Illini Basketball 2021-2022

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#151      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
How are we going to be better this year? Free throws.

Last year we led the league in attempts (669)....but third from last in % at 69%. The two teams picked "ahead" of us...scUM (400) and Purdon't (492)....were next to last and fourth from last in attempts, respectively.....but scUM was tops in % (77)

The way we win close games this year sans Ayo.....make 7-10% more FT's on a similar number of attempts. 50-70 more points in B1G play is absolutely going to statistically amount to a couple more wins. Or more. I sucked in statistics.

That disparity in attempts is a little surprising to me considering the first thought is....big man Kofi inside gets fouled a lot. Well....with scUM (DICKinson) and PU (Williams) you'd have thought they would have similar attempts.

This stat alone tells me how aggressive BU and our offense is vs those other two. It stands to reason that this years team will play faster and garner at least the same...if not more...attempts with Curbelo free to penetrate with three solid options.....score...dish...get fouled.


Edit...wow we were 30 attempts away from shooting 300 more FT's than scUM. I typed it and it still almost escaped me.
 
#152      

thehass

T
thehass
orange100 said:
I think we can be better than last year.

Do we have speed/fast-break capability? Yes.
Do we have depth? yes
Do we have shooters? yes
Do we have defenders? yes
Do we have experience? yes
Do we have bruising rebounders? Yes
Do we have the handles? Likely
Can we create on or off the ball? Yes
Do we have the coaching? Hell yeah.
Will foul trouble be a problem? No.

The Question marks I see are:
Who is our killer finisher with Ayo gone? Trent? or a frosh?
Do the talented freshmen live up to expectations in the long slog of a full season?
But with the other boxes checked, maybe we do not need a killer finisher because we'll be ahead 10 points at the EOR.

I will hang up and listen.
Click to expand...
Got to be better at the free throw line too.
 
#153      

Calvin

C
Calvin
skyIdub said:
Last year we led the league in attempts (669)
Click to expand...

For context, 217 of those were Kofi. 143 were Ayo. I wouldn't expect other players to have anywhere near their volume based on their style of play.

I don't think anyone else was a high volume FT shooter, although AC had 81 attempts and Trent 77 --those guys and possibly Plummer will have the ball if we need to close out a lead.
 
#154      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
skyIdub said:
How are we going to be better this year? Free throws.

Last year we led the league in attempts (669)....but third from last in % at 69%. The two teams picked "ahead" of us...scUM (400) and Purdon't (492)....were next to last and fourth from last in attempts, respectively.....but scUM was tops in % (77)

The way we win close games this year sans Ayo.....make 7-10% more FT's on a similar number of attempts. 50-70 more points in B1G play is absolutely going to statistically amount to a couple more wins. Or more. I sucked in statistics.

That disparity in attempts is a little surprising to me considering the first thought is....big man Kofi inside gets fouled a lot. Well....with scUM (DICKinson) and PU (Williams) you'd have thought they would have similar attempts.

This stat alone tells me how aggressive BU and our offense is vs those other two. It stands to reason that this years team will play faster and garner at least the same...if not more...attempts with Curbelo free to penetrate with three solid options.....score...dish...get fouled.


Edit...wow we were 30 attempts away from shooting 300 more FT's than scUM. I typed it and it still almost escaped me.
Click to expand...
Hunter Dickinson, despite his many flaws, shot 74% from the line last year. I imagine that accounts for at least some of the disparity. Less incentive to hack if the guy is going to make FTs.
 
#155      

combes

C
combes
Kingo24 said:
Just saw Jeff Goodman posted a list of the "secret" scrimmages that will be happening in the coming days. Our Illini are one of the few teams not scheduled to have one, at least according to his list. I wonder if there is a particular reason for that, or if it is something as simple as a scheduling issue. 🤷‍♀️
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Teams cannot have a “secret scrimmage” if they have 2 exhibition games. To have the scrimmage, one of the fan-attended exhibitions would have to go. Personally, I’d rather see the team in person, so I’m good with their choice.
 
#156      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
Calvin said:
For context, 217 of those were Kofi. 143 were Ayo. I wouldn't expect other players to have anywhere near their volume based on their style of play.

