Illinois 86, Rutgers 51 Postgame

#126      

IllinoisssssssVarsity

I
IllinoisssssssVarsity
King Snake said:
One thing I have learned from the last couple games. Plummer has to start the rest of the season, can’t not start him. Once Curbelo comes back, here is your starting line up. DMW and Grandison first off bench.

curbelo
Trent
Plummer
Hawkins
Kofi
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I’m gonna catch flack for this and understand why, but I think Trent comes off the bench when Curbelo returns.

Him and DMW are our best combo to share handling duties when we need to go to our bench, it allows him to be really aggressive offensively against other teams second string, and he can do his lockdown thing against the other teams bench energy guy as well.

Plummer has been more consistent shooting than Trent has (some of that is his shoulder I’m sure), but we really need that space for the pick and rolls and high/lows that we’ll see so the defense has to make tough choices.
 
#128      

rtbritt

rtbritt
rtbritt
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
I’m gonna catch flack for this and understand why, but I think Trent comes off the bench when Curbelo returns.

Him and DMW are our best combo to share handling duties when we need to go to our bench, it allows him to be really aggressive offensively against other teams second string, and he can do his lockdown thing against the other teams bench energy guy as well.

Plummer has been more consistent shooting than Trent has (some of that is his shoulder I’m sure), but we really need that space for the pick and rolls and high/lows that we’ll see so the defense has to make tough choices.
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I don't know if this is really a thing in college. For the most part, the best players play as much as possible. Yes, guys obviously get a break, but if Trent is killing it on offense, he's going to see the other team's best defender, in my opinion.

I personally wouldn't mind seeing Curbelo off the bench. Last year he embraced the role and think it'd benefit him again, especially since we're doing it without him right now. Also, I think it is funny how some say we can't afford for DMW to come off the bench....when he also did it most of last year.

Also crazy that Grandison is off the bench when he was locked in as that starter last year, but I like him coming in and letting it fly, and I don't think I'd like to see CoHawk come in and start chucking...

Underwood knows what he is doing and will probably nail whatever choice he makes.
 
#130      

2qtslow

2qtslow
2qtslow
Tacomallini said:
Man I hope they stick around. Saw the lineup we already have, on paper anyway, for 2024-25 season - eight dudes already on there. Love to see Podz, RJ, and Goode as seniors on that team.
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In my fantasy world, no one ever transfers away from the Beloved and no one goes pro early. I'd take those eight and add AC, BBV, Hawk & Lieb as fifth year seniors. Of course that means the following year we'd have an eight man recruiting class which BU could not help but brand as the Elite Eight.

I'll let myself out...
 
#133      

sinmyp1

S
sinmyp1
blackdog said:
BTW Kofi is now averaging 1.3 assists per game. He was made some great passes out of the post and even when they missed or he got a hockey assist he had a HUGE smile on his face going back down the other way. There were some times this game where I thought he passed when he could have powered through but its been such an amazing change seeing him move the ball.
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He should/could have had more. There were at least 2 wide open shots that were missed that would have got him assists.
 
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#134      

Warren Carter Fanclub

Warren Carter Fanclub
Warren Carter Fanclub
sacraig said:
I don't know. Curbelo would certainly have more assists than that when playing well. Rebounds and steals, maybe. And likely more points. I think all of those stats would be either in Curbelo's advantage or a wash. The question will be all the other immeasurable things that Williams does well. I don't think it's unreasonable that Williams would get shifted to 6th man, but probably just as reasonably that Curbelo spends his first few games back as 6th man.

Either way, this is a good problem to have.
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I pray for Curbelo to do well and allow no question for his case to start because we need him but you might have forgotten one stat...turnovers.
 
#135      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
I’m gonna catch flack for this and understand why, but I think Trent comes off the bench when Curbelo returns.

Him and DMW are our best combo to share handling duties when we need to go to our bench, it allows him to be really aggressive offensively against other teams second string, and he can do his lockdown thing against the other teams bench energy guy as well.

Plummer has been more consistent shooting than Trent has (some of that is his shoulder I’m sure), but we really need that space for the pick and rolls and high/lows that we’ll see so the defense has to make tough choices.
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I usually enjoy your posts , but i stopped reading after the first sentence.....That ain't gonna happen , no way , no how.....Trent and DMW start unless injured ..............
 
