Illini Basketball 2021-2022

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#176      
It happens several times every season....and yet too many think it can't happen. Especially at B1G level, it happens every season. And it will happen again.

We have to acknowledge one thing. Teams play on a bell curve scale. Even great teams play their worst and the very worst teams overlap curves with them sometimes when they play their best. It does not happen often, but we must not forget that fact. Great teams have to be ready and ooze killer instinct every time they take the floor. Good teams don't always do that.
Thinking it can happen is different than predicting it will happen. I'm not saying there is no chance, I didn't think Illinois would destroy Michigan away without Ayo, but I wouldn't predict Minnesota beating Illinois given how bad I think Minnesota is going to be.
 
#178      
The more I think about this upcoming season and the more excited/optimistic I get, the less I see the reasoning behind having Purdue/Michigan nearly unanimously above us. Michigan lost more than we did, and we were - for all intents and purposes - equal teams last year (we smoked them head to head, they had a better Tournament run). Purdue was a markedly worse team than both, gaining a 4-seed and losing in the First Round, and I think people are falling into the "everybody back" phenomena ... not saying Purdue won't be good (they have as good of a chance to win the Big Ten as anyone), but the idea that there is a clear favorite out of those three is asinine to me. All three have different pros and cons compared to the other two, and they will likely be three very evenly matched teams, with OSU honestly not far behind.

I honestly think part of this was that the prognosticators got so accustomed to Kofi for sure being gone and let a mental "domino effect" take hold with Ayo, Miller and then Kofi leaving in succession, leading to most of our preseason predictions being in the 8-seed category. Thus, even with desperately needed additions that make our team more complete and the essential development of Kofi returning, the jump from "8-seed" to "equal to Purdue and Michigan" was mentally too much for some people. In other words, they got used to crowning Purdue and Michigan as the class of the league, and the monumental addition of Kofi to Illinois hasn't been enough to shake that perception for some. However, when I think about our roster breakdown of talent and experience and depth and balance compared to anyone else in the league ... we are just as entitled as anyone to be Big Ten favorites. Let's go prove it!!
 
#179      
Looking at various previews and rankings, it seems there are 4 teams expected to compete at the top of the conference, with a couple other teams that potentially disrupt those expectations. Michigan and Purdue seem to be getting the most love. Illinois and tOSU also in the mix for top honors. Sparty and Maryland are in the conversation, and I think I saw one mention of Indiana.

Going to be a lot of older teams this year with super seniors.
 
#180      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Looking at various previews and rankings, it seems there are 4 teams expected to compete at the top of the conference, with a couple other teams that potentially disrupt those expectations. Michigan and Purdue seem to be getting the most love. Illinois and tOSU also in the mix for top honors. Sparty and Maryland are in the conversation, and I think I saw one mention of Indiana.

Going to be a lot of older teams this year with super seniors.
Everyone has an opinion, right? Mine is that a good chunk of media types are lazy (Ayo's gone!). Those who've done due diligence have it right.

As to the old derby, we win that hands down:

"Illinois is old. Really old. Of its top nine players, six are 22 or older. Plummer is 24, while Frazier Hutcherson and Grandison are all 23, and Cockburn and Williams are both 22. Meanwhile, Curbelo is 20, Payne turns 21 next week, and Hawkins turns 20 in December. Underwood’s group might be older than some G League teams."
 
#182      
Everyone has an opinion, right? Mine is that a good chunk of media types are lazy (Ayo's gone!). Those who've done due diligence have it right.

As to the old derby, we win that hands down:

"Illinois is old. Really old. Of its top nine players, six are 22 or older. Plummer is 24, while Frazier Hutcherson and Grandison are all 23, and Cockburn and Williams are both 22. Meanwhile, Curbelo is 20, Payne turns 21 next week, and Hawkins turns 20 in December. Underwood’s group might be older than some G League teams."
Pretty incredible for a roster without any Mormons or military vets.
 
