Did you see Spoon play?
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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Looks to me like at least nine men in the rotation but time will vary with matchups. UM and PU both have size at the three and four and Hawk will see big minutes. Maybe not so much with smaller teams. DMW may see big minutes to stop a star scorer at the three. Hutch may see minutes at the two with an opponent that has a big guard and is abusing Belo. BU has a lot of pieces and he will utilize them based on the opponent even though starters don’t change. Chess at its best.
Agree, especially this year with the Ayo hype in Chicago and basketball fans that are not necessary huge Illini fans might like the opportunity to see Kofi and Curbelo in person. Also the U of I administration's insistence on scheduling UIC took a lot of wind out of the sails.
People on here have been trying to relegate Grandison back to the bench for as long as he's been a starter. First for DMW to come back to the starting lineup, then for Hutch (with DMW coming back to the starting lineup), now it's CoHawk taking his spot.
JG does a lot to help the team win, and this team plays better when he starts. He was arguably our best player last game out. CoHawk is awesome and the potential is there for him to be an absolute star. But when it comes to winning this season, JG is going to be the steady, reliable presence out there who does a ton of little things to get the W. I would be very surprised if JG lost his starting role at any point this season, as long as he plays like he did last season (and avoids injury). I could see CoHawk get a ton of minutes off the bench (like AC or DMW last year).
JG does a lot to help the team win, and this team plays better when he starts. He was arguably our best player last game out. CoHawk is awesome and the potential is there for him to be an absolute star. But when it comes to winning this season, JG is going to be the steady, reliable presence out there who does a ton of little things to get the W. I would be very surprised if JG lost his starting role at any point this season, as long as he plays like he did last season (and avoids injury). I could see CoHawk get a ton of minutes off the bench (like AC or DMW last year).
Grandison brings images of the Big O to mind....not in comparison to talent or game impact but in that he is so solid in playing the game efficiently. He goes almost unnoticed until you look at the end of game box score. Makes shots, few TOs if any, good defense, thinks ahead of others, and supports his teammates play. You would want a dozen like him. Oscar would never make an ESPN highlight film, but when choosing sides for an NBA All-Star game, almost anyone would pick him first or second. To hell with the highlights...give me a guy who can do the right thing in every moment.
Agree he is a starter but at the three not the four. Going to be about the minutes anyway not who starts.
I dont even know what this means when applied to modern basketball principles that have now gravitated towards positionless basketball. If we really want to attract the big dogs then we have to focus les on what position they play and more on how our offense can take advantage of those skills regardless of what position they less .
For me I want him on the court in situations that can take advantage of his talents and skills regardless of what position that is .
Hawkings developing into a Jared Jefferies like player is one of the best things that could happen to this team
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
I agree that Grandison starts at the three. The battle will be at the four with Hutch, DW, and CoHawk. If nothing else, when everyone is back, we can almost run hockey shifts and run teams off the floor. -- Putting down my scotch now.
Coaches want to win games first. They aren't going to play a kid at a certain spot in the hope of "attracting the big dogs" at the expense of losing games. The expression "positionless basketball" isn't a literal, absolute state. Sure, there is a trend towards bigs with more perimeter skills (which makes sense given the 3-point shot). However that doesn't mean all five players on the court are literally the same.
The best way to take advantage of Hawkins' skills is as a PF.
If you've watched a lot of college ball in the last several years, you might notice that good coaches tend to play the guys "up" a position. That is you play SG types as SFs, SFs as PFs, PFs as C.
You always want more quickness, ball-handling, and shooting on the floor, even if it costs you a bit in height. I want both Curbelo and Frazier on the floor absolutely as much as possible. If one of them is out, I want Plummer in. Those three guys = 80 minutes. Anyone else handling the ball with a quick defender in their face = turnovers and a disjointed offense. Maybe an exception for Hutch (if he's healthy).
texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
Popping this in here because of the Kofi mention...and because Garza is still soft serve 
Today on Loyalty.
Out: Comparisons to McDonald's all-American, 2 time national champion and NBA player Jalen Brunson.
In: Comparisons to Basketball hall of famer and 3 time college player of the year Oscar Robertson.
At the risk of talking Illinois bball again...
This is going to sound odd, but this season is reminding me of...Wisconsin basketball during the Bo years. Not a great comparison in many ways, but I feel like the culture of not being outworked is strong here. Ryan's teams were constantly disrespected, and they constantly competed. The way these guys compete impresses me, and the positive vibe of this team is one I want to root for. Lot to clean up from a basketball perspective, and a long way to go this season with the conference's depth, but I haven't been this happy as a fan since...last season
Some other general notes:
I feel like we're going to be strong at the wing for years to come.
Grandison continues to impress me, Coleman is looking well ahead of schedule, and El Magico is fun to watch.
