I may have missed but I did not see Grandison doing much today. He seems to miss a lot of easy shots under the bucket.
Illinois 69, Indiana 60 Postgame
My only "problem" with miller today is he didnt do ANYTHING. NO bboards, no assists, no steals, etc. With maturity and some "nice" words from BU, he'l learn to focus on the entire game more when the shot isnt falling.
He usually does that as i recall him diving for loose balls in several game whether he was having a good game on O or not, but today he didnt seem to be in that zone. He'l learn. I'm still way bullish on him
Great win. Glad to beat IN and another thing is KY lost.
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Only two guys shot free throws for Indiana. 9 total. That's huge.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
He played solid defense. Doesn't show up in the box score.
Miller is the 4th guard in a bad 4 guard lineup .
You have limited Damonte
You have limited Trent
You have Koffi that doesn't pass out of the post
You have Ayo an all around ball dominate guard
Without seeing him at his natural position for extended minutes it really tough to pin down because in the current situation hes really at the mercy of the lineup. I think people forget that both Trent and Ayo had the benefit of big minutes and touches their freshmen years to find their way offensively and we see that with Curbelo this year as well.
I think the suggestion about pairing him with Curbelo is a good one but BU seems to want to have one Ayo or Trent on the floor at the same time .Lets hope can get a laugher in the in the next few weeks games so he can get some extended run and touches
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Curbelo's last 5 games (Mizzou, MN, RUT, PSU, IU):
24.2 minutes
9.4 points
4.2 rebounds
6.2 assists
1.8 turnovers
1.6 steals
Imagine him as a junior and senior. He might never score 30 points, but he's going to have triple-doubles.
24.2 minutes
9.4 points
4.2 rebounds
6.2 assists
1.8 turnovers
1.6 steals
Imagine him as a junior and senior. He might never score 30 points, but he's going to have triple-doubles.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I don’t even think he will be here four years. He seems to be even better than advertised.
I 100% agree and hope you did not take my post as negative to you? If so I am so sorry. He is a freshman and he obviously is extremely talented. Sometimes with young players you have to toy with their role to get them to see the game at the next level “slower” for lack of a better way of putting it?
Miller for sure we be a star for Illinois, but people seem to think he is competing with Curbello (or it seems that way?) and I really don’t see it that way at all?
I guess what it comes down to is we have several players who can “replicate” the role Miller plays, but know one who can do what Curbello does?
He didn’t do anything offensively — though outside of one of his 3-pt attempts I had no problems with his shots. Though he missed a reverse layup, I liked him putting on the floor there. But his defense has been pretty good, grabbed a few rebounds, and don’t think he had a TO. But for me it is as much about seeing if he’d relax a bit more off the bench. And he would have more chances on floor when he might be more a primary/secondary offensive option while playing more with Curbelo.
Great win!
Any time you can beat a conference opponent is a great victory. Glad to be back in Champaign.
A few observations:
Grandson is not a big ten player. Looks slow, not explosive, suspect shooter. I would put more time in Hawkins who didn’t even play(?)
Kofi has got to get better at: catching the dam ball! He fumbles more passes than any big man I have ever seen. I would tape two boxing gloves to his hands and make him catch 100 passes. Free throws! They mentioned during the broadcast his percentage is down 10% from last year at 58%. That’s not good enough.
And lastly (another thing Bardo mentioned) he has to go up and dunk when he is two feet from the basket. My God! He misses more shots within arms length because one: he doesn’t dunk it, two: he tries to shoot it soft, three: he doesn’t ball or shot fake. I have said this repeatedly this year mainly because I see it every game.
If he could improve those three things he would be averaging 25 points a game.
Adam Miller: He’s lost his confidence. Another game where he was literally nonexistent. He can no longer start. And that might be a good thing.
He needs to create his own shot or Underwood needs to have some set plays where he can get a boost of confidence back. He is non effective.
You can not have him eat up minutes if he is going to put up zeros in all categories.
Trent and Damonte.
One needs to score more (Trent) and one needs to lead on defense (Damonte). These guys are seniors and have both played over 100 games.
