if we get Nance, we should be favorites to win the Big Ten. The talent level on this team is outstanding. Best PG since Deron, More Big Wings since Flyin Illini. Upgrade at every position from last year except Center. Depth off the charts.
Illini Basketball 2022-2023
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sacraig
- The desert
They DO take into account freshman and we DO have a 5-star (sort of). We also have a good transfer haul.
Meanwhile, look at how many schools ahead of us suffered similar losses. Arizona has like a billion people in the draft. Indiana's ranking is based on freshmen. Many others are similar.
So yes, I think it's comical.
Do I think we should be top 10? Of course not, though I don't think it's outside of the error bars LATE in the season if we jell well (being unranked is also within those error bars). But I think we would blow the doors off of some of those teams in the 20-26 range from day 1.
Last year Arizona was unranked preseason, as there were many unknown pieces to their team. Illinois may be in a similar position this fall.
sacraig
- The desert
That's a good observation, although I'd probably argue we have fewer unknowns than they did last year.
Well, I'd consider our entire team outside of Shannon to be an unknown.
My hazy memory says that most seasons there's a team that's off the pre-season rankings that winds up in the top-10. And most seasons there's a couple in the top-10 that drop out of the rankings entirely. Seems like it's harder than ever to make early predictions with all the turnover.
sacraig
- The desert
Arizona didn't even have a head coach at one point last off-season.
Didn't know this was in the works, but really nice to see this --fantastic work, and they seem to work well together.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Hopefully, this means that our ACs will only leave for a head coaching gig (obviously. no guarantee, but this is a great move).
Maybe, but all three former assistants were extended just 14 months before they left.
Seems like it could be true. On the other hand, 8 of the last 10 national champs were ranked in the top 6 preseason. And 10/10 were in top 20. Of course, 90% of those are from a now bygone era.
I like Hawkins, but unless he's dramatically improved, I can't see him getting starters' minutes.
I don't get this at all, I can't see a situation with the currently roster construct where he doesn't get starter minutes. By that I mean 20+. We have no bigs after Dain and (am I really gonna say this) Leib? Hawkins is it. This is still the Big X, 6'6' and 6'7 ain't playing the 4 and 5. Are you really expecting that Dain to play like 30 minutes a game? I just don't see that.
He is most likely starting at the 4 spot and back up center to boot.
This is great news to wake up to!!
Unless we add Nance or Mayer I don’t think any of the big sports media outlets will give us the preseason respect and rank us
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I honestly kinda want us to be unranked in the preseason, albeit while still adding Nance. Those rankings don't matter. It's not like people recruit off their preseason ranking. And given what's happened to us in March, those rankings (mainly this year) have been used against us in a way. I'd much rather have us be unranked and give plenty of fuel to our guys to go out and quickly become ranked.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
He got 19mpg as a sophomore on a veteran laden team with a 5 guaranteed to get at least 30mpg and two 5th year seniors getting minutes at his position. Now all 3 of those guys are gone. I don't see how he could not play 25+mpg, unless we somehow add both Nance and Mayer to the team. I also just don't see what some y'all see in terms of his ability. The kid is showing up on (reputable) draft boards for a reason. Worst case is his shooting doesn't improve and he's like a 6'10" DMW for us.
Agreed. Dain has played 9 min of ball over the last two years. He’s the one where I’m doubting starter’s minutes. Hawk I see 30 mpg. He rebounds and runs the court and plays D (albeit with fouling too much). If he improves his shot that’s icing on the the cake.
I see your point, but I feel like these early pre-season rankings pretty much set up how the polls will go throughout the season. Starting the year unranked makes the entry into the top 25 then the climb up the rankings a much slower process, and a loss here or there and the fall is greater. Kind of like the inverse of how gas prices are really fast to rise but VERY slow to decline as the price of a barrel changes. Anyway, maybe a poor analogy but moving on....
Maybe it's just my perception, but I feel like being ranked in the preseason is much better than the alternative.
At the Las Vegas Main Event we will play 2 of Virginia, Baylor, and UCLA. By Monday after that, these rankings will have 0 impact on our ranking.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Going to undermine myself here a bit but, speaking of reputable draft boards, saw this the other day and it gave me a chuckle. This mock was published last October, but still...who knew that our best pro prospect was sitting at the end of the bench all season?!?
As the previous poster said, this just isn't the case. Teams routinely rocket into the rankings based on good play and notable wins. The fall from the top might be slower when teams underperform, but as soon as you beat a ranked team you become noticed.
and this is why you should watch guys in practice....
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