This is going to sound odd, but this season is reminding me of...Wisconsin basketball during the Bo years. Not a great comparison in many ways, but I feel like the culture of not being outworked is strong here. Ryan's teams were constantly disrespected, and they constantly competed. The way these guys compete impresses me, and the positive vibe of this team is one I want to root for. Lot to clean up from a basketball perspective, and a long way to go this season with the conference's depth, but I haven't been this happy as a fan since...last season
Some other general notes:
I feel like we're going to be strong at the wing for years to come.
Grandison continues to impress me, Coleman is looking well ahead of schedule, and El Magico is fun to watch.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Based on the first two games of the year, my new minute projections (without including the 3rd string freshman):
1-2:
Curbelo - 28
Frazier - 28
Plummer - 24
3-4:
Hawkins - 24
Grandison - 20
Hutcherson - 20
DMW - 16
4-5:
Kofi - 28
Payne - 8
BBV - 4
1-2:
Curbelo - 28
Frazier - 28
Plummer - 24
3-4:
Hawkins - 24
Grandison - 20
Hutcherson - 20
DMW - 16
4-5:
Kofi - 28
Payne - 8
BBV - 4
Looks about right.
I don't think it's realistic to give 20 mpg to Hutch. I just don't think you can count on him to be consistently healthy.
Also, I'd say 30+ for Belo and Frazier and 20 for Plummer. I want the first two on the floor as much as possible.
JJB
- Chicago, IL
Speaking of former Squakeyes, CJ Fredrick likely out for the year @ Kentucky with a hamstring injury.Popping this in here because of the Kofi mention...and because Garza is still soft serve
CJ Fredrick to Undergo Surgery, Likely to Miss 2021-22 Season
Redshirt junior from Cincinnati injured his hamstring
ukathletics.com
Don't sleep on BBV.
This take is funny to me. Underwood stated recently that Hawkins is exceptionally bright both on and off the court. Lazy passes are pretty easy to correct, especially for a kid of that ilk. Hawkins may sit, for a minute or two, but he brings more talents to the floor than any other player because he has so many and few, if any, weaknesses. Kid will play as much as possible and DFW, as much as I like his defense, effort, and common sense, will not be replacing him in the starting lineup which will include BOTH Grandison and Hawkins. But this team will also need big minutes from Damonte, BBV, Hutch, and Goode. Hutch may surpass JG at some point if he ever gets healthy, but it won't be soon. Or I could be totally wrong and BBV and Goode will start the rest of the year. Regardless, we need them all....and they all need to play together at the starter level when they do.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
I could see Frazier getting 30+ per game in tight games. Belo too. The thing about Belo tho is he struggled with foul problems at times last year. I assume with a year of experience, he’ll shore that up. But it remains to be seen.
DMW will get more than 16 min. He played 25 mpg last year. BU is a culture and defense first kind of coach. No way Plummer(suspect defense) or Hutch get more court time than DMW. I’m not necessarily a believer is DMWs 3 point shot. If he keeps hitting 3s and playing D, there is no way he plays less than 20 mpg. DMW epitomizes an every day guy.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
You very well could be right. I definitely see him getting less minutes than last year though. Last year, we didn’t have players as skilled as Hawkins and Hutch vying for time at the same position. Even Grandison looks improved from last year so far.
DMW played just 18 minutes last night, even without Hutch inserted into the lineup.
Agreed that we are deeper at the 3/4. I wouldn’t read too much into Monte only getting 18 minutes last night though. We won by 39 pts and didn’t need his D. Now, if he plays 18 in the Marquette game, I will be surprised.
Generally agree but averages may be different than close games. This would be more of a close game no. Do not see Goode at the 1-2 but would see the nos. at the 3-4. Could see Hutch at some 1-2 minutes.
Also curious if BBV could see minutes at the 4. Seems like he was supposed to be a shooter when recruited. No mention of that now but could be an option against bigger teams to give Hawk a rest. Rebounding would make him a attractive option.
Starters at this point have to be Curbelo, Frazier, Grandy, CoHawk, Kofi. Hutch may threaten later on if he comes off the bench and proves practice reports are right. I like Plummer alot but i can't see him competing to start. I love Monte but if he starts it would have to be over cohawk which, i feel, would be seniority winning out over talent. BU could pull it off. If he claimed strictly defensive leadership from monte while explaining to CoHawk that he is having a curbelo type year off the bench. But i feel that would just be an attempt to rationalize seniority beating talent. Attempting to predict minutes seems fruitless. BU has an embarrassment of riches. So it would seem that riding hot hands and game specific matchups will dictate minutes. Which i could see varying Grandy, Hutch, Plummer, Monte, and CoHawk's minutes greatly from game to game.
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