Illini Basketball 2021-2022

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#226      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
We literally can do a lineup change for positions 2-5 with fresh quality players and expect nice production.

-verdonk/Payne for kofi
-Cohawk for Grand
-DMW for Hutch
-Plummer for Trent

Add 3 quality freshmen and rocket fast pace and we should be able to burn out anyone we face if we stay healthy....

Unfortunately..quality PG is our least depth it seems...AC and Trent
 
#227      

ElGran

E
ElGran
illinitiger said:
We literally can do a lineup change for positions 2-5 with fresh quality players and expect nice production.


Unfortunately..quality PG is our least depth it seems...AC and Trent
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Yup. Belo is our most important player even if he's not our best player.
 
#229      

Gunner23

G
Panama City, Florida
Gunner23
It's obvious that Kofi hasn't played, but Edey weighs 295??? Kofi weighs "something", even if he hasn't played this season...and probably listed under 295.
mikeyo said:
No your main take away should be that kofi hasn’t played yet. How isn’t this obvious
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#232      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
BigMuddyMonster said:
I’m glad BBV has stuck it out so far. The team is going to need him this year when foul trouble arises. Will be interesting to see who gets the nod off the bench between him and Payne. Very different players you can plug in off the bench to spell big boy.
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BBV has been the biggest surprise (pleasant) to me so far, granted it's way early...he really has a beast mentality. And has shown good poise for a guy who has hardly seen the court before this year.

ATS, I put BBV a little ahead of OP although OP's "ceiling" is higher...
 
#233      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
Interesting thing I noticed about Payne: he averaged 15.7 mpg at Florida last year. In these first two games, with Kofi out, he's averaged 11.5, with just 6 minutes against Arkansas St.
 
#235      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
Joel Goodson said:
If you're gonna talk about his minutes, it would be remiss not to talk abut his foul trouble (particularly in the Ark St game).
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Fair enough as far as the Arkansas St. game, I missed that he committed 5 fouls in 6 minutes (yikes!). I would argue that staying out of foul trouble (and managing to not pick up fouls when you're already in trouble) is an important skill, especially for big men. In the Michigan game last season Kofi got into early foul trouble and still managed 22 minutes and didn't foul out.

In the Jackson St. game fouls were not a factor. Payne didn't pick up his third until 3:37 left in the 2nd half. Still only played 17 minutes despite starting the game. BBV played 21. So I still think it's an interesting observation that he hasn't played the minutes you'd expect particularly with Kofi out. It will be interesting to see what happens tonight. Clearly Hawkins is the most trusted big after Kofi right now, it'll be interesting to see who plays more between Payne and BBV when the level of competition goes up a few notches.
 
#236      

KnoxIllini2

KnoxIllini2
KnoxIllini2
the juiceman cometh said:
Fair enough as far as the Arkansas St. game, I missed that he committed 5 fouls in 6 minutes (yikes!). I would argue that staying out of foul trouble (and managing to not pick up fouls when you're already in trouble) is an important skill, especially for big men. In the Michigan game last season Kofi got into early foul trouble and still managed 22 minutes and didn't foul out.

In the Jackson St. game fouls were not a factor. Payne didn't pick up his third until 3:37 left in the 2nd half. Still only played 17 minutes despite starting the game. BBV played 21. So I still think it's an interesting observation that he hasn't played the minutes you'd expect particularly with Kofi out. It will be interesting to see what happens tonight. Clearly Hawkins is the most trusted big after Kofi right now, it'll be interesting to see who plays more between Payne and BBV when the level of competition goes up a few notches.
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The sample size is obviously small right now, but BBV has the early trust. That is likely due to his experience within the program, but averaging 10 rebounds per game doesn't hurt either.

Hopefully this is only an adjustment time for Payne, similar to Grandison through the first few games last year, and he will bust out of this yippy-ish start to the season. Tonight will be interesting for both players as the competition level begins the ascent towards Arkansas (or KSU).
 
#237      

BWA

B
BWA
Joel Goodson said:
If you're gonna talk about his minutes, it would be remiss not to talk abut his foul trouble (particularly in the Ark St game).
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Fair, but I remember at least three of the fouls being off the ball. Two screens in a row early in the game. those are easy fouls to correct.
 
#238      

BretMyBeachHouse

B
BretMyBeachHouse
BWA said:
Fair, but I remember at least three of the fouls being off the ball. Two screens in a row early in the game. those are easy fouls to correct.
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I'm not sure what makes you think that. Every foul is "easy to correct" in some minds. But lack of lateral quickness and fast decision making has plagued many guys over the years.
 