Ayo and Kofi are going to get the points and the other teams best defenders. Trent and Damonte should be consistent in the games more often.
Curbello: no question he starts on my team. He makes the game better all around. He needs to bring down his turnovers but in one respect it is a by product of how he plays. He creates. Where Miller does not. His shot selection could improve as well. If he develops a three point shot he will be one the best guards in the big ten next year.
Giorgi: I think Giorgi plays well with Kofi. He is always hustling, he tries to feed Kofi when he can. He brings good energy to the team. He will make a dumb pass or shot here and there but he offers more than Grandison by leaps and bounds.
Gradison: I just am not seeing it. I watched him specifically and what I saw was slow, out of position, and another who is more just a set shooter not a shot creator.
Ayo: Player of the year candidate. Creates his shot. Is quick off the dribble. He rebounds, he scores, he creates. He is the best player Illinois has had in a decade Atleast!
He could improve defensively and on turnovers. But I am not picking here. He is the only reason we are who we are. I hope he continues to raise his draft stock and is a top ten pick in next years draft.
On to the next one. There is always room for improvement. I would love for this team to continue to grow and push for a big ten title and a number one seed. The blue bloods are down this year and the time is now. Go Illini!!
Any time you can beat a conference opponent is a great victory. Glad to be back in Champaign.
A few observations:
Grandson is not a big ten player. Looks slow, not explosive, suspect shooter. I would put more time in Hawkins who didn’t even play(?)
Kofi has got to get better at: catching the dam ball! He fumbles more passes than any big man I have ever seen. I would tape two boxing gloves to his hands and make him catch 100 passes. Free throws! They mentioned during the broadcast his percentage is down 10% from last year at 58%. That’s not good enough.
And lastly (another thing Bardo mentioned) he has to go up and dunk when he is two feet from the basket. My God! He misses more shots within arms length because one: he doesn’t dunk it, two: he tries to shoot it soft, three: he doesn’t ball or shot fake. I have said this repeatedly this year mainly because I see it every game.
If he could improve those three things he would be averaging 25 points a game.
Adam Miller: He’s lost his confidence. Another game where he was literally nonexistent. He can no longer start. And that might be a good thing.
He needs to create his own shot or Underwood needs to have some set plays where he can get a boost of confidence back. He is non effective.
You can not have him eat up minutes if he is going to put up zeros in all categories.
Trent and Damonte.
One needs to score more (Trent) and one needs to lead on defense (Damonte). These guys are seniors and have both played over 100 games.
Ayo and Kofi are going to get the points and the other teams best defenders. Trent and Damonte should be consistent in the games more often.
Curbello: no question he starts on my team. He makes the game better all around. He needs to bring down his turnovers but in one respect it is a by product of how he plays. He creates. Where Miller does not. His shot selection could improve as well. If he develops a three point shot he will be one the best guards in the big ten next year.
Giorgi: I think Giorgi plays well with Kofi. He is always hustling, he tries to feed Kofi when he can. He brings good energy to the team. He will make a dumb pass or shot here and there but he offers more than Grandison by leaps and bounds.
Gradison: I just am not seeing it. I watched him specifically and what I saw was slow, out of position, and another who is more just a set shooter not a shot creator.
Ayo: Player of the year candidate. Creates his shot. Is quick off the dribble. He rebounds, he scores, he creates. He is the best player Illinois has had in a decade Atleast!
He could improve defensively and on turnovers. But I am not picking here. He is the only reason we are who we are. I hope he continues to raise his draft stock and is a top ten pick in next years draft.
On to the next one. There is always room for improvement. I would love for this team to continue to grow and push for a big ten title and a number one seed. The blue bloods are down this year and the time is now. Go Illini!!
Best game for Ayo all year. He couldn't miss the second half. If he continues to hit 3's like today, Illini could win Big Ten.
