Some good stuff there. Curbelo's biggest influence by far is his ability to break down a defense. That's a huge advantage that many teams don't have. There are teams out there that can take away what you want to do offensively. Fortunately this year it is hard for teams to do this because Kofi is too good at getting in position and sealing guys off. But occasionally teams are able to put enough ball pressure on us and it makes it hard to get it to him. This is the perfect time to hand Belo the ball and tell him to go to work. Spread it out give him a pick and watch him work his magic.
Illini Basketball 2021-2022
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Some good stuff there. Curbelo's biggest influence by far is his ability to break down a defense. That's a huge advantage that many teams don't have. There are teams out there that can take away what you want to do offensively. Fortunately this year it is hard for teams to do this because Kofi is too good at getting in position and sealing guys off. But occasionally teams are able to put enough ball pressure on us and it makes it hard to get it to him. This is the perfect time to hand Belo the ball and tell him to go to work. Spread it out give him a pick and watch him work his magic.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Lol they all think Johnny Davis for NPOY. Right...
And such a lame argument. It’s true that Wisconsin would suck w/o him, but that’s more of an indictment of that roster than evidence that he is the best player in the country.
Just want to point out a fact that most sports writers for college basketball are unaware. Like Izzo used to do, Underwood teams do not approach their potential until sometime in Feb. after playing as tough a pre-conf. schedule as most. Every year for every team, there is a new mix of players and therefore strengths and weaknesses. It takes time not only for the players to understand this, but also the coaches to identify and learn to fit those strengths together and work to make weaknesses into adequate to strong aspects. We have seen this in every Underwood team he has ever coached. We are seeing the same scenario once again. It has been even more evident this season due to lineup restrictions for health, suspension, and injury.
The point is, by now, even the most basketball naive (not suggesting that is a bad thing at all) Illini fans should understand....THE BEST IS YET TO COME!! This team can and is now learning how to beat anyone, anywhere, anytime.
The point is, by now, even the most basketball naive (not suggesting that is a bad thing at all) Illini fans should understand....THE BEST IS YET TO COME!! This team can and is now learning how to beat anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Can we go back and give two or three NPOYs to Kiwane Garris?
Has the Big Ten decided how they are going to handle the situation if a team does not play all their regular season games? O$U has only been able to play 10 games so far. They have to make up 2 games. MSU has to make up their Michigan game. How are seeding and final standings going to be determined? Most wins or winning percentage?
Whatever favors Michigan.
This is pretty wild too see written out like this.
I’d be interested to see how much of that is offensive vs defensive. Would like to see PPP and PPP allowed of both lineups.
IllVarsity mentioned the high/low play with Grandi and Kofi earlier in this thread. Seems to me like that particular play is a large part of these numbers. It is so effective. Obviously, Grandi is a better scored than CoHawk too.
I think they are planning on making games up as of now.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Hochman: Illinois' Trent Frazier creates Champaign problems for Big Ten foes
He averages 14.4 points per game in conference play — and Illinois is 10-2 in the Big Ten.
It was his first college basketball game — and it might as well have been his last.
“Trent Frazier is sitting on the end of the bench in tears, telling me that he can’t play here at this level,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood told the Post-Dispatch on Sunday. November 3, 2017. Underwood’s first game with Illinois was Frazier’s, too. It was an exhibition against Eastern Illinois. And the Illini lost. By 13.
“They had a guard who had picked his pocket, he couldn’t score — he was overwhelmed by that moment,” Underwood said of the then-freshman Frazier. “I look back at that and have a chuckle — he’s a guy that’s now not only one of the best players in the Big Ten, but in the country.”
Yes, of course, Illinois has another guy who might literally be the best player in the country. But Frazier is quite possibly the nation’s top perimeter defender, while also leading Illinois in assists, And he just poured in 23 points in the weekend win at Indiana. He’s the engine of a contender. And he ignites Kofi Cockburn.......“Good players make themselves better — great players make their teammates better,” Underwood said. “And Trent makes everybody better. He makes everybody’s life easier. And he does that on both ends of the court. . . . Trent is gifted at finding Kofi (on offense), but their chemistry on the defensive end, in ball screens, is uncanny.”
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good read
It is so very unfortunate that coleman can not stop whoever he is guarding from scoring. You would think with his length he would be able to shut down his assignment. Yet whoever he guards scores at will. Coleman is very effevtive at offensive putbacks at the rim, it just doesnt carry over to other parts of his game.
Davis plays a hard nosed game and he normally shoots better than he did against use.
That being said I see him as a distant third to Murray and Kofi in the BPOY rankings.
My only thought as to the negativity on Kofis POY races is he's pretty much a one trick pony, at least offensively. Within 5 feet he's going to dominate. Now, he's a great rebounder, improved his passing, and is finally stepping up his defense later in the year.
That being said I see him as a distant third to Murray and Kofi in the BPOY rankings.
My only thought as to the negativity on Kofis POY races is he's pretty much a one trick pony, at least offensively. Within 5 feet he's going to dominate. Now, he's a great rebounder, improved his passing, and is finally stepping up his defense later in the year.
This was my thought a couple weeks ago. I think he's going to get penalized for being a bruising back to the basket big. Which obviously isn't fair. But it's clear the voters value versatility.
The last person to win NPOY without making a three was Elton Brand (IIRC).
Kofi just has to keep playing like he did last week and make it impossible to be denied....which seems to come naturally to him anyway.
So I know we’ve got a huge game with Purdue tomorrow, but just for fun I started thinking about how we would match up if we played Kentucky. I think we actually match up pretty well with them. I think you put DaMonte on TyTy, Trent on Wheeler, and Plum on Grady. And, if Belo has his wind back, potentially put Belo on Wheeler and Trent on Grady. I think we have a slight edge in Kofi vs Oscar T. Only potential issue I see, not surprisingly, is the 4, but at 6’7 210 I don’t think Brooks is matchup problem size wise for either Jake or Coleman.
I think they’re good, and obviously had a statement win in Kansas, but I think we match up well with them.
I think they’re good, and obviously had a statement win in Kansas, but I think we match up well with them.
It's really compounded by him constantly fouling, too. It also seems it's usually weak fouls and he's the catalyst for a lot of and-1 plays inside the paint.
During recruiting I preferred Oscar over Kofi because of mobility and was disappointed when we didn’t get him. Not sure what happened at WVU but he is now a handful. Think he is quicker than Kofi but not as strong. Don’t think we have a significant advantage there. Agree with you on not fearing the matchups.
I feel like MSU would be the team to drop out of top 4 contention from this group. The rest of the four will be in a dead heat at the end.
I would add Wisc to that list. Don't think the "luck" of winning so many close games will continue.
Illini_1979
- Oregon
Apologies if this has already been posted...
I thought the same if not for their ease of schedule at the end. If they were even “middle-tier” difficulty, I would see them at the bottom as well.
You are obsessed.
Coleman closed down Murry and Harper while he guarded them. That is pretty good defense.
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