Dainja is really a Freshman class wise because of Covid and RS.
Illinois 103, Monmouth 65 Postgame
Via KenPom, through 3 games, the Illini have had 3 different MVPs:
Game 1: Coleman Hawkins
Game 2: Dain Dainja
Game 3: Terrence Shannon Jr.
Mayer still needs to work on maintaining defensive intensity through a whole game, but these 3 games have been tough in terms of defensive motivation in the 2nd half. Skyy Clark has been very efficient and has looked to distribute much more than create his own offense to this point.
Going into the season, the players I had the most questions about were Harris, Epps and Dainja, and all 3 have shown up against the minnows. Curious to see how much they bring this weekend.
Game 1: Coleman Hawkins
Game 2: Dain Dainja
Game 3: Terrence Shannon Jr.
Mayer still needs to work on maintaining defensive intensity through a whole game, but these 3 games have been tough in terms of defensive motivation in the 2nd half. Skyy Clark has been very efficient and has looked to distribute much more than create his own offense to this point.
Going into the season, the players I had the most questions about were Harris, Epps and Dainja, and all 3 have shown up against the minnows. Curious to see how much they bring this weekend.
This team is deep and talented....but it needs another alpha dog beside TSJ and CoHawk needs to understand that he is the only other option there. He does not need to hit every shot, but he needs to be the guy that does the right thing on every play at both ends and act like it was not the first time. For him to be upset or hangdog is simply not acceptable. He is an extremely talented B1G warrior...so go do the work. We know he is the glue guy who can do things all over the floor that no one else on the team can. Go play and be that guy CoHawk....that is the guy this team counts on and needs. When teams try to take him out of the scoring column, they can't take him out of the rebounds, defensive stopper, steals, blocks, and assts columns. Those aspects are where he is needed and can impact every game. This team and fan base love his game and need his game....every game. Hope he understands that and can commit. He has shown more focus and more emotional containment so far, but both can use another positive step. Teams cannot shut down every star's scoring....they can maybe do one and possibly two...and sometimes that will be him. Fortunately, this team is blessed with scorers whose turn will come. Just be ready to do it all, every night, because CoHawk can and must for this team to reach its ceiling....and for which he is needed. He needs to enjoy every steal, deflected pass, block, wild shot caused, assist, rebound, ball kept alive, and screened driver for a layup. They don't show up on sports center highlights, but NBA scouts, coaches and GMs know the value of players who are ready, willing, and able to do the little things. Your teammates also know they can't win without that contribution.
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Remember in years past when we'd look at particular lineups we had on the court and wonder, "Where are the points gonna come from?"?
Yeah, that's not going to be an issue the year.
You can tell how proud Brad is of the team he put together this year.
I'm excited.
Yeah, that's not going to be an issue the year.
You can tell how proud Brad is of the team he put together this year.
I'm excited.
Good showing, yet really, really have to cleanup the personal fouls and turnovers going forward. Nice game for TSJ and JE - I-L-L.
fightingillini.com
Men's Basketball vs Monmouth on 11/14/2022 - Box Score - University of Illinois Athletics
The official box score of Men's Basketball vs Monmouth on 11/14/2022
fightingillini.com
They sure look good against teams that they should be beating easily. Be very curious to see what happens against real competition. One thing I am fairly confident of at this point is that RJ and Coleman are not going pro after this year, if ever. All that talk during the summer about them leaving after this year for the pros always seemed off base.
Mayer is going to have trouble staying on the court if he does not improve his defense. Hopefully this failing is injury related.
The competition for playing time is 9 deep intense even before Luke comes back in January
Dain, Jayden and Sencire contending for serious playing time is a big surprise.
I love the 3/4 court press. The way we played last night, running at every opportunity like 1989 and passing the ball like 2005. I know it was a cream puff but you have to start somewhere.
If we can be a top 5 defensive team due to our length, athleticism and depth I predict a great 2023 season with no March swoon.
The competition for playing time is 9 deep intense even before Luke comes back in January
Dain, Jayden and Sencire contending for serious playing time is a big surprise.
I love the 3/4 court press. The way we played last night, running at every opportunity like 1989 and passing the ball like 2005. I know it was a cream puff but you have to start somewhere.
If we can be a top 5 defensive team due to our length, athleticism and depth I predict a great 2023 season with no March swoon.
RJ has been a menace from a defensive perspective. At his position and size, if he shows he could be both a good on ball and help defender as he has these 4 games while still being a decent outside shooter, he won't need to average 17 ppg. The scouts see what translates to the next level.I think last night was his best game thus far, but let's not forget his first game against Eastern Illinois he had 1 assist and 5 turnovers to go along with just 3 points. I think we can expect some growing pains that come with a Freshman Point Guard when we face better competition.
The Roundball Recipe...
1. Getting great and talented players of integrity.
2. Blending their individual talents on the floor to create a symphony of hardcourt delight.
3. Watching a team feeling of ‘brothers’ and ‘family’ blossom in front of our eyes.
4. Piling up the ‘W’s.
5. Rinse and Repeat....
THIS GAME IS EASY!
1. Getting great and talented players of integrity.
2. Blending their individual talents on the floor to create a symphony of hardcourt delight.
3. Watching a team feeling of ‘brothers’ and ‘family’ blossom in front of our eyes.
4. Piling up the ‘W’s.
5. Rinse and Repeat....
THIS GAME IS EASY!
Cupcakes haven't always been easy. It's nice that we handle these games business as usual, but also going to be testing ourselves with some of the big programs. Nice. to. be. Back!
I'm kinda glad we don't have any of these middle class opponent games since we seem to struggle early in those the last couple years.... So let's just jump right to the marquee matchups and see where we're at.
MPG from last night is skewed based on competition. Once league play rolls around you'll see TSJ closer to 30, Hawk closer to 25, RJ closer to low 20s, Mayer low to mid 20s.
terrance reminds me of kenny battle only with a 3pt shot
I don't think I've ever seen anyone that reminds me of Kenny Battle.
Dr Copejam
- The Rock
Except Kenny Battle.
For people talking about cupcakes are easy remember when we lost to Miami(Ohio) AND East Tennesse St at home? In fact just a few years ago we lost to Florida Atlantic at home
well of course, we hope to better than teams that lost to a middling Conference USA team, for what it's worth 2018-19 Florida Atlantic was 162 at end of season KenPom, and basically about the most average team in college basketball that season (since there are so many D1 layers), all the teams we've beaten thus far are likely far worse than that. Losing to Tennessee State at home on 12/30/2007 (10-10 in the OVC that season) is up there for probably the worst loss that I can recall without doing some more digging, the other being losing to UIC at the United Center on 12/21/2010 (with a genuinely pretty good Illini team that came into that game ranked Number 14).
4 and 5 are all you need
Just what I was thinking or having to go to overtime to win when we should have been up by 20.
Bring on UCLA. I’m excited!
BillyBob1
- Champaign
Looks like a Lieb pick!Worth another post.
You just had to bring up the dark years.
Considering how fair Dain has already progressed since January, I expect his conditioning to continue improving over the course of the season. He may still lose a few more pounds as well.