Illini Basketball 2023-2024

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#101      
The Galloping Ghost
It's early and it's based largely on beating Kansas in the pre-season, but The Athletic($) moved us up to 9 this week.

9. Illinois​

The Illini beat Kansas last month in a game that didn’t count, but it got my attention. Their perimeter guys gave KU problems with their size — they start three 6-6 guards — and then center Coleman Hawkins pulled Dickinson away from the basket with his shooting. It also helped that Terrence Shannon Jr. cooked. He had 28 points. He’s the hardest cover in the country when he’s on. I had him as a preseason first-team All-American. (Humblebrag.) If he plays to that, the Illini will be a Top 10 team all season.

theathletic.com

Men's college basketball rankings: Orange crush

Arizona also makes a move up in CJ Moore's first regular-season Top 25.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
#102      
foby
We might be barely clinging on to #25 today. Seems we are getting bumped in favor of James Madison on some ballots.

Getting knocked out wouldn't be the worst thing, it should put a big ole chip on their shoulders.

sports.yahoo.com

Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll: Jerry Carino's ballot

Who is No. 1? Is James Madison ranked? Is Princeton close?
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
news.yahoo.com

AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll: Who’s No. 1? One ballot from the N&O’s Luke DeCock

Luke DeCock’s Week 1 ballot: A loss to a team like Arizona shouldn’t be held against Duke too strictly, although it certainly acts very heavily in the Wildcats’ favor.
news.yahoo.com news.yahoo.com
www.abqjournal.com

Geoff Grammer's AP Top 25 men's basketball ballot for Nov. 13

Journal Staff Writer Geoff Grammer starts his 12th season as a voter in the Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll. Take a look at his ballot for the first
www.abqjournal.com www.abqjournal.com

Here's one at #15 though;

So maybe we'll be in at #22-#25
 
#104      
Fighter of the Nightman
Tophe said:
General public tickets went on sale last year on November 30

Enterprise Center website says TBA https://www.enterprisecenter.com/events/detail/mcbride-homes-braggin-rights-game-2
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Somewhat OT: I love the seat map on the Enterprise Center website, lol. It literally shows you down to the seat in a view zoomed out enough that you can still see the entire arena. While not everyone who buys a ticket shows up, it gives you an extremely accurate view of what the crowd is likely to look like if you check that seat map closer to the game. For example, when I first went in 2021-22, the seat map showed the right (i.e., Illinois) side as more or less completely full except for the very top of the balcony behind the basket whereas the left (i.e., Mizzou) side had empty seats everywhere. Exactly what the crowd ended up looking like on Gameday.

P.S. As a side note, have we EVER not showed up for Braggin' Rights?? It seems like even when we are terrible, we bring our 10k+ and have our side of the arena looking full. It seems the vast majority of the fluctuation in attendance over the years has come from Mizzou fans not showing up when they suck.
 
#105      
Tacomallini
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Somewhat OT: I love the seat map on the Enterprise Center website, lol. It literally shows you down to the seat in a view zoomed out enough that you can still see the entire arena. While not everyone who buys a ticket shows up, it gives you an extremely accurate view of what the crowd is likely to look like if you check that seat map closer to the game. For example, when I first went in 2021-22, the seat map showed the right (i.e., Illinois) side as more or less completely full except for the very top of the balcony behind the basket whereas the left (i.e., Mizzou) side had empty seats everywhere. Exactly what the crowd ended up looking like on Gameday.

P.S. As a side note, have we EVER not showed up for Braggin' Rights?? It seems like even when we are terrible, we bring our 10k+ and have our side of the arena looking full. It seems the vast majority of the fluctuation in attendance over the years has come from Mizzou fans not showing up when they suck.
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I think the team forgot to show up last year.
 
#106      
Fighter of the Nightman
^ Lmao, touche ... unfortunately, I was at that one, as well. Was planning on returning this year for our third in a row, but the wife is pregnant and the due date is January 10th. So, Braggin' Rights will have to wait until next year, haha. Absolutely amazing atmosphere and such a fun time, though! Anyone who ever suggests that this game be moved to campuses is insane.
 
