Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
I wouldn't be surprised if his injuries had something to do with his shooting struggles, but all shooters go through cold streaks from time to time.
Illinois 73, Michigan State 70 POSTGAME
I wouldn't be surprised if his injuries had something to do with his shooting struggles, but all shooters go through cold streaks from time to time.
Current B1G standings vs. predictions.
1. Purdue - pre-season pick - 4th: I picked them 4th due to their questionable guard play. Their guards have been competent enough to compliment Swanigan and make Purdue look like a dark horse FF contender.
2. Wisconsin - pre-season pick - 1st: I picked them to win the league over MSU due to experience. Outside of this late skid they've been on, they've pretty much played to their expectations.
3. Maryland - pre-season pick - 7th: I botched this one. Melo Trimble has much more help than I thought. Assuming Melo leaves after this year, Maryland has a solid core for the future with Cowan, Jackson, Brantley, Dodd, and Huerter. On that note, how about the turnaround by Mark Turgeon. He was a dead man walking when Maryland entered the B1G three years ago. 4 straight tourney misses and several players left the program. Fast forward three years later he has turned it around led by Melo Trimble.
Perhaps John Groce can have a similar turn around with the Illini assuming they keep up their streak and reach the tournament? There is a certain point guard with blonde highlights in his hair coming to Champaign next year that could spearhead an ascend back to the top echelon of the league the way Melo spearheaded Maryland's turnaround.
4. Minnesota - pre-season pick - 13th: Where did this come from? A team that was as bad as Minnesota last year, injuries/suspensions or not, had absolutely no business being 22-7 (10-6) at this point in the year. Maybe Baby Poubt Face isn't as bad of a coach as we thought.
5. Michigan State - pre-season pick - 2nd: Picked high for two reasons: Kentucky-esque recruiting class, and Izzo. They had their struggles this year, but they should be safely in the tournament, and picking them to get to the FF as an 7/8/9 seed would be a solid cinderella pick on your brackets in a few weeks.
6. Northwestern - pre-season pick - 9th: Knew they were improving under Collins and it's a matter of time before he gets them to the dance. They benefited by IU's free fall, the ups and downs of Illinois, and how bad tOSU has been. Still, good for them getting to the tournament and what they've accomplished so far this season.
7. Michigan - pre-season pick - 5th: Looked very unimpressive early in the year, but are clicking now. Knew they had tons of talent considering they made the tournament last year without LaVert, and they all are back this year.
8. Iowa - pre-season pick - 11th: I don't see this holding up. I see Illinois leap frogging them due to sweeping them this year. Don't understand how they can finish ahead of Illinois even though Illinois swept them unless they win out to finish 10-8. Aside from that, there's some solid pieces there for them for the future. They are basically a poor man's version of Wisconsin. McCafferey will recruit to his system and they will always be solid.
9. Illinois - pre-season pick - 6th: Again, I feel like Iowa has to win out in order for them to finish ahead of us because we swept them. Or we could lay an egg against Rutgers. Izzo said he thought Illinois was a top 4 B1G team coming into the season. Several factors have contributed to Illinois having to play catch up to end the year: Thorne never really recovering from his injury, Abrams slump to begin the B1G season, Tate getting way too much PT. It's great to see what this team was capable of being with this late season surge. Just hope it's not too little too late.
10. Ohio State - pre-season pick - 8th: The "dark horse" pick according to several experts. They definitely weren't supposed to be a contender due to their lack of depth, but they definitely have too much talent to be hovering around the bottom of the league. A future 1st round draft pick at PG with some solid pieces around him. Wondering if Matta's health issues are getting worse, and he is close to hanging it up.
11. Nebraska - pre-season pick - 12th: A few big time wins early in the conference season. They've got some strong pieces to give teams headaches. Wonder how patient Nebraska will be with Miles due to their ramped up investment into the basketball program.
12. Indiana - pre-season pick - 3rd: What a free fall. Looked like a FF lock in their win over Kansas at the beginning of the year. Now it looks like in a few weeks we get to listen to IU fans convince us that Brad Stevens is going to leave his gig with a playoff NBA team to come home and spearhead another 'Movement' to get IU back to the top of college basketball again.
13. Penn State - pre-season pick - 10th: This is still a dangerous team that could compete with almost anybody in the league with their talented freshman.
