Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
Someone send JCL a set of Pistol Pete's "Homework Basketball" DVDs so he can play point for us next year!
Illinois Basketball 2016-2017
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Someone send JCL a set of Pistol Pete's "Homework Basketball" DVDs so he can play point for us next year!
I want JCL taking every open shot he can get but when he puts the ball on the floor I start holding my breath.He's no way near being able to play the point at this point and time.
The reason there have been many attempts of converting players to lead or combo guards is because we haven't had a good one yet. We did not try to convert Austin, Finke or AJ. DJW will be like Hill, who isn't a a
Lead guard more like a point forward. Tate and Lewis are just point guards.
When Brandon Paul had the role of lead guard better things happened, I'd say JCL reminds me more of Paul than anyone else mentioned.
Why not allow him to go through the the pains and progression now in hopes of a better team next year?
IMO it wouldn't make us better.He needs a lot of work on his handles.He doesn't finish well at the rim either.I think DJ would have a better chance in the half court game of playing the point.He's better at attacking the basket and passes pretty well.Don't know how he'd do bringing the ball up the court under pressure though.
40% 3P at the PG sounds good to me....even if our TO % ticked up slightly. I agree that putting your best 5 out on the court is key, and challenges the opponent much more not to cheat inside or on the wings. I also think JCLs D has improved quite a bit.
It just seems to me JCL is best as a catch and shoot player.He doesn't create well right now.I do agree we need 5 players out there most of the time that can score the ball.I think we have 3 or 4 others who could handle the point better than JCL though.Not saying he can't improve his handles though.Nunn has.Hill has.
Hold on. :hand: Who the cluck ever tried or suggested Tate for the combo roll. I mean to be the off guard, one pre-req is definitely scoring/shooting. Whoever suggested or tried to make him a combo guard was either high or certifiably insane. Were they from Iowa by any chance?
And to a certain extent, Austin. Haven't heard anything about him handling the point.
Three point shooting percentages tend to decline for guys that move to PG. JCL appears to be one of the best pure shooters we have seen at Illinois (since Corey Bradford in my opinion). I think he is far to valuable as a shooter to mess with moving him to PG, not to mention his handles are really not very good.
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
it seems that the board is more optimistic than I on TA's ability to come back from two serious injuries/years off from competitive play
i see him being a spot minute guy for us next year (10min/game), regardless of how badly we need him
i see him being a spot minute guy for us next year (10min/game), regardless of how badly we need him
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
Some thoughts...
I want to see those Throwback Fighting Illini jerseys be the home jerseys all of next season. I wouldn't complain. Best jerseys IMO.
I also would like to see more bobblehead nights, but of legendary players whose banners are hanging from the rafters. We know they already did the 2005 team and Lou, but I'm thinking more along the lines of Dike Eddleman and others.
Promote Dee to assistant coach.
Have an REO Speedwagon night. Bobbleheads of the current members, plus Gary Richrath and Alan Gratzer.
I want to see those Throwback Fighting Illini jerseys be the home jerseys all of next season. I wouldn't complain. Best jerseys IMO.
I also would like to see more bobblehead nights, but of legendary players whose banners are hanging from the rafters. We know they already did the 2005 team and Lou, but I'm thinking more along the lines of Dike Eddleman and others.
Promote Dee to assistant coach.
Have an REO Speedwagon night. Bobbleheads of the current members, plus Gary Richrath and Alan Gratzer.
Agree on all accounts.
REO night would be awesome, imo, but I doubt any players or recruits (and most students) even give a care about Speedwagon... or even know who they are for that matter. A Ludacris night might be more up their alley, but even he hasn't been putting out much music in a while (at least not that I've heard, but I am getting older, admittedly)
An REO night w/b good by me, a fossil. Still remember those Friday nights at the Red Lion, peering through the smoke and hearing the whole under-the-influence bar singing whoo-whoo to Sympathy for the Devil, which they closed with every time. 'Nuther era; not sure how Ludacris would've been received.
Jalen Coleman-Lands has made 62 3 pointers on the season. Currently he is 4th!
U of I Freshman Records - 3 Point FG
1. Cory Bradford- 85
2. DJ Richardson - 69
3. Jamar Smith - 66
U of I Freshman Records - 3 Point FG
1. Cory Bradford- 85
2. DJ Richardson - 69
3. Jamar Smith - 66
JCL did not have a broken foot, had a stress fracture. But more importantly, he has come back from injury for a long time, the injury has not been much of an issue since coming back. So if he was able to play PG, he would (and should) have played already.
For what it's worth, a stress fracture is usually much worse than a clean fracture. You have to be much more careful with the recovery. He missed 4 1/2 months of training and playing, and has only been back a little more than 3 months of legit playing. Seems like a long time for fans since its been a long season of stress, but I think the time out has made it impossible for us to determine if he was capable of playing the position. If he doesn't play it next season then we'll have our answer.
Can't agree there, he had no practice time to learn to play PG. And he needs significant improvement on his handles if he's ever going to play there. If you're suggesting he simply can't play PG, then I think that's premature.
My post was in regards to accuracy, not severity. It was a stress fracture, not a broken foot.
But the issue with regards to the position (PG) has to do with JCL not been hampered by injury since coming back. He has played the whole season, including exhibitions. We are hurting big time at PG with subpar play. The whole season. It is not that we are in pursuit of tournament with good PG and results. Furthermore, it is to the player's best career interest to play the position. It is not about a player (e.g., Hill, Finke) forced to play positions that are not to their career best interests.
If JCL could play PG, he would (and should) have played.
What I am saying is that JCL does not have the PG abilities at this stage in his career, including handles, lateral movement, court awareness, etc. to play PG. I do not think injury was much of a factor, I do not believe it is a physical limitation, more of skills limitation. I understand if we were getting good PG play and we were after team goals (e.g., tournament) for not trying. But neither of those factors are present, so we could (and should) have tried.
Can he develop those skills in the future? Who knows, but that probably goes for every player. Personally, I have not seen indications of PG skillset/abilities, but would have tried him at the position this year (especially now that season has no expectations) if I had seen any signs, even in limited time and reps considering our PG play.
To be honest, I would have tried Hill first at PG, before JCL, but that is just me. Play Hill at PG, with JCL and Nunn at wings and DJW first off the bench.
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I guess we'll have to disagree. The practice time is very important in developing those skills that you acknowledge he lacks, so the injury prevented that development.
I guess I misunderstood the other part, I thought you were implying Groce should have played him at PG, didn't realize you were saying what you would have done if you were coach.
I've seen a few flashes of ability from him lately this season, driving to the basket, being more aggressive and a couple of nice dishes to teammates, but they are still too few to really give any solid indication he can play PG. I do think he can develop into at least a "lead guard" that can create for himself and at times for others, but maybe not truly a PG.
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