Illini Basketball 2024-2025

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#102      
foby
uofi7477 said:
Please stop making sense.
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David Byrne Dancing GIF
 
#103      
Fan Since '70
RockfordIllini said:
Riley looks like Matt Mayer with that dog in him. If he commits to the Fletch plan he’s going to be a handful.

I’m really hoping Big T gets to campus soon. I don’t expect him to put up huge stats but to me he’s a sneaky big piece of the puzzle. He can body up the bigger centers and provide rim protection on defense, and he can stretch the floor on offense so we can play 5 out and open up space for us to exploit matchups with our positional size.

I think we could get by with some combo of Morez/Humrichous/Booth at the 5 if we had to, but Big T significantly raises our floor and ceiling IMO.
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'24-25 may be Brad's best team yet. Have a feeling Riley will be Illinois best more recent player yet succeeding Shannon and Ayo and could be a lottery pick. While Riley will be Illinois' next go-to, almost unstoppable 3-level downhill player, Jacucionis will be an even much better version of Domask (despite his age) and may also be a 1st round pick. I believe Ivisic could be a more valuable player to Illinois than Kofi or Dainja was because of his much more well-rounded game, capable of stroking 3s at high %, scoring on 3 levels, while having height and weight to defend inside. The rest of Illini supporting cast is also better than last season. Bosworth better than Moretti, Humrichous & Booth ably replacing Hawkins, Davis/Humrichous good or better shooters than Goode, White better SG/wing than Harmon, Booth better forward than Guerrier, Johnson better PF/Backup Center than Hansberry, and Rodgers likely better than last year as should be Gibbs-Lawhorn. Yes, I definitely think Illini will be better and able to contend with anyone.
 
#104      
DeonThomas
Way too early 2024-25 ILLINI points per game prognostication:

17 - KJ
15 - W. Riley
13 - K. Boswell
8 - B. Humrichous
7 - T. Rodgers
6 - C. Booth
6 - T. White
5 - Tomi
5 - Morrez
4 - All Others
---
86 Total
 
#105      
RabidDawgClassic
DeonThomas said:
Way too early 2024-25 ILLINI points per game prognostication:

17 - KJ
15 - W. Riley
13 - K. Boswell
8 - B. Humrichous
7 - T. Rodgers
6 - C. Booth
6 - T. White
5 - Tomi
5 - Morrez
4 - All Others
---
86 Total
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I would swap Boswell and Humrichous. Add a couple more to Tomi and perhaps more, depending how he’s used.

This may be a team where we have five guys averaging double figures but no one higher than 15 ppg.
 
#106      
ptgrd23
Fan Since '70 said:
'24-25 may be Brad's best team yet. Have a feeling Riley will be Illinois best more recent player yet succeeding Shannon and Ayo and could be a lottery pick. While Riley will be Illinois' next go-to, almost unstoppable 3-level downhill player, Jacucionis will be an even much better version of Domask (despite his age) and may also be a 1st round pick. I believe Ivisic could be a more valuable player to Illinois than Kofi or Dainja was because of his much more well-rounded game, capable of stroking 3s at high %, scoring on 3 levels, while having height and weight to defend inside. The rest of Illini supporting cast is also better than last season. Bosworth better than Moretti, Humrichous & Booth ably replacing Hawkins, Davis/Humrichous good or better shooters than Goode, White better SG/wing than Harmon, Booth better forward than Guerrier, Johnson better PF/Backup Center than Hansberry, and Rodgers likely better than last year as should be Gibbs-Lawhorn. Yes, I definitely think Illini will be better and able to contend with anyone.
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I love our talent but our elite 8 team had four 5th year players - TSJ, Marcus, Quincy and Justin, One SR Coleman. To expect three freshman (Riley, KJ, Tomas) to team with two good but not all B10 Bosworth and Rodgers to be better than last year or our 2021 #1 see team with two all americans is a lot to ask.

Current Orange kool-aid reminds of the SNL Bears fans skits. Ditka vs. Angels etc.
 
#107      
IlliniFandom
I think will has a chance to be a starter, but do we really think right off the bat? I have a feeling that Brad prefers older players and may be hesitant to start two freshman in the starting lineup from the getgo. I can see will worked into the starting line up eventually as he and or kasp figure their games out at the next level. But I am still tempering my expectations because at the end of the day, will is still a freshman and you can bank on 97% of freshman to need a learning curve before figuring out their game and role at the college level.
 