14. Rutgers - pre-season pick - 14th: Despite their record, they have been sneaky competitive in several conference games this year.
1. Purdue - pre-season pick - 4th: I picked them 4th due to their questionable guard play. Their guards have been competent enough to compliment Swanigan and make Purdue look like a dark horse FF contender.
2. Wisconsin - pre-season pick - 1st: I picked them to win the league over MSU due to experience. Outside of this late skid they've been on, they've pretty much played to their expectations.
3. Maryland - pre-season pick - 7th: I botched this one. Melo Trimble has much more help than I thought. Assuming Melo leaves after this year, Maryland has a solid core for the future with Cowan, Jackson, Brantley, Dodd, and Huerter. On that note, how about the turnaround by Mark Turgeon. He was a dead man walking when Maryland entered the B1G three years ago. 4 straight tourney misses and several players left the program. Fast forward three years later he has turned it around led by Melo Trimble.
Perhaps John Groce can have a similar turn around with the Illini assuming they keep up their streak and reach the tournament? There is a certain point guard with blonde highlights in his hair coming to Champaign next year that could spearhead an ascend back to the top echelon of the league the way Melo spearheaded Maryland's turnaround.
4. Minnesota - pre-season pick - 13th: Where did this come from? A team that was as bad as Minnesota last year, injuries/suspensions or not, had absolutely no business being 22-7 (10-6) at this point in the year. Maybe Baby Poubt Face isn't as bad of a coach as we thought.
5. Michigan State - pre-season pick - 2nd: Picked high for two reasons: Kentucky-esque recruiting class, and Izzo. They had their struggles this year, but they should be safely in the tournament, and picking them to get to the FF as an 7/8/9 seed would be a solid cinderella pick on your brackets in a few weeks.
6. Northwestern - pre-season pick - 9th: Knew they were improving under Collins and it's a matter of time before he gets them to the dance. They benefited by IU's free fall, the ups and downs of Illinois, and how bad tOSU has been. Still, good for them getting to the tournament and what they've accomplished so far this season.
7. Michigan - pre-season pick - 5th: Looked very unimpressive early in the year, but are clicking now. Knew they had tons of talent considering they made the tournament last year without LaVert, and they all are back this year.
8. Iowa - pre-season pick - 11th: I don't see this holding up. I see Illinois leap frogging them due to sweeping them this year. Don't understand how they can finish ahead of Illinois even though Illinois swept them unless they win out to finish 10-8. Aside from that, there's some solid pieces there for them for the future. They are basically a poor man's version of Wisconsin. McCafferey will recruit to his system and they will always be solid.
9. Illinois - pre-season pick - 6th: Again, I feel like Iowa has to win out in order for them to finish ahead of us because we swept them. Or we could lay an egg against Rutgers. Izzo said he thought Illinois was a top 4 B1G team coming into the season. Several factors have contributed to Illinois having to play catch up to end the year: Thorne never really recovering from his injury, Abrams slump to begin the B1G season, Tate getting way too much PT. It's great to see what this team was capable of being with this late season surge. Just hope it's not too little too late.
10. Ohio State - pre-season pick - 8th: The "dark horse" pick according to several experts. They definitely weren't supposed to be a contender due to their lack of depth, but they definitely have too much talent to be hovering around the bottom of the league. A future 1st round draft pick at PG with some solid pieces around him. Wondering if Matta's health issues are getting worse, and he is close to hanging it up.
11. Nebraska - pre-season pick - 12th: A few big time wins early in the conference season. They've got some strong pieces to give teams headaches. Wonder how patient Nebraska will be with Miles due to their ramped up investment into the basketball program.
12. Indiana - pre-season pick - 3rd: What a free fall. Looked like a FF lock in their win over Kansas at the beginning of the year. Now it looks like in a few weeks we get to listen to IU fans convince us that Brad Stevens is going to leave his gig with a playoff NBA team to come home and spearhead another 'Movement' to get IU back to the top of college basketball again.
13. Penn State - pre-season pick - 10th: This is still a dangerous team that could compete with almost anybody in the league with their talented freshman.
14. Rutgers - pre-season pick - 14th: Despite their record, they have been sneaky competitive in several conference games this year.