#108      
Tacomallini
Fighter of the Nightman said:
^ Lmao, touche ... unfortunately, I was at that one, as well. Was planning on returning this year for our third in a row, but the wife is pregnant and the due date is January 10th. So, Braggin' Rights will have to wait until next year, haha. Absolutely amazing atmosphere and such a fun time, though! Anyone who ever suggests that this game be moved to campuses is insane.
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Big congrats on the arrival of the next generation of daymen!
 
#109      
TheGMan
Anybody know when Braggin' Rights tickets go on sale?
 
#110      
Grandpa
Fighter of the Nightman said:
^ Lmao, touche ... unfortunately, I was at that one, as well. Was planning on returning this year for our third in a row, but the wife is pregnant and the due date is January 10th. So, Braggin' Rights will have to wait until next year, haha. Absolutely amazing atmosphere and such a fun time, though! Anyone who ever suggests that this game be moved to campuses is insane.
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Congratulations on your braggin' rights Fighter! You have bigger fish to fry about then. Picked a name? TSJ Nightman? Dain Dainja Nightman? I'd recommend against Coleman, Podz, or Nighty.
 
#111      
lstewart53x3
Coleman Hawkins would be a great role player on a good team. Where his level of play night to night dictates his minutes.

But counting on Coleman Hawkins to be your 2nd or 3rd best player is setting yourself up for failure. As talented as he is, he’s an inconsistent player who tends to make poor decisions.

He’ll have his nights for sure, where you’re glad you have him. But we’re gonna drop a game or two this year that we shouldn’t because he doesn’t show up.
 
#113      
Emerson Bigguns
lstewart53x3 said:
Coleman Hawkins would be a great role player on a good team. Where his level of play night to night dictates his minutes.

But counting on Coleman Hawkins to be your 2nd or 3rd best player is setting yourself up for failure. As talented as he is, he’s an inconsistent player who tends to make poor decisions.

He’ll have his nights for sure, where you’re glad you have him. But we’re gonna drop a game or two this year that we shouldn’t because he doesn’t show up.
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Coleman is an extremely emotional player. He has so much potential... If he could just focus on making the next play, rather than the missed calls or the missed shots... He's a thoughtful young man. You can tell he cares a great deal and wants to be great. He's just got to find a way to keep himself focused on the court.

Forget the last play, good or bad, fair or unfair. Focus on making the next one.
 
#114      
Mobi
Emerson Bigguns said:
Coleman is an extremely emotional player. He has so much potential... If he could just focus on making the next play, rather than the missed calls or the missed shots... He's a thoughtful young man. You can tell he cares a great deal and wants to be great. He's just got to find a way to keep himself focused on the court.

Forget the last play, good or bad, fair or unfair. Focus on making the next one.
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Coleman's strengths are defense, passing (a bit iffy), and hopefully shooting. Brad wants to limit his dribbling time (don't make him a point forward) because he doesn't have handle/explosion to get pass people so it often ate clock and went nowhere. You want to put him in a good position to shoot or pass. While I am becoming less confident about his shooting, he needs to keep shooting early before the conference games show up.
 
#115      
FromTheLogo
Emerson Bigguns said:
Coleman is an extremely emotional player. He has so much potential... If he could just focus on making the next play, rather than the missed calls or the missed shots... He's a thoughtful young man. You can tell he cares a great deal and wants to be great. He's just got to find a way to keep himself focused on the court.

Forget the last play, good or bad, fair or unfair. Focus on making the next one.
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Hawkins' Recipe
2 C. Physical Gifts / Talent
2 C. Experience
1 1/2 C. IQ
1/4 C. Complainer
2 T Entitlement
1 T Overthinking
2 tsp of second-guessing
Heavy sprinkling of "It's not my fault" throughout, before, during, and after

What I'm saying is, as an insider mentioned Coleman never, ever feels it's his mistake. He blames refs, fellow players, coaches (there are examples of all of these in his tenure) for most any negative happening. I think this is by far his biggest downfall.