I don't think anyone else was a high volume FT shooter, although AC had 81 attempts and Trent 77 --those guys and possibly Plummer will have the ball if we need to close out a lead.
Click to expand...

Right, I assumed everyone would also assume that was the bulk of attempts. So realistically....200 attempts again for Kofi...and AC with the ball a lot more this year...it's not a stretch to see 600+ attempts again with our style of play. That was really the gist of my post.

Curbelo in a full time roll is going to have 100+ attempts this year. I'd bet my nicest beach house.
 
#157      

Kingo24

Kingo24
Kingo24
combes said:
Teams cannot have a “secret scrimmage” if they have 2 exhibition games. To have the scrimmage, one of the fan-attended exhibitions would have to go. Personally, I’d rather see the team in person, so I’m good with their choice.
Click to expand...

Got it. Thanks for the reply.
 
#158      

Illini B-Ball Fan

Illini B-Ball Fan
Illini B-Ball Fan
And while in the assuming mode, assume a Midnight Madness is not going to occur since we're a week out from the season start. Here's hoping this gets reinstated next year for all to enjoy.
 
#160      

Epsilon

Epsilon
M tipping over
Pdx
Epsilon
orange100 said:
I have to give respect. as weird as this guy has been his entire "career," this is 20x better than most content hustlers out there.
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Watching his material can be like taking your medicine. Sometimes you just grimace at how awful it tastes, and other times you’re just happy to have your fix.
 
#161      

Homecoming 2019

Homecoming 2019
Chicago
Homecoming 2019
skyIdub said:
Right, I assumed everyone would also assume that was the bulk of attempts. So realistically....200 attempts again for Kofi...and AC with the ball a lot more this year...it's not a stretch to see 600+ attempts again with our style of play. That was really the gist of my post.

Curbelo in a full time roll is going to have 100+ attempts this year. I'd bet my nicest beach house.
Click to expand...
Ayo had a good chunk of free throws as you said, but I'd be interested to see how many were late game fouling situations where we were purposely getting him the ball. All of those would transfer to whomever that will be this season. Truly it all comes down to Kofi for %, everyone else is solid at the line. Improve to 65-70% and that alone could add a win or two to our record.
 
#162      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
Homecoming 2019 said:
Ayo had a good chunk of free throws as you said, but I'd be interested to see how many were late game fouling situations where we were purposely getting him the ball. All of those would transfer to whomever that will be this season. Truly it all comes down to Kofi for %, everyone else is solid at the line. Improve to 65-70% and that alone could add a win or two to our record.
Click to expand...
Agree, though I imagine if Kofi starts making them he probably gets fouled less, and our number of attempts goes down. Would be a good problem to have though, considering how efficient he is when not getting manhandled.
 
#163      

Ga65

G
Ga65
skyIdub said:
How are we going to be better this year? Free throws.

Last year we led the league in attempts (669)....but third from last in % at 69%. The two teams picked "ahead" of us...scUM (400) and Purdon't (492)....were next to last and fourth from last in attempts, respectively.....but scUM was tops in % (77)

The way we win close games this year sans Ayo.....make 7-10% more FT's on a similar number of attempts. 50-70 more points in B1G play is absolutely going to statistically amount to a couple more wins. Or more. I sucked in statistics.

That disparity in attempts is a little surprising to me considering the first thought is....big man Kofi inside gets fouled a lot. Well....with scUM (DICKinson) and PU (Williams) you'd have thought they would have similar attempts.

This stat alone tells me how aggressive BU and our offense is vs those other two. It stands to reason that this years team will play faster and garner at least the same...if not more...attempts with Curbelo free to penetrate with three solid options.....score...dish...get fouled.


Edit...wow we were 30 attempts away from shooting 300 more FT's than scUM. I typed it and it still almost escaped me.
Click to expand...
We shot 75% without Kofi. Problem pretty much around high usage man in center and Omar was not better.
 
