Illinois Basketball 2016-2017

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#1      

AnticipatedSerendipity

A
AnticipatedSerendipity
Schedule-

NIT Season Tip-Off with FSU, Temple, West Virginia (Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
Probably Thursday November 24th & Friday 25th

B1G/ACC Challenge: Illinois to host NC State
Tuesday, November 29th

Illinois vs VCU in American Airlines Arena (Miami, FL)
Saturday, December 3rd

United Center: Illinois vs BYU (doubleheader with Northwestern-Dayton)
Saturday, December 17th

Braggin' Rights vs Mizzou in STL
Wednesday, December 21st


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No where have I lost hope for Illini basketball, but I have noticed I am watching the games now because I have hope for the future. I watch the games because I am excited to see JCL, Finke, AJ and DJW develop. I watch now because Hill and Nunn can score. I watch and begin to think how much better the team would be next year if only this that and everything in between happen. Let's begin speculating on our future success.
 
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#2      

AnticipatedSerendipity

A
AnticipatedSerendipity
Starting the thread with a thought that will get hammered. Make Nunn our 6th man.

Starting lineup: Lucas, JCL, Hill, Black, 5th year big
Next off the bench in order: Nunn, Finke, Abrams, Morgan, DJW, AJ, Nichols, Tate
 
#3      

Klondike

K
Klondike
I would be shocked if Lucas is able to come in and be the starting PG next year. It will probably be Tracy.
 
#4      

Cubby Blue

C
Cubby Blue
Klondike said:
I would be shocked if Lucas is able to come in and be the starting PG next year. It will probably be Tracy.
Click to expand...

I think it will be Tracy as well, and I hope TJL splits it with him. We need Tracy's leadership on the court and his mentoring of TJL off the court.
 
#5      

Cubby Blue

C
Cubby Blue
AnticipatedSerendipity said:
Starting the thread with a thought that will get hammered. Make Nunn our 6th man.

Starting lineup: Lucas, JCL, Hill, Black, 5th year big
Next off the bench in order: Nunn, Finke, Abrams, Morgan, DJW, AJ, Nichols, Tate
Click to expand...

I don't know. I just don't see what Black has done to warrant automatically starting. Finke has done more his frosh year than Black did in his (mostly because of foul problems).

Also, if you look at our team, we are good when Nunn is good. We will need him to be a big time starter next year along with Malcolm.

Can't evaluate Nichols.
 
#6      

Tygor

T
Tygor
Yeah I'm pretty hesitant to put Black in the starting five barring something unusual happening. I could see Mav stepping up into the 5th year big role if we can't get someone, otherwise I'd assume Black/Mav play the 5.

Abrams/Nunn/JCL/Hill/<insert Finke/Mav/Black here>

Lucas/DJW/AJ will close out the playing time barring injury. Not sure what Nichols, Tate, other Frosh roles would be on this team.
 
#7      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
Cubby Blue said:
I don't know. I just don't see what Black has done to warrant automatically starting. Finke has done more his frosh year than Black did in his (mostly because of foul problems).

Also, if you look at our team, we are good when Nunn is good. We will need him to be a big time starter next year along with Malcolm.

Can't evaluate Nichols.
Click to expand...

Granted it was exhibition, but he was one of our best players in Europe.
 
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#8      

brosox

B
brosox
If this year has proven anything it is that we need a tough interior rebounder/defender. So, Black and Finke/Morgan would be in my starting lineup. I would also go with Tracy and Hill, then decide between the better of Nunn and Coleman-Lands. You simply cannot play major minutes in the Big with a small lineup that has all of Tracy/Lucas, Hill, Nunn and Coleman-Lands on the court at the same time.
 
#9      

Cubby Blue

C
Cubby Blue
brosox said:
If this year has proven anything it is that we need a tough interior rebounder/defender. So, Black and Finke/Morgan would be in my starting lineup. I would also go with Tracy and Hill, then decide between the better of Nunn and Coleman-Lands. You simply cannot play major minutes in the Big with a small lineup that has all of Tracy/Lucas, Hill, Nunn and Coleman-Lands on the court at the same time.
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I would rather see Finke and Morgan in the lineup together with Black as their replacement. First because I think Finke and Morgan play well together (in limited time I have seen) and second because I like Black coming off the bench after the start of the game so he doesn't hack a guy at the 19:58 mark. :D Black will add energy off the bench. Hopefully not too much energy. He needs a governor on him.
 
#10      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
What are the weaknesses of the team right now?

PG play
Post depth
Defense
Rebounding

I don't think there's any question that Abrams, TJL, and Tate is a better pg rotation than Tate and Lewis. Even if Tracy is only 75% he is still a better threat to shoot and as a 6th yr senior his leadership on the court will be unmatched.

Right now we only have Finke and Mav in the post, with Malcolm playing out of position filling in. Next year we will have Black back, and you have to assume we will pick up at least a warm body via transfer or a flier on a HS recruit. We will also have the option to play DJW at the 4 in a 4 guard lineup depending on matchups, and I think we also all expect Nichols to get some time playing the 4 too.

