Illinicpa14
- Chicago
You’re going to be in trouble if you’re counting on any player going 8-10 from the field to win, much less from 3. Kofi shooting from within 5 feet shoots 60-65%.
Illini Basketball
- Status
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
Would a good best case comparison for us next year in this capacity be 2021-2022 Kentucky- Oscar + TyTy as the main dudes?
Feel like kofi alone puts our floor as a 8-10 seed if absolutely nothing else went right as he can overpower the bottom half of teams.
Obvs they had the tourney upset but going in most thought they could hang with anyone.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Depends how good Skyy Clark is. If he is more like the top 10 player he was rated pre-ACL injury, I’m not going to be concerned. Duke and KY has done pretty darn well with that kind of PG over the last decade. I would say that the floor will certainly be lower but the ceiling quite high.
Yeah, I think many of those were great but were given the keys for a not quite ready team. However, all those would have blended well with a ready team. I think Freshman point guards can do well with a team handed to them. I think if we land Clark along with having Epps, they are so good as long as we surround them with the pieces, we will be fine.
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
That's my sense as well. Freshman PG/CGs starting or playing starter minutes for NCAA champions over the last decade or so include Jalen Brunson at Villanova, Marquis Teague at Kentucky, Tyus Jones at Duke and Shabazz Napier at UConn. In the right situation, it can work.
ILLINI IN NE
- Omaha,Ne.
I remember reading a story about Lieb that quoted him saying he wants a degree from Illinois and playing time is secondary.
I don't see him leaving on his own accord.
I think it depends on what makes the kid a 5 star. If it's athleticism and shooting, there could be a big learning curve. If its floor vision and basketball IQ, we're fine.
Dee and Deron did pretty well starting their freshman year with a 2nd-round exit to Notre Dame. Just sayin'.
Also, Epps seems Uber legit. Super excited to see him run floor general
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Agreed. Still mind boggling that his rankings somehow slipped a bit even after a killer winter/spring (by all accounts).
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
The "Illinois Commit" effect.
Wokker
- "The Good Land", WI
Seems like him and BBV wanting to stay is ideal. Someone has to fill spots 10-11. If they are big men with years of system knowledge and ok with little game time? Even better.
Maybe less true with BBV, as he is a decent 3rd option big, but still. Lots of benefits to this.
And who knows, maybe we’ll go all Wisconsin one day and have bigs develop and be really good out of nowhere after 2-3 years.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
I'm guessing NIL makes this skew even more in the blue bloods favor.
Is Hutch planning on continuing his basketball career? If so, as far as you know, does he want a fresh start or a smaller school again? Really would suck if he never was healthy enough to get a chance here
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I agree
! When I was in New Mexico at a base serving. I got to watch coach Steve Alford play a 1-3-1, with Darrington Hobson/ Decatur Illinois, 6.7ft at the top. 6.3, 7.0, 6.4, and 6.7 under the basket. They led the country in defense efficiency, steals, and went 31-4... Would love to see other defenses out of Coach.I wanna see us not use the entire shot clock on offense. I don't know if 10 seconds and shoot? If it's doable?
I loved Houston and other teams pushing the 4 down 1 up top in regard to offensive and defensive rebounding! Mr. Rodgers has some intriguing abilities. I got to watch him live in 3 games and he is legit stud! Huge win....
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Agree they did well, helping lead the 2003 Illini to a 25-7 record, won the BTT and finished #5 in KenPom rankings (both pre-tournament and full season). Given that the eventual NCAA champion has been ranked within the top 6 of KenPom's pre-tournament rankings in 17 of the last 20 years, I'm happy with any PGs that are good enough to get us into that strata, and Dee and Deron accomplished that as freshmen. (2003, 2005 and 2021 are the only years in the KenPom era Illini have been in that group entering the tournament.)
The second round loss to ND was mainly due to white hot 3FG shooting by ND, who were 11-16 from three in the first half alone and 54% for the game.
Our senior B10 POY Brian Cook was productive (19 points, 16 rebounds) but inefficient (6-23 from field, including 0-4 from three, with 4 turnovers), and the freshmen guards combined for 19 points (7-19 from field, including 2-5 from three), six assists and one turnover. And our coach was on his way out the door....
What year was this, because with the explosion of the 3 point shot, a 1-3-1 is really hard to play with slot and corner 3s essentially left open.I agree
I wanna see us not use the entire shot clock on offense. I don't know if 10 seconds and shoot? If it's doable?
I loved Houston and other teams pushing the 4 down 1 up top in regard to offensive and defensive rebounding! Mr. Rodgers has some intriguing abilities. I got to watch him live in 3 games and he is legit stud! Huge win....
Didn’t realize he’s 24 now. I’d guess he’s probably not gonna play?
Dead horse here but just nice to see more stuff like this from RJ to ease the mind of us crazy Illini fans
Harper was my favorite.
- Status