#165      

bbpeoria

B
bbpeoria
Ga65 said:
We shot 75% without Kofi. Problem pretty much around high usage man in center and Omar was not better.
Click to expand...
What does everybody think of a Min & PPG breakdown like this for the season. Please discuss...
MinPPG
2617C Kofi Cockburn 6'11" So
3013G Andre Curbelo 6'0" Fr
2811G Trent Frazier 6'1" Sr
2210G Alfonzo Plummer 6'1" Sr
157G-F Austin Hutcherson 6'6" Jr
146F Jacob Grandison 6'6" Jr
215G-F Damonte Williams 6'3" Sr
144C Omar Payne 6'10" Jr
124F Coleman Hawkins 6'9" Fr
82F Luke Goode 6'7" Fr
51F RJ Melendez 6'6" Fr
21G-F Brandin Podziemski 6'5" Fr
20F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk 6'8" Fr-R
10C Brandon Lieb 7'0" Fr-R
20081
 
#166      

BretMyBeachHouse

B
BretMyBeachHouse
bbpeoria said:
What does everybody think of a Min & PPG breakdown like this for the season. Please discuss...
MinPPG
2617C Kofi Cockburn 6'11" So
3013G Andre Curbelo 6'0" Fr
2811G Trent Frazier 6'1" Sr
2210G Alfonzo Plummer 6'1" Sr
157G-F Austin Hutcherson 6'6" Jr
146F Jacob Grandison 6'6" Jr
215G-F Damonte Williams 6'3" Sr
144C Omar Payne 6'10" Jr
124F Coleman Hawkins 6'9" Fr
82F Luke Goode 6'7" Fr
51F RJ Melendez 6'6" Fr
21G-F Brandin Podziemski 6'5" Fr
20F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk 6'8" Fr-R
10C Brandon Lieb 7'0" Fr-R
20081
Click to expand...
Nice start, but you're pretty small I think. JG, CH, OP, KC at a total of 66 minutes. Means you've got either Hutch or Damonte swinging into the 4.
 
#167      

grue2

G
grue2
bbpeoria said:
What does everybody think of a Min & PPG breakdown like this for the season. Please discuss...
MinPPG
30C Kofi Cockburn 6'11" Jr
34G Andre Curbelo 6'0" So
30G Trent Frazier 6'1" Sr
22G Alfonzo Plummer 6'1" Sr
15G-F Austin Hutcherson 6'6" Jr
14F Jacob Grandison 6'6" Jr
19G-F Damonte Williams 6'3" Sr
22C Omar Payne 6'10" Jr
12F Coleman Hawkins 6'9" So
0*F Luke Goode 6'7" Fr
0*F RJ Melendez 6'6" Fr
0*G-F Brandin Podziemski 6'5" Fr
0*F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk 6'8" So-R
0*C Brandon Lieb 7'0" So-R
200
Click to expand...

12m with Kofi/Payne
4m with Kofi/Hawkins
10m with Payne/Hawkins
16m with Kofi/(DWM/Hutcherson)

If Hawkins isn't ready yet, give another 4min to Payne, and the rest to DWM/Hutcherson. If Hawkins earns more time, it comes from DMW/Hawkins time at the 4. If Payne has the stamina, he may claim those 4 minutes anyhow.

By the end of the season I expect that one of Hutcherson, Grandison, and DMW will be playing 25m/game, and another 5m/game. (8 man primary rotation)

This allocation has Trent defending the 3 about 5 minutes a game. If he can't Trent/Plummer will lose those 5m between them. It will come down to whether Trent is having an on/off day shooting. If he is cold, we have to make the call on defense(Trent) or offense (Plummer).

* I expect the deep bench will only play in the early season blowouts. The times given are for non-blowout games.
 
