Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Jordan should redshirt if he isn't the backup 2.
Illinois Basketball 2016-2017
- Status
Jordan should redshirt if he isn't the backup 2.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
He will probably get some rotation time at the 4 but depends who is on the team next year.
They both will play, I think Black gives us more rebounding/defense, Finke more of a stretch 4.
Barring injuries the 4/5 frontcourt rotations are pretty much set:
Thorne/Mav at 5
Finke/Black at 4
Any diversions from that would mean that Black has not made the expected progress in his game.
Just curious, you implying Thorne & Finke together; Mav & Black together. Makes some sense to balance rebounding & defense...but can't see it being that strict of a rotation.
No, I am saying that Thorne/Mav will cover the 5 and that Finke/Black will cover the 4. No that will always have a fixed combination, although Thorne will most likely start. Who starts between Finke/Black will depend on performance and matchups, but I can definitely see the possibility of Finke starting ahead of Black as well.
Black has a short suspension, which will probably give some flexibility and give players chance to earn playing time.
Finke will likely start at the 4 while Black is on suspension; if he is playing well, I do not see Groce putting Black in there ahead of him. If he isn't playing well, obviously Black gets a chance to take over the starting role. DJW or Hill will also have the position flexibility to play the 4 if other guards are proving better options than Finke.
Lots of things can happen here.
Very interested to see where Kipper fits in and who subsequently loses pt because of it.
Me too. As has been mentioned on here before, generally coaches want to play 8 or 9 players. So Thorne, Finke, Black, Hill, and JCL are basically locks. Mav and Abrams are very likely to play as well. Which only leaves 1 or 2 spots left between Lucas, Kipper, DJW, and Jordan. Of course, if Nunn is back he is also a lock to play.
CrazedUIFan
UI Fan in QC Land
The best part of Thorne returning is that Hill will play most of his minutes at his natural position.
Don't forget the timing, Kipper will most likely start playing after first semester. And chances are that even if Abrams is ready to play, either Lucas or Tate (if he returns) will most likely back him up.
Not only Hill, many others. Will keep Finke/Black at 4, Hill at 3, Kipper at 3/4, DJW likely at 3, etc.
Key now becomes finding adequate solutions at PG.
Or Hill.
I hope not. That still creates a problem playing Hill away from his natural position (3), but more importantly means that we will still have major problems at PG (i.e., Abrams not ready for good minutes, and Lucas/Tate inadequate in PG role).
I'm just not expecting much from Lucas this season. Some people are really high on him, but most people are really high on every incoming freshman. And I think people are really overestimating this one because we finally have a PG coming in with talent/potential. We already know Hill is a better PG option than Tate. Plus, I don't think playing out of position at PG is nearly as hindering for Hill as playing the 4 is. My early guess on PG minutes is something like
Abrams 20 mpg
Hill 10 mpg
Lucas 10 mpg
Of course I will probably change my guess once we inevitably here about how Lucas is killing it in summer practices.
Hill has to be the happiest guy on the team that Thorne gets another year. It will give him a year to audition for a chance to play at the next level.
I don't expect Hill to play PG in the fall. I believe TJL will get ample opportunity to learn and prove he can play. Coaches will want the best 8 or 9 playing for the B1G season, so it is equally possible that Finke/Black are really solid at the 4 and either Kipper or DJW play so well at the 3 that you have to give them 12 or 15 mpg, moving Hill to PG for 5 or 8 mpg.
I readily admit your scenario (struggling at PG) is the more likely reason Hill would play PG, just not the only scenario.
Definitely worth tempering expectations at this point, but I think there's some realistic positives he can bring to the table immediately, even if it's 10-15mpg. Lucas is an excellent defender at the hs level, and should hopefully be a plus defender out of the gate. If he can make a few buckets here and there, I'll be stoked.
I think the important thing for Lucas this year is to be a sponge under Tracy and Tate and learn everything he can from those guys. Those two may not be elite point guards, but you can certainly pick worse guys to come up under.
I too am interested in how he fits in, but I am just curious as to why so many think he is likely to play much of a role.
I can see him maybe defining a role like DJW did at the end of last year, but not much more. It just seems that we actually have some talented players who will have played the whole 1st semester and I don't really see him jumping a lot of them once the rotation has taken shape.
I HOPE he does, but I'm not really that optimistic.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
Honestly he will be a freshman anyway next year. Wouldn't shock me if he gets DJW like minutes next year.
I don't know if people are overhyping his abilities and possible production or just relieved and comfortable with a player like Kipper helping off the bench without having a huge drop off in talent, like we've been used the last couple of years. Most of our starters have solid backups for once.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Obviously, no one knows how this will shake out. If Nichols is consistently bringing it in practice, he'll get decent minutes once he's eligible. Players play players.
Dan
Admin
Te'Jon Lucas ready for journey in Champaign
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1671408-te-jon-lucas-ready-for-journey-in-champaign
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1671408-te-jon-lucas-ready-for-journey-in-champaign
DJ and N K can help themselves greatly by developing as energetic board hounds and lock down defenders.
I'd love for us to get a deep rotation where we can go 110% and be known as the the top B10 "motor" team and wear teams down. Well see.
Maybe there aren't "so many" that think he plays a huge role. I believe we (me and those that replied) are in agreement that hopefully he works hard in practice and is able to steal some minutes and play a role on our team once eligible. :thumb:
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