Illinois just graduated 4 out of its 7 players who got significant regular minutes including its best 2 players and the only player capable of backing up center. Barring any amazing 5th year transfers, it would be one heck of a coaching job for Illinois to make it to the tournament next year.

It's way too early to predict how next years team is going to do. Last year at this time it looked like Meyers was leaving, mclaurin wasn't in the fold yet, there was really no point guard, and the team won 16 games the previous season.

 

We don't know what 5th year transfer might come in, we don't know how rice is going to play (he could be the best player), we don't know how players will continue to develop, and we don't know if the freshmen can contribute. I think the illini actually have a decent shot at the tournament.

It's way too early to predict how next years team is going to do. Last year at this time it looked like Meyers was leaving, mclaurin wasn't in the fold yet, there was really no point guard, and the team won 16 games the previous season.

 

We don't know what 5th year transfer might come in, we don't know how rice is going to play (he could be the best player), we don't know how players will continue to develop, and we don't know if the freshmen can contribute. I think the illini actually have a decent shot at the tournament.

Well that's just it - there's a ton of "we don't know," I think much much more than last year.

 

At the start of last season, you knew exactly what you had, and 4 seniors contributing, 3 from the year before. You are still sitting here right now with 1 senior and losing 4 of 7 contributors, with a bunch of freshman replacing them. It's easy to predict/expect a step down.

 

If he somehow turns this mess into a tournament appearance, he should be in consideration for BT coach of the year.

I meant sub .500 overall.

 

But still, they have 2 starters coming back in Egwu and Abrams and two guys that played lot of minutes in Bertrand and Henry. I don't expect them to be GOOD, but I don't think the cupboard is totally bare and the expectation will be that they still contend for a tournament spot.

 

Ultimately you have to give Groce 3-4 years. I was just saying that if next year they really take a dive then you have to question this season. His success this year might be less about coaching and more about the drive of three seniors to leave the program on a good note. I think it's a mixture of both. Obviously the program is headed in the right direction and i'm excited about what he's doing on the recruiting trail. I'm just not ready to declare that he's going to get us back to the 98-2005 level where we're getting #1 seeds and winning conference and tournament titles. Next year will tell us more about his ability to coach/develop talent.

 

I hear what you are saying, but they are only returning one guy who has shown any consistent ability to score (Abrams). They have no one on the roster that has shown a consistent ability to make jumpers. They are relying on Rayvonte Rice to provide offense (I think Rice will score but he certainly isn't going to be a threat on the perimeter). They are relying on Bertrand to be consistent. They are relying on Henry to be more consistent on the defensive end and for the light to go on for him offensively.

 

This team lost its two best players and its most consistent bench scorer (when Griffey played well this year, Illinois was a good team, when he missed 20+ straight threes, they lost a lot of B1G games). I think next year's team is going to struggle. They are going to rely on a lot of young guys to contribute and, barring big leaps by Abrams, Egwu and Henry, they may struggle to score.

 

I think Krush is right. If Groce can consistently recruit, Illinois will get back to 98-'05 levels (and remember the '99 edition was awful after the Heldman/Gee/Hester/Turner team graduated).

It's way too early to predict how next years team is going to do. Last year at this time it looked like Meyers was leaving, mclaurin wasn't in the fold yet, there was really no point guard, and the team won 16 games the previous season.

 

We don't know what 5th year transfer might come in, we don't know how rice is going to play (he could be the best player), we don't know how players will continue to develop, and we don't know if the freshmen can contribute. I think the illini actually have a decent shot at the tournament.

 

The main problems I see are that we have abysmal floor spacing on offense (Henry and Egwu might honestly be our best shooters right now), and it's going to be tough to find a replacement for Paul. I don't doubt that we can find a 5th year transfer or two so we don't have to rely on freshmen to back up Egwu and Abrams, but I really don't see them coming in and providing what Paul did.

