I feel like people aren't paying attention to how much Mav has improved. That dude is a real deal Big Ten starting center now. Slightly different game, but production-wise he's everything we could have asked from Thorne.
Illinois Basketball 2016-2017
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I feel like people aren't paying attention to how much Mav has improved. That dude is a real deal Big Ten starting center now. Slightly different game, but production-wise he's everything we could have asked from Thorne.
Defense still leaves a bit to be desired, and poor rebounding, but offensively yes
Defense is what will give him a bench role.
He's a better defender than he was a year ago.
I think Mav, Black, Hill, Nunn, and a really top-notch PG could be a great team. Which is a depressing thought, of course.
I've been thinking the same thing. The game vs Iowa is when Mav really started to open my eyes. I know Woodbury is a total goober, but he is a 4 year B1G starter and Mav went head to head with him and IMO, outplayed him until the Pokeyes started to pull away. He's going to have a great senior year.
You don't think a team of Mav, Black, Hill, Nunn, and say Kris Dunn would be a great team?
You don't think a team of Mav, Black, Hill, Nunn, and say Kris Dunn would be a great team?
You put Hill and Nunn with another perimeter player that can has to be guarded and can get them the ball and it would be a multiplier effect.
I feel bad for Tate and Lewis, but they are like off the established scale in terms of how much they take off the table.
There was a great tweet yesterday of a gif or whatever of Bronson Koenig just playing centerfield in the middle of the lane and letting Lewis go wherever he wanted. Hill's ability to score against those kinds of looks is more impressive than people realize.
You don't think a team of Mav, Black, Hill, Nunn, and say Kris Dunn would be a great team?
Don't forget Fred VanVleet...
I don't think Kris Dunn was his complete list of top notch point guards that could make us great... Just an example.
Agreed. Just tossing another point guard name that escaped from Illinois out there.
The complete list would be very long and very depressing.
Hill>Paul is debateable, and so is Finke>Griffey. And I really have a hard time seeing JCL as a sophomore better than DJ Richardson as a senior.
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I was worried about DJW and his motor before the season started, but I am absolutely thrilled now that it doesn't seem as if it is going to be an issue going forward. He's gonna be a good one.
Hill is a potential All big 10 player. Paul is good, in fact great but he was mainly a scorer.
Griffey was very inconsistent and at his best was a 3 point shooter. Finke has more moves already.
DJ was great as a freshman but never truly improved greatly. JCL will be great next year.
If we're going to do this whole player comparison thing I think the original comparisons need to be modified a bit to more closely match up players.
I'd be interested in your comparisons, I did it based on the roles of each player.
Yeah, I think your comps were just fine. The real Xfactor might be Kipper, once he becomes eligible. If any of the practice reports are indeed true, then he would put next years team way ahead.
He was the leading scorer in 2012-13, also second in rebounds (beat out Sam M), second in assists, 44 steals and 23 blocked shots. He was a pretty good all around player, imo.
Spoiler Alert: They aren't.
I'll try and get to it tonight. Thanks for giving your opinion on it. It's an interesting conversation for sure.
Reports from guys like Werner have been mostly about his ability to rebound and provide length and ability on D. Said he has a decent shot but it needs work. I'm not sure that's all that hard to believe.
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