"...you're talking a guy with, uh, a tremendous feel for the game. Elite...elite basketball IQ. Umm, plays with great pace. Never gets sped up, umm, always keeps the ball moving. He's just a great..great talent and, y'know, we're excited to have him and excited to see what he can bring to our team."
Spot on. Bravo
For fun, here are our preseason (and final) rankings over the years:
A shame to see last years team finish 19. With a healthy team (healthy Trent, healthy Belo, less injuries overall), I feel like they finish in the top 10.So, for fun ... what do we think our preseason ranking might be if Kofi comes back? I imagine we will be "underrated" compared to our fans' opinions due to the losses of Frazier, Plummer, Williams, Curbelo, etc .... but I still imagine we will be ranked in the top 25. 2021 and 2022 was the first time we started the season ranked back to back since 2010 and 2011. If we start this season ranked, it will be the first time of three in a row since 2004 to 2006 and 2000 to 2002. In what was a SHOCKING discovery, we have never been ranked preseason for four straight years ... I am confident that streak might end with Underwood and Co.!
2022: 11 (19)
2021: 8 (2)
2020: NR (21)
2019: NR (NR)
2018: NR (NR)
2017: NR (NR)
2016: NR (NR)
2015: NR (NR)
2014: NR (NR)
2013: NR (NR)
2012: NR (NR)
2011: 13 (NR)
2010: 23 (NR)
2009: NR (NR)
2008: NR (NR)
2007: NR (NR)
2006: 17 (13)
2005: 5 (1)
2004: 13 (13)
2003: NR (11)
2002: 3 (13)
2001: 8 (4)
2000: 16 (21)
1999: NR (NR)
1998: NR (22)
1997: NR (19)
1996: NR (NR)
1995: 25 (NR)
1994: 17 (NR)
1993: NR (NR)
1992: NR (NR)
1991: NR (NR)
1990: 8 (18)
1989: 9 (3)
1988: NR (16)
1987: 14 (11)
1986: 7 (19)
1985: 2 (12)
1984: NR (6)
1983: NR (NR)
1982: NR (NR)
1981: NR (19)
1980: NR (NR)
The way this staff is recruiting ... we have a shot at breaking that record (x2) of finishing in the top 25 seven straight seasons! I can honestly say I am very much enjoying the ride!!
I still think maybe one of the best games we played all year was a close loss to Arizona ... and, having been lucky enough to see that game in person, I thought we looked like a top 10 team that day!
I think Kofi would be on the NPOY shortlist again and we would have to be a lock for top 10 preseason... That's assuming our adds in the portal are generally graded out as equal or better than our losses.So, for fun ... what do we think our preseason ranking might be if Kofi comes back? I imagine we will be "underrated" compared to our fans' opinions due to the losses of Frazier, Plummer, Williams, Curbelo, etc .... but I still imagine we will be ranked in the top 25. 2021 and 2022 was the first time we started the season ranked back to back since 2010 and 2011. If we start this season ranked, it will be the first time of three in a row since 2004 to 2006 and 2000 to 2002. In what was a SHOCKING discovery, we have never been ranked preseason for four straight years ... I am confident that streak might end with Underwood and Co.!
2022: 11 (19)
2021: 8 (2)
2020: NR (21)
2019: NR (NR)
2018: NR (NR)
--- Groce fired, Underwood hired ---
2017: NR (NR)
2016: NR (NR)
2015: NR (NR)
2014: NR (NR)
2013: NR (NR)
--- Weber fired, Groce hired ---
2012: NR (NR)
2011: 13 (NR)
2010: 23 (NR)
2009: NR (NR)
2008: NR (NR)
2007: NR (NR)
2006: 17 (13)
2005: 5 (1)
2004: 13 (13)
2003: NR (11)
--- Self leaves for KU, Weber hired ---
2002: 3 (13)
2001: 8 (4)
--- Kruger leaves for the NBA, Self hired ---
2000: 16 (21)
1999: NR (NR)
1998: NR (22)
1997: NR (19)
--- Henson retires, Kruger hired ---
1996: NR (NR)
1995: 25 (NR)
1994: 17 (NR)
1993: NR (NR)
1992: NR (NR)
1991: NR (NR)
1990: 8 (18)
1989: 9 (3)
1988: NR (16)
1987: 14 (11)
1986: 7 (19)
1985: 2 (12)
1984: NR (6)
1983: NR (NR)
1982: NR (NR)
1981: NR (19)
1980: NR (NR)
--- Henson is head coach, in his fifth season ---
The way this staff is recruiting ... we have a shot at breaking that record (x2) of finishing in the top 25 seven straight seasons! I can honestly say I am very much enjoying the ride!!
