As much as I’m looking forward to having a sharp shooter on the team, I really think people are over hyping Ben. A guy who didn’t even make the third team of a really bad conference is going to jump up to a P4 school and be the leading scorer?Like the "positionless" idea about it here...
and def. think this could work great in certain situations...
but Ben coming off the bench is just...I just don't see it. Right now looking at it, he'll most likely be the leading scorer and might be just as much a lock to start as Kylan tbh...
I don't really disagree with anything you are saying here, but there is a new reason that teams will let people go that you haven't factored in: NIL value. This may have already happened with Hawkins depending on who you listen to.I don't really think any of those guys that left Illinois wanted to keep outside of maybe Hawkins.
RJ was bad and got recruited over, Skyy was bad and quit, Epps was bad then demanded more money wand was told to take a hike, Dain hardly played for most of the year and wasn't going to be more than a backup, Goode got recruited over, and Hawkins wanted to stay in the draft so the Illini moved on and filled their roster.
I guess it's technically possible but I don't see a guy leaving that Illinois really wants to keep and in an integral piece.
I agree he’s not Marcus. But I think most people- including me - hope he is the good version of Guerrier. He’s going to stand in the corner waiting for a kickout, can put it on the floor if someone runs at him and if he’s guarded by a smaller guy, he can back him down and score, I think that is all we are looking for from him along with doing his part on the boardsAs much as I’m looking forward to having a sharp shooter on the team, I really think people are over hyping Ben. A guy who didn’t even make the third team of a really bad conference is going to jump up to a P4 school and be the leading scorer?
Before someone says “bUt MaRcUs dOmAsK,” Marcus played D1 basketball for 4 years, Ben has played one. They played in the same conference and Marcus won Freshman of the Year, 2x second team All-MVC, and one first team All-MVC the year before he transferred to Illinois. He would have been All-MVC all four years if it weren’t for his injury. They are not the same.
It's some revisionist history to suggest we didn't want to keep Adam Miller after all he contributed his freshman season.I don't really think any of those guys that left Illinois wanted to keep outside of maybe Hawkins.
RJ was bad and got recruited over, Skyy was bad and quit, Epps was bad then demanded more money wand was told to take a hike, Dain hardly played for most of the year and wasn't going to be more than a backup, Goode got recruited over, and Hawkins wanted to stay in the draft so the Illini moved on and filled their roster.
I guess it's technically possible but I don't see a guy leaving that Illinois really wants to keep and in an integral piece.
Always hard to figure out the general consensus of the board. Plenty of people here suggesting that he'll lead us in scoring. Very few contending that idea.I agree he’s not Marcus. But I think most people- including me - hope he is the good version of Guerrier. He’s going to stand in the corner waiting for a kickout, can put it on the floor if someone runs at him and if he’s guarded by a smaller guy, he can back him down and score, I think that is all we are looking for from him along with doing his part on the boards
Now that we have Riley, KJ and Tre White is looking like the slasher/scorer we need- Ben’s role can be as a good role player- we don’t need him to lead us in scoring- just do his job - which I think he’ll be very good at
I don't really disagree with anything you are saying here, but there is a new reason that teams will let people go that you haven't factored in: NIL value. This may have already happened with Hawkins depending on who you listen to.
If we offer a returnee $X money to stay, but they think they can get $2X on the open market, their return is far from a sure thing. If we think the $2X will serve us better spent on a different player, or different players, we will let that returnee go. Continuity, like everything else, will have a value assigned, and sometimes that value won't be enough to keep a player who has crazy suitors elsewhere because the whole market is crazy.
That is interesting math.With all that said, since Lou Henson arrived on campus over 4.5 decades ago, it seems incredibly clear that it's really not very hard to win at Illinois if you are a good coach.
- Henson took over a mess and had a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight within 5 years. Within a decade, he had a Final Four and had established a top 10 program.
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I agree with other posters who see Humichous as a role player, like Goode was (a taller mostly Goode like spot up shooter, less of Bezhanishvili type). He will see fair amount of minutes, but not lead Illini in scoring overall although might in some games. Riley and Booth will take some of his minutes. Different players will lead Illini in scoring from game to game. There is an awful lot of offensive firepower on this team. Everyone can score and balanced scoring will be customary. I hope Underwood utilizes his deep bench and ramps up defensive intensity and offensive movement to wear down opponents. Who starts doesn't even matter much.Like the "positionless" idea about it here...
and def. think this could work great in certain situations...
but Ben coming off the bench is just...I just don't see it. Right now looking at it, he'll most likely be the leading scorer and might be just as much a lock to start as Kylan tbh...
Henson's first recruit to Illinois was Tom Gerhardt, a De La Salle Meteor. After 4 years of sitting on the bench, Tom became an asst coach at Parkland, and also was coached by me on my intramural basketball team (we killed everyone except Utrows, a perennial IM power who's center was a NAIA All-American/psych TA). Let that sink in.
Without checking, pretty sure he was a Bartow / Yates recruit, class of 1974. That class included Audie Matthews, Rick Leighty, Rich Adams, and Gerhardt. Also Nate Williams and Mike Washington via JuCo. Not a great class, but an upgrade from Harv's last couple.Henson's first recruit to Illinois was Tom Gerhardt, a De La Salle Meteor.
Always hard to figure out the general consensus of the board. Plenty of people here suggesting that he'll lead us in scoring. Very few contending that idea.
If he leads us in scoring I think it likely means a lot of guys haven't met expectations.
So many cleeeann looking Ty jumpshots🥹
oh my, kasparas looks the part. already playing with a ton of confidenceLet's go!
ThisDomask took over as the primary ballhandler and Ty still started every game.
He was a bad matchup in certain situations and left a sour taste with his disasterclass against UConn.
But everybody seems to be forgetting the postgame threads where we were like "Ty had 6 points and was the best player on the floor", and also when we got so frustrated with him being sat in favor of Harmon in crunch time.
So long as his lack of shooting isn't gumming up the gears of the offense (and it shouldn't given how strong our shooting is elsewhere especially in the frontcourt), he needs to be out there for all the things he provides.
And I felt like that was the consensus opinion around here during the season, but that seems to have disappeared as we project next year, and I find that as perplexing as it is analytically misguided.
BU loves Ty, he's going to play a ton and probably start.
oh my, kasparas looks the part. already playing with a ton of confidence
JK's game does have some sizzle, fo' shizzle...oh my, kasparas looks the part. already playing with a ton of confidence
haven’t seen passes like his since curbeloJK's game does have some sizzle, fo' shizzle...
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