Bigtex
- DFW
IMO - Goode looks and moves slowly which impacts his ball handling.
Illini Basketball 2023-2024
- Status
On the broadcast last night, Bardo gave a Lou Henson strategy that I have wondered about. He said that when someone had a bad FT night, Lou would have them run sprints, and taking free throws during them. I think quite a bit of FT shooting is going from a high intensity, high adrenaline situation to a stopped clock, stationary shot. A player needs to have a set routine and method for the switch. The best FT shooters, usually, will have his exact same routine (although that routine is not the same as other good shooters) every time he shoots it, muscle memory. It seems that the routine might also give time to still his mind for the shot. Or not, but it sure couldn't hurt.
Two sides to this coin;
Heads - Crazy that we play Marq tough, then beat 2 lesser teams while missing (arguably) our 2nd best player, and then drop out.
Tails- Hopefully this gives them a big chip.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
All while we went up a spot in the Coaches Poll.
As I have vocally declared many times in the past, I am a big proponent that rankings matter for perception of our program. People seem to forget how many publications and social media outlets literally only cover the top 25 out of convenience and how many impressionable young fans perceive a program with a little number next to its name as superior and nationally relevant.So, let's get a win Friday, hope that some of the teams in front of us lose and head into Piscataway with our own cool little number next to our name.
Yes, I have never understood this. If the people who rank the teams really believe in the rankings then the 25th ranked team should lose to the number 3 ranked team. And the rankings should not change. In fact, as long as it isn't a blowout, Illinois should probably have moved up a notch or two. And it's just not in this particular case, I have seen this happen so often. A lower-ranked team loses by, say, less than ten points to a much higher-ranked team, and then the lower-ranked team gets demoted. It makes no sense to me.
Any update on Nico??
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
Decent chance over the next week with us not in a big tournament that we’d get passed anyway. Other teams in the thanksgiving tournaments that beat a big ranked team shoot upcthe rankings. I think one time Michigan went from unranked to #4 winning battle for Atlantis or an equivalent tourney.
I understand rankings matter but the AP rankings are laughable right now. No way should JMU be ranked. They beat MSU but 5 point victory against Kent St and 3 points against Radford. They had a good win doesn’t make u a top 25 team. USC lost to UCI shouldn’t be ranked. FAU lost to a 2-3 Bryant and Arkansas lost to UNCG. I agree more with the coaches poll except for MSU you lose an early season game that you should not then you should drop from the rankings until you earn it back. Reward teams who actually play someone
2nd this
The poll is an aggregate of opinion. So what you're saying isn't accurate. Let's say 5 voters had illinois at 15 on their ballots and dropped them to 20. We'd receive fewer votes but that wouldn't necessarily be unreasonable.
It's also possible that a voter has illinois at 20 and ahead of the 15th ranked team. The voter this week looks at results and votes the other team more in line with the consensus.
Really you have to look at individual ballots to see if people are acting irrationally.
We were the favorites against Marquette (-1.5). I believe Southern was the first time we’ve actually beaten the spread this season.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Picture this: Add a pure point guard who can score and distribute (think Kolek). Move Ty to the 3 / back up ball handler. Bring Domask in as the 6th man off the bench. How good is that team?
Iam guessing that the ongoing conversation here is about the same as what has been going on in Brad's brain the last several weeks. How do you make a team with these pieces? How does Ty fit in? Should Hawkins play the 5 and substitute Dain or should they play together? What is the most efficient use of personnel? The only way he figures this out is to play the games and see how it works out. He will figure it out for himself eventually but given the roster makeup I think there is always going to be widely differing opinions about what everyone's roles should be.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Nailed it.
(Unfortunately, we now have to wait until 2024-25 for the opportunity at that 5-star point guard you mention. Oh --- and our five seniors will all be gone unless Coleman decides to stay for a 5th year. POINT BEING: We're missing the most critical position on the floor this season.)
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Smart move for all parties. BU can't play 11 guys once the Big10 season rolls around.
Harris likely stays in the program. He practices against a Top 25 team for a year, and he makes us better in the future. And perhaps he perfects his outside shot during the year off.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
November: 5-1 (assuming we roll Western Illinois later this week)
December: 5-1 (this would be a really strong December if we can pull it off. Even Colgate will be tough!)
10-2 puts us in the Top 15, and also at the top of the Big10 standings heading into 2024.
December: 5-1 (this would be a really strong December if we can pull it off. Even Colgate will be tough!)
10-2 puts us in the Top 15, and also at the top of the Big10 standings heading into 2024.
| Sat, Dec 2 | at Rutgers - WIN | 3:00pm BTN |
| Tue, Dec 5 | Florida Atlantic Jimmy V Classic - WIN New York City | 5:30pm ESPN |
| Sat, Dec 9 | at Tennessee - LOSS | 11:00am CBS |
| Sun, Dec 17 | Colgate - WIN | 12:00pm BTN |
| Fri, Dec 22 | Missouri Braggin' Rights - WIN St. Louis | 8:00pm FS1 |
| Fri, Dec 29 | Fairleigh Dickinson - WIN | 8:00pm BTN |
We'll never know. We have a team, it is what it is. We'll ride with them. I L L
Wait... so you guys are saying if we had Tyler Kolek that our team would be pretty good?
I think the Illini lose at Rutgers and Bragging rights game
The Tyler Kolek's of the world are easy... Just for funsies - which point guards in the Big Ten would you trade Ty for? Straight up swap? Doesn't necessarily have to be "who's the better overall player"...simply in terms terms of overall skillset at the point guard position - Which point guards would be a better fit and be a net gain in a theoretical, nonsense fantasy-land trade?Wait... so you guys are saying if we had Tyler Kolek that our team would be pretty good?
So you’re suggesting that if we add the conference player of the year, from the P6 conference that produced last year’s champion, at a position of need, … we would be better?
I would tend to agree, though I would say perhaps we should instead look at maybe Lew Alcindor type at center, which would allow Coleman to play more of a stretch 4.
Hard to believe Brad didn’t pursue either strategy in the offseason.
All of the ones who average more assists per game! Just kidding.
Boo Buie and Ty Walker are both small but they are probably the 1a, 1b best overall PGs in the conference if you asked the public to vote. Hoggard is really the PG on that Michigan State team, though. Jahmir Young is a nice player, very similar player to Jayden Epps. Bruce Thornton, Dug McDaniel and Braden Smith get honorable mentions here.
That said, do I trade Ty? No way, man. But, I grow partial to players that make the choice to play for my favorite team. Don't know how I'd go trade anyone, to be honest, unless you're talking about someone who is an obvious problem or doesn't want to be here.
When I said yesterday that Ty was 2nd or 3rd best PG in the conference, I said that "statistically" he is (currently). I used player efficiency rating and turnover % because that's what I want from my PG with the roster we have. Adding another score-first guy like Ty Walker, Buie or even Young is not what this team needs imo. If someone FORCED ME WITH A GUN TO MY HEAD
to trade Ty for any of those players, I'd honestly be inclined to choose Hoggard as I think he fits what we need the most.- Status