded an assist. I don't think him coming in, jacking up a lot of shots, and turning the ball over is going to earn him much time on the floor. Utah may have needed him to press the issue. I don't know. BU will not.
I'm a little less worried defensively. He's not big by any measure, but if he follows Trent's lead, perhaps he can learn to be effective in spite of his size. So much of defense is effort. He won't play if he isn't trying on that end. I think its more difficult to maintain that intensity if you are on a middling-bad team. Developing a winner's mentality is probably the most important thing for him. He is sort of a luxury on this roster. He will either fix these issues or get passed up by one (or more) of these freshmen and wear a hole in the backside of his warmup pants.
Please see nonsensical hype post #334.
Bernie Sanders had entered the chat.
Teams rarely play a traditional SF in college anymore. Most programs run with 3 guards on offense. I really like Hawkins and his future here. That being said, he will not be able to stay in front of guards on defense. He is strictly a 4/5 in college. As always this is JMO.
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Yes, but we do need a 4 who can shoot, defend, and takes pride in his defense and rebounding. Such a player is Hawk. He will be a big part of this team's success IMHO. I certainly cannot begin to understand why he is being discounted and overlooked as I saw a kid last year who had all the skills to be a star but just lacked confidence and experience. If he really believes in himself and his ability to do whatever he wants on the floor, which pretty much every player with his skill set has, he will be a huge contributor. The main factor is his confidence and self-image.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I was responding to the statement that CoHawk could play the 3 on offense. I am excited about his potential as well. Someone here compared him to Mike Davis. I think CoHawk could be even better. If he isn't the answer to our questions at the 4, I don't know who else on this roster is.
DW. 4 guards all day.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I’m certainly not saying Payne is the answer at the 4, but I’ll be surprised if he’s not part of the answer. We will not be undersized at the 4 this year.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Barring injury, Underwood is going to have myriad good options across the board. Can't wait.
I don't think any decent college coach would play Hawkins at the 3. He's not nearly quick enough to defend a 3. And his handles, while good for his size, aren't good enough.
I think he can be a good player, but he's a 4 who can play the 5 in a pinch.
....and a lot of guys trying to prove themselves. Add that to the talent mix.
That’s what I’m most excited about. This team has a pretty high floor. The ceiling is what gets you daydreaming…
Equal minutes. Equal PAIN. Above is what Bernie says the Illini will do to the rest of the BIG10.
A year later, last fall, I ran into Coleman walking out of Wal-Mart carrying a big-!!! pumpkin.
I told him I was the guy who welcomed him off the plane and he totally remembered and had a good laugh about it.
Really great natured kid. So psyched to have guys with his character on the roster.
I’m all about quickness and athleticism on defense (see my previous posts). But let’s say Hawkins really knows how to use angles and his length defensively. He could bother a traditional 6’5-6’7 small forward with his height advantage.
But why play him at 3? Is it so you can find minutes for Lieb at 5 instead of…hutch/Plummer at 3? If we had a logjam of 7 footers this might make sense but we don’t…we have a ton of guards. Only way he’d be a 3 in current lineup is if Omar AND Kofi are in AND he’s in. And honestly - I don’t see that making much sense as you’d have a lot of talented guards on the bench and you would have no big man sub available when one of those 3 need a sub.
If that lineup you said gives people fits, I’d assume we’d see it regularly. Fully hypothetical, and probably unlikely, but not outright impossible.
The best teams make their opponents adjust to them. And I’ll argue to my grave that having talented players on the bench is a great thing (so long as the players on the court are competing and producing).
The problem is what happens when CH needs a breather and KC or OP get into foul trouble? You go 4 guards?
That’s a problem but not necessarily a death knell. It would be like playing a completely different team after the subs. I’m sure BU will have packages for starters, big lineup, small lineup, speed lineup, shooter lineup etc. Even at the HS level we do that.
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