#108      
lstewart53x3
IlliniFandom said:
I think will has a chance to be a starter, but do we really think right off the bat? I have a feeling that Brad prefers older players and may be hesitant to start two freshman in the starting lineup from the getgo. I can see will worked into the starting line up eventually as he and or kasp figure their games out at the next level. But I am still tempering my expectations because at the end of the day, will is still a freshman and you can bank on 97% of freshman to need a learning curve before figuring out their game and role at the college level.
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Mark Smith
Giorgi
Ayo
Kofi
Ace
Belo
Skyy
Epps

All started as freshman. If you’re talented, he’ll start you.
 
#110      
FreshlySqueezed
Fan Since '70 said:
'24-25 may be Brad's best team yet. Have a feeling Riley will be Illinois best more recent player yet succeeding Shannon and Ayo and could be a lottery pick. While Riley will be Illinois' next go-to, almost unstoppable 3-level downhill player, Jacucionis will be an even much better version of Domask (despite his age) and may also be a 1st round pick. I believe Ivisic could be a more valuable player to Illinois than Kofi or Dainja was because of his much more well-rounded game, capable of stroking 3s at high %, scoring on 3 levels, while having height and weight to defend inside. The rest of Illini supporting cast is also better than last season. Bosworth better than Moretti, Humrichous & Booth ably replacing Hawkins, Davis/Humrichous good or better shooters than Goode, White better SG/wing than Harmon, Booth better forward than Guerrier, Johnson better PF/Backup Center than Hansberry, and Rodgers likely better than last year as should be Gibbs-Lawhorn. Yes, I definitely think Illini will be better and able to contend with anyone.
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Was this you as you were writing that?

Ocean Sea GIF
 
#111      
FreshlySqueezed
DeonThomas said:
Way too early 2024-25 ILLINI points per game prognostication:

17 - KJ
15 - W. Riley
13 - K. Boswell
8 - B. Humrichous
7 - T. Rodgers
6 - C. Booth
6 - T. White
5 - Tomi
5 - Morrez
4 - All Others
---
86 Total
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Four freshman in the entire country averaged 17+ppg last year. Nine averaged 15+

I doubt anyone on our team averages 15+ per game. We're too balanced.

Tre White will average more than 6ppg.
 
#112      
Fly Illini Fly!
IlliniFandom said:
I think will has a chance to be a starter, but do we really think right off the bat? I have a feeling that Brad prefers older players and may be hesitant to start two freshman in the starting lineup from the getgo. I can see will worked into the starting line up eventually as he and or kasp figure their games out at the next level. But I am still tempering my expectations because at the end of the day, will is still a freshman and you can bank on 97% of freshman to need a learning curve before figuring out their game and role at the college level.
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Out of all the top 50 guys we've had over these last few years, I'm not sure there's been a single one that hasn't started as freshman.
 
#114      
Emerson Bigguns
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Out of all the top 50 guys we've had over these last few years, I'm not sure there's been a single one that hasn't started as freshman.
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And none of them have been as highly regarded as Will and KJ. Not to mention Morez is right in line with our biggest recruiting wins in the last 20 years.

These freshman don’t have the luxury of guaranteed playing time that guys like Kofi, Adam, & Ayo enjoyed, despite their pedigree… though it’s really hard to imagine they won’t play a lot.
Will and KJ appear way too dynamic to be sitting much.
 
#115      
Piotyr
Here are my somewhat early predictions for this team for next year:

1. Nobody on the team will average 30 minutes or more per game.
2. 10 guys on the team will average over 10 minutes per game.
3. The team will average more points per game than last year, playing faster with at least a similar offensive efficiency.
4. Someone unexpected will score 20+ against Eastern Illinois, creating instant unrealistic expectations going forward this year, akin to DGLs first game last year. My money is on either Booth or Davis.
5. The defense will continue to evolve as the year progresses, with more of a focus on rim protection with the personnel to handle it better.
 
#116      
EyeoftheIllini
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Can't remember all the names off the top of my head, but there def. haven't been many. Ochai Agbaji might be one, but that's the only one I can think of.

Apologies on missing the trade part. #24 - George picked for the Wizards, #25 - Dadiet to Knicks, #26 - Dillon Jones from Webber State to the Thunder. #24 and #26 via some trade movement.

I guess you could make the argument for some of those guys from one viewpoint or another...and it'd probably make sense. Just saying that I just don't see some of those guys picked ahead of him (who were picked to teams built to win now) turning out better pros than TSJ...and there wasn't enough on draft night to believe they'd be better pros than TSJ IMO. And it's not to just single out a few individuals...but rather to make the point of...I just don't see 26 players from this draft being better turning out better than him when it's all said and done.

