Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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sacraig
- The desert
To be fair, Smith developing into a Jason Kidd-like player would have required Smith to put in actual work. Who knows what would have happened with a real work ethic.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
If I had to single out one thing that could make us a better team than last year it would be a better, more reliable passing game. I think if we can break the press against pesky teams like Loyola we will already be better. I think we’re about to find out how much of a hole Ayo’s departure leaves, but I think if we can get great ball movement that can cover a lot of sins. Even though Ayo was an outstanding defender that we’ll miss, I feel like the coaches won’t let that slip in any given year.
Passing and shooting. I am excited to see how we space the floor/shoot this year. How many on the roster are potentially capable 3 pt shooters you would feel comfortable taking a shot? I counted 9-10!
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I think we actually shot fairly well when we had good ball movement. But certainly having more “elite” shooters will help too.
texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
Yep you don't get to this level without being "elite" at one thing at least
I think we will also see probably a dip in fat break scoring due to Ayo departure to the NBA. He was absolutely fantastic on beating teams back down the floor for an easy lay up! Hopefully Curbelo and Trent fills in where he left off! And Plummer also! If he is like Andres Feliz with a way better shot!!!... watch out NCAA!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I think I might finally pull the trigger and attend the Braggin' Rights Game this year!! Are there multiple bars that Illini fans usually congregate at before? I am trying to pick a hotel, and I would rather be closer to pregame festivities than to the arena itself ... fiancé usually runs a little late. 
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed. While I think we will obviously miss Giorgi, Adam and especially Ayo at times, I am cautiously optimistic about some more consistency. While we might drop some games this year that Ayo could have pulled out for us, having a superstar has its disadvantages ... when Ayo wasn't "on" (which was rare, but Loyola is a good example), our team kind of froze at times. With what I imagine to be a more balanced offense, I think our "ceiling of play" might inch down a bit, but I think we actually might be a more consistent team and have fewer close calls. When you have a player like Ayo, you defer to him for better and for worse. We will miss his legendary late game heroics, but I am hopeful that we might also cut down on the number of times our team all of a sudden looked out of it and gave up a run.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Probably not...just different people finishing...I actually think we will be faster and better at it, not picking, just think different.
this statement may be me having too much of the orange kool-ade but we appear to be so much stronger with guys coming off the bench than in previous years that I have become giddy. The perceived first team having to practice against the talent of the perceived second team can only be a positive where all benefit. Depth is so important and we have not had that in recent years. Time will tell but I am hopefully optimistic.
Great point about practice. Might be the most important part of "depth".
How it plays out in games is a big question. Never seems to match preseason expectations, but who knows. Maybe this year.
I think we have a superstar…or two. We may not know who’s taking the shot, but we know who will have the ball.
I personally think there will only be a few games where we might need a hero. These guys are going to create a lot of matchup problems for most teams. (Kofi is a problem for everyone)
I think we'll see more fast breaks ending with a kick out for an open 3 pointer than we'll see layups this season.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
When it has been discussed by pundits and others about the talent of our freshmen and the possibility that they will have to hustle for any playing time shows , to me at least , how much growth we have had as far as talent and balance of classes in the short 4 years BU has been here....I think we have started a frosh every year BU has been coach and now not looking like we will this year tells me we should be better than last year , at least as far as lack of drop off in skill if we have foul trouble or any injuries....Of course having Trent and DMW back really filled out the roster , but we are seeing a rise in overall squad talent and numerous ways to use that talent....
I really feel like last season was a great step forward for the program even with the dismal game in the second game of the tourney.....We should have a longer run this season as we should have learned a valuable and painful lesson from last year.....
JMHO
orange100
time to hop on the wife
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.
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.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
!@#$%^&*..................that's emu for great post.............................BTW, I don't have Liberty Mutual ins , I'm a State Farm emu............Like a good emu , I'm there...
Come on man, it was already settled regarding the finisher - The Assasin.
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