Exactly. Tomi is solid, especially through all the sickness and injury issues. If you can get an efficient game from either KJ or Will and some help from the supporting cast, we are good. If KJ and Will are both on, we are scary.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
- Status
A little data analysis for you folks this AM:
Using KenPom archives, I took a look at every NCAA Champion's offensive & defensive rating midway through February. I found that of the last 25 championship winners, 92% met an offensive rating of at least 22 and a defensive rating of at least 43 midway through February. There are 14 current teams that meet this criteria: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Duke, Houston, Purdue, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa St., Clemson, Maryland & Marquette.
Further, 64% of champions met a offensive rating of at least 10 and a defensive rating of at least 43 as of the middle of February. There are 7 current teams that meet this criteria: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Duke, Houston, Purdue, and Wisconsin. If Illinois plays very productive offense over the next two, they can be well into a top 10 offense (currently rated 15).
The table below shows winner, their ending Off/Def rating, their Feb Off/Def rating, and the total change from Feb to end of season.
Using KenPom archives, I took a look at every NCAA Champion's offensive & defensive rating midway through February. I found that of the last 25 championship winners, 92% met an offensive rating of at least 22 and a defensive rating of at least 43 midway through February. There are 14 current teams that meet this criteria: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Duke, Houston, Purdue, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa St., Clemson, Maryland & Marquette.
Further, 64% of champions met a offensive rating of at least 10 and a defensive rating of at least 43 as of the middle of February. There are 7 current teams that meet this criteria: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Duke, Houston, Purdue, and Wisconsin. If Illinois plays very productive offense over the next two, they can be well into a top 10 offense (currently rated 15).
The table below shows winner, their ending Off/Def rating, their Feb Off/Def rating, and the total change from Feb to end of season.
I feel like lots of good things will happen for almost all players when we quit chucking three. What I am trying to say is I think we can win even when only two of these stars star by not chucking threes.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
So we have Kofi being honored vs. UCLA and TSJ being honored vs. MSU, both this week. We will have just two home games left after that. Am I correct in assuming that if the Iowa (Tuesday 2/25) or Purdue (Friday 3/7) games are not going to honor the 20th anniversary of the 2005 team and/or bust out a 2005 throwback uniform, then the DIA's plan is just to pretend that team doesn't exist? Lol...
Yeah no way anything happens this year, imo. If they had something even tentatively in motion, they'd be milking it from a merchandising stand point by now.
Part of me wonders if it's a scheduling / participation thing?
Dee is coaching a team and may or may not even be welcomed back.
Roger is coaching his own team.
No idea what Deron and Luther are up to.
I know Augie is in Chicago so he could probably make the trip.
And Weber has been back and received a couple standing o's recently so the "homecoming" factor has worn off a little bit.
It's just really bizarre for such a sophisticated DIA to miss this opportunity. Has to be a reason for it.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
They have to be waiting for the 25th anniversary, right?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I can even live with the idea that there are scheduling complications and/or some weird unspoken secret animosity still with Dee (though I am desperately waiting for even a hint about either from our insiders, lol...). Those things are what they are. However, the lazy and oblivious bums at Nike not coming up with a 2005 throwback for this year is infuriatingly incompetent.
I'm assuming it won't be during the basketball season because too many guys (Dee, Rog, McBride) are coaching right now and won't be able to attend. I could see them doing it during football season next year.
Well that sure sounds good in theory. I hope you and Greg Waddell are right.
I definitely hope this wishful new formula holds… But in truth, the real problem is we’ve been looking for consistency out of ANYBODY this season….well that and less consistent high volume threes by an average shooting team (at best)…just like you said.
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3 point girl
- texas
Where's Luther????????????????????????????
No idea. But he probably has a lot more free time now that he doesn't have to write tuition checks for our players.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
Saw someone mention that something is in the works for the 04-05 team this coming Fall at a football game. Can't find the tweet but yeah because of guys coaching sounds like that might be the best option.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I thought some here could afford to read this about officials.
Just an little opinion piece from an official. It's certainly my take.
Just an little opinion piece from an official. It's certainly my take.
No officials mean no games
Recently, ESPN analyst and former college basketball coach Fran Fraschilla commented on X, formerly Twitter. “One thought on officiating. Why would anybody do this job at any level' Go to a Little League game, AAU tournament, or a high school game, and parents and fans are complete idiots.” No...
www.phenomhoopreport.com
USC, RU, NW will all most likely end up being bad (non tournament team) losses. Nebby however looks to have more than a crack at making the field.
Thought they did a great job with the Kofi ceremony. Nice pre-recorded piece of Brad celebrating him, plenty of highlights, and they kept it all to about 5 minutes, which let's face it, attention spans are pretty short these days. No pun intended, but he was a huge piece of the program turn-around. Ayo and many others are in there, but Kofi deserves his due.
I've gotta believe this is a possibility. I think that in the NIL era it will be more enticing for players to gain another year of experience while getting paid to do it (and rather handsomely). The goal should not just be drafted but rather to have a long career in the NBA . For teams with legit national championship aspirations it makes the idea even more appealing to players who are not necessarily lottery picks.
If he is a for sure 1st rounder I don't see it happening
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I think that is a perfectly reasonable take. However, what I think really bothers people is that refs in the Big Ten don't seem to be judged or even critiqued constructively on their performance. In any other job, if you make mistakes over and over, you will at least get a conversation with your employer pointing out your mistakes in an effort to bring them to your attention and hopefully improve outcomes. I think a lot of us get the impression that the league takes the attitude of that article to the extreme and practically puts blinders on to any and all mistakes made by refs.I thought some here could afford to read this about officials.
Just an little opinion piece from an official. It's certainly my take.
No officials mean no games
Recently, ESPN analyst and former college basketball coach Fran Fraschilla commented on X, formerly Twitter. “One thought on officiating. Why would anybody do this job at any level' Go to a Little League game, AAU tournament, or a high school game, and parents and fans are complete idiots.” No...www.phenomhoopreport.com
Are most fans unreasonable regarding refs, constantly thinking their teams are being screwed? Sure. Are there at least a few refs out there who perform exceptionally poorly on a routine basis and face zero consequences? Absolutely. And neither of those should be the case.
Yeah Riley is showing up in top 25 again.
^^
I see it as a win win. Our offseason I anticipate will be really good regardless. Should return Ivisic, Morez, Kylan, Hummer, and Jake. We will see on a couple of others. But having two guys maybe being top 20 picks would do wonders for recruiting
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I always find it interesting to watch either a game where I'm a neutral fan or a game where I'm watching it after I know the outcome of the game (either 1st or 2nd watch). The officials almost 100% do a much better job than what I think they did whenever I have a major emotional investment in the game.I thought some here could afford to read this about officials.
Just an little opinion piece from an official. It's certainly my take.
No officials mean no games
Recently, ESPN analyst and former college basketball coach Fran Fraschilla commented on X, formerly Twitter. “One thought on officiating. Why would anybody do this job at any level' Go to a Little League game, AAU tournament, or a high school game, and parents and fans are complete idiots.” No...www.phenomhoopreport.com
Watching some of the Big East games really does show what a tough job officiating college basketball is. That's even before having to deal with some of their coaches like Hurley and Pitino who are constantly begging for the next call.
- Status