Illini Basketball 2021-2022

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#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Welcome to the Illini Basketball & College Basketball 2022-2022 thread

Schedule
Illinois at Marquette (Gavitt Games, Nov. 15th)
Illinois vs Cincinnati (Nov. 22nd), IL vs Arkansas/Kansas State (Nov. 23rd) - Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City
Illinois vs Notre Dame (ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Nov. 29th)
Illinois vs Arizona (Dec. 11th)
Illinois vs Missouri (Braggin' Rights in St. Louis, date TBD)

Big Ten 20-game breakdown:
Home Only – Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Away Only – Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska
Home & Away – Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers


Roster
Trent Frazier
Andre Curbelo
Alfonso Plummer
Luke Goode
Brandin Podziemski
Da'Monte Williams
Jacob Grandison
Austin Hutcherson
Ramses Melendez
Omar Payne
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk
Coleman Hawkins
Brandon Lieb
Kofi Cockburn
 
#4      

LongLiveTheChief

L
LongLiveTheChief
Gonna be a tough conference schedule. Should be plenty of chances to build our resume with Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, MSU, and Maryland all twice.
 
#5      

BuddyJ

B
BuddyJ
To pick up on some of the DaMonte talk:

When he shot the 3, he hit it at an incredible rate. But he had a very strict shot selection due to his slow release, and he was mostly a catch and shoot guy. When teams played him tightly or when someone closed out quickly, he would always make the extra pass rather than shoot it.

He isn’t “one of the best shooters” in the nation because of this. His release is too slow, and he cannot create his own shot on the perimeter. But he’s a very good one still. If he can start hitting shots off the dribble and speed up his release, while still hitting >40%, then we’re talking about a truly elite shooter.
 
#7      

IlliniKat91

IlliniKat91
Chicago, IL
IlliniKat91
JazzNBluesIllini said:
I see us winning every game.
Click to expand...
smoke weed GIF by Forever ANTi Pop


It's not impossible, but highly improbable
 
#8      

sully

sully
sully
Can't wait for Illini basketball to tip off! (especially since Kofi announced he's coming back! As well as Williams & Frazier returning for their 5th year). Man we are gonna be loaded imo. Also can't wait to see how Curbelo takes it to the next level. in his Sophomore year Should be a lot of fun to watch.
 
#15      

Calvin

C
Calvin
BuddyJ said:
To pick up on some of the DaMonte talk:

When he shot the 3, he hit it at an incredible rate. But he had a very strict shot selection due to his slow release, and he was mostly a catch and shoot guy. When teams played him tightly or when someone closed out quickly, he would always make the extra pass rather than shoot it.

He isn’t “one of the best shooters” in the nation because of this. His release is too slow, and he cannot create his own shot on the perimeter. But he’s a very good one still. If he can start hitting shots off the dribble and speed up his release, while still hitting >40%, then we’re talking about a truly elite shooter.
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I agree he was selective, but I don't think you can overstate his efficiency. Looking at his stats, he shot a little over two 3 pointers per game, making more than half (35 of 64), while grabbing over 5 rebounds a game, with a 2.5 A:TO ratio, and being very good defensively.
 
#16      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
BuddyJ said:
To pick up on some of the DaMonte talk:

When he shot the 3, he hit it at an incredible rate. But he had a very strict shot selection due to his slow release, and he was mostly a catch and shoot guy. When teams played him tightly or when someone closed out quickly, he would always make the extra pass rather than shoot it.

He isn’t “one of the best shooters” in the nation because of this. His release is too slow, and he cannot create his own shot on the perimeter. But he’s a very good one still. If he can start hitting shots off the dribble and speed up his release, while still hitting >40%, then we’re talking about a truly elite shooter.
Click to expand...

So, you understand that he's still....shooting....right? So the statistics nullify any reasonable argument that he wasn't one of the best shooters in CBB last year.

Some of the greatest shooters in basketball history were spot up shooters. Still gotta hit the shot...and he did that better than almost everyone in CBB.
 
#17      

LongLiveTheChief

L
LongLiveTheChief
BuddyJ said:
To pick up on some of the DaMonte talk:

When he shot the 3, he hit it at an incredible rate. But he had a very strict shot selection due to his slow release, and he was mostly a catch and shoot guy. When teams played him tightly or when someone closed out quickly, he would always make the extra pass rather than shoot it.

He isn’t “one of the best shooters” in the nation because of this. His release is too slow, and he cannot create his own shot on the perimeter. But he’s a very good one still. If he can start hitting shots off the dribble and speed up his release, while still hitting >40%, then we’re talking about a truly elite shooter.
Click to expand...
The offense is setup for an outside set shooter. Curbelo drive and kick or post and kick. He doesn’t need to create to thrive this season. Even if he hits a bunch then ends up just opening lanes by spreading the floor, he will be a valuable cog in the offense.
 
#18      

LongLiveTheChief

L
LongLiveTheChief
skyIdub said:
So, you understand that he's still....shooting....right? So the statistics nullify any reasonable argument that he wasn't one of the best shooters in CBB last year.

Some of the greatest shooters in basketball history were spot up shooters. Still gotta hit the shot...and he did that better than almost everyone in CBB.
Click to expand...
Best shooter now means “best shooter while contested/best creator/best shooter under pressure”. Please don’t forget it /s
 
#20      

ElGran

E
ElGran
BuddyJ said:
To pick up on some of the DaMonte talk:

When he shot the 3, he hit it at an incredible rate. But he had a very strict shot selection due to his slow release, and he was mostly a catch and shoot guy. When teams played him tightly or when someone closed out quickly, he would always make the extra pass rather than shoot it.

He isn’t “one of the best shooters” in the nation because of this. His release is too slow, and he cannot create his own shot on the perimeter. But he’s a very good one still. If he can start hitting shots off the dribble and speed up his release, while still hitting >40%, then we’re talking about a truly elite shooter.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, learning to "hit shots off the dribble and speed up his release" isn't that easy to do in one offseason.
 
#21      

HailtotheChief

H
HailtotheChief
skyIdub said:
So, you understand that he's still....shooting....right? So the statistics nullify any reasonable argument that he wasn't one of the best shooters in CBB last year.

Some of the greatest shooters in basketball history were spot up shooters. Still gotta hit the shot...and he did that better than almost everyone in CBB.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree with you. Also I think DMW could get his shot off much faster but wouldn't shoot over 50% from three. One reason he shoots so well is his shot selection and not getting sped up. He certainly could get his shot off faster he just chooses not to, but instead work the offense, and either get some else or himself a higher percentage shot. His shot selection and ability to make good decisions and play under control are some of the reasons he is so valuable.
 
#23      

HailtotheChief

H
HailtotheChief
LongLiveTheChief said:
Best shooter now means “best shooter while contested/best creator/best shooter under pressure”. Please don’t forget it /s
Click to expand...
A shooter that takes contested 3s is going to get you beat. No one on our team or really anyone is going to consistently shoot a high percentage on contested 3s. That a bad shot and the few of those we see the better. Hopefully Curbelo and others working the ball like the 05 team will help avoid our current players from taking those poor shots that get you beat.
 
#24      

zentrails

Z
zentrails
Calvin said:
I agree he was selective, but I don't think you can overstate his efficiency. Looking at his stats, he shot a little over two 3 pointers per game, making more than half (35 of 64), while grabbing over 5 rebounds a game, with a 2.5 A:TO ratio, and being very good defensively.
Click to expand...
And hardly ever is out of position as far as I can tell. I suspect lingering effects of his HS knee injury is the only thing keeping him from being an even greater player.
 
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