I agree 100%. Trent was half-blind for the Tournament and Jake's shoulder left him unable to do much. Add to that Curbelo never seemed recovered from the concussion. And some "fans" acted like we should have beat Houston. We weren't remotely close to the team we looked to be preseason.
Interesting stuff, thanks for posting. Minor nit that Self left after the 2003 season, not 2002.So, for fun ... what do we think our preseason ranking might be if Kofi comes back? I imagine we will be "underrated" compared to our fans' opinions due to the losses of Frazier, Plummer, Williams, Curbelo, etc .... but I still imagine we will be ranked in the top 25. 2021 and 2022 was the first time we started the season ranked back to back since 2010 and 2011. If we start this season ranked, it will be the first time of three in a row since 2004 to 2006 and 2000 to 2002. In what was a SHOCKING discovery, we have never been ranked preseason for four straight years ... I am confident that streak might end with Underwood and Co.!
2022: 11 (19)
2021: 8 (2)
2020: NR (21)
2019: NR (NR)
2018: NR (NR)
--- Groce fired, Underwood hired ---
2017: NR (NR)
2016: NR (NR)
2015: NR (NR)
2014: NR (NR)
2013: NR (NR)
--- Weber fired, Groce hired ---
2012: NR (NR)
2011: 13 (NR)
2010: 23 (NR)
2009: NR (NR)
2008: NR (NR)
2007: NR (NR)
2006: 17 (13)
2005: 5 (1)
2004: 13 (13)
2003: NR (11)
--- Self leaves for KU, Weber hired ---
2002: 3 (13)
2001: 8 (4)
--- Kruger leaves for the NBA, Self hired ---
2000: 16 (21)
1999: NR (NR)
1998: NR (22)
1997: NR (19)
--- Henson retires, Kruger hired ---
1996: NR (NR)
1995: 25 (NR)
1994: 17 (NR)
1993: NR (NR)
1992: NR (NR)
1991: NR (NR)
1990: 8 (18)
1989: 9 (3)
1988: NR (16)
1987: 14 (11)
1986: 7 (19)
1985: 2 (12)
1984: NR (6)
1983: NR (NR)
1982: NR (NR)
1981: NR (19)
1980: NR (NR)
--- Henson is head coach, in his fifth season ---
The way this staff is recruiting ... we have a shot at breaking that record (x2) of finishing in the top 25 seven straight seasons! I can honestly say I am very much enjoying the ride!!
Agreed - and the SFC was almost as loud in stretches as that slugfest win over Iowa.
'07 - '19So, for fun ... what do we think our preseason ranking might be if Kofi comes back? I imagine we will be "underrated" compared to our fans' opinions due to the losses of Frazier, Plummer, Williams, Curbelo, etc .... but I still imagine we will be ranked in the top 25. 2021 and 2022 was the first time we started the season ranked back to back since 2010 and 2011. If we start this season ranked, it will be the first time of three in a row since 2004 to 2006 and 2000 to 2002. In what was a SHOCKING discovery, we have never been ranked preseason for four straight years ... I am confident that streak might end with Underwood and Co.!
2022: 11 (19)
2021: 8 (2)
2020: NR (21)
2019: NR (NR)
2018: NR (NR)
--- Groce fired, Underwood hired ---
2017: NR (NR)
2016: NR (NR)
2015: NR (NR)
2014: NR (NR)
2013: NR (NR)
--- Weber fired, Groce hired ---
2012: NR (NR)
2011: 13 (NR)
2010: 23 (NR)
2009: NR (NR)
2008: NR (NR)
2007: NR (NR)
2006: 17 (13)
2005: 5 (1)
2004: 13 (13)
2003: NR (11)
--- Self leaves for KU, Weber hired ---
2002: 3 (13)
2001: 8 (4)
--- Kruger leaves for the NBA, Self hired ---
2000: 16 (21)
1999: NR (NR)
1998: NR (22)
1997: NR (19)
--- Henson retires, Kruger hired ---
1996: NR (NR)
1995: 25 (NR)
1994: 17 (NR)
1993: NR (NR)
1992: NR (NR)
1991: NR (NR)
1990: 8 (18)
1989: 9 (3)
1988: NR (16)
1987: 14 (11)
1986: 7 (19)
1985: 2 (12)
1984: NR (6)
1983: NR (NR)
1982: NR (NR)
1981: NR (19)
1980: NR (NR)
--- Henson is head coach, in his fifth season ---
The way this staff is recruiting ... we have a shot at breaking that record (x2) of finishing in the top 25 seven straight seasons! I can honestly say I am very much enjoying the ride!!
