For the record Harris was runnerup for Mr Ohio BB. Gabe Cupps, IU commit won it.
Illinois 87, Eastern Illinois 57 Postgame
For the record Harris was runnerup for Mr Ohio BB. Gabe Cupps, IU commit won it.
blackdog
- Champaign
I kept getting surprised looking up at the scoreboard and seeing his stat line. He just makes plays out there. I was telling my friend he is going to have AT LEAST one triple double in his career
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
Nah, Epps will be fine. He is a great basketball player and this is just the first game of the season.
Good warm up game for tougher schedule ahead. The potential in this team is real. The ceiling is high. I see this as a team really hitting their stride come tourney time. They need time to gel but I am optimistic that this team can take us further in March than the last two seasons given the ceiling and depth of the roster.
blackdog
- Champaign
I was a little concerned about RJ, he looked really out of sorts and the bench seemed like they were trying to encourage him. His shot is not going down and it seemed to be affecting the other parts of his game as well as he didn't look dialed in on defense either. This team has some players but to really be the best version of themselves they're going to need him to step up his game.
"This is going to be a fun team to watch". Seems this is the battle cry of Illini Nation. But there are several questions arising when trying to put together a "winning team to watch". Shooting from the arc was better tonight...but mostly due to a red hot CoHawk. Mayer and Melendez need to be dependable from the arc and that has not been the case. Goode's injury will likely show in the loss column a time or two or 5. You can offer "last year's" stats all you want, but until the ball gets into the net more often, it is a problem. Free Throw shooting needs addressing by someone who knows the fundamentals....and that evidently does not exist on this staff or we would not see such horrendous mechanics by so many. Kofi evidently got some help and it paid off so find that guy and go to work. All these kids will play and they need to shoot over 70%. A lot of sloppy passes I am sure will be addressed and hopefully before a couple lead to a close loss.
What I liked seeing was the heady play and energy of TSJ and CoHawk doing good things consistently on both ends like he knows he is supposed to do., And of course....wait for it.....wait for it....don't get impatient............the sincerely sparkling quickness, effort, and heady play of..........................well heck, I forgot his name. Skyy on the other hand played a solid game all around. Epps and Rogers just need to get the frosh goo off and climb the ladder but both have brilliant futures....just need them to play good and forget spectacular...like them both.
And then there was Dainja who was pretty much exactly what was expected...and needed. Sure, he has a lot to learn about defense, position, and especially free throw shooting....but man what a weapon to have to go with all the shooters. Hope he understands how important he is to the team's success if he can improve those three blatant weaknesses. I think what Crispin was looking for to describe Caleb Williams in comparison to Dainja is that they both have body and ball control with balance which makes them look so smooth. Both have elite hand/ball control skills with Williams being quite better overall...but a great role model for DD to emulate....and Williams could make FTs.
Overall, a solid B- for this game where a C was expected. Good start and a great showing of the Illini basketball future.....but it has to be a base from which to ascend...and I think it will be. Nice job by the frosh and the leaders...TSJ and CoHawk. But they all know what they need to do to get where they want to finish.
Get ready for two more just like this before we can compare this team to anything we want to see. There will be a drastic change in level of competition...on both ends....awaiting in Vegas. The good thing is there is time to work out some wrinkles and make a few FTs before they need to show a new level of competency. But Illini Nation should be ready to support a really capable and exciting group of players in their effort to become a team and find ways to help each other win games.
What I liked seeing was the heady play and energy of TSJ and CoHawk doing good things consistently on both ends like he knows he is supposed to do., And of course....wait for it.....wait for it....don't get impatient............the sincerely sparkling quickness, effort, and heady play of..........................well heck, I forgot his name. Skyy on the other hand played a solid game all around. Epps and Rogers just need to get the frosh goo off and climb the ladder but both have brilliant futures....just need them to play good and forget spectacular...like them both.
And then there was Dainja who was pretty much exactly what was expected...and needed. Sure, he has a lot to learn about defense, position, and especially free throw shooting....but man what a weapon to have to go with all the shooters. Hope he understands how important he is to the team's success if he can improve those three blatant weaknesses. I think what Crispin was looking for to describe Caleb Williams in comparison to Dainja is that they both have body and ball control with balance which makes them look so smooth. Both have elite hand/ball control skills with Williams being quite better overall...but a great role model for DD to emulate....and Williams could make FTs.
Overall, a solid B- for this game where a C was expected. Good start and a great showing of the Illini basketball future.....but it has to be a base from which to ascend...and I think it will be. Nice job by the frosh and the leaders...TSJ and CoHawk. But they all know what they need to do to get where they want to finish.
Get ready for two more just like this before we can compare this team to anything we want to see. There will be a drastic change in level of competition...on both ends....awaiting in Vegas. The good thing is there is time to work out some wrinkles and make a few FTs before they need to show a new level of competency. But Illini Nation should be ready to support a really capable and exciting group of players in their effort to become a team and find ways to help each other win games.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
I would like our chances in a rematch against EIU.
Keep stacking days.
Keep stacking days.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
I love this team already. All the pieces are there to have a really great product. Right I see individual parts clicking, some together but most disjunct. A couple points:
- TSJ and Coleman are ballers. Both potential NBA kids. Will enjoy their season this year a lot
- Dainja and a Sencire probably pleasantly surprised me the most. Most with their touch/hook around the rim.
- RJ, Skyy and Jayden kind of had quiet nights. Won’t jump to any conclusions.
- Ty Rodgers did about everything except score, so… really hope he gets to doing that better soon
- I’d been critical of Mayer already, and I think he’s really gonna have to improve to win me over. Don’t care if you have a bad shooting night, but his effort and defense was pretty bad. Brad saw it too as he sat most of the 2nd half. Gotta be tenacious whether you’re 6-7 or 1-7 shooting.