Our defense will hopefully be improved with our sophomore class making the normal improvements, as well as having less tired legs due to more depth throughout the lineup. Finke should be a better defender in the post with added weight and experience, and Black will make us better there as well. Depending on Tracys health we should be better at keeping other PG's out of the lane, and by all accounts TJL is a good defender as well.

Rebounding is what I see as our main weakness, although it should be improved from this year. Black will help immensely in that area, and Finke should gain some weight and be better able to hold position as well. I think at this point Mav probably is what he is in regards to rebounding. I think the potential to be much improved exists depending on who we get to fill that last scholarship as a big.

One thing I do know, we should be deep on the wings:
Hill
Nunn
JCL
AJ
DJW
Nichols

Hopefully we stay healthy and Malcolm can play almost exclusively on the wing where he belongs
 
#11      

IlliniFan12

I
Cedar Falls, IA
IlliniFan12
I like the idea of being able to play Kipper at the 4 due to his big ten-sized body. Dude is a BEAST
 
#13      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
TCTORNADO said:
Remember the key on Nichols is versatility. He's a plus defender with a high motor.
Click to expand...

Going just off my incredibly biased gut, a few youtube videos, and a picture of him at practice, I feel like he is a huge steal for our program, and a very under the radar recruit nationally
 
#14      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
illini8507 said:
Going just off my incredibly biased gut, a few youtube videos, and a picture of him at practice, I feel like he is a huge steal for our program, and a very under the radar recruit nationally
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You forgot those all important practice reports.:D
 
#15      

Shane Walsh

Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
Shane Walsh
illini8507 said:
As beat up, tired, and reliant on freshman as this team is I don't really think it's fair to have any kind of expectations for this season other than effort
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I love this thread, and I love this post.
This season is lost. It was lost a long time ago. Let's move on and focus on the positive future that lies ahead. :illinois:
 
#17      

Greensboro

Greensboro
Greensboro
illini8507 said:
What are the weaknesses of the team right now?

PG play
Post depth
Defense
Rebounding
Click to expand...

Calvin said:
Exactly why I'm worried. That's a pretty serious list, and I especially thought we could figure out how to play defense this year, if nothing else.
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Most of these are tallest midget contests, but with the low bars we should easily be better at all of these next year barring a major injury disaster like this year, the question is more how much better we will be at these.

We should be covered at wing. Just keep Nunn & Hill healthy please.

Rebounding & Post Defense have both taken big hits from injuries, just adding Black back to the mix and actually having 3 bigs would be wonderful. Who starts is moot, we have more than enough time for all 3 & I believe Black will help with both defense and rebounding. Sure he was a foul machine as a freshman, but he will get better, will it be enough will be the key. Hopefully we add another impact big and have additional options or at least some depth for injuries.

PG should be better because the bar can't get much lower, but not expecting miracles. If Tracy is fully back or TJL turns up ready then we could even shoot for mid B1G level, anything above worst in the B1G is a step up.

Defense will be better with Black/Tracy as options & hopefully some Freshman improvements but again the bar is pretty low.

In the end I think Hill, Nunn, and the wings can carry us most of the way if we can find enough help at the 1, 4, & 5 including some depth.
 
#19      

Greensboro

Greensboro
Greensboro
TCTORNADO said:
Remember the key on Nichols is versatility. He's a plus defender with a high motor.
Click to expand...

I'm cautiously optimistic on Nichols, he looks like he could help, but underrated/overacheiving impact freshman and Illinos basketball seems like an oxymoron.

The great practice reports don't help either.
 
#20      

Illinifan5

I
Illinifan5
I think next years team could be very special. I completely agree with a poster above mentioning that Nunn should be the sixth man. I think he would be better suited in that role. I hope we can get a 5th year big man but if not we should be ok still with Finke and Mav. Kipper Nichols is going to surprise alot of people IMO. With his build and work ethic, he could develop into a star someday. We actually have quite a few pieces to work with next year.
PG-Tracy Abrams
SG-Jalen Coleman-Lands
SF-Malcolm Hill
PF-Leron Black (or Finke)
C-Maverick Morgan (or 5th year big)
Bench-Nunn, Finke, DJ Williams, Kipper Nichols, Te'jon Lucas
I like Aaron Jordan but i just dont see where he fits in next year with so much wing depth.
 
#21      

ChicagoChief

C
ChicagoChief
Abrams
JCL
Hill
Finke
Morgan

T. Lucas
Nunn
DJW
Black
Nichols (?)

I really don't see Tate or A. Jordan doing much for this team next year.
 
#24      

Illinifan5

I
Illinifan5
ChicagoChief said:
And oh man as I type that out and read it I think.....this team doesn't look so hot either.
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I dont know, i think they could be pretty good. Just need to avoid injuries. I would definitely feel more comfortable if Groce was able to get another big through the transfer wire however.
 
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