#239      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Omar just doesn’t look confident or comfortable on the floor. Seems to be thinking rather than reacting. Not sure whether that is do to a new system or lack of bb IQ. Hopefully it is the first but we have seen some very talented athletes never reach their potential (Tevian Jones) with a similar appearance. We are going to need him against the bigger centers where Ben’s size like Giorgi’s makes it difficult to defend.
 
#240      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
If BBV can come in and just get a solid 5-8 minutes of just 3-5 rebounds during B1G play....this will be huge. And if he keeps doing it better than Omar....make it 10+ minutes and 6-8 rebounds.
 
#241      

FrankNitty30

F
FrankNitty30
blackdog said:
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.
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It is like he is only a Sophomore!!
 
#242      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
skyIdub said:
If BBV can come in and just get a solid 5-8 minutes of just 3-5 rebounds during B1G play....this will be huge. And if he keeps doing it better than Omar....make it 10+ minutes and 6-8 rebounds.
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I'm still waiting to see the quick twitch that BU says Omar has......Fouls more than giorgi did so far this season....Give BBV more minutes as he is averaging 10 rebounds a game .........
 
#243      

Calvin

C
Calvin
KnoxIllini2 said:
The sample size is obviously small right now, but BBV has the early trust. That is likely due to his experience within the program.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd like to think there will be a learning curve where Payne is able to get more time on the floor. There will be games where Underwood needs to go 3 deep with centers, either foul trouble, injury, or to take advantage of match-ups. Seems like there's a few of those every year where it really helps to have depth, and some years with a lot of them. Quite a luxury to have an AA backed up by guys who could compete for a start at other programs.
 
#244      

BalloonsTheElephant

B
BalloonsTheElephant
BWA said:
Fair, but I remember at least three of the fouls being off the ball. Two screens in a row early in the game. those are easy fouls to correct.
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On the radio call, Deon kept saying that the guard were running him into those fouls because they weren't letting him get set before they made their moving, causing the moving screen.

Maybe a big guy just looking out for another big, I didn't see the game, but I trust his call on it.
 
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#245      

KevinC

KevinC
KevinC
BretMyBeachHouse said:
I'm not sure what makes you think that. Every foul is "easy to correct" in some minds. But lack of lateral quickness and fast decision making has plagued many guys over the years.
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Guards need to wait on the screener to get set before making their move. This definitely seemed to be the problem in Payne's case. Ooops-Balloons beat me to it.
 
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#246      

Ga65

G
Ga65
BalloonsTheElephant said:
On the radio call, Deon kept saying that the guard were running him into those fouls because they weren't letting him get set before they made their moving, causing the moving screen.

Maybe a big guy just looking out for another big, I didn't see the game, but I trust his call on it.
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Or maybe he is a step slow getting there because he is slow to recognize the play? Suspect part of his foul problem is also him being a little too aggressive trying to impress. He did however, have foul issues at Florida. Just rooting for the guy with the physical tools to adjust.
 
#247      

Oldskoolkoach

O
Oldskoolkoach
Not sure where to put it, or if it is important enough, but just saw former Hawkeye CJ Frederick is having year ending surgery for UK.
 
#248      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Interesting that T Rank didn’t project Hawk as a contributor. They did however, have some contributions projected for all three frosh. Haven’t followed in the past to know if they also update that page with actual results.
Do like that they project our only losses to Purdue and Michigan away games. Be happy with that result. Of course they only have two losses for Purdue and Michigan and they are the away games with us and each other. OSU is projected for nine BIG losses.
 
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#249      

MDchicago

MDchicago
Lake Norman NC
MDchicago
Ga65 said:
Interesting that T Rank didn’t project Hawk as a contributor. They did however, have some contributions projected for all three frosh. Haven’t followed in the past to know if they also update that page with actual results.
Do like that they project our only losses to Purdue and Michigan away games. Be happy with that result.
Click to expand...

Noticed that also. Don't know, but wouldn't be surprised if they don't update those projections, as actual stats for season to date are below the schedule on that same page.
 
#250      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Ga65 said:
Interesting that T Rank didn’t project Hawk as a contributor. They did however, have some contributions projected for all three frosh. Haven’t followed in the past to know if they also update that page with actual results.
Do like that they project our only losses to Purdue and Michigan away games. Be happy with that result. Of course they only have two losses for Purdue and Michigan and they are the away games with us and each other. OSU is projected for nine BIG losses.
Click to expand...
Error by me, seven losses for OSU.
 
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