#169      

Ga65

G
Ga65
bbpeoria said:
What does everybody think of a Min & PPG breakdown like this for the season. Please discuss...
MinPPG
2617C Kofi Cockburn 6'11" So
3013G Andre Curbelo 6'0" Fr
2811G Trent Frazier 6'1" Sr
2210G Alfonzo Plummer 6'1" Sr
157G-F Austin Hutcherson 6'6" Jr
146F Jacob Grandison 6'6" Jr
215G-F Damonte Williams 6'3" Sr
144C Omar Payne 6'10" Jr
124F Coleman Hawkins 6'9" Fr
82F Luke Goode 6'7" Fr
51F RJ Melendez 6'6" Fr
21G-F Brandin Podziemski 6'5" Fr
20F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk 6'8" Fr-R
10C Brandon Lieb 7'0" Fr-R
20081
Click to expand...
Difficult to project for me but have positions 1 & 2 split between Belo, Trent and Plummer. Think there will be a few with Hutch and possibly Podz. Am a big Jacob fan and think he will get 20+ with some at the three. Hutch and Hawk are the X factors and hope it is a lot more minutes by tourney time but still not betting beach house. Goode could also be a surprise at the four but tough to project at this point.
 
#171      

BRucks

BRucks
BRucks
skyIdub said:
How are we going to be better this year? Free throws.

Last year we led the league in attempts (669)....but third from last in % at 69%. The two teams picked "ahead" of us...scUM (400) and Purdon't (492)....were next to last and fourth from last in attempts, respectively.....but scUM was tops in % (77)

The way we win close games this year sans Ayo.....make 7-10% more FT's on a similar number of attempts. 50-70 more points in B1G play is absolutely going to statistically amount to a couple more wins. Or more. I sucked in statistics.

That disparity in attempts is a little surprising to me considering the first thought is....big man Kofi inside gets fouled a lot. Well....with scUM (DICKinson) and PU (Williams) you'd have thought they would have similar attempts.

This stat alone tells me how aggressive BU and our offense is vs those other two. It stands to reason that this years team will play faster and garner at least the same...if not more...attempts with Curbelo free to penetrate with three solid options.....score...dish...get fouled.


Edit...wow we were 30 attempts away from shooting 300 more FT's than scUM. I typed it and it still almost escaped me.
Click to expand...
To be fair, Michigan only played when the felt like it.
 
#172      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
skyIdub said:
I'm not sure what you mean? More Bears fans....or louder because they were winning? While Chicago teams travel very well in Dallas...(see Stars v. Blackhawks, Rangers/Sox).....if you're talking about fans in the stands, this is a complete exaggeration. I'm almost certain there has never been a Cowboys home game where the visiting team was more represented than the Cowboys.
Click to expand...

The “away fans outnumbering home fans” is almost always exaggerated (not saying it is here, BTW … no knowledge), but the one time I’ve seen it shockingly true was Illinois at Northwestern in 2019-20 basketball. Holy cow. NU was down, we were getting hot and half the NU season ticket section was empty. It was AT LEAST 65/35 orange. With it being a Saturday this year, I wouldn’t be shocked at 70/30 … I know I’ll be there!!
 
#173      

BalloonsTheElephant

B
BalloonsTheElephant
Calvin said:
That would be something. Ayo was generational in his ability to drive into just about any mess on the break and come out with a basket. He made it look easy, and he put defenders on their heels. I don't know how many +1s he got, but it was a lot. And putting guys in foul trouble can change a game. Ayo had some misses and forced shots, but those generally weren't in transition. He was absolute money in transition. Off the top of my head, I can't think of an Illini team better than just Ayo in transition. My memory is hazy on Kiwane, but he was pretty good at driving, but I wouldn't put him ahead of Ayo. The Flyin Illini were supremely athletic and talented --I think you'd have to go back that far to be as good or better. JMO
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We will not replace Ayo's singular brilliance in transition. His ability to have guys on skates before he was 20ft from them is uncanny. He knew exactly how he was going to turn them to make his way to the rim.

I foresee a lot of quick kick outs to Andre followed by a quick pass to someone in space or slashing to the rim. We will still be applying a great deal of pressure in transition.
 
#174      

illiniguy24

illiniguy24
illiniguy24
skyIdub said:
I feel like the open practice was our blue collar "Midnight Madness"?
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That, and/or the team felt they didn’t want to do anything flashy after how they went out last year. Maybe want to stay focused without the flashy show.
Totally guessing, but, I like that thinking that’s their mindset.
 
#175      

IlliniSaluki

IlliniSaluki
IL metro east burbs of St. Louis
IlliniSaluki
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