Kofi Cockburn in the transfer portal

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#2,027      

sacraig

The desert
Animated GIF


If I had any talent I'd put the block I over Baldwin and an UK over Lemon, and of course have it say "Put that Kofi down"
If I had time I'd oblige you but I have too many impending deadlines to go down that rabbit hole. I'm not good enough to do it quickly.
 
#2,032      

altenberger22

South Carolina
I wonder if even Underwood was surprised at the overwhelming lack of talent he was given to work with when he arrived at a Big Ten state school.
I seem to recall hearing all of the following from Brad prior to the start of the season:

1. Mark Smith is an elite talent
2. Trent Frazier is an elite shooter
3. Michael Finke is an elite passer
4. This squad should be a tournament team come next March
 
#2,033      

sacraig

The desert
I seem to recall hearing all of the following from Brad prior to the start of the season:

1. Mark Smith is an elite talent
2. Trent Frazier is an elite shooter
3. Michael Finke is an elite passer
4. This squad should be a tournament team come next March
Turns out that Mark Smith was also an elite whiner and Michael Finke was also replacement level in every other skill with elite hair. Maybe Finke could have developed into a much more dynamic player under a different staff, but we didn't have a different staff.
 
#2,035      
2019 or 2020? 2019 was hard to swallow. 2020 I felt a little better knowing the future was bright. Either way, cheers to you

2019, Ayo’s freshman year. I felt we had a bright(er) future, but at that point it was simply hope. We got run out of the gym in the second half, all the Illini fans left and a chorus of Iowa chanting rang through our Home Away From Home. It was dark.

So happy to be in such a better place! Tournament upsets happen, but damn this rebuild has been complete!
 
#2,037      
UCLA is going to be very good.
The final four run certainly is the backbone of most of that hype, yet they barely limped into the tourney and out of the first four game. Certainly a top 10 preseason team, but these top 2 with Gonzaga has me scratching my head a bit.
 
#2,040      
The men's basketball turnaround that BU and JW have helped orchestrate has been magnificent. Zero complaints.
I agree with this, however it would've been nice not to have 2 Illinois Mr. Basketballs transfer out (even though it was for the greater good)!
 
#2,046      
altenberger22: “I seem to recall hearing all of the following from Brad prior to the start of the season:
1. Mark Smith is an elite talent
2. Trent Frazier is an elite shooter
3. Michael Finke is an elite passer
4. This squad should be a tournament team come next March.”

1. Mark Smith IS an elite talent... in the minds of his family and ‘handlers’... and himself.

2. Trent Frazier IS an elite shooter... or at least HAS been at times.

3. Finke IS an elite passer... for every pass that did connect successfully.

4. The Squad should be a tournament team EVERY March. Even when they are less than talent-laden. This is Illinois Basketball... where Illini Nation deserves an ELITE team (or at least elite effort) every season so that they can do an ELITE job during The Time of Madness.

It’s a coaches job to instill confidence in his players. Even if it means exaggerating a bit. In his heart, the coach knows what’s he’s got out there. He’s sees them every day in practice and on film (and maybe even in his nightmares). What he’s trying to do is give these guys a target a bit beyond their reach so that they can grow into it. Sounds ‘Elite’ to me.
 
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