I don't know...all the hype seems to be going to KJ, but maybe that is just because he's been actually playing games, whereas Riley is just practicing.
Riley reclassifying also surely plays a small role in keep expectations slightly down.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
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Riley reclassifying also surely plays a small role in keep expectations slightly down.
Traore, Gonzalez, and especially Kasparas had a great competition, but the best guard was the MVP, who doesn't even get a mention.
Sleepers guys literally posted a 10-15 min video a few hours ago claiming how they were disappointed and discouraged with this clip...
lol honestly...
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What was their point?Sleepers guys literally posted a 10-15 min video a few hours ago claiming how they were disappointed and discouraged with this clip...
lol honestly...
don't like how he shoots.
don't like how he looks (skinny, etc).
they also claim DGL is better than Boswell.
Don’t think they think DGL is better than Bam but I know Greg isn’t high on Boswell… with that being said, they each see Illinois/Purdue/Indiana as a clear top three in the league and are intrigued with Oregon/UCLA….. Greg will be really annoying with his Indiana fandom this year for those that watch/listen…
Carter is down on Boswell, Greg likes Boswell. Greg is also a Michigan fan, not Indiana.
Thanks for synopsis and corrections.
DGL athleticism is probably influencing opinion on him vs Boswell. It will be an interesting watch but DGL is a SG becoming a PG as well, so let’s see how that develops.
Shooting form. Meh. Ayo, TJ…effectiveness more important.
Fletch!
DGL athleticism is probably influencing opinion on him vs Boswell. It will be an interesting watch but DGL is a SG becoming a PG as well, so let’s see how that develops.
Shooting form. Meh. Ayo, TJ…effectiveness more important.
Fletch!
Is 22 White?
Yes, but if you’ve watched or listened Greg has been 10 toes down on Indiana being the team to beat this year & thinks they have by a wide margin the most talent..
I’m as excited for Will Riley as anyone. I think he’s learned how to adjust for those 2 concerns, but if we’re honest with ourselves, despite his incredible talent, one, if not both of those, are legit concerns.
Objectively, he shoots a slow, windup shot, and he is a skinny player, playing in a strong player league.
I do disagree with how they kind of made fun that we don’t have him in lifting a lot of weights atm because Fletch wants to increase his mobility. That shows a lack of knowledge on their part. The general progression for building an athlete up is mobility—>stability—>strength—>power. You wanna reduce injury risk, gotta trust the process.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
Very cool to have a number 7!
Is Riley the first to utilize the new rule of any 1 or 2 digit number?
Everybody is acting like there is no college tape or results from Kylan Boswell. He was a top 25 recruit in his class and opted to leave a year early. HIs sophomore results are very similar to Brunson's freshmen results. Sophomore Brunson was a similar age to Brunson freshmen age and both were ranked coming out of high school around the same range.
Kylan's Arizona teams were very good, I believe they hit #1 at various times during his two years there and he was predominantly a starter. Sounds like Kylan like 99.9% of us at that age had to mature and focus more and it appears he is doing this. I'm looking forward to Kylan's play, he is very fundamentally sound and doesn't play out of control. He shoots and dribbles well, we are lucky to have two high level PGs on the roster.
Kylan's Arizona teams were very good, I believe they hit #1 at various times during his two years there and he was predominantly a starter. Sounds like Kylan like 99.9% of us at that age had to mature and focus more and it appears he is doing this. I'm looking forward to Kylan's play, he is very fundamentally sound and doesn't play out of control. He shoots and dribbles well, we are lucky to have two high level PGs on the roster.
Wemby didn't play in college, IIRC. But your point is well taken.
I’m not too worried about Riley’s size/strength, but I always laugh a bit when I see posts like that. So a sure fire Hall of Famer and consensus #1 pick and NBA ROY (who didn’t go to college by the way and is 6 to 8 inches taller than Riley) overcame their slight builds so Riley will? Not going to do the research, but I’m pretty sure one can identify plenty of very good prospects who weren’t able to overcome their slight builds.
Again though, not really worried. I think he’ll find ways to score. Rebounding and D could be an issue, but think BU will put him in situations in which he’ll succeed.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Ok....thanks for the Wemby correction..."if" he had gone to college...college age. How's that? Good grief.
And I'm not comparing them as talents....obviously....or I guess not obvious to everyone?
My post is pretty obviously inviting anyone to underestimate Will Riley because of his size.
Those were the first skinny successful players I thought of. I didn't take any time to research other slightly built prospects. Feel free to add your own. Ralph Sampson? Chet Holmgren? Shawn Bradley? Manute Bol? Reggie Williams?
Literally who cares which skinny players you use?
They probably do have the most talent (though I'm not as familiar with the new West Coast additions to the conference).
But just accumulating the most talent doesn't always lead to being the best team. Otherwise J Howard would still be coaching at UM.
Lol, look at the names you threw out there. Shawn Bradley and Manute Bol? there is zero comparison between them and Will Riley except "skinny". I was skinny as a freshman too. Can we add my name to the mix?Ok....thanks for the Wemby correction..."if" he had gone to college...college age. How's that? Good grief.
And I'm not comparing them as talents....obviously....or I guess not obvious to everyone?
My post is pretty obviously inviting anyone to underestimate Will Riley because of his size.
Those were the first skinny successful players I thought of. I didn't take any time to research other slightly built prospects. Feel free to add your own. Ralph Sampson? Chet Holmgren? Shawn Bradley? Manute Bol? Reggie Williams?
Literally who cares which skinny players you use?
You could probably find hundreds of kids who did struggle because of their size.
Riley is a borderline top 15 to top 20 prospect. That's significantly different than a top 5 prospect and there is an enormous amount of evidence to back that up.
Kevin Durant is arguably the quickest, most agile and skilled 7 footer the world has ever seen.
Those 3 things in combination are what allowed him to alleviate concerns about his strength. People will question Riley until he proves them wrong like kd did.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Omg. Some of you just can't wait to debate when there is literally no argument.
Reading Comprehension 101.
Skilled is the key. Durant is/was an incredible shooter, both from outside and midrange. Quick release and it goes in. Can post up as well.
This brings up an interesting point. Why are heights so frequently exaggerated at the High School and College level, but not so in the NBA? In fact there are players in the NBA (Durant for example) who are actually taller than their listed height.
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