I have said that all year. I just dont see his game translating to the NBA ever unless he gets a consistent jumper. Even then, he is a long shot. His skillset just does not bode well for the NBA. 15 years ago, yes, he would have been a lottery pick. If he end up leaving before his senior year, it will be a big mistake in my opinion. If he were to stay all four years, he could be as dominant as someone like Garza when it is all said and done.
Pregame: Illinois at Duke, Tuesday, December 8th, 8:30pm CT, ESPN
- Status
Whether he stays 4 years will depend on his priorities. Wouldn't be the first college player, or even Illini, to forego eligibility to pursue a non-NBA pro career. He may not be able to make millions in the NBA, but six-figures in China or Europe? Probably. It kind of looked like he might have been headed that way if not for Ayo deciding to come back. I hope he stays for as long as he has eligibility, just not going to pin my hopes on it, and I wouldn't blame him for doing otherwise.
I totally understand and agree with you that he could make good money playing overseas sooner rather than later. If he would decide to forego his final two years to make money, I wouldnt blame him. I wouldnt think very many players would leave knowing that the NBA wasnt much of an option (if that was what scouts were telling him). It is every players goal growing up to play in the NBA even though most who play after college make a good living in other leagues around the world.
You add Kofi to a returning Curbelo/Ace/Hawkins/Giorgi and we can very well be a preseason top 5 team next year.
Thanks for pulling that together. Some great memories there. If you include ncaa tourney you can add UNC, Louisville, and Arizona in 2005 Arizona in 2001. Michigan and Syracuse in 1989 and Kentucky in 1984.Some people seemed to enjoy the trip down memory lane when I posted our previous top 5 matchups in the Baylor pregame thread, and since this is still a top 10 matchup that we should be psyched for ... here are our recent all-top 10 matchups we have got to enjoy (not counting last week's Baylor game)!
2005-06
#6 Illinois 60, #7 Michigan State 50 in Champaign, IL
2004-05
#5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73 in Champaign, IL (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
2001-02
#9 Illinois 72, #8 Missouri 61 in St. Louis, MO (Braggin' Rights Game)
#7 Arizona 87, #5 Illinois 82 in Phoenix, AZ
#5 Maryland 76, #2 Illinois 63 in College Park, MD (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
2000-01
#7 Illinois 77, #4 Michigan State 66 in Champaign, IL (First Paint the Hall Orange game!)
#5 Illinois 81, #7 Arizona 73 in Chicago, IL
#9 Illinois 87, #7 Seton Hall 79 in Champaign, IL
#1 Duke 78, #9 Illinois 77 in Greensboro, NC (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
#1 Arizona 79, #8 Illinois 76 in Lahaina, HI (Maui Invitational)
1989-90
#3 Michigan 74, #8 Illinois 70 in Champaign, IL
#5 Illinois 101, #4 Missouri 93 in St. Louis, MO (Braggin' Rights Game)
1988-89
#4 Illinois 89, #8 Michigan 73 in Ann Arbor, MI
#8 Illinois 70, #3 Indiana 68 in Bloomington, IN (Nick Anderson's shot!)
#9 Iowa 86, #2 Illinois 82 in Iowa City, IA
#2 Illinois 96, #6 Michigan 84 in Champaign, IL
#6 Illinois 87, #10 Missouri 84 in St. Louis, MO (Braggin' Rights Game)
1986-87
#5 Purdue 87, #9 Illinois 86 in West Lafayette, IN (OT)
#2 Iowa 91, #8 Illinois 88 in Champaign, IL (OT)
#4 North Carolina 90, #5 Illinois 77 in Chapel Hill, NC
1984-85
#8 Michigan 57, #9 Illinois 45 in Ann Arbor, MI
#7 Illinois 73, #10 Oklahoma 70 in Champaign, IL
#2 Illinois 81, #5 Oklahoma 64 in Springfield, MA (Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic)
A lot more of these over the years, but they are still rare! In the last 20 years, we have still only played in 11 top ten matchups (counting the Baylor game), and almost half of them came during the 2000-01 season. Also, we haven't had a stellar record against Duke over the years, BUT it looks like we're 1-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, with a 75-65 win over #12 Duke in 1995-96.
I am extra nervous for this one. Win this game, and we are RIGHT back on track and possibly back in the top 5 next week. Lose, and we are still likely going to be fine ... but we're sitting at 3-2 with likely no impressive non-conference wins and a grind of a Big Ten schedule ahead. This win could be absolutely huge, come Tourament time.
I also remember going to the Breslin center in 2005 and watching #1 Illinois beating what I thought was 10 MSU. Maybe it was 10 in espn poll and they weren't top 10 in ap.
I don’t see a world where we lose Ayo, Trent and Damonte and are a preseason top 5 team next year, even if this current team won the natty and we grabbed a stud off the transfer market.