Not true. Look at the Jayden Epps videos. I don't think he ever misses.
with a second round matchup vs Satan, and a sweet 16 matchup with Samscum. Yep, Lunardi still hates us.Thanks for posting - I would have thought for sure that we were ranked more than 3 straight seasons in the 80s. Such a consistent, high level of basketball that us old-timers hope is coming again with Underwood and his staff. Very interesting that both the '84 and '88 teams weren't ranked in the preseason. Both of those teams really achieved a lot on the court during the year. '84 is obvious, and '88 I suppose they weren't ranked in the preseason because they had just graduated Ken Norman, Doug Altenberger and Tony Wysinger, but evidently the rest of the country didn't know how good Nick Anderson, Kenny Battle and company were going to be. Hope that's the same next year with players taking on bigger roles like RJ. You talk about disappointing tournament losses, that '88 team had one for the ages with an all-time choke at the free-throw line vs. Villanova in a game we absolutely had won, and of course that came a year after losing to Austin Peay in '87 just after we had beat the eventual national champion Indiana to close the regular season. Nothing better than Illinois basketball but boy have there been some heartaches through the years.So, for fun ... what do we think our preseason ranking might be if Kofi comes back? I imagine we will be "underrated" compared to our fans' opinions due to the losses of Frazier, Plummer, Williams, Curbelo, etc .... but I still imagine we will be ranked in the top 25. 2021 and 2022 was the first time we started the season ranked back to back since 2010 and 2011. If we start this season ranked, it will be the first time of three in a row since 2004 to 2006 and 2000 to 2002. In what was a SHOCKING discovery, we have never been ranked preseason for four straight years ... I am confident that streak might end with Underwood and Co.!
2022: 11 (19)
2021: 8 (2)
2020: NR (21)
2019: NR (NR)
2018: NR (NR)
--- Groce fired, Underwood hired ---
2017: NR (NR)
2016: NR (NR)
2015: NR (NR)
2014: NR (NR)
2013: NR (NR)
--- Weber fired, Groce hired ---
2012: NR (NR)
2011: 13 (NR)
2010: 23 (NR)
2009: NR (NR)
2008: NR (NR)
2007: NR (NR)
2006: 17 (13)
2005: 5 (1)
2004: 13 (13)
2003: NR (11)
--- Self leaves for KU, Weber hired ---
2002: 3 (13)
2001: 8 (4)
--- Kruger leaves for the NBA, Self hired ---
2000: 16 (21)
1999: NR (NR)
1998: NR (22)
1997: NR (19)
--- Henson retires, Kruger hired ---
1996: NR (NR)
1995: 25 (NR)
1994: 17 (NR)
1993: NR (NR)
1992: NR (NR)
1991: NR (NR)
1990: 8 (18)
1989: 9 (3)
1988: NR (16)
1987: 14 (11)
1986: 7 (19)
1985: 2 (12)
1984: NR (6)
1983: NR (NR)
1982: NR (NR)
1981: NR (19)
1980: NR (NR)
--- Henson is head coach, in his fifth season ---
The way this staff is recruiting ... we have a shot at breaking that record (x2) of finishing in the top 25 seven straight seasons! I can honestly say I am very much enjoying the ride!!
??? Lunardi picked us to make the Final Four this year. And why would those matchups mean he hates us?
I’ve watched a lot of highlight videos and you are right. Some guys shoot 100%.
Hopefully. None of the major injuries we ran into (concussions, separated shoulders, pinkeye, etc etc etc) were anything you could chalk up to poor conditioning, diet, etc. Just pure
luck that all landed at once.Why do we need to worry about Lunardi? Was he in the selection committee?
Projected yeah. I bet we get a four seed w/o Kofi, too