In general, when a person feels "it isn't their fault," there is no personal accountability, little drive to work on your own weaknesses, no valid reason to change your thought process, even actions. The problem is everyone else.

I think we've witnessed that with Coleman. He's cerebral, knows the system, and knows Brad. Perhaps too well. Your teammate may not cut or roll perfectly, the play may get blown up, you may be mis-utilized or put in wrong positions. But at some point, you gotta take some personal responsibility, man-up to your own failings, improvise at times, and realize that you win as a team and you lose as a team. It's your fault just as much as the guy next to you.
 
#116      
Nuke Dukem
Emerson Bigguns said:
Coleman is an extremely emotional player. He has so much potential... If he could just focus on making the next play, rather than the missed calls or the missed shots... He's a thoughtful young man. You can tell he cares a great deal and wants to be great. He's just got to find a way to keep himself focused on the court.

Forget the last play, good or bad, fair or unfair. Focus on making the next one.
Click to expand...
I was able to share a meal with a very close member of Brian Cook’s family in the summer between his jr. And sr. year. This person told me that Brian was seeing a sports psycologist to help improve his confidence and the mental aspect of his game. I remember being somewhat scepitcal. But Brian went from being a very good player as a jr. to being a great player as a sr. And then to a 10 year career in the NBA. I have since wondered how much different his career would have been had he not made the choice to seek the help of the psycologist.
 
#117      
Battle89
Grandpa said:
Congratulations on your braggin' rights Fighter! You have bigger fish to fry about then. Picked a name? TSJ Nightman? Dain Dainja Nightman? I'd recommend against Coleman, Podz, or Nighty.
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Effen Jay (FNJ)
 
#118      
IlliDan
FromTheLogo said:
Hawkins' Recipe
2 C. Physical Gifts / Talent
2 C. Experience
1 1/2 C. IQ
1/4 C. Complainer
2 T Entitlement
1 T Overthinking
2 tsp of second-guessing
Heavy sprinkling of "It's not my fault" throughout, before, during, and after

What I'm saying is, as an insider mentioned Coleman never, ever feels it's his mistake. He blames refs, fellow players, coaches (there are examples of all of these in his tenure) for most any negative happening. I think this is by far his biggest downfall.

In general, when a person feels "it isn't their fault," there is no personal accountability, little drive to work on your own weaknesses, no valid reason to change your thought process, even actions. The problem is everyone else.

I think we've witnessed that with Coleman. He's cerebral, knows the system, and knows Brad. Perhaps too well. Your teammate may not cut or roll perfectly, the play may get blown up, you may be mis-utilized or put in wrong positions. But at some point, you gotta take some personal responsibility, man-up to your own failings, improvise at times, and realize that you win as a team and you lose as a team. It's your fault just as much as the guy next to you.
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100% agree,Coleman is hurting himself and team ,a team leader should not retreat to end of bench and pout when removed from the game,not engaging in timeout discussions,snarly looks at mistake prone teamates,etc.Needs to grow up for team to reach potential.
 
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#124      
Joel Goodson
very encouraging game from Nico. love the way the O flows when he's in. hope he heals up quickly

Goode: doesn't look comfortable handling the ball. But as a spot up shooter...chef's kiss

Domask: couple of clunkers. hopefully, he gets back on track

Hansberry: feeling his way offensively, but he's on the fast track to being a major problem as soon as next season
 
#125      
Konnie
Just got an email with this info about Braggin' Rights tickets --

BRAGGIN' RIGHTS TICKETS ON SALE NOV. 27

Remaining McBride Homes Braggin' Rights tickets in the Illinois allotment will go on sale to the general public Monday, Nov. 27, at noon CT.

Fans can purchase $70 Upper Level tickets in the Fighting Illini side of the arena in sections 307-317.

Don't wait! Tickets will only be sold through the Illinois Ticket Office from Monday, Nov. 27 through Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 5 PM. Starting Nov. 30, all remaining ticket sales will be coordinated by the Enterprise Center.

The 43rd edition of the Illinois vs. Missouri rivalry game in St. Louis will be held on Friday, Dec. 22 at Enterprise Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.
 
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