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
Crispen had a nice touch with Malcolm. 15,000 family members here, tonight.
Future Walk-On
- Peoria, IL
obviously not a program standard season...but if we make the tourney I will be ecstatic cause this team looks real rn.
So...do we want Leron shooting the 3? I'm split. I find myself cringing anytime he puts anything up outside 18 feet. His shot still isn't there. With that said, it appears he has the green light and clearly has the potential to knock em down. If he improves that stroke, it opens up some possibilities as far as our offense goes...
It would straight-up revolutionize his game and make him a matchup nightmare for most teams. Somebody who can post and rebound like a man as well as shoot from beyond the arc? Yikes.
Wide open kick out 3s are good shots. He's found a rythm. I can live with those make or miss. The next step is to recognize when the closeout from the defender is solid or out of control, so he knows whether to pass or attack.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Keep shooting, Leron! Practice makes perfect.
I'd rather he learn to do more around the rim. His oreb% is 9.9% right now, highest of anyone playing regular minutes. (We should give Samson Oladimeji more minutes, his oreb rate is 39.5%!
). If he could finish around the rim, that'd go a long way. Elsewise, we just get a semi-redundant skillset with Finke, who is also a pretty effective offensive rebounder in his own right (9.1%). As is though, we have this trend where our bigs are learning to do more away from the hoop (Nnanna, Leron, Finke, even Colbert was putting up 3s by the end of his tenure) than at the rim, which while helpful to an extent, will be problematic if none of our bigs learn to play around the rim. Mav is the only one who has really done that - to great success - but that was his game in HS as well. Need our bigs to be a presence around the hoop in this league.
Also, please don't mistake this as saying that Leron being able to hit 3s is a bad thing, but right now, his offensive game is essentially limited to catch and shoot from 15 feet and out. I'd rather not have to choose between him making an impact on the glass and him contributing as a scorer.
Certainly, but he's known for having a faceup game and a decent short range jumper, no? I wouldn't rule out a possibility that that could wind up happening.
Leonard is still doing that at Portland....
He probably knows that he has to develop an outside shot in order to have any prayer of getting to the league so he is trying to showcase that. Also probably needs to improve ball handling so he could play the 3 and maybe be a Draymond Green type player.
He's become something of a stretch 5 in the NBA, shooting > 3 3pt attempts a game now
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Became a member of the illustrious 50/40/90 club a couple years ago.
He has a loooooooooooong way to go to even become college Draymond. He would be better off focusing a lot defensively and on the glass and getting in as a scrapper, Draymond's game off the bounce and especially as a passer, paired with his defensive excellence, is truly unique and we won't see anything like it for a while.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Agree with this. If he gets the ball in rhythm as part of the offensive flow, take the shot. What I don't like (not saying he did this against MSU) is when he is holding the ball with 20 seconds on the shot clock, looks off guys on the wings, and then decides to shoot it.
Random thought: I'm a huge fan of the relatively new PA guy.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
For those who are wondering about Abram's turnaround toward the end of the season, I think it correlates with Lucas taking over the starting point guard job. It took pressure off of Tracy and enabled him not to play as many minutes. He doesn't have all that responsibility of being the team's "engine" and can just concentrate on his shot. He slots in better coming off the bench. What do you guys think?
Oh, definitely! Good observation! I was prepared to be all nostalgic for the classic announcer, but this new guy has jumped right in and done a good job.
Well, he's not coming off the bench for starters. The other thing is that Tracy was largely playing fine, just doing so while evidently frustrated because he wasn't knocking down easy looks. He's playing with more confidence of late and back to knocking down his clean looks.
I think what likely happened was we got to conference play and some more consistent defenses that keyed on him, he hit a slump, and some combination of getting back into a groove, TJL, and some mental/attitude changes turned it around for him. A more steady rotation likely helps a lot as well.
He's still starting, but I think you make a really good point. Tracy has always been better suited to the 2.
MrOizo
- Chicago
I'm so proud of these guys for putting themselves in position to make the dance potentially. They are playing at a high level, you have to hand it to them. Groce searched and searched and finally found what works. I'm happy for him, too. Good job all around.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
kcib8130
- Parts Unknown
:tsk:
This is grasping at straws. We won the game, I doubt any recruits/potential recruits even noticed that point.