#183      
The more I think about this upcoming season and the more excited/optimistic I get, the less I see the reasoning behind having Purdue/Michigan nearly unanimously above us. Michigan lost more than we did, and we were - for all intents and purposes - equal teams last year (we smoked them head to head, they had a better Tournament run). Purdue was a markedly worse team than both, gaining a 4-seed and losing in the First Round, and I think people are falling into the "everybody back" phenomena ... not saying Purdue won't be good (they have as good of a chance to win the Big Ten as anyone), but the idea that there is a clear favorite out of those three is asinine to me. All three have different pros and cons compared to the other two, and they will likely be three very evenly matched teams, with OSU honestly not far behind.

I honestly think part of this was that the prognosticators got so accustomed to Kofi for sure being gone and let a mental "domino effect" take hold with Ayo, Miller and then Kofi leaving in succession, leading to most of our preseason predictions being in the 8-seed category. Thus, even with desperately needed additions that make our team more complete and the essential development of Kofi returning, the jump from "8-seed" to "equal to Purdue and Michigan" was mentally too much for some people. In other words, they got used to crowning Purdue and Michigan as the class of the league, and the monumental addition of Kofi to Illinois hasn't been enough to shake that perception for some. However, when I think about our roster breakdown of talent and experience and depth and balance compared to anyone else in the league ... we are just as entitled as anyone to be Big Ten favorites. Let's go prove it!!
Don't sell PU short. Painter is (IMO) the best coach in the league and they are very talented
 
#184      

DB11Headband

Chicago Burbs
Michigan is extremely overrated this year. A lot for them depends on what Houstan brings to the table-but losing Livers and Wagner will be very tough for them to replace. Purdue is better than them and will be our main competition.
 
#185      
The more I think about this upcoming season and the more excited/optimistic I get, the less I see the reasoning behind having Purdue/Michigan nearly unanimously above us. Michigan lost more than we did, and we were - for all intents and purposes - equal teams last year (we smoked them head to head, they had a better Tournament run). Purdue was a markedly worse team than both, gaining a 4-seed and losing in the First Round, and I think people are falling into the "everybody back" phenomena ... not saying Purdue won't be good (they have as good of a chance to win the Big Ten as anyone), but the idea that there is a clear favorite out of those three is asinine to me. All three have different pros and cons compared to the other two, and they will likely be three very evenly matched teams, with OSU honestly not far behind.

I honestly think part of this was that the prognosticators got so accustomed to Kofi for sure being gone and let a mental "domino effect" take hold with Ayo, Miller and then Kofi leaving in succession, leading to most of our preseason predictions being in the 8-seed category. Thus, even with desperately needed additions that make our team more complete and the essential development of Kofi returning, the jump from "8-seed" to "equal to Purdue and Michigan" was mentally too much for some people. In other words, they got used to crowning Purdue and Michigan as the class of the league, and the monumental addition of Kofi to Illinois hasn't been enough to shake that perception for some. However, when I think about our roster breakdown of talent and experience and depth and balance compared to anyone else in the league ... we are just as entitled as anyone to be Big Ten favorites. Let's go prove it!!
Too much common sense and wisdom in this post to be appreciated on this board Fighter. But I could not agree more. We should just watch and see who wins the games...and I like this team. Old, experienced, talented, and determined. No one thinks they are an easy out....now they have to prove it on the hardwood and not paper. But they will all have my appreciation (what Illini fan is not?), support, and complete attention.
 
#186      
Don't sell PU short. Painter is (IMO) the best coach in the league and they are very talented
I didn’t mean to, and I think they’ll be great. But we were so clearly better than them last year, and I don’t think the changes from both teams warrants them as a consensus favorite and us a step behind … I think at best they’ve joined the big boys club, and we stayed put.
 
#187      
Everyone has an opinion, right? Mine is that a good chunk of media types are lazy (Ayo's gone!). Those who've done due diligence have it right.

As to the old derby, we win that hands down:

"Illinois is old. Really old. Of its top nine players, six are 22 or older. Plummer is 24, while Frazier Hutcherson and Grandison are all 23, and Cockburn and Williams are both 22. Meanwhile, Curbelo is 20, Payne turns 21 next week, and Hawkins turns 20 in December. Underwood’s group might be older than some G League teams."
Don’t sleep on this. I felt like the maturity gap between Baylor and Gonzaga was glaring in last year’s title game. Of course, nearly every team will be a bit older this year due to the COVID waivers, but I still think this is a great sign for us.
 
#189      
Brad Underwood interview. I will time stamp major topics when I get a chance
 
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