- TSJ and Coleman are ballers. Both potential NBA kids. Will enjoy their season this year a lot
- Dainja and a Sencire probably pleasantly surprised me the most. Most with their touch/hook around the rim.
- RJ, Skyy and Jayden kind of had quiet nights. Won’t jump to any conclusions.
- Ty Rodgers did about everything except score, so… really hope he gets to doing that better soon
- I’d been critical of Mayer already, and I think he’s really gonna have to improve to win me over. Don’t care if you have a bad shooting night, but his effort and defense was pretty bad. Brad saw it too as he sat most of the 2nd half. Gotta be tenacious whether you’re 6-7 or 1-7 shooting.
Freshman point guards will be the key to this team. Once they are ready to really run, we will be tough to play with. We are so long and good everywhere else. Just need Skyy and Jaden to get comfortable and this team will be scary.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
He's got a weird back spin on the ball that makes the shot drift to the right. It looked to me that it was making it bounce oddly off the iron
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
I'm very interested to see what the minutes distribution looks like against a serious opponent. I don't think BU has a best 5-7 guys right now. There is so much versatility and interchangeable parts to this team, we might actually be deep this year. Every year we try to hype up the depth, but this year might be real.
But with depth comes a lot of decision making for BU. It's tough to get everyone playing time, but also keep guys in rhythm.
But with depth comes a lot of decision making for BU. It's tough to get everyone playing time, but also keep guys in rhythm.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Okay, so about that Hawk performance. While his improved shooting mechanics are going to be the headline, his improved decision-making is every bit as important. My guy had 0 turnovers and 1 foul. That's the maturity we so desperately need out of him. That's what's going to keep him on the floor and put us in a position to win a lot of games.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Ahhh, yeah….umm if you could go ahead and put this in .gif form….that would be great.
FWIW, Eastern plays Ohio St in 9 days. Will at least give us a little info this early into the season.
the national
- the Front Range
I couldn’t like this enough. I love that this is the first comment. He was spectacular.
the national
- the Front Range
Seriously! We now have a responsibility to give them a butt whippin on behalf of the big ten. I can’t believe the arrogance.
Lots of great stuff in this thread already. I had to miss the game, so take my comments with all of the salt.
Everyone gets a pass in game 1. Melendez might only be best in certain lineups, CoHawk missed three from downtown, Shannon not getting a double-double in 26 whole minutes, etc.
Kidding aside, I kind of hate the combined stat line of Clark, Rodgers, and Epps.
70 minutes, 2-8 FG, 1-6 FT, 8 fouls, 1 steal. 9:8 A:TO, and rebounds were apparently free this game, so little credit there.
Skyy dragging down the A:TO and not a single successful rim attack (unless that singular assist was one)
Ty perhaps not threatening away from the rim?
Epps with a lot of minutes with very little to show, even in a game where rebounds are free.
Overall, I'd say that this is a pretty good result given half of the team had lackluster games. Five fast break points suggests that there was a lot of emphasis on personnel rotations. Gotta start somewhere, and everyone really does get a pass in the season opener. It'll take more than that for me to actually worry about ball handling. Go Illini!
Everyone gets a pass in game 1. Melendez might only be best in certain lineups, CoHawk missed three from downtown, Shannon not getting a double-double in 26 whole minutes, etc.
Kidding aside, I kind of hate the combined stat line of Clark, Rodgers, and Epps.
70 minutes, 2-8 FG, 1-6 FT, 8 fouls, 1 steal. 9:8 A:TO, and rebounds were apparently free this game, so little credit there.
Skyy dragging down the A:TO and not a single successful rim attack (unless that singular assist was one)
Ty perhaps not threatening away from the rim?
Epps with a lot of minutes with very little to show, even in a game where rebounds are free.
Overall, I'd say that this is a pretty good result given half of the team had lackluster games. Five fast break points suggests that there was a lot of emphasis on personnel rotations. Gotta start somewhere, and everyone really does get a pass in the season opener. It'll take more than that for me to actually worry about ball handling. Go Illini!
I know it's just one game but being one of a few EIU alums on here, I'd be curious to get others' thoughts on what they thought of EIU and how they looked after seeing them in this game.
I think both Skyy and RJ did a lot of the right things tonight, it's just that they play a lot smoother than the other players on the court so it makes it seem like they aren't giving the necessary effort. Frank Williams and Demetri McCamey are two players that come to mind that were pointed out for that in their careers as well. Skyy was sloppy with the ball making some poor decisions with it, but he really put in the effort defensively and crashing the boards. I think that as he gets used to the speed of the college game and knowing where his teammates are and feels more comfortable in his role, the turnovers will go down and the stats will go up. As for RJ, I thought his offensive positioning and movement off the ball was good and that he did a decent job in help defense, he just didn't make his open shots. He knocks down a few open threes and his game and stat line makes everyone feel a lot better.
If there is one thing I'd like to see with both Skyy and RJ, it's making quicker decisions on the ball to drive or make the cut as it'll open up passing lanes and force the defense to scramble. But again, I think a lot of this is something that will come as they both get more comfortable with their teammates. But overall, I don't think either played badly. Mayer on the other hand just didn't have a good game on either side of the ball and he's someone we're going to need a lot more out of.
If there is one thing I'd like to see with both Skyy and RJ, it's making quicker decisions on the ball to drive or make the cut as it'll open up passing lanes and force the defense to scramble. But again, I think a lot of this is something that will come as they both get more comfortable with their teammates. But overall, I don't think either played badly. Mayer on the other hand just didn't have a good game on either side of the ball and he's someone we're going to need a lot more out of.
