Illini Basketball 2024-2025

#601      
It's still likely a top 60 kenpom team this year, which is a mid to low mid end big ten team. Not a bad test in October
Once again if you view scrimmages as tests. I really don't know BU's philosophy. But to me it's about seeing what different players can do in different spots on the court with different lineups.

Let me give you an example. If we "won" by 2 points but I learned we played zone half the game and got beat by 15 during that time I wouldn't be very concerned.

The measure of success is what did you learn about your team.
 
#605      
73-61. Morez with 13 boards. Riley 22 points
Will is a killer. He’s packed on 15 pounds of muscle since arriving and already is a basketball savant who absorbs every basketball kernel thrown his way. He is going to be special in college and in the pro league. He will be a multimillionaire from this crazy game of basketball.

Morez is in that same boat. He reminds me of Dennis Rodman, but is 3 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. We have The Worm. Great job Illini!
 
#609      
I'd pile onto this but I am super excited every year (except for a few of the later Groce years) so this is nothing new.
This season feels different. Usually I’m eyeing this board every day, trying to figure out starters all summer, figuring out how much height we can put on the floor at once… but this summer.. just been relaxing. I’ll be honest, it’s nice going into a season knowing we’ll be good. Like just knowing. Not the “we need to make a second weekend let’s panic” not the “who are we getting in the portal?” Not the feeling of anxiety going into the year. Brad took us to an elite 8. We’ve had 5 straight years of success. We got a lot of talent, and a coach and staff that we can trust. But boy, does seeing coach talk to the guys post scrimmage, videos of our guys playing against other people but our own & the media day coverage.. my blood is boiling for some hoop. This year will have its own story, and I can’t wait to open the first page. I-L-L
 
#611      
#612      
I'd pile onto this but I am super excited every year (except for a few of the later Groce years) so this is nothing new.

Take it up a notch!

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#613      
If true, our 3 best players tonight were 3 18 year old freshmen. I find this extremely encouraging since I think we know we will get production from Ben, White, Rogers and Boswell.
Encouraging, but like Purdue quarterbacks, there was no scout. For freshmen I try not to read too much into their stats until 5-10 games into the year, after there is a decent amount of tape on file and their go-to high school moves have been taken away. At that point they need to be able to score in system and show up every night and contribute to wins when their shot isn't falling. Things more than a couple of past highly ranked freshmen never figured out.
 
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