 

I agree it's too early to predict what they will do next year, but I stand by my assertion that it would be one heck of a coaching job for us to reach the tournament.

 

 

 

I don't know how we are going to make any 3 pointers next year. That's a huge issue.

I don't know how we are going to make any 3 pointers next year. That's a huge issue.

 

Henry is going to be the main 3 point threat and hopefully Abrams continues to work on his jumpshot.

 

Honestly what this team needs most is pass oriented guards. We beat good teams this year when we had good ball movement and open shots. We sucked when we regressed into last years offense - dribble for 32 seconds and hoist up a contested three. Abrams doesn't know (yet) how to set up teammates, Bertrand has awful dribbling skills and Rice is a scorer. Not a good sign.

 

 

Well that's just it - there's a ton of "we don't know," I think much much more than last year.

 

At the start of last season, you knew exactly what you had, and 4 seniors contributing, 3 from the year before. You are still sitting here right now with 1 senior and losing 4 of 7 contributors, with a bunch of freshman replacing them. It's easy to predict/expect a step down.

 

If he somehow turns this mess into a tournament appearance, he should be in consideration for BT coach of the year.

I really feel like you're underestimating the "we don't know" of last year. The Illini had what, two returning proven players in Paul and Richardson, and then guys that were extremely inconsistent or looked like below average players. Egwu was at the 5 (he averaged less than 10 minutes per game his freshman season) and it looked like he had no backup (thank god for Mclaurin). Griffey/Henry were at the 4 and neither of those guys showed that they could play the 4 in the B1G. I'm more confident in Henry going into this season than I was in Griffey going into last season. Then you have Paul and DJ (Rice averaged 17 PPG his last year at Drake, so there's no reason to believe he can't make up for a decent portion of Paul's offense). Then there was Abrams at the 1 with no backup in sight and really no clue if he could even handle the 1. Each team had a returning Bertrand, but this year's team will be a 5th year senior.

 

Last year's team had no new faces. There is no reason to think that a guy like Hill or Nunn can't contribute this year. And again, if the Illini pick up a 5th year senior (like is somewhat expected) that could help with overall depth too.

 

I think there was just as much "we don't know" regarding last year's team, if not more. New coach, new system, only two returning solid contributors, no backup C, no backup PG, etc.

I really feel like you're underestimating the "we don't know" of last year. The Illini had what, two returning proven players in Paul and Richardson, and then guys that were extremely inconsistent or looked like below average players. Egwu was at the 5 (he averaged less than 10 minutes per game his freshman season) and it looked like he had no backup (thank god for Mclaurin). Griffey/Henry were at the 4 and neither of those guys showed that they could play the 4 in the B1G. I'm more confident in Henry going into this season than I was in Griffey going into last season. Then you have Paul and DJ (Rice averaged 17 PPG his last year at Drake, so there's no reason to believe he can't make up for a decent portion of Paul's offense). Then there was Abrams at the 1 with no backup in sight and really no clue if he could even handle the 1. Each team had a returning Bertrand, but this year's team will be a 5th year senior.

 

Last year's team had no new faces. There is no reason to think that a guy like Hill or Nunn can't contribute this year. And again, if the Illini pick up a 5th year senior (like is somewhat expected) that could help with overall depth too.

 

I think there was just as much "we don't know" regarding last year's team, if not more. New coach, new system, only two returning solid contributors, no backup C, no backup PG, etc.

 

The problem is that we're really one dimensional. Abrams drives. Rice drives. Bertrand drives. None of them have shown a propensity to shoot at a consistently high level. Maybe some of them add a jump shot; it's not impossible. I'm just not holding my breath.

 

The problem is that we're really one dimensional. Abrams drives. Rice drives. Bertrand drives. None of them have shown a propensity to shoot at a consistently high level. Maybe some of them add a jump shot; it's not impossible. I'm just not holding my breath.