I just so much see it the same way. We either need to develop him or Hawkins for the big guards/forwards we face. If BBV or the other injured transfer are not going to play, we would be so much better with a “bigger” player to put besides Kofi against Ron Harper, Weiskamp Lamar Stevens type of players. We really can’t use Georgi in that role as he has to back up Kofi first and foremost. Also, I think Georgi is best around the rim even though he hit the 3 today.
Granderson seems to be getting ever so slightly more confident and he seems like he could at least be good Kipper type of player?
This game would not have been close if three of our best shooters had not gone 0 for 13. So much of this team's success depends upon either Frazier of Miller demanding attention from the arc instead of shooting turnovers.
And I like the idea of Grandison starting and bringing as much energy as possible for as long as he can go.
Miller does need to keep shooting but in addition needs to develop ways to finish at the rim against bigs much as Ayo and Feliz did. Otherwise he will find those open threes less and less available. Confidence is waning at the moment, but Illini Nation knows this team needs him and we believe in him. All we can do is wait for the light to go on.
And I like the idea of Grandison starting and bringing as much energy as possible for as long as he can go.
Miller does need to keep shooting but in addition needs to develop ways to finish at the rim against bigs much as Ayo and Feliz did. Otherwise he will find those open threes less and less available. Confidence is waning at the moment, but Illini Nation knows this team needs him and we believe in him. All we can do is wait for the light to go on.
His basketball instinct is weirdly and incredibly effective. We seem to want him to think harder to avoid dumb mistakes, but honestly... he is better when he just goes.
I feel like that is uncommon for a big man playing among littler dudes. You might expect him to be like a bull in a china shop, but no. It's almost like he gets in trouble more when he restrains himself. Dude would have feasted in the old days when bigger guys could just do their thing without worrying about little guys exploiting officiating.
Agree with most of this but i dont think grandison is a suspect shooter as hte sample size is a bit low to determine. He's 4-9 for 3 on the year after his 0-2 today. Wouldnt call that suspect at 44% from 3 but also wouldnt say he's deadeye until we have more sample size. Let's see where he's at when he's had like 20 attempts.
Yup. He'll get there. Speaking for only myself, I am not worried about Miller AT ALL. Sure, the team would be better if he was learning the college game while still performing at a high level. I am relieved that a consistent contribution from him is not looking necessary for a decent season.
He has stellar ability. If he stays coachable, he'll be part of many memorable contributions to the program. He'll get his.
RE: Miller. He was getting good minutes early in season. Last 3 games his minutes have dropped, but due to his play. Through the Minny game (first 7 games), Miller had 192 minutes (27.4 mpg). Curbelo had just 136 during same time. In first 7 games of their freshmen years, Trent had 131 and Ayo 206. Now Ayo definitely had a more offensive opportunities than Adam earlier on in their first years.
I think Adam needs to start trying to do things beyond shooting. Some hustle plays, an offensive put back, or a steal is what he needs to get offense going. It will come, but he needs to make it happen cuz in the B1G I don’t see there being many laughers.
.001%
I’m starting to believe Curbelo will test the draft waters this year. Other than Jalen Suggs, he’s the best true PG I’ve seen. It’ll really depend on if the NBA values his current game enough without really knowing how good of an outside shooter he is due to the low volume of 3s he taken. But all it takes is one team to like you, and Curbelo has the special PG skills/awareness/handle that very few have.
This is the whole deal!!
He pulls up missing 3 after 3 if he would find another way to contribute it would make a huge difference in our team..
Has anybody heard anything what kind of player BBV is from his practices. Is he actually someone that can contribute?
Deleted member 186590
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Miller will get better but he has negative value right now on the court- his defense isn’t good enough to make up for poor shots and not making anything
Curbelo needs to start so we’re not starting every game in a hole. He’s making this offense tick right now when he is out there
Curbelo needs to start so we’re not starting every game in a hole. He’s making this offense tick right now when he is out there
Typical Tarheel. Given the answers to the test, then acting like never saw them. Sure.
I first saw Curbello play at the Nike World Summit as a junior. This is the game competively above the MCAA team. We are lucky to have him, not sure we have him for more than two.
His options to play in other countries might be too tempting.