I would go Duke, Kansas, Alabama first three. I don't think UConn is even top 5, but Hurley will likely have then in the NC conversation again.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
Not saying Edey still might not have been a problem especially since Edey scored 37 on UConn but simply from a size/strength perspective Kofi would be one for the few centers in college capable of holding a bit of ground.
Also, freshman Edey really didn't do much against Illinois(7 pts on 3/6 shooting and 4 reb). Sophomore Edey did have a bit more success(20 pts and 8 Reb in a game where Kofi got in foul trouble, 13 and 6 in the other game where Kofi went for 18 and 7).
Not at all, I expect top 4 from this team.
DGL, very limited minutes last year
Davis, first year at a big school
Booth, started for a bad team, mostly out of position
KJ, still a freshman though has played good talent
Tomi, Never played college ball, but is 21
Tre, considered a potential guy, started for a terrible Louisville team
Humrichous, played for a small school
Riley, freshman
More, freshman
Boswell and Rodgers are probably your biggest known quantities at this time and even still, Boswell supposedly had dedication issues at Arizona, and Rodgers is a super limited offensive threat as of last year. I do believe that Humrichous' skillset will translate just fine tho this level.
Before I get ignored by those who can't stand any sort of criticism, no matter how valid, I believe this team can be as good as last year and has a higher ceiling. We have the pieces to be scary good with the ability to lean on different players for different matchups.
All I said is that talent doesn't equal wins. A lot of that talent is potential and mostly an unknown quantity.
It wasn't just about stats with Kofi. I think some people are forgetting how physically punishing Kofi was on both ends of the floor. He may not have shut down Edey last year but would have at least made it a push.
Well, to be fair, no one argued that we automatically get tallies in the W column.
But, I do disagree with the second bolded sentence. We have 7 guys that either have started at this level or a level above it (KJ, Ivisic).
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
I miss those Kofi thundering dunks
I miss him clocking the ref...
I completely missed us at #2, crappy layout whomever does the graphics for Bart!!!!
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Just ask Kentucky! Talent + Experience > pure Talent ....
DGL, spark plug -limited minutes last year
Davis, 10 points a game starter as freshman
Booth, started for Notre Dame- athletic freak
KJ, start Euro League play at 13 yo
Tomi, 7’1” center Euro League tough
Tre, started for USC and L’ville 13 ppg
Humrichous, small school like Larry Bird
Riley, freshman basketball savant
Morez, 242 lb 6’9” rebounding legend
Ty, 1500 shots a day - epitome of team
Davis, 10 points a game starter as freshman
Booth, started for Notre Dame- athletic freak
KJ, start Euro League play at 13 yo
Tomi, 7’1” center Euro League tough
Tre, started for USC and L’ville 13 ppg
Humrichous, small school like Larry Bird
Riley, freshman basketball savant
Morez, 242 lb 6’9” rebounding legend
Ty, 1500 shots a day - epitome of team
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Texas A&M on here twice? Oops. Lost credibility
Full on unicorn. So many times a smaller player would go into the lane and just bounce off him. Good touch around the basket too.
I feel like we do this every year.
Stated a fact, not an opinion. Anyway, yes we do this every year and I love it. Getting super excited for what I think will be another good season of Illini bball.
ILL
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Not to argue with your overall point, but bottom half predictions would be 10th or worse. Most predictions I’m seeing have us in the 3-5 range. Who’s got us 10th?
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
The Vegas Golden Knights social media did this thing (they might still) where they list the lineup in terms of emojis.
To pass time, I thought it would be fun to maybe do the same thing...
Kasparas =
(casper the friendly ghost)
Humrichous =
(brick house - just pretend it's brick)
Ty Rodgers =
(Tie... wanted to do something Mr. Rodgers theme and this is kinda close. Just need a sweater over it)
Now just need the rest of the team
To pass time, I thought it would be fun to maybe do the same thing...
Kasparas =
(casper the friendly ghost)Humrichous =
(brick house - just pretend it's brick)Ty Rodgers =
(Tie... wanted to do something Mr. Rodgers theme and this is kinda close. Just need a sweater over it)Now just need the rest of the team
Same, although I tend to temper my expectations from the orange kool-aid drinkers. I thought we were a borderline top-10 team last year, but definitely in the 10-25 range kind of team, and I was happily surprised when the PG concerns were answered, and even moreso when the suspension really put things into question. Was such a wild ride in retrospect, but we had leadership from all corners, and made two really, really nice runs in the post-season.
This year, I'm expecting a rougher start, but as good a ceiling. I'm not sure how you get so many new guys to play together, but I think they'll find enough positives to overcome the timing and read misses that are bound to happen. Brad's excited at the very high talent level of this group, and that's a good sign.
For me, the issue isn't overall experience but experience playing together. There is a decent amount of data out there that doesn't provide a particularly optimistic outlook on our lack of continuity.
That said, even among the data we do have, there is a wide range of possible outcomes with this many new faces and our roster is certainly near the very top of overall talent when looking at similar situations. I also have a lot of faith in our staff to be creative in getting these pieces to fit.
It's going to be another very interesting and entertaining basketball season with an extremely high ceiling, which is really all you can ask for (and more than I expected) after the turnover we had this past offseason.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
I really think our floor these days is like the 22-23 team (i.e., talents without playing together). I think we can do a little bit better than that team but I don't necessarily require a 2nd week show up.
The records and results...you work all year to make them great at the end of the day but they are what they are and a lot of things - including some you probably don't even have control over - that go into it. But it would be a bit frustrating if the bond/chemistry problems seem to be so dramatic again.
Def. think this team should be built a bit better and should deliver better results. Whatever with these "predictions" exactly at this moment...time will tell...but IMO the expectation should be top25 team or there about.
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We have enough spare parts in this team that one or two players malfunction won't sink it. But I think Kasparas has to work to be a top 25 team. That's about the 6 seed line, which is in line with my expectation.
Dra Gibbs-LawhornThe Vegas Golden Knights social media did this thing (they might still) where they list the lineup in terms of emojis.
To pass time, I thought it would be fun to maybe do the same thing...
Kasparas =
Humrichous =
Ty Rodgers =
Now just need the rest of the team
(It's a raven)
( Law Horn)