But at the end of the day, A LOT goes into the process of drafting a player and these organizations made the decision that they felt was best for them from the standpoint of fit and what they're looking for - and the discussion of whether their decision turned out well for them...only time will tell...

and def. agree things worked out well for TSJ also and he went to a great spot in terms of fit.
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I’d be willing bet at least one and likely more than one of the players drafted in front of TSJ have lesser careers than him. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case for those picked in just lottery. There are always misses. But as you say, a lot goes into why a player is picked where. But some on the board (not saying you) act like there is almost a conspiracy behind TSJ getting picked lower than they thought and that some GMs will lose their jobs just for passing on him. That’s just not the case.

I also have my doubts on how much TSJ’s legal issues impacted where he went. Once he was acquitted, it was likely a nonissue. Sports teams haven’t exactly shied away from people with character issues. And the acquittal combined with how he handled himself throughout the ordeal showed there was absolutely no issue.

Here’s to TSJ having a great career. Wouldn’t surprise me if he outperforms his draft position. But even if not, I think he will represent Illinois well.
 
#118      
Fly Illini Fly!
RockfordIllini said:
Riley looks like Matt Mayer with that dog in him. If he commits to the Fletch plan he’s going to be a handful.

I’m really hoping Big T gets to campus soon. I don’t expect him to put up huge stats but to me he’s a sneaky big piece of the puzzle. He can body up the bigger centers and provide rim protection on defense, and he can stretch the floor on offense so we can play 5 out and open up space for us to exploit matchups with our positional size.

I think we could get by with some combo of Morez/Humrichous/Booth at the 5 if we had to, but Big T significantly raises our floor and ceiling IMO.
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Those Sleepers guys started it...

this is just not a good comp IMO.
 
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#120      
Fly Illini Fly!
Fan Since '70 said:
'24-25 may be Brad's best team yet. Have a feeling Riley will be Illinois best more recent player yet succeeding Shannon and Ayo and could be a lottery pick. While Riley will be Illinois' next go-to, almost unstoppable 3-level downhill player, Jacucionis will be an even much better version of Domask (despite his age) and may also be a 1st round pick. I believe Ivisic could be a more valuable player to Illinois than Kofi or Dainja was because of his much more well-rounded game, capable of stroking 3s at high %, scoring on 3 levels, while having height and weight to defend inside. The rest of Illini supporting cast is also better than last season. Bosworth better than Moretti, Humrichous & Booth ably replacing Hawkins, Davis/Humrichous good or better shooters than Goode, White better SG/wing than Harmon, Booth better forward than Guerrier, Johnson better PF/Backup Center than Hansberry, and Rodgers likely better than last year as should be Gibbs-Lawhorn. Yes, I definitely think Illini will be better and able to contend with anyone.
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Come On Please GIF by NBA
 
#122      
Fly Illini Fly!
ptgrd23 said:
View attachment 35824
14 ppg 5 rbg shot 40% from 3 for 28-8 Kansas team his one season . Was 13th overall pick 2023. That would be fantastic result for Riley @ Illinois.
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Agreed.

Not saying he'll definitely be just as good...just giving a comp...

He's def. got the ability to be just as good though - actually ranked higher.

Riley's gotta get the body right though. He's so talented...if he's 180 right now, getting into that 190-200 range would be great for him IMO if Fletch can get him there. If he gets the body right and cleans up some little things in his game...got all worldly potential...
 
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#123      
FreshlySqueezed
Piotyr said:
Here are my somewhat early predictions for this team for next year:

1. Nobody on the team will average 30 minutes or more per game.
2. 10 guys on the team will average over 10 minutes per game.
3. The team will average more points per game than last year, playing faster with at least a similar offensive efficiency.
4. Someone unexpected will score 20+ against Eastern Illinois, creating instant unrealistic expectations going forward this year, akin to DGLs first game last year. My money is on either Booth or Davis.
5. The defense will continue to evolve as the year progresses, with more of a focus on rim protection with the personnel to handle it better.
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We had the 2nd best offensive efficiency in Big Ten history (since it started being tracked).

I'm not saying we couldn't match or even top it, but I wouldn't bet on it personally.
 
#124      
Piotyr
FreshlySqueezed said:
We had the 2nd best offensive efficiency in Big Ten history (since it started being tracked).

I'm not saying we couldn't match or even top it, but I wouldn't bet on it personally.
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I'm not saying they'll top it, I'm saying they'll play faster and score more, even if not as efficiently.
 
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