This team certainly has the ability to be the best team Brad has ever put together. There’s not a single guy on the floor that can be left unchecked.
Andrej- can take over a game by himself for stretches, as seen last night.
Kylan- returning to sharpshooter form, attacks the rim, can create his own shot or get others involved
Mirk- Cleans up misses, makes the hockey assist pass, can step into a three, put the ball on the deck and drive, finish around the rim
Tomi- 7”2 shooter, elite vision, can finish around the cup with a push shot, catch and shoot from midrange, can finish off both shoulders… elite center.
Wagler- Good midrange game. Has a very stoic and poised style of play, which is great compliment to an aggressive Kylan & Andrej. Prettiest jumper on the team, and is pure from deep & the line. Length allows him to shoot and finish over other teams guards. Untapped potential.
Ben- Will take & can make catch and shoot threes. Microwave shooter off the bench. Improved “booty ball” game with a solid 10-15 foot fade/jumper. Sneaky bounce.
Jake- 3 point specialist
Big Z- Can do everything Tomi can do but is more athletic. Good handle, will put the ball on the floor, will shoot and make threes if left open. All at 7”2
Petro-(?) we will see, but certainly has proven against other pros that he belongs. A true old school PG.
That’s 9/9. Have we ever had a team in the Underwood era where EVERYONE can be a threat on that side of the ball?
2023-24
- Ty didn’t shoot, defenses sagged & even put their 5 on him.
- No true 5 man. Coleman playing out of position.
Man… TJ was such a killer. Doesn’t have anything to do with this point I’m making.. but he willed that team to a BTT championship & an E8 playing 4 on 5 offensively and with no true center other than Dain who thought he was a guard. All time Illini legend forever.
2020-21:
- Damonte shot over 50% from three that year but that was an anomaly.
- Curbelo was a very poor outside shooter
i mean.. these teams aren’t slouches. Brad has basically rolled out lineups where there’s no more than 2 or 3 guys who you trust to make an outside jumper are on the floor at a time. Certainly Kofi, Belo, Ty, Damonte (4/5 years), Dain, Payne, Sencire, Amani, Morez are guys you want taking a three. And we’ve had at least 1 of those guys in our rotation every year since 2016.
Now, Ty may come back this year- I’d be happy if he does obviously- but for the time being… everyone we play, any lineup combination, we have guys who are threats from all 3 levels of the floor. An abundance of riches, one we haven’t seen- maybe ever.
There won’t be too many times we are calling on one guy to go get us a bucket. The pressure that was on guys like KJ, Will, TJ, Ayo, Kofi was a lot to rely on. We saw what happens when our superstar was hurt. Or if Kofi was in foul trouble. Or if Ayo was loose with the ball. Brad has built so many teams with a star (or multiple) and a lot of complimentary pieces.
This years team doesn’t have “complimentary” pieces around 1 guy. Or 2..or 3… they have a team that has 5 dudes on the floor at all times (Ok, maybe calling Jake a “dude” is a stretch, but if he is open I’m expecting it to go in) that can go get you one. Or take over. Andrej not hitting shots? Ok Kylan go attack the rim. Tomi struggling? Ok let’s bring his twin brother in. Ben not hitting shots or rebounding? Jake it’s your turn.
Let’s go win a natty.
Andrej- can take over a game by himself for stretches, as seen last night.
Kylan- returning to sharpshooter form, attacks the rim, can create his own shot or get others involved
Mirk- Cleans up misses, makes the hockey assist pass, can step into a three, put the ball on the deck and drive, finish around the rim
Tomi- 7”2 shooter, elite vision, can finish around the cup with a push shot, catch and shoot from midrange, can finish off both shoulders… elite center.
Wagler- Good midrange game. Has a very stoic and poised style of play, which is great compliment to an aggressive Kylan & Andrej. Prettiest jumper on the team, and is pure from deep & the line. Length allows him to shoot and finish over other teams guards. Untapped potential.
Ben- Will take & can make catch and shoot threes. Microwave shooter off the bench. Improved “booty ball” game with a solid 10-15 foot fade/jumper. Sneaky bounce.
Jake- 3 point specialist
Big Z- Can do everything Tomi can do but is more athletic. Good handle, will put the ball on the floor, will shoot and make threes if left open. All at 7”2
Petro-(?) we will see, but certainly has proven against other pros that he belongs. A true old school PG.
That’s 9/9. Have we ever had a team in the Underwood era where EVERYONE can be a threat on that side of the ball?
2023-24
- Ty didn’t shoot, defenses sagged & even put their 5 on him.
- No true 5 man. Coleman playing out of position.
Man… TJ was such a killer. Doesn’t have anything to do with this point I’m making.. but he willed that team to a BTT championship & an E8 playing 4 on 5 offensively and with no true center other than Dain who thought he was a guard. All time Illini legend forever.
2020-21:
- Damonte shot over 50% from three that year but that was an anomaly.
- Curbelo was a very poor outside shooter
i mean.. these teams aren’t slouches. Brad has basically rolled out lineups where there’s no more than 2 or 3 guys who you trust to make an outside jumper are on the floor at a time. Certainly Kofi, Belo, Ty, Damonte (4/5 years), Dain, Payne, Sencire, Amani, Morez are guys you want taking a three. And we’ve had at least 1 of those guys in our rotation every year since 2016.
Now, Ty may come back this year- I’d be happy if he does obviously- but for the time being… everyone we play, any lineup combination, we have guys who are threats from all 3 levels of the floor. An abundance of riches, one we haven’t seen- maybe ever.
There won’t be too many times we are calling on one guy to go get us a bucket. The pressure that was on guys like KJ, Will, TJ, Ayo, Kofi was a lot to rely on. We saw what happens when our superstar was hurt. Or if Kofi was in foul trouble. Or if Ayo was loose with the ball. Brad has built so many teams with a star (or multiple) and a lot of complimentary pieces.
This years team doesn’t have “complimentary” pieces around 1 guy. Or 2..or 3… they have a team that has 5 dudes on the floor at all times (Ok, maybe calling Jake a “dude” is a stretch, but if he is open I’m expecting it to go in) that can go get you one. Or take over. Andrej not hitting shots? Ok Kylan go attack the rim. Tomi struggling? Ok let’s bring his twin brother in. Ben not hitting shots or rebounding? Jake it’s your turn.
Let’s go win a natty.
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