Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
A tie would be pretty good.
Looking ahead to 2021-2022
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Always Illini
- Central Illinois
WCIA is reporting that the whole team is on the way back to town to be honored at the halftime of the spring football game which will also be on BTN. They say the stadium will be open to 25% capacity. Not sure what the capacity is any more but 25% has to be over 12,000 so it could be a pretty nice way to honor the team back to campus. That also means you can't read too much into any of them showing up in CU.
Adam Miller too? That should be interesting!
Anyone keeping up with MI and WI returnees?
On paper WI has empty cupboard if their seniors leave; yet, if they all return they’ll have the same problem next year.
MI has the #1 class but also could have Mike Smith, Livers, Brooks, and Chaundee Brown all return. Not to mention Dickinson, and a few guys ranked high enough out of HS to expect some playing time. Will be interesting to see where all the pieces fall.
On paper WI has empty cupboard if their seniors leave; yet, if they all return they’ll have the same problem next year.
MI has the #1 class but also could have Mike Smith, Livers, Brooks, and Chaundee Brown all return. Not to mention Dickinson, and a few guys ranked high enough out of HS to expect some playing time. Will be interesting to see where all the pieces fall.
Smith and Brown are gone. No word yet on Livers or Brooks.
While that is true, this roster played under the old defensive scheme. BU changed his defense two years ago, plugging up a lot of holes on that part of the equation.Underwood went 14-18 with this roster below, and I don't think next year's team will have more talent. Probably about the same. Leron Black and freshman Trent Frazier were pretty good players, but it takes a roster of good players to be a good. Not just 1 guy.
2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini Men 's Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Check out the detailed 2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.comwww.sports-reference.com
More athletic Larry Bird?
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I agree finish was probably not significant in getting us here. But 2005 was a different year though, Head & Powell used up eligibility, Deron similar to Ayo as a no brained to go to NBA. This year Trent/Damonte have an opportunity to return that isn’t normal.
Agree with this but Hutch, Goode, and Melendez all have a lot of offensive talent. If any of them have defensive talent to go with their length it will be interesting. The team will have enough offense to be competitive regardless of Miller and Kofi. The question will always be about defense and especially without Kofi.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
With the addition of Podz, we could be sneaky good next year.
Still waiting on Kofi, AM, TF, and DMW. Those four can really swing our collective ceiling and floor for next year.
Still waiting on Kofi, AM, TF, and DMW. Those four can really swing our collective ceiling and floor for next year.
This. Plenty of insta and behind the scenes footage of him being a knockdown jump shooter. It just didn't translate in-game. But I'm confident it will.
Livers would be insane to come back if he's got a chance to get drafted given his injury history.
Also seems like Trent is returning as well
My guess is that none of these four return. Hope I am wrong. Really weird situation. We could be anything from top 10 preseason to Big 10 bottom fishers.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
WRT Trent, that would be surprising to his dad and brother.
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I think Trent coming back makes sense from his perspective. He wants to look better to potential employers in Europe and being a top option on offense (a la Michigan game) can do wonders for his stock.
My thoughts on starting 5 assuming super seniors return and AM doesn't return:
PG: Curbelo, Trent F, Goode?
SG: Trent F, Podz, Hutch, Goode
SF: Hutch, Melendez, Podz
F: Jacob G, DMW, Coleman, BBV
C: Kofi, Hamlin, BBV, Coleman, Lieb
Whatever this looks like, there is a huge glut at the 2,3,4 spot. I see a struggle to get Coleman more consistent time if DMW comes back. We are weak at the lead guard spot beyond Curbelo. I don't know much about Goode's or Podz or anyone else's dribbles and ability to run the offense, so if someone else does, please enlighten me. But Trent coming back is probably as key as Kofi coming back IMO.
PG: Curbelo, Trent F, Goode?
SG: Trent F, Podz, Hutch, Goode
SF: Hutch, Melendez, Podz
F: Jacob G, DMW, Coleman, BBV
C: Kofi, Hamlin, BBV, Coleman, Lieb
Whatever this looks like, there is a huge glut at the 2,3,4 spot. I see a struggle to get Coleman more consistent time if DMW comes back. We are weak at the lead guard spot beyond Curbelo. I don't know much about Goode's or Podz or anyone else's dribbles and ability to run the offense, so if someone else does, please enlighten me. But Trent coming back is probably as key as Kofi coming back IMO.
Umm. Looks like you are forgetting Payne?
Riiighhhtt...damn...makes it even harder.
PG: Curbelo, Trent F, Goode?
SG: Trent F, Podz, Hutch, Goode
SF: Hutch, Payne, Melendez, Podz
F: Jacob G, DMW, Coleman, Payne, BBV
C: Kofi, Hamlin, BBV, Coleman, Lieb
blackdog
- Champaign
Payne is a 5 not a 3/4. Podz is also probably the closest of the freshman to a 1/2.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I'm sure it's SOMEWHERE in this thread, but has anyone actually heard something one way or the other on Kofi? Or has he simply told the staff he needs time to decide. I know the deadline and stuff, but it seems strange to hear so few rumors, compared to Adam Miller. Maybe I totally missed something.
It feels so weird to be hanging on the decision of two players (Miller and Kofi) SO much. I mean, last year we were all hoping that Ayo and Kofi would be back and knew that it would kind of make or break our NCAAs potential (well, at least on paper...), but at the same time we were simply a top 20-25 team in 2019-20 that also had a strong leader in Feliz who was leaving and no more Griffin. As excited as I was going into last year, we now KNOW that this team can play at a top 5 level, even without Ayo. As disappointing as the Loyola loss was, if Kofi and Adam returned, I would be even more excited for this year, I think ... especially because I could attend a game.
It feels so weird to be hanging on the decision of two players (Miller and Kofi) SO much. I mean, last year we were all hoping that Ayo and Kofi would be back and knew that it would kind of make or break our NCAAs potential (well, at least on paper...), but at the same time we were simply a top 20-25 team in 2019-20 that also had a strong leader in Feliz who was leaving and no more Griffin. As excited as I was going into last year, we now KNOW that this team can play at a top 5 level, even without Ayo.
As disappointing as the Loyola loss was, if Kofi and Adam returned, I would be even more excited for this year, I think ... especially because I could attend a game.
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Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Goode is not going to be a backup point (unless we're up 30, lol). No telling about the freshmen. I think Verdunk (lol) will see minutes at the 4. 1 of the freshmen may redshirt. Gonna be interesting and I don't think we're done fiddling about with the roster yet.
As you said, roster still in flux, but glaring hole at the 1 from a depth standpoint. Just seems like a huge glut at the 2 and 3 spots. I know he might choose to go with a smaller line-up like Baylor played with 4 guards on the floor which could spread things out a little bit more.
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