Hill is supposed to be a pretty good shooter. Bertrand showed some improvement on his 3 last year before he lost all confidence too. The Illini are losing Paul and DJ. They both shot, what, like 33% from 3 last year? Griffey was insanely inconsistent from 3 last year too. The three point shooters that the Illini are losing weren't actually great three point shooters. You might not even call them good three point shooters.

Hill is supposed to be a pretty good shooter. Bertrand showed some improvement on his 3 last year before he lost all confidence too. The Illini are losing Paul and DJ. They both shot, what, like 33% from 3 last year? Griffey was insanely inconsistent from 3 last year too. The three point shooters that the Illini are losing weren't actually great three point shooters. You might not even call them good three point shooters.

 

True. A lot of that is the fact that there was no real point guard to set up an open shot for them, a problem we still have. Hill and Nunn are probably the x-factors, though. If they can come in and contribute both offensively and defensively at the same time (something I'm not sure about), we could be pretty good.

Minnesota to hire Richard Pitino (yes, related, his son) to replace Tubby Smith.

Minnesota to hire Richard Pitino (yes, related, his son) to replace Tubby Smith.

Could be a home run or a strike out. I like it, though.

Could be a home run or a strike out. I like it, though.

 

Just seems like a downgrade with the recruits Tubby had coming in. If you're firing him, I figured they would get someone more interesting.

Saw one of the Chicago recruits has been granted his release from his commitment already.

Just seems like a downgrade with the recruits Tubby had coming in. If you're firing him, I figured they would get someone more interesting.

Saw one of the Chicago recruits has been granted his release from his commitment already.

 

Wonder if that asshole Bo Ryan restricted his release...

Wonder if that asshole Bo Ryan restricted his release...

 

lol

 

Not even going to respond. I just hope that an Illinois recruit wants to transfer after his first year to Indiana.

 

Because Illinois fans were never mad about Eric Gordon, and were so supportive of his decision.

lol

 

Not even going to respond. I just hope that an Illinois recruit wants to transfer after his first year to Indiana.

 

Because Illinois fans were never mad about Eric Gordon, and were so supportive of his decision.

I think Jenks was joking. Though it would be pretty impressive if Bo Ryan could restrict a Minnesota player's release.

Edited April 3, 201312 yr by farmteam

I know he was joking. Its just one of the few things that really gets under my skin. (Imo) Bo Ryan does good by every one of his players. He never takes away their scholarship, even if they suck and sit on the bench. Every other player who has wanted to transfer has been given a full release.

I know he was joking. Its just one of the few things that really gets under my skin. (Imo) Bo Ryan does good by every one of his players. He never takes away their scholarship, even if they suck and sit on the bench. Every other player who has wanted to transfer has been given a full release.

If you knew he was joking, your response made no sense.

ISU guys...

 

Jon Ekey might be coming to Illinois. Scouting report?

ISU guys...

 

Jon Ekey might be coming to Illinois. Scouting report?

 

I'm not an "ISU guy" but a quick glance at his numbers makes him look like a poor man's Tyler Griffey

Ekey is a hard worker, he plays very tough inside and outside. I think a Griffey comparison is wrong

Ekey is a hard worker, he plays very tough inside and outside. I think a Griffey comparison is wrong

 

Rejoice!

Medcalf's right: Unless Minnesota puts a hefty amount of money into new basketball facilities, it likely won't matter how good of a coach Pitino turns out to be.

They promised Tubby they would do that and never did. Why would they do it for a no-name coach without anything career-wise to hang his hat on?

They promised Tubby they would do that and never did. Why would they do it for a no-name coach without anything career-wise to hang his hat on?

I'm not saying they will do it, I'm saying if they want a competitive basketball program they have to do it.

 

I know they promised Tubby new facilities -- I'm curious if the fact that there's a different AD now (Norwood Teague, the guy who hired Anthony Grant and Shaka Smart at VCU) will change that. I'm hopeful it will, but I have my doubts.