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#137      

robjilla

R
robjilla
King Snake said:
One thing I have learned from the last couple games. Plummer has to start the rest of the season, can’t not start him. Once Curbelo comes back, here is your starting line up. DMW and Grandison first off bench.

curbelo
Trent
Plummer
Hawkins
Kofi
Click to expand...
I agree. You cant mess with him right now. He needs to start. You have to ride this hot wave. He is riding the fine line between not having a conscience but still getting shots within the offense. I watched that game and I'm saying to myself that Kofi really took to heart what the NBA told him. He worked on his free throws and he is not a black hole. Grandison gave him the ball in the post, he threw it back out, reposted. Grandison gave it to him again and he kicked it out again. That is very impressive.
 
#138      

robjilla

R
robjilla
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
I’m gonna catch flack for this and understand why, but I think Trent comes off the bench when Curbelo returns.

Him and DMW are our best combo to share handling duties when we need to go to our bench, it allows him to be really aggressive offensively against other teams second string, and he can do his lockdown thing against the other teams bench energy guy as well.

Plummer has been more consistent shooting than Trent has (some of that is his shoulder I’m sure), but we really need that space for the pick and rolls and high/lows that we’ll see so the defense has to make tough choices.
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I understand where you are coming from, but I don't think they will ever take trent from the starting lineup. The issue with the Trent/Curbelo/Plummer backcourt is its a small lineup. It would be good to get Williams or Grandison in there for a bigger lineup. We will see which way they go. I liked how Williams was relatively aggressive. Two three pointers and he hit them with the two dribbles going left and a dunk but they called travel. I like it and Underwood gave him a pat on the behind.. way to be aggressive! That's Damonte from junior year of high school.
 
#139      

blackdog

blackdog
Champaign
blackdog
sacraig said:
That isn't one that the OP cited. And remember, Curbelo started to cut down turnovers at the end of last year. I am not yet convinced any of the versions we saw early this year were real.
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I agree Curbelo hasn't been right when he's been on the court this year. I don't think we've gotten to see a fully healthy game ready player yet. It seems harsh to judge his play after struggling to come back from a concussion.
 
#140      

HailtotheChief

H
HailtotheChief
Other than the W what I was most pleased by was much fewer turnover for the game with 10. Hawk played great on both ends and showed more maturity. Plus Kofi shared the rock with an extra pass getting open looks.
 
#143      

hoopsfan47

H
hoopsfan47
The Galloping Ghost said:
Over the summer, I predicted Alfonso Plummer would be the 6th man of the year in the B1G. Apparently, I'm a fool because it's gonna be real hard for him to win that award if he's starting. I probably had the highest expectations for him on here and damn if he hasn't exceeded them. Scoring talent is an absolute hell of a thing. Starting or off the bench, he's a huge addition to the team.
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No one likes elite shooters more than I. However, there are two ends of the floor. At this point, WE KNOW that Plummer is a defensive liability simply because of his size. He also lacks quickness that some kids his size use to make up for the shortcoming. He needs to work his tail off on defense to make up for that. Curbelo has the same issues. BU has a tough decision in putting that puzzle together.

Not that I disagree with your take Ghost. There are even better shooters in this world that can't guard a slug. Optimizing the effectiveness of the team on the floor is a work in process for this staff. The good news is that overall, Illini fans like every piece of the puzzle. What we saw last night was a team that used all the pieces to the max and Rutgers could not...or did not want to...take advantage of anyone's shortcomings. Some of those shortcomings will never become strengths...but understanding how to hide them will bring success. Plummer hitting shots ever night is a critical contribution and I could care less who walks out to start the game. This team has 11 starters.
 
#148      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Adding Hawk to the shut down defense team with Trent and DMW is a very important piece. Omar also showed signs of qualifying for that team. Never really worried about the offense but need the defense, particularly on the road. Have a chance at Iowa to show it more than once in a row.
 
#149      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
What was pleasantly strange about this game? It was NOT a nail-biter. For a change. Took control right from the top and never let up. No dead spots.

More of this, please!