Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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Were they standing on level ground?
Hard to tell from the angle
I expect our transition game to be better than last year with Andre leading it. It will at the very least be more dynamic. Ayo had world class talent at getting to the rim in transition and had the body and length to finish. Amazing vision to pick through the defense.
Andre may not get us as many lay ups as Ayo did, but I bet when he gets the ball in transition, his court vision and passing skills will get him plenty of kick outs and shots to open shooters. His old man game is real. He's college basketball's Javy Baez, he sees things no one else sees and is three steps ahead of everyone else on the court.
Andre may not get us as many lay ups as Ayo did, but I bet when he gets the ball in transition, his court vision and passing skills will get him plenty of kick outs and shots to open shooters. His old man game is real. He's college basketball's Javy Baez, he sees things no one else sees and is three steps ahead of everyone else on the court.
Ayo had a fast break when there were only three defenders back. He was unbelievable when he was downhill and could finish over anyone. We don’t have anyone on current roster that is even close (but neither does the rest of the BIG). However the speed of Belo, Trent and Plummer are probably equivalent so their will still be a lot of opportunities but I agree that many more will be passed out for a three pointer.
Have watched replays of many of last years games and have been more impressed with Grandison than I was at the time. He is just sneaky good. Doesn’t make the highlight videos but he seems to always be in the right place for a rebound, an open three or a double team. He will have to get more time if not at the four than at the three.
Also noted that Giorgi had some really good games where he was a significant part of our win. We may miss him more than generally thought. Actually think he had more significant games than Miller although Miller’s ceiling is higher and wouldn’t be true this year.
Like our experience but don’t want to overvalue it as I still remember the hype on Wisconsin and where they ended up.
Have watched replays of many of last years games and have been more impressed with Grandison than I was at the time. He is just sneaky good. Doesn’t make the highlight videos but he seems to always be in the right place for a rebound, an open three or a double team. He will have to get more time if not at the four than at the three.
Also noted that Giorgi had some really good games where he was a significant part of our win. We may miss him more than generally thought. Actually think he had more significant games than Miller although Miller’s ceiling is higher and wouldn’t be true this year.
Like our experience but don’t want to overvalue it as I still remember the hype on Wisconsin and where they ended up.
I think with belo and shooters/slashers our transition game is more kick it ahead to the open guy in front of you, than run and space while Ayo gets as deep as he can. When the defense spreads out with shooters in transition, that’s when belo will keep and penetrate. Everybody is more dangerous when the ball can be kicked ahead in transition at any time. Defense gets more scrambled and it’s much harder to guard. Ayo had the rare ability to score on defenses that were already shaped up in transition.
I think that’s also part of why we will play faster this year. Moving the ball up the court by passing is obviously quicker than the dribble. It can lead to quicker, and hopefully still good to great, shots. Cumulatively that gets you more possessions back.
Yeah, that was fun. I've warmed up to Rob over the years.
Imagine if...
-Kofi takes the next step
-Curbelo actually is a top 10 player in the country
-Plummer flourishes in the B1G
-Hawkins realizes the potential we all see in him
-Podz, Goode, and/or Melendez give us Adam Miller levels of play as freshman
-Hutch actually is Michael Jordan like everyone jokes about on here
Imagine if all these things happen
-Kofi takes the next step
-Curbelo actually is a top 10 player in the country
-Plummer flourishes in the B1G
-Hawkins realizes the potential we all see in him
-Podz, Goode, and/or Melendez give us Adam Miller levels of play as freshman
-Hutch actually is Michael Jordan like everyone jokes about on here
Imagine if all these things happen
We'll be hanging bannersImagine if...
-Kofi takes the next step
-Curbelo actually is a top 10 player in the country
-Plummer flourishes in the B1G
-Hawkins realizes the potential we all see in him
-Podz, Goode, and/or Melendez give us Adam Miller levels of play as freshman
-Hutch actually is Michael Jordan like everyone jokes about on here
Imagine if all these things happen
Ayo was great at breaks and finishing...but we could be alot more "above the rim" with this team.
On fast breaks...call me greedy, but I really relish the idea of AC or TF racing down the court with Omar on one side and Hutch on the other...either one gets a dish for a highlight dunk.
Totally agree on Grandison...guy is incredibly efficient and reliable and good pass instincts too.
Andre Freakin Curbelo
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Bad list, Trent is our most appreciated player.
Probably nationally.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
That's how I took it...............
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
It's also how I took it as well, except I'd argue we appreciate him so much that we offset any underappreciation elsewhere to the point where he is then the most appreciated player in the nation.
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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
blackdog
- Champaign
Hadn't seen this posted previously but a really good look at Alexander as a coach and also the way they use ball movement and the bigs in the post to create easy baskets. Theres a reason Kofi had so many wide open dunks last year and its not just because he's a beast (which he is).
I think Ayo is a huge loss but both Giorgi and Miller, especially Miller, are very replaceable and we'll be fine without them. Giorgi was also a leader which is hard to find in guys but their production being gone isn't leaving a gaping hole in the same way that ayo is.
I do agree with your assessment of our over reliance on Ayo last year. When we faced a team with a physical and competent defensive center like Loyola had with Kurtwig Kofi got shut down. He couldn't dunk and was really bad about not passing out of the post so he was basically taken out of the game. Then they would just double or triple team Ayo and no one else really stepped up. It felt like a lot of the time in big games everyone would throw the ball to Ayo and ask him to make miracle plays. Which he could usually do but he's only human. Loyola's experience helped them match up very well with us.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
great video.......thanks for posting..........................
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. 
Can we get Rothstein to clarify whether he meant mean appreciation level or median appreciation level?It's also how I took it as well, except I'd argue we appreciate him so much that we offset any underappreciation elsewhere to the point where he is then the most appreciated player in the nation.
sacraig
- The desert
The fact that he continues to have access implies to me that he probably isn't as cringey in person as he comes across in videos sometimes. Watching these interviews, the players and coaches get along with him well, after all. And the access he gets means he produces some good content despite the occasional cringiness.
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