Illinois 101, St. Francis (IL.) 34 Exhibition Postgame

#29      
I was surprised that SFC wasnā€™t as full as I thought it would be. Hutch needs starter minutes as does CoHawk. was hoping to see more out of Goode Podz and Payne tonight. RJ looked very good in his few minutes very athletic and unafraid to shoot from anywhere. Small sample size against no competition so hard to evaluate but Iā€™m just glad to be watching ball again!!
 
#30      
I was surprised that SFC wasnā€™t as full as I thought it would be. Hutch needs starter minutes as does CoHawk. was hoping to see more out of Goode Podz and Payne tonight. RJ looked very good in his few minutes very athletic and unafraid to shoot from anywhere. Small sample size against no competition so hard to evaluate but Iā€™m just glad to be watching ball again!!

Exhibition game. I bet it will be absolutely popping when we start playing relevant opponents.
 
#31      
He did look good, as did the whole team, was not sure why the delay to let him in sooner.
I felt same. Felt like some hardcore coaching wizardry that I can't figure out. Glad to see him get in. Hope to see a lot more of him earlier. I'm guessing it's something something working on defense.
 
#34      
Company coming over at midnight? Goodness.
animation swing GIF by sap
 
#35      
My observations from 4 rows up. Curbelo needs to play under more control or he is going to kill us in close games but he sure is entertaining to watch. Payne plays hard but needs to shoot from within 2 feet of the basket. Didn't get to see enough of Plummer to get a good evaluation of his 3 point shooting. Verdunk was a nice surprise as was Melendez. Lieb was active but needs to quit bringing the ball down to his waist. Kofi, Trent and DaMonte played as expected. Grandison did not impress me but it was only one game. Podz and Goode were decent for their first game and Hutcherson is a STUD! He is everything some of the people on this board were saying he was. In my opinion this team is deeper than last years and barring injuries we should compete for the B1G title.
 
#36      
Long time fan because of my late father but just started going to games again a couple of years ago. Even though we're 90 mins away and know we won't be able to make it to all of them, I took a gamble and got the mobile ticket. We found our seats in 239 then took a lap around SFC. Some Illinois guy taps me on the shoulder and offers us tickets behind the bench. While not the greatest view for actually seeing, it was a heckuva lot of fun and my son had an absolute blast!
IMG_20211023_195733983_HDR.jpg

As for the game: Hutch is legit. He can really jump! CoHawk looks good! Goode's size is going to be an issue down the road. RJ was lightning in a bottle. BBV hasn't been playing but he's been in the weight room! Loved watching the pride in Podz' dad too. And for fun, DaMonte couldn't find his Skittles and my son was able to point them out for him.

What an outstanding evening!!
 
#40      
Curbelo's move to help that kid should make some Top Ten list somewhere.

I think that we have a great basketball player and a great individual as well.
I am looking forward to watching him become the star that he is.
In a real game he needs to be careful because a ref stictly following the rules may call it "leaving the bench" and call a tech and toss him out.
 
#43      
If Hutch isnā€™t starting and Hawk getting +25 mins in the new year I will be amazed. Sure they will have some bad games but they sure have a lot of talent and they will make a difference.
 
#44      
My impressions
1. Kofi will be the same Kofi but with slightly more mobility and touch. Very nich shot from the free throw and another dribble drive with bank of the glass.
2. Curbelo, still same player with more confidence in 3 pt shot. Felt ball got sticky in his hands at times, needs to pass a bit more to get others involved beyond Kofi. He had boughts of dribnling into traffic that led to TO.
3. Trent had a very good game, like for him to finish layups, which he did. Well composed, great defense. Nice stroke.
4. Hutch, I don't see a situation where he doesn't play a lot. We don't have a player with his length and athletic ability who can dribble, shoot, rebound and defend. I hope he gets more assertive, but first game in 2.5 years. Excited for him.
5. Plummer looked good on a drive and had a 3 rim out. He is small and probably wont see trent, andre, and plummer on the floor at the same time...not enough length.
6. Damonte, played in control and team ball. Looked more comfortable dribbling than in the past.
7. Grandison, same as Damonte didn't try to do to much. His very high free throw percentage may mean he will close out games.
8. Freshman, with our depth don't expect to see them much this year. Believe we will have a 9-10 player rotation. RJ has a nice motor. They will all do well in the future. Podz played team ball, hit a corner 3. Believe Goode with his size and stroke will be first freshnen to see action. Future problem in the BIG, 6-7 players that can stroke the 3 typically are.
9. CoHawk..has some Brian Cook to his game. In the past we were not real mobile with Giorgi and Kofi on the court at the same time. Not an issue this year, COHawk can play along with Kofi and be a stretch 4. Has a very bright future with Illini, can see him as a go to guy next year. BU gets on him for mistakes, pullef him out and gave him an earful
10. Verdonk...Will see action in blowouts and in games where Kofi and Payne have foul issues. Looks bigger, played very much in control and mistake free. Next year likely makes rotation.
11. Payne, only one game but was underwhelmed by his play. This is a player ranked ahead of Kofi in high school but lacks the fundamentals and coaching Kofi received the last 3 years. He did have a play where he was in traffic and dunked the ball, he is explosive. He also had a couple nice blocks. I can see him much improved towards end of year with Alexander's coaching. I don't see playing with Kofi, but only as a back up. Would be comfortable next year as our starter at Center with CoHawk at PF.
12.Lieb, continue to develop. I'm not sure he will develope his base to be an overall center in league. But very tall and skilled but not a leaper. Could see him as our 4th big next year behind Payne, CoHawk, Verdonk.

This team is deep and doesn't really have weaknesses at this level.
 
#45      
If Hutch isnā€™t starting and Hawk getting +25 mins in the new year I will be amazed. Sure they will have some bad games but they sure have a lot of talent and they will make a difference.
Can see him not starting but coming in early for Damonte or Grandison and getting starter minutes. Would like to see a tall line up of Andre/Trent with Hutch, Grandison, CoHawk and Kofi.
 
#46      
If Hutch isnā€™t starting and Hawk getting +25 mins in the new year I will be amazed. Sure they will have some bad games but they sure have a lot of talent and they will make a difference.
Hutch will in big games. I doubt Hawk will. Hawk needs to improve and show more from the outside. I know he made one and barely drew iron on one. The one he did make was far off too and banked in. Hopefully it was just jitters and he will improve later on on hiw he shot last year.
 
#47      
My observations from 4 rows up. Curbelo needs to play under more control or he is going to kill us in close games but he sure is entertaining to watch.
seems like we heard this constantly from a large number on this board for the first 20-25 games last year.

I think it's clear that he continues to learn. He's still a young player. Last year BU rejected this "under control" advice and let him make mistakes and develop. I think we'll see the same this year.
 
#48      
Lieb was much better than I expected. Donā€™t see him as rising to starter level but maybe a solid backup with another year of physical development.
In total was impressed with guys that probably wonā€™t see much time this year. They all look to have a potential future contribution and not just as practice players.
Hawk may be the finisher at center as he can make free throws. May also see him there against guys like Liddell who are a bit smaller.
 
#49      
To me Hawkins played outstanding. A 6ā€™10ā€ inch forward that is mobile is something we have not had in many years (Brian Cook - but he really played center). I think Hawkins could be the missing piece to a NC team. He can play with Kofi where GB could not. We have all the other positions covered with well above average talent. If Hawkins continues to get better look out.
 
#50      
In a real game he needs to be careful because a ref stictly following the rules may call it "leaving the bench" and call a tech and toss him out.
That was my first thought. My second was that with 8 minutes left he was probably not playing anymore anyway