There's the confidence factor as well. I don't think you can project that. Just have to see how it plays out.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Well, one good thing is he will be surrounded by a healthy Goode and some more experienced players and better shooters than last season and better shooters than he had at Temple. Also, granted his 2nd shortened season he did shoot it poorly and while 11 for 34 (32.4) as a freshman isn't great it is ok and good enough for him to be guarded. Hopefully he will can be closer or better than that. I expect him to do much better surround by next years guys that can shoot and he can focus and play to his strengths. I do think he will be a better shooter than Ty or Harris. To your point, I agree that if a slot opens up its filled with an additional PG that has a proven stroke.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
We shouldn't rule out the fletch factor either.
Sorry if I missed it, but Williams should have 3 years of eligibility left, correct? RS Junior?
Multiple wings that shot 40% from 3 on 6 attempts per game in the SEC? That’s why
Agree he can shoot, but what are we going to then do with Goode, Domask,Harmon, Amani, Quincy, Rodgers,Harris?
A PG, TSJ, Hawkins, and Reeves with Dainja would be your starters.
Those other new guys didn't come in here to sit.
We need another PG. Not another wing IMO.
It was also stated yesterday that Williams was coming even if we got RayJ to backup.
Staff need to keep that plan.
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Having 8 upper classmen is how you win conference titles and go deep in March. I like this roster even if they don't pursue anyone else. Time to renew the ticket package.
I don’t disagree. Just laying out why you take a player like Reeves regardless of need if he is available. TSJ/Reeves would be one of the most dynamic wing duos in the country IMO.
I guess we are all burned after last year.
If Williams is healthy and can still guard we certainly will be good.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
That's a bit like saying you can win the national title in football with 5 stars all over the field, but a 5 star converted WR or something at QB.
It's possible, sure. But my god you're playing with both arms behind your back and it would be SO EASY to make the team SO MUCH better with one average player.
This isn't a matter of insider gossip, BU said publicly at the outset of the offseason that PG was the top priority. He's lost his mind if we don't acquire one.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
It will be so much easier to tell when covid years are gone...
2020: FR (Covid year) Temple
2021: SO Temple
2022: RS Iowa St.
2023: RS JR Illinois
2024: RS Senior
2025: ??? Covid RS Senior? I guess it's possible
We're talking about basketball?
I'm sorry, but that is simply not true. Could it happen - sure, but pg play is usually big in March Madness. Now, we have a lot of what seems to be tougher-minded players that will be defensively focused that should be better team play, but we either need more improved shooting if lack of pg play, or diverse basketball with ball-movement in which I think Domask, improved Ty, etc... will help. However, you usually still need a pg to set up stuff. Remember when we tried to have TSJ be the initiator last year against Purdon't - it was pretty rough.
If you have bigs that can shoot then the lane is open for a 6’4” man to take it to the basket. Curbelo couldn’t shoot a lick from 3 pt land but was extremely effective . Seems like a guy that size from PSU crushed us from inside. Much rather have a guy that can play defense and pass than another Plummer with this surrounding cast.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
You have to have steady, real PG play to be any good in college basketball.
This is going to be half the team it could be if we don't fix this.
Lville do you see Underwood going after Reeves and whats our chances of getting him?
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
Who. is. Passing. Guys. The. Ball.
We get Reeves and we’ll have a TON of talent…just need a willing passer who can find these elite college talents.
Buck Harris, Shannon, Williams, Ty, and Trollman is about as good as it gets on the defensive end of the floor at the college level imo.
We get Reeves and we’ll have a TON of talent…just need a willing passer who can find these elite college talents.
Buck Harris, Shannon, Williams, Ty, and Trollman is about as good as it gets on the defensive end of the floor at the college level imo.
A healthy Williams, apparently
If the coaches want to go into the season with this roster (and LVille says with this roster they think we have final 4 potential) then that's good enough for me and I'm good to roll with it. Don't need the approval of (while obviously very intelligent & well-spoken yada yada) fans who don't know a lot about actually coaching the sport at a Div 1 collegiate level.
Would certainly like for him to shoot at a better clip, but there are a few things that are different from last season.
First, he’s an actual experienced PG. Other than Skyy (and he wasn’t experienced) the others we ran out there were not point guards. So they had no idea how to run an offense effectively — especially under duress at the P6 level. So if their shot wasn’t falling, they just couldn’t get the team going. I think that is less likely to be the case with Williams.
Second, it seems far more likely that he will actually run the plays called and the offense. Multiple reports say that wasn’t the case last year. I think the impact of this not happening last year is largely overlooked. Just one way this could help is to shorten those pesky scoring droughts. It is at times like that when running a particular play could result in an easy bucket and get things back on track. Instead, plays weren’t being run and the result was hero ball or bad shots at the end of shot clock.
Third, don’t underestimate the impact of good D and hustle. How often have we seen those things ignite the offense? And poor D by Epps and Clark last year had a much greater impact than just on that side of the ball. It’s those lapses that saw them sent to the bench (and get an earful from BU). And when their shot wasn’t falling, they had nothing to give themselves a spark and get back on track. Guy like Harris or Frazier before him can use that D to ignite his own play and the team’s play.
Williams ain’t no RayJ and I’d like the pick up more if he wasn’t coming off the injury, but he isn’t chopped liver. And if he can get/stay healthy, I think he can be a big improvement over Skyy and Epps play last year.
all it would take is a 16 seed pressing us. Nobody would be able to bring the ball up.
Just don't imagine them on the offensive side....Can you imagine him and Sencire on the floor at the same time?
Could see the repeat of the UI-PSU game Barf
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