That one still sticks with me. I still remember Mike Jensen (?) just constantly pushing and pounding on Augustine--with no fouls called--to where we couldn't even enter the ball. The refs let him get away with it, so I guess UW played it right.
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
- Status
I have an admission to make.
I live in Nebraska but have season tickets in Champaign, IL.
I am bringing my SO all the way to St Louis for the Braggin' Rights game Dec 22nd.
I'll be at the game in Lincoln January 11th.
Just purchased my ticket to the game at Iowa on Dec. 6th.
I may have an addiction to this team and my lease payoff is going to suck at this rate.
Let's get this party started!
Edit: I also have a kid-free Thursday night and instead of treating myself to a movie, I just rewatched the home game against the Sqwuaks from last year. Sweet baby jebus, it's hopeless!
I live in Nebraska but have season tickets in Champaign, IL.
I am bringing my SO all the way to St Louis for the Braggin' Rights game Dec 22nd.
I'll be at the game in Lincoln January 11th.
Just purchased my ticket to the game at Iowa on Dec. 6th.
I may have an addiction to this team and my lease payoff is going to suck at this rate.
Let's get this party started!
Edit: I also have a kid-free Thursday night and instead of treating myself to a movie, I just rewatched the home game against the Sqwuaks from last year. Sweet baby jebus, it's hopeless!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I was just thinking...whether he starts or doesn't....he's going to be a big part of what we accomplish this year and his name is Jacob Grandison...he rarely has the no don't do that moments...yet has the uncanny ability to be in the right spot so many times...he's not going one on one he's earning it...passing, rebounding, or shooting that sweet 3, defense is legit too. JMHO.
More like FoundinNebraska
Why wouldn't he start?
Because CoHawk. CHOO CHOOOO!!
(Either way coach can’t go wrong they are excellent complements to one another, Dr. Smooth and Mr. Hypetrain (or T-Machine can’t decide yet)).
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
I would prefer to have Grandison start, especially early on. CoHawk & Curbelo on the floor at the same time is a turnover waiting to happen.
Damonte isn't sitting, Frazier and Curbelo are locks as is Kofi. So that leaves Grandi and Hawkins to battle for the last spot. Both will be in the rotation and play major minutes
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
He came off the bench for our best stretch last year and will do so again this year
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Wait...what? A 6'10" wing with handles....and a magician.......yeah let's not get those together.
Said no one ever.
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pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Damonte was coming off the bench at the end of last season. By the end of the season, he was replaced by ........ J Grand!
We all know the big three (Belo, Trent, and Kofi) are starting if available. After this, it's not 100%. But IMO Grand is our 4th best player and will likely take another starter's spot. After that, it's either Damonte or Coleman. Damonte had no problem coming off the bench late last year, and I don't think he'll be "hurt" if he's not starting.
Seven-man rotation is Belo, Trent, Kofi, J Grand, Coleman, Damonte, and Plummer. If Hutch is somehow healthy, that makes an 8-man rotation.
Payne will get minutes, but I'm not sure enough to be considered "in the rotation." As of now, he's not that much ahead of BBV.
I'd be surprised if Payne doesn't see time in every game. The B1G is LOADED with big men. Playing small against Michigan and Purdue isn't likely to go well...
Egos will need to be checked at the door this season. The end guy bench rotation will likely be dictated by game matchups and how practice goes during the week.
As others have said - Damonte came off the bench last year.
I’m a big fan of JG, and feel there is no doubt he should be starting. The dude just has a feel for the game and I think his steady play lends itself to success. He’s one of those players that numbers don’t fully paint his on court contributions effectively.
I’m also big on Hawks future here. He has pro potential if all things work out. He just needs to let his game do the talking instead of his mouth sometimes. JMHO
What will be interesting to me is how the backup PG minutes are handled. Will he stagger substituting TF and AC out to always have one on the floor? Plummer seems like a small/microwave 2 guard to me.
I’m a big fan of JG, and feel there is no doubt he should be starting. The dude just has a feel for the game and I think his steady play lends itself to success. He’s one of those players that numbers don’t fully paint his on court contributions effectively.
I’m also big on Hawks future here. He has pro potential if all things work out. He just needs to let his game do the talking instead of his mouth sometimes. JMHO
What will be interesting to me is how the backup PG minutes are handled. Will he stagger substituting TF and AC out to always have one on the floor? Plummer seems like a small/microwave 2 guard to me.
Without a doubt he'll play. And in some games he may play a lot. But his average mpg may not be high enough to be considered party of the "rotation" depending on where one draws the line. If you draw the line at 15 mpg, I'm not sure he'll average that. Right now, IMO he's fighting BBV for minutes.
I hope he gets more comfortable - with his crazy long arms and leaping ability, he has the potential to be valuable. FWIW I'm not sure I've ever seen an Illini player sky as high as Payne did on that alley-oop on Tuesday.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Yep, and CoHawk has now proven that he can play 1-5. At 6'10". Unless he's really struggling, he's going to get 25+/game. He's a matchup nightmare for opponents.
By the start of the B1G season...I've got Belo, Trent, Grandi, CoHawk, and Kofi.
DMFW, Hutch, and Plummer first off the bench. Omar in for Kofi spells and foul trouble.
If Grandi struggles and Hutch is 100%....swap those.
Saying Hawk "can play" at 1-5 and that we want him playing at those spots are two very different things. I would prefer to never again see him play the 1 or 2. And very rarely the 3.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
That's not the point. The point is the matchup problems he causes because he can do all of those things effectively. The point is he can handle the ball against a typical B1G 4 and completely dust him off the dribble. He can shoot over the typical B1G 1-3 and he can hold his own in the paint now with the extra lbs.
It goes without saying that he's not going to be regularly manning the point or setting up as a shooting guard.
If it wasn't clear from my original post, I cosign that question. Not sure what rules and regulations were written for the NIL. We will come to know in the years ahead. Certainly my cynical side, after watching Nike and Adidas steer kids to their schools for the past 2 to 3 decades - surely with a backchannel agreement that one fat shoe contract awaits when/if they are drafted - thinks the rules are written in ways that will allow the top recruits to get compensated without penalty by the shoe companies, be paid as "influencers" based on how many followers they have, etc. Which would rebound to the advantage of the Blue Bloods. Kentucky, Duke, UNC can offer much higher NIL earning potential
Plus, what's the difference, really, between doing a commercial for a car dealership vs. a basketball shoe? The players have a lot more credibility promoting athletic gear.
blackdog
- Champaign
The problem with Hawkins is he is capable doing those things but also capable of making a really dumb decision. Unlike Curbelos turnovers where Brad often says he is making the right read Hawkins has shown a bit of a tendency to make some lazy passes. If we wants to play more when the games get tough he's going to have to cut those out of his game or Brad won't play him regardless of how talented he is.
- Status