Interesting factoid from the Duke board mentioned above
"I would not discount a very well coached Ohio team. They set an NCAA record on Sunday becoming the first team to go on a 40-0 run against a D1 opponent. The Bobcats turned a 46-25 lead over Cleveland State with 1:27 remaining in the 1st Half into an 86-25 lead with 8:23 left in the 2nd Half. A span of just over 13 minutes of game play."
"I would not discount a very well coached Ohio team. They set an NCAA record on Sunday becoming the first team to go on a 40-0 run against a D1 opponent. The Bobcats turned a 46-25 lead over Cleveland State with 1:27 remaining in the 1st Half into an 86-25 lead with 8:23 left in the 2nd Half. A span of just over 13 minutes of game play."
Good news is that we likely won't lose all 3. I'd like to think/hope we only lose Ayo.
And DMFW and Frazier
When was last time Illini won a non-conference game against a P5 team?
This game is a seeding game for both teams and could easily move the line up come March for the team that wins tonight. I am cautiously optimistic. A wise person once said, "Defense travels well." Go Illini.
December 23rd, 2017 over Miznoz, 70-64.
Curbelo and Miller with experience and Kofi is a pretty dangerous trio. It would depend on Giorgi, if Hutch comes back, improvement of Hawkins, Goode, Hutch, and a legit transfer, but yes. However, since this is a free year, it is also possible, DaMonte/Trent or one of them can come back too.
If we play a full season, I see no reason why Trent or DMW would or should come back. And TBH, in that scenario, I would hope they don't.
If we play 4-5 more games and all of college bball is shut down, that is a different scenario.
Top 5 may be pushing it. Top 10-12 for sure.
I’m putting some stock into a couple guys that haven’t played yet that I’m high on but I will say, I do think we get a stud forward in the transfer market this offseason. The covid rules will change things up a ton, as they have for this season, and I believe Illinois basketball will benefit greatly from it.
But just from the hip; it’s a guard driven game right now at the college level and we will have one of the best backcourts in the country with Curbelo and Ace as sophomores. If Kofis back we have a top 10 5 spot in the country when you add in a senior Giorgi backing him up. Hawkins is Underwood’s dream player at the 4 spot with his versatility and will get the most out of him- he’ll be a sophomore and over a year into the system. We will be missing a backup ball handler and a legit 6’7/8” perimeter 3 and D guy which I think we will address in the transfer market if the coaching staff doesn’t think BVV is that guy, but overall I think we are poised to make a real push next year as well.
Depends I think. If they want to come back to obtain or work towards a graduate degree, for free, then I think it's great for all parties. But certainly wouldn't blame them for moving on, or be surprised if they chose to do so.
AirNeezy
Orange Krush '13 -'14
If we could get a Mike Davis type leap from Coleman H next year that would be so huge.
What about a world where Trent and/or Da'Monte choose to stay another year? If Kofi also chose to stay or if we got a high level starting Center off the transfer portal we'd basically be rocking the same Roster minus Ayo. As good as Ayo is, I have to think that roster consistency and the improvements we can hopefully expect from Miller/Curbelo/Hawkins are enough to basically keep us at whatever level we finish this season.
Of course - there's no indication that Trent or Da'Monte would stay another year, but I have a hunch Williams at least will consider it.
haasi
- New York
My view about Kofi - he really needed off-season in person training to advance his game. Passing out of post, taking it up strong down low every time, defending ball screens. All of these require close attention and coaching to improve. To my knowledge, he was basically working out by himself for six months. He was in NY part of the time with his family (his mom is not a basketball person) and in Champaign part of the time- I haven’t see anything suggesting he got any in person coaching during that time. All of the articles about how Ayo spent the pandemic, by contrast, say that he spent it working out with his father and brother like every day. Videos too. ayo’s dad is a basketball guy (former aau coach). I think for Kofi to take big strides, particularly because he has only played a few years, he would have needed a ton of off-season coaching that he didn’t get. Hopeful that we’ll see improvement over the course of the season, but thinking he might need a full off-season with Antigua to really take a leap.
You don't think either player would possibly want to come back? You don't think the coach would take them back?
My understanding is they will have the opportunity to come back regardless of what happens this season.
I definitely think the coaches would want them, and I can think of reasons why each player would want to come back. Obviously, there are real reasons they may decide to move on.
Trent could be motivated to come back and be that scorer he was before Ayo. DMW probably should have redshirted his freshman year anyway, so it'd be awesome to have him another year with his current trajectory.
haasi
- New York
Agree - I think DMW could get some serious attention and make himself some money coming back for a fifth year. (Not NBA, but better offers abroad)
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
If we have a magical year, they might be more motivated to come back for another go-around. No need to make a decision yet.
Definitely. I don't see any reason why either player would feel the need to announce intentions. I still see a whole lot more reasons why I think they'd want to come back rather than not.
BUT...history has shown, we shouldn't assume what 18-22 year olds decide to do!
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Duke 80
Illini 70
Illini 70
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