I wonder if we focus on the opposing guard-play losses (MSU, Wisconsin x2, and UCLA) because those were when we got beat in overtime to inferior teams? We were incredibly close to pulling out the win, only for their guards to punch us in the mouth repeatedly, so they sting the most.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
I believe its midnight tomorrow
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
I thought our big guys did a LOT better with help on guards and challenging shots at the rim without fouling in the tournament. Hopefully, we see that effort continue. The biggest advantage of the retention, is that gaining buy-in shouldn't take so long. David was awful on defense when he showed up late last summer, by all accounts. He embraced the coaching and got a lot better. Andrej as well.
The new guys this year will need to do the same, but I think the raw materials are there. Vaaks and Coleman both have enough length and./or athleticism to be more than fine on that end. It's matter of developing strength, understanding the scheme, and effort.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
5% of loyalty: people who think we’re going to be bad and who clearly don’t know anything about basketball
90% of loyalty: people complaining about those people as if there is way more of it than there actually is
The other 5%: insiders trying to find out if they should give us any more info
90% of loyalty: people complaining about those people as if there is way more of it than there actually is
The other 5%: insiders trying to find out if they should give us any more info
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
JJE
- North Port, Florida
Honestly, until we win a national championship it isn’t going to change.
This team has a lot better overall talent than 05-06 and it's not close.
Seems like maybe we need another Ben H. Either as a backup at the 4 or a guard. Someone who is fine with that type of role. Coming from a lower-level program and happy to be on a final four contender and content to be that role guy. And be able to hit 3s. But maybe Ben was also a unicorn in that way?
Right now, I'd be very happy with Ty being our next "addition." Absent injury, he's not going to start (which may be a no-go for him). But I think he would play a lot because he can do the things we need given our roster make-up. Can defend 1-4, handle the ball fairly well, and is a beast of a rebounder. And he's certainly not "ball-dominant."
Fully agreed. That 05-06 had so little support for Auggie and Dee Brown. There was plenty of hype around some others like Brian Randle but really there were just two reliable scorers in that squad.
Oh, absolutely.
As a baseline, Justin Harmon - who was very glad to come play here - averaged 14pts, 3.8rebs, 2.9ast at UTAH Valley. At Illinois, he played 18.7 minutes per game.
You could literally go on and on, but here's 3 guys with similar profiles at their most recent stops.
Armoni Zeigler - Ball State Cardinals Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Ball State Cardinals Guard Armoni Zeigler on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Makaih Williams Career Stats - NCAAM - ESPN
Complete career NCAAM stats for the Grand Canyon Lopes Guard Makaih Williams on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.
Rodney Brown Jr. - Loyola Marymount Lions Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Loyola Marymount Lions Guard Rodney Brown Jr. on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Actually... it's the other way around. You'll make much more playing 15 minutes here than starting for a penurious school like Boston College, Utah, DePaul, etc.
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WOW that's a bold statement, hope you are right! as you usually are
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
+1
Morillo is going to be our Swiss Army knife. should be a great showcase for his game
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Fair enough I suppose, I have been a skeptic of "positionless basketball" for a long time.
But it's just a fact that quick penetrating guards with fast hands who know how to play with leverage are an asset.
And as the announcers never went five minutes without telling us last year, we were the tallest team in America. That's mostly a plus, but everything in life has tradeoffs, the same abilities which let us shoot over everybody and dominate the boards makes us vulnerable to those ankle-bitey guards.
Anyway, in terms of being a high-energy guard with a swag streak, I loved seeing DGL become the player I knew he could be from afar this year, and I can see some of those same traits in Coleman which is exciting.
Better basketball players, especially in the frontcourt. Rich McBride and Brian Randle just kinda never became the players their talent level could have made possible.
But goodness gracious, imagine adding Dee to our current team. Pitch perfect, as good of an ankle-bitey guard as the Big Ten has ever seen.
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Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
Vaaks has lottery pick potential to my eye, especially in what's thought to be a weaker class next year.
I have no idea what's going to happen once he's in orange. He may meet the challenge or he may crumble under the weight of the expectations. Maybe it takes him two or three seasons rather than one. But there's no doubt the legitimate NBA potential jumps off the screen.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
If you think it's been tough being an Illinois fan watching so many in-state players suit up for other schools over the years, imagine how frustrated Wisky fans must be right now.
His TS% was 59.3- about the same as Wagler. He took a lot of 3s and FTs, so his FG% is meaningless
I personally ranked last year's team 4th since 88 89. You can quable about an exact number but 05 06 is somewhere around 6th 7th......this team is appearing to start at the 5th spot. Slightly worse then last year's. So closer to the 0506 team then the first spot. Only 2 guys who started the final four will be starting this year unless something changes I believe thats the same at 06.
If everyone plays to their max ability they can jump way up the list. A couple injuries and or underperfoming at the wrong spots they can drop off.
5% of loyalty: likes cottage cheese
5% of loyalty: doesn't like cottage cheese
90% of loyalty: annoyed about posts about cottage chees
Does Murillo have a spot in the rotation?
Ya, but with Jake and Andrej coming back they combined to start 43 games last year...
Finding a way to take all those starts out of the